Jefferson Mitchell Dean v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )


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  • MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),                                         FILED
    this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                    Dec 29 2017, 11:22 am
    regarded as precedent or cited before any
    court except for the purpose of establishing                                   CLERK
    Indiana Supreme Court
    Court of Appeals
    the defense of res judicata, collateral                                         and Tax Court
    estoppel, or the law of the case.
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                  ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
    Charles W. Lahey                                        Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
    South Bend, Indiana                                     Attorney General of Indiana
    Michael Gene Worden
    Deputy Attorney General
    Indianapolis, Indiana
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    Jefferson Mitchell Dean,                                December 29, 2017
    Appellant-Defendant,                                    Court of Appeals Case No.
    71A03-1704-CR-689
    v.                                              Appeal from the St. Joseph
    Superior Court
    State of Indiana,                                       The Honorable Jeffrey L. Sanford,
    Appellee-Plaintiff.                                     Judge
    Trial Court Cause No.
    71D03-1511-F1-15
    Pyle, Judge.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017            Page 1 of 18
    Statement of the Case
    [1]   Jefferson Mitchell Dean (“Dean”) appeals his conviction, following a jury trial,
    for Level 4 felony child molesting.1 Dean contends that the trial court used an
    improper standard of review when the trial court ruled on his motion to
    suppress his police statement, and he makes policy arguments regarding the
    tactics used by police interrogators.
    [2]   Because Dean is appealing following a conviction, his challenge to the trial
    court’s ruling on his motion to suppress would more appropriately be framed as
    whether the trial court properly admitted the evidence of his police statements
    at trial. However, Dean waived any admission of evidence argument when he
    stipulated at trial to the admissibility of the exhibit that contained his police
    statement as part of a defense strategy. Thus, we will not review Dean’s
    argument regarding the trial court’s ruling on his motion to suppress. Nor will
    we review Dean’s policy arguments as they do not present a reviewable
    appellate issue and amount to a request for an advisory opinion.
    [3]   We affirm.
    Issue
    Whether Dean waived any appellate challenge relating to the
    admissibility of the exhibit containing his police statement by
    stipulating at trial to the admissibility of the exhibit.
    1
    IND. CODE § 35-42-4-3.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 2 of 18
    Facts
    [4]   In August 2015, eight-year-old A.C. told her babysitter that Dean, her
    stepfather, had inappropriately touched her vaginal area. The babysitter told
    A.C.’s father about the allegations, and he called the police. A.C.’s father also
    took her to the hospital for an examination and to the CASIE Center in South
    Bend for a forensic interview.
    [5]   Thereafter, on August 20, 2015, Dean went to the police station and was
    interviewed by Detective Lieutenant Brad Haney (“Detective Haney”) of the St.
    Joseph County Special Victims Unit. Dean was aware that he had been
    accused of inappropriately touching A.C. Detective Haney asked Dean about
    his education, and Dean replied that he had finished tenth grade and “read
    backwards.” (State’s Ex. 3). The detective carefully explained the Miranda
    rights and waiver form, and Dean signed it. During this interview (“Interview
    #1”), Dean denied that he had touched A.C. in an inappropriate manner and
    suggested that she was lying. At the conclusion of the interview, Dean left the
    police station.
    [6]   Three months later, on November 17, 2015, Detective Haney again interviewed
    Dean at the police station (“Interview #2”). Dean came to the interview
    knowing that he was going to take a polygraph examination. Detective
    Sergeant Scott Bryant (“Detective Bryant”) advised Dean of his rights, and
    Dean signed a waiver of rights. Dean also signed a consent to take a polygraph
    examination, which was administered by Detective Bryant. After the
    polygraph examination, Detective Bryant told Dean that he had failed the
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 3 of 18
    polygraph examination. Dean later admitted to Detective Bryant that he had
    touched the front of A.C.’s pants over her clothing and said he did so in order
    to describe to her where she should not let little boys touch her.
    [7]   After the polygraph examination, Detective Haney questioned Dean. Dean
    told the detective that he had caught A.C. with her mother’s vibrator. He said
    because of that incident, he had touched the inside of A.C.’s pants at her
    waistline to instruct her where little boys should not touch her. Later in the
    interview, Dean admitted that he had once touched the inside of A.C.’s vagina
    with the tip of his pinky, and he drew on a diagram to show how far he had
    inserted his pinky. Dean then stated that he felt bad and wanted to “go through
    classes and shit.” (State’s Ex. 5). The detective agreed that Dean probably
    needed some help or counseling. Detective Haney told Dean that he should
    write an apology letter to A.C. Dean agreed to do so but said he was not “book
    smart” or good at writing. (State’s Ex. 5). Dean then dictated a letter for A.C.
    to Detective Haney, and he signed the letter. In this letter, Dean stated as
    follows:
    I’m sorry for what I did and it wasn’t meaning to happen like
    that. I love you and your sister to death and if we can get over
    this it will never happen again. I’m sorry about touching you on
    your private area (vagina), it will never happen again. I would
    like to start taking classes. Going through this is hurting your
    mom and your little brother. I just [l]ove you and your brother
    and sister dearly and [I]’m very sorry for doing it and it will never
    happen again.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 4 of 18
    (State’s Ex. 8). Dean then told Detective Haney that he was already taking
    classes and had more scheduled. Dean asked the detective if he could go home,
    and the detective informed him that he could not because he had “made some
    admissions” and was in custody. (State’s Ex. 5).
    [8]   Subsequently, the State charged Dean with Level 1 felony child molesting. In
    May 2016, Dean filed a motion to suppress his statements to Detective Haney
    during Interview #1 and his statements made to Detective Haney and Detective
    Bryan during Interview #2 and the polygraph examination. He contended that
    his statements were not voluntarily made and that he had made “a false
    confession” because the officers had made “explicit promises” that he would
    not be incarcerated but would just receive counseling. (App. Vol. 2 at 182).
    [9]   In July 2016, the trial court held a hearing on Dean’s suppression motion.
    Dean argued that the two police interviews should be suppressed because the
    statements were involuntary and induced by the police making “express
    promises[.]” (Tr. Vol. 2 at 10). Dean acknowledged that Interview #1 did not
    contain a confession. He argued that the video of the polygraph examination
    that occurred during Interview #2 should not be shown the jury during the
    upcoming trial. The State agreed and indicated that it was not planning on
    presenting the video of the polygraph examination at trial and that it was going
    to redact any reference to the polygraph from the videotapes. Both parties
    agreed that the videos alone were sufficient for the trial court to decide whether
    Dean’s police statement was voluntary, and neither party presented witnesses.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 5 of 18
    At the end of the hearing, the trial court took the matter under advisement. 2
    Thereafter, the trial court issued an order denying Dean’s motion to suppress
    and ultimately found that Dean’s “confession [wa]s a product of rational
    intellect and not the result of promises or improper influence.” (App. Vol. 2 at
    169). Dean did not file appeal the denial of his suppression motion.
    [10]   The trial court held a four-day jury trial on February 21-24, 2017. On the first
    morning of trial, the State informed the trial court that Dean’s counsel intended
    to stipulate to the admission of the unredacted videos of his police statements
    (Interview #1 and Interview #2). Dean’s counsel confirmed that he “intend[ed]
    to ask that the unredacted statement be introduced” and that “obviously by
    stipulating to that, I don’t have an objection.” (Tr. Vol. 2 at 25).
    [11]   Later in the pretrial discussions, when the parties were discussing the
    stipulation, Dean’s counsel stated that his “position [wa]s simply that [Dean]
    w[ould] stipulate to the State introducing the video of Mr. Dean unredacted in
    complete form” and to include the video of the polygraph examination. (Tr.
    Vol. 2 at 33, 34). Dean’s counsel also explained that he was planning to ask the
    trial court for a limiting instruction to inform the jury that it should not consider
    2
    During the hearing, the trial court suggested that Dean, not the State, had the burden of showing that his
    confession, which he sought to suppress, was involuntary. The trial court suggested that the burden was no
    longer on the State because Dean had signed a waiver of rights. When Dean disagreed, the trial court
    suggested that Dean had “a great issue for an appeal.” (Tr. Vol. 2 at 9). The State clarified that Dean’s
    waiver of rights form weighed in favor of determining that his statement was voluntary but was not the sole
    factor in determining the voluntariness. Additionally, the State informed the trial court that it agreed with
    Dean that the burden was on the State once Dean had asserted that his statement was involuntary.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017           Page 6 of 18
    the police officers’ statement that Dean had failed the polygraph as evidence.
    Dean’s counsel explained his defense theory for the admission of the
    unredacted police statements as follows:
    I think that the entire film needs to be shown because we have an
    allegation that it was not voluntary and that it was a false
    confession and it was induced by a promise. And my client
    [Dean] is going to explain that. I don’t see how that point can be
    made without showing the entire video warts and all. And the
    fact that it contains a polygraph doesn’t bother me as long as the
    jury is instructed that they are not [to] consider it, and they’re not
    being advised whether he passed it or didn’t pass it, and that
    those results would not be reliable and [would] not be admissible
    anyway.
    (Tr. Vol. 2 at 34).
    [12]   During opening statements, Dean’s counsel told the jury that it would be seeing
    the videotapes of Dean’s police interviews, including the polygraph
    examination. His counsel stated that Dean had told the police, during the
    interviews, that he had not touched A.C. and that Dean had only later admitted
    to touching her because the police had told him that he could get counseling.
    Dean’s counsel contended that Dean’s admission was a “false confession
    induced by trickery.” (Tr. Vol. 2 at 53). Additionally, Dean’s counsel told the
    jury that it would hear testimony from A.C. and from Dean and suggested that
    the jury would have to make its final determination based upon their
    testimonies.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 7 of 18
    [13]   During the trial, A.C. testified that Dean, who watched her while her mother
    worked nights, had touched her vagina with his hands while her clothes were
    still on her and that he had “move[d] around” his hands while doing so. (Tr.
    Vol.3 at 18). She testified that he had touched her on the outside of her clothes
    and had also put his hands in her pants and underwear and had touched her
    “private part.” (Tr. Vol. 3 at 16). A.C. testified that Dean touched her “[o]n
    the outside” of her vagina and not the inside. (Tr. Vol. 3 at 20). Additionally,
    she testified that Dean told her not to tell anyone what he had done.
    [14]   On the second day of the jury trial, before Detective Haney’s testimony, the
    State informed the trial court that the parties had reached an agreement on the
    stipulation for the admissibility of the videos of Dean’s two police interviews.
    Interview #1 was State’s Exhibit 3, and Interview #2 was State’s Exhibit 5.
    When the State moved to admit State’s Exhibit 3 into evidence during
    Detective Haney’s testimony, Dean’s counsel stated, “No objection, your
    Honor.” (Tr. Vol. 3 at 100). The trial court then read to the jury the parties’
    stipulation, which provided as follows:
    Comes now the State of Indiana . . . and the Defendant by
    counsel . . . and hereby stipulate and agree as follows:
    1. That the Defendant, Jefferson Dean, submitted to a polygraph
    examination on November 17, 2015.
    2. Detective Sergeant Scott Bryant administered the polygraph
    examination.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 8 of 18
    3. Detective Sergeant Scott Bryant advised the Defendant of his
    Miranda rights prior to administering the polygraph
    examination.
    4. The Defendant hereby waives his objection to the admission of
    evidence relating to his submission to the polygraph
    examination, the questions contained in the examination, the
    answers he gave to said questions, and the results of the
    examination.
    5. The polygraph examination was audio and video-recorded on
    November 17, 2015.
    6. The Defendant acknowledges his right to objection to the
    admission of this recording and specifically waives any objections to
    the contents of the recording being admitted, or that a proper
    foundation must be laid for the recording and stipulates to the
    admissibility of the recording.
    7. The Defendant reserves the right to argue the voluntariness of
    his waiver of rights to participate in the polygraph examination
    to the jury as raised in his Motion to Suppress. Defendant
    acknowledges that the results of the polygraph will be admitted
    as part of the video recording and does not wish to have it
    redacted. The Defendant will supply an instruction to the Court
    indicating that the jury should not consider the polygrapher’s
    opinion of the test results as substantive evidence and the jury is
    to determine the truthfulness of the statements.
    8. The Defendant further acknowledges and makes a record of
    the fact that there is a strategical trial tactic for agreeing to the
    admission and stipulation of the evidence related to the
    polygraph examination and wishes to have it presented to the
    jury in total.
    (Tr. Vol. 3 at 100-02) (emphases added). After reading the stipulation, the trial
    court added, “That is the stipulation. So they’ve agreed that all this stuff is
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 9 of 18
    admitted. What you do with that evidence is strictly up to you.” (Tr. Vol. 3 at
    102).
    [15]   The State then played State’s Exhibit 3, the video of Interview #1, for the jury.
    Dean’s counsel then thoroughly cross-examined Detective Haney about
    Interview #1. Dean’s counsel questioned the detective about his interrogation
    techniques, including the use of deception, that he had used during Interview
    #1. Counsel also asked the detective multiple times whether Dean had been
    free to leave the interview room, and the detective replied that he had been.
    [16]   On the beginning of the third day of trial, Dean—despite having stipulated to
    the admissibility of the recording of his police interviews—filed a “Renewal of
    Objection to Evidence and Motion for Instruction to Jury.” (App. Vol. 2 at 82).
    In his motion, Dean stated that he was “renew[ing] his objection to the
    introduction of videotapes of [his] interrogation by [O]fficers Haney and Bryant
    on the grounds that the statement taken from [Dean] was not voluntary and
    that it was induced by implicit promises of leniency.” (App. Vol. 2 at 82). The
    trial court discussed Dean’s motion with the parties outside the presence of the
    jury. The trial court, noting that Dean’s motion was the same “argument [he
    had] made for suppressing the statement in the first place[,]” denied Dean’s
    motion “based on [its] previous ruling.” (Tr. Vol. 4 at 4). The trial court,
    however, agreed that it would give Dean’s proposed limiting instruction, which
    provided that Dean’s statements in the videotape were admissible evidence and
    that the statements by the detectives were not to be considered as evidence.
    Dean’s counsel acknowledged that the trial court was finding that the police
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 10 of 18
    statements were admissible, but he suggested that he was going to make an
    argument to the jury regarding the voluntariness of the police statements so that
    the jury could determine “the level of believability they treat the evidence.” (Tr.
    Vol. 4 at 5). The trial court agreed that Dean could argue about the weight of
    the police statements.
    [17]   Also that morning, while still outside the presence of the jury, the State, in an
    effort to “make a record[,]” reminded the trial court that the parties had entered
    a stipulation regarding the admissibility of State’s Exhibit 5, which contained
    Interview #2 and the polygraph examination. Dean’s counsel stated that he
    had “[n]o objection.” (Tr. Vol. 4 at 9). The trial court admitted State’s Exhibit
    5, stating that “Exhibit 5 [wa]s in.” (Tr. Vol. 4 at 9). Thereafter, Dean’s
    counsel stated, “Oh, wait. Except, of course, subject to my original objection
    about voluntariness.” (Tr. Vol. 4 at 9). The trial court reminded counsel that it
    had denied that objection and then stated: “There’s a new rule you don’t have
    to continue making objections. Do you know that? I’ve made a definitive
    ruling on that. It’s during trial. You don’t need to make another objection. I
    denied your motion.” (Tr. Vol. 4 at 9).3
    [18]   Thereafter, the State called Detective Bryant as a witness. The detective
    testified that he had administered a polygraph examination to Dean during his
    3
    The “new rule” mentioned by the trial court would have been Indiana Evidence Rule 103(b), which
    provides that “[o]nce the court rules definitively on the record at trial a party need not renew an objection . . .
    to preserve a claim of error for appeal.” This rule became effective January 1, 2014.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017              Page 11 of 18
    second interview with the police. When the State was ready to publish State’s
    Exhibit 5, the video of the polygraph examination from Interview #2, the State
    stated, “pursuant to the stipulation, your Honor, the State would move to
    publish the previously admitted State’s Exhibit No. 5.” (Tr. Vol. 4 at 19). The
    trial court then stated, “Mr. Lahey [Dean’s counsel], no objection I take it?”
    (Tr. Vol. 4 at 19). Dean’s counsel responded, “No objection.” (Tr. Vol. 4 at
    19). Before playing the video for the jury, the trial court gave Dean’s proposed
    limiting instruction, which provided as follows:
    You are about to be shown a videotape of an
    interrogation of Jefferson Dean by Detectives Haney
    and Bryant of the Special Victims Unit. What Jefferson
    Dean says in this videotape is admissible evidence and you
    may consider it like all other evidence you have heard in this
    trial. Statements by the Police Officers, however, were
    not given under oath, were not subject to cross
    examination and are not evidence. You may not
    consider those statements as evidence.
    Specifically, you will hear Officer Bryant tell Mr. Dean
    that Officer Bryant determined that the polygraph
    indicated deception by Jefferson Dean in some of his
    answers. The fact that Jefferson Dean submitted to the
    Polygraph Examination is evidence and may be
    considered by you. However, Detective Bryant will not
    be permitted to testify in court about the results of this
    examination or whether they indicated deception or
    not. You may not consider any statements made by
    him in the videotape as evidence in this case. This
    includes any statement by Detective Bryant about his
    interpretation of polygraph results.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 12 of 18
    (App. Vol. 2 at 82) (emphasis added). The trial court then played the polygraph
    examination portion of the video from State’s Exhibit 5.
    [19]   When Detective Haney testified, the State then moved to publish the portion of
    the video from State’s Exhibit 5 that contained Dean’s interview with Detective
    Haney. Prior to playing the video, the State told the trial court, “Your Honor,
    pursuant to the previous stipulation, we’ll go ahead and just start the video.”
    (Tr. Vol. 4 at 28). The trial court replied, “Okay,” and Dean’s counsel made no
    comment. (Tr. Vol. 4 at 28). Then the State published the portion of the video
    where Dean had admitted to Detective Haney that he had touched A.C.’s
    private area. Thereafter, the State moved to admit State’s Exhibit 8, the
    dictated apology letter in which Dean admitted that he had touched A.C.’s
    vagina, and Dean’s counsel stated, “No objection.” (Tr. Vol. 4 at 29).
    [20]   Dean testified on his own behalf and denied that he had molested A.C. He
    acknowledged that he had told Detective Haney that he had touched A.C. but
    claimed that he had done so because he “was scared of the outcome of what
    would happen if [he] didn’t admit to something that [he] didn’t do.” (Tr. Vol. 4
    at 74). Dean also testified that he had admitted touching A.C. only because he
    thought that he would just have to go to counseling. He believed that he would
    go to prison if he did not admit to touching her.
    [21]   On cross-examination, Dean acknowledged that he had voluntarily talked to
    the police during Interview #1 and Interview #2. He also testified that he had
    voluntarily taken the polygraph examination. The State also had Dean clarify
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 13 of 18
    that the police had never told him that he would get counseling without jail
    time if he admitted to his crime.
    [22]   During closing arguments, Dean’s counsel reminded the jury of the limiting
    instruction that explained that Dean’s statements to police, which were
    contained in State’s Exhibit 5, were “admissible evidence[,]” but counsel argued
    that Dean’s confession to the police was a “false confession.” (Tr. Vol. 4 at
    112, 113, 116). Counsel also argued that the jury should not view Dean’s
    admission as a confession because he was “induced by promises” and subjected
    to “very aggressive” interrogation tactics. (Tr. Vol. 4 at 114, 116). Dean’s
    counsel suggested that Dean’s “claim that his confession was false” should
    “raise a reasonable doubt about whether [the jury] should accept his confession
    as true[.]” (Tr. Vol. 4 at 113). Additionally, his counsel asserted that the jury
    should find credibility in Dean’s testimony that he had “confessed only because
    . . . [he] thought that’s what [he] had to do and not because [he] had done it.”
    (Tr. Vol. 4 at 129).
    [23]   As part of the final instructions given to the jury, the trial court gave
    instructions for the lesser-included offenses of Level 4 felony child molesting
    and Level 6 battery. The trial court also gave the two jury instructions
    regarding Dean’s argument about the voluntariness of his police statement.
    The jury found Dean guilty of the lesser-included offense of Level 4 felony child
    molesting. The trial court imposed a six (6) year sentence, with two (2) years
    executed and four (4) years suspended to probation. Dean now appeals.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 14 of 18
    Decision
    [24]   On appeal, Dean does not challenge the actual admissibility of State’s Exhibit
    5, which included Dean’s statements to police and the polygraph examination
    from Interview #2. Indeed, he cannot do so because he stipulated to the
    admissibility of the exhibit as part of his defense strategy. Instead, he makes
    arguments that are tangential to the admission of State’s Exhibit 5. Specifically,
    he contends that the trial court used an improper standard of review when it
    ruled on his motion to suppress, and he makes general policy arguments
    regarding the propriety of deceptive tactics used by police interrogators.
    [25]   Because Dean is appealing following a conviction, we note that Dean’s first
    challenge regarding the trial court’s ruling on his motion to suppress would
    more appropriately be framed as whether the trial court properly admitted the
    evidence at trial. See Fry v. State, 
    25 N.E.3d 237
    , 241 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015), trans.
    denied. The admission and exclusion of evidence falls within the sound
    discretion of the trial court, and we review the admission of evidence only for
    an abuse of discretion. Wilson v. State, 
    765 N.E.2d 1265
    , 1272 (Ind. 2002).
    [26]   However, as noted above, Dean stipulated to the admissibility of State’s Exhibit
    5 for defense strategy reasons. Indeed, Dean acknowledges that “the recording
    of [his] interrogation” was “admitted without objection” at trial and states that
    admission was “a matter of Defense trial tactics” as explained in the
    “stipulation presented to the jury.” (Dean’s Br. 8). In the parties’ stipulation,
    Dean “waive[d] any objection to the contents of the recording being admitted”
    and “stipulate[d] to the admissibility of the recording.” (Tr. Vol. 3 at 101).
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 15 of 18
    Dean reserved his right to “argue the voluntariness” of his statements contained
    within the exhibit so that the “jury [could] determine the truthfulness of the
    statements.” (Tr. Vol. 3 at 101, 102). Dean’s counsel argued to the jury that
    they should put no weight into the credibility of Dean’s police statements and
    should disregard them because they were not voluntarily made. The jury made
    its credibility determination, and we will not review or reweigh such a jury
    decision. See Drane v. State, 
    867 N.E.2d 144
    , 146 (Ind. 2007). Because Dean is
    appealing following a conviction, his argument regarding the trial court’s ruling
    on his motion to suppress is misplaced. Furthermore, he has waived any
    admission of evidence argument when he stipulated at trial to the admissibility
    of the exhibit that contained his police statement as part of a defense strategy.
    [27]   Waiver notwithstanding, even if we were to construe Dean’s appellate
    arguments as a challenge to the admissibility of his statements in State’s Exhibit
    5 and he had not stipulated to the admissibility of the exhibit, any potential
    error in the admission of the statements would be harmless error because they
    were merely cumulative of other admitted evidence, including A.C.’s testimony
    and State’s Exhibit 8 (Dean’s apology letter in which he admitted that he had
    touched A.C.’s vagina). See Turner v. State, 
    953 N.E.2d 1039
    , 1059 (Ind. 2011)
    (holding that an improper admission of evidence is harmless error where the
    conviction is supported by “substantial independent evidence of guilt satisfying
    the reviewing court there is no substantial likelihood the challenged evidence
    contributed to the conviction”); King v. State, 
    985 N.E.2d 755
    , 759 n.4 (Ind. Ct.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 16 of 
    18 Ohio App. 2013
    ) (explaining that any error in the admission of evidence that is
    merely cumulative of other evidence admitted is harmless), trans. denied.
    [28]   We also note that Dean’s arguments regarding the propriety of deceptive tactics
    used by police interrogators merely equate to policy arguments and do not raise
    reviewable appellate issues. More specifically, Dean cites to Henry v. State, 
    738 N.E.2d 663
    (Ind. 2000), a case in which our Indiana Supreme Court stated that
    it did not condone deceptive police interrogation tactics, but it specifically
    refused to hold that such tactics would automatically render a confession
    inadmissible. 
    Henry, 738 N.E.2d at 664
    . Instead, the Henry Court explained
    that such tactics “weigh[ed] heavily against the voluntariness of [a] defendant’s
    confession” and would be viewed as one of the factors under the “‘totality of
    the circumstances’ test” for determining the voluntariness of a confession. 
    Id. at 665.
    Dean also refers to Detective Haney’s cross-examination testimony that
    police officers are allowed to use deceit in a police interrogation and that
    caselaw had permitted such a practice. Dean contends that the detective’s
    testimony was “a crude and prejudicially misleading oversimplification[.]”
    (Dean’s Br. 10).
    [29]   Dean does not challenge the admission of the detective’s testimony, nor could
    he, since the testimony was specifically elicited during Dean’s cross-
    examination of the detective. See Thacker v. State, 
    578 N.E.2d 784
    , 786 (Ind. Ct.
    App. 1991) (explaining that it is invited error for an appellant to elicit testimony
    from a witness on cross-examination and then claim error in the admission of
    the testimony on appeal); Kingery v. State, 
    659 N.E.2d 490
    , 494 (Ind. 1995)
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 17 of 18
    (holding that “[i]nvited errors are not subject to appellate review”), reh’g denied.
    Instead, he “asserts that lies by police interrogators must be subjected to special
    analytical treatment, because they weigh heavily against the voluntariness of a
    confession, as held in the widely-ignored Henry v. State, 
    738 N.E.2d 663
    , 665
    (Ind. 2000).” (Dean’s Br. 6). Dean also suggests that the police, in general,
    have disregarded the Indiana Supreme Court’s holding in Henry, and he asserts
    that this disregard has caused “a conflict between Judicial and Executive
    branches of government[,]” resulting in “a subject worthy of scholarly
    analysis[.]”). (Dean’s Br. 15). He further contends that Henry “should have a
    practical application to the tactics of police interrogators” and that “[t]he
    disregard of one arm of governance for the edicts of a powerful competing
    appendage” is “a subject begging review” and “is now presented to the Court
    for desperately-needed clarification.” (Dean’s Br. 6, 15). We decline Dean’s
    request to clarify or comment on the policy issues he has raised because we do
    “not render advisory opinions.” Reed v. State, 
    796 N.E.2d 771
    , 775 (Ind. Ct.
    App. 2003).
    [30]   Affirmed.
    Riley, J., and Robb, J., concur.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 71A03-1704-CR-689 | December 29, 2017   Page 18 of 18
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 71A03-1704-CR-689

Filed Date: 12/29/2017

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 12/29/2017