Daniel Mason v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2018 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Sep 14 2018, 10:20 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
CLERK
court except for the purpose of establishing 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
Andrew B. Arnett Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Matthew B. Mackenzie
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Daniel Mason, September 14, 2018
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-CR-240
v. Appeal from the Johnson Superior
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Peter D. Nugent,
Appellee-Plaintiff Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
41D02-1610-F6-483
May, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-240 | September 14, 2018 Page 1 of 8
[1] Daniel Mason appeals his conviction of Level 6 felony operating a vehicle
while intoxicated. 1 Mason argues there is insufficient evidence to support his
conviction and his sentence is inappropriate. We affirm and remand.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] On October 14, 2016, Deputy Jason Wienhorst responded to a call about a
suspicious driver. Deputy Wienhorst observed a truck cross over the center line
after a “burnout.” 2 (Tr. Vol. II at 40.) Deputy Wienhorst activated his
emergency lights and siren, and he pursued the truck, which did not
immediately pull over. After stopping the vehicle, Deputy Wienhorst ordered
the driver, Mason, out of the car. Mason staggered out of the vehicle and
swayed as he walked back to Deputy Wienhorst. Deputy Wienhorst smelled
alcohol on Mason and noticed Mason had glassy and bloodshot eyes. Deputy
Wienhorst attempted to conduct a field sobriety test, but Mason did not
cooperate. As Deputy Wienhorst conducted the test, Mason did not follow the
stimulus and instead stared at the Deputy. This occurred multiple times, even
though Deputy Wienhorst reviewed the instructions each time and Mason
1
Ind. Code § 9-30-5-2(a) (a person who operates a vehicle while intoxicated commits a Class C
misdemeanor); Ind. Code § 9-30-5-3 (2014) (raising Class C misdemeanor to Level 6 felony for prior
conviction of OWI within five years).
2
Deputy Wienhorst defined a “burnout” as “spun the tires, where you apply pressure on the brake, and the
gas at the same time, breaks the tires loose, causes them to spin, and in return it makes the rear of the vehicle
break loose from traction and cause it be somewhat out of control.” (Tr. Vol. II at 40.)
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-240 | September 14, 2018 Page 2 of 8
confirmed he understood them. Deputy Weinhorst found a half empty case of
beer inside the truck and two open cans of beer in the cupholders.
[3] Deputy Wienhorst placed Mason under arrest and obtained a warrant to draw
his blood. Mason’s blood-alcohol level was .257%. Mason was charged with
Level 6 felony operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, 3 Level 6 felony
operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction, Class A misdemeanor
operating while intoxicated endangering a person, 4 and Class C misdemeanor
operating while intoxicated. 5 The State also filed an information alleging
Mason was a Habitual Vehicular Substance Offender, 6 because he had at least
two prior unrelated convictions of a “vehicular substance offense.”
(Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 120.)
[4] At trial, a jury found Mason guilty of Class C misdemeanor operating while
intoxicated and Level 6 felony operating while intoxicated, and determined
Mason was a Habitual Vehicular Substance Offender. The trial court merged
the Class C misdemeanor into the Level 6 felony and imposed a 2.5-year
sentence for the felony conviction. The court then enhanced that sentence by 6
3
Ind. Code § 9-30-10-16(a)(1) (2015).
4
Ind. Code § 9-30-5-2 (2001).
5
Ind. Code § 9-30-5-2 (2001).
6
Ind. Code § 9-30-15.5-2 (2015).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-240 | September 14, 2018 Page 3 of 8
years because Mason is a Habitual Vehicular Substance Offender, such that
Mason’s sentence for the Level 6 felony was 8.5 years. 7
Discussion and Decision
Sufficiency of Evidence
[5] Mason argues the record contains insufficient evidence to support his
conviction. When considering the sufficiency of evidence, “a reviewing court
does not reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of the witnesses.”
McHenry v. State, 820 N.E.2d 124, 126 (Ind. 2005). We must affirm “if the
probative evidence and reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence could
have allowed a reasonable trier of fact to find the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Id. at 126 (internal citation omitted).
[6] Mason specifically challenges the admission of the State’s evidence to prove
intoxication. The testing revealed Mason’s blood alcohol level was .257%,
which is well above the legal limit. See Ind. Code § 9-30-5-1 (2001) (defining
legal limit as .08%). Mason believes the blood drawn from him was
mishandled and, therefore, did not accurately reveal his blood-alcohol level.
Mason claims the vial of blood was shaken and was not refrigerated, both of
7
The trial court’s Order and Abstract of Judgment do not indicate Mason was found to be a Habitual
Vehicular Substance Offender. As that finding is needed to enhance his sentence it should be reflected in the
orders, and we direct the trial court to amend those orders accordingly. Additionally, the Order contains
language stating Mason waived his right to appeal; however, we find no support for that in the transcript and
direct the trial court to remove that language in the amended order.
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which would alter the results of the blood test. However, Robert Ruhl, a
forensic scientist for the Indiana Department of Toxicology, testified as to the
effects of the mistreatment of the blood sample. Ruhl said that the tipping or
shaking of the blood would have no effect on the test and the lack of
refrigeration, if it were to have an effect, would lower the alcohol level in the
blood. Accordingly, Mason has not demonstrated the alleged mistreatment of
his blood sample rendered the test result invalid or prejudicial.
[7] Furthermore, the State did not need to rely on a chemical test to prove
intoxication. “Impairment can be established by evidence of (1) the
consumption of significant amount of alcohol; (2) impaired attention and
reflexes; (3) watery or bloodshot eyes; (4) the odor of alcohol on the breath; (5)
unsteady balance; (6) failure of field sobriety tests; (7) slurred speech.” Fought v.
State, 898 N.E.2d 447, 451 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). Deputy Wienhorst testified he
observed Mason drive his truck erratically, cross the center line and speed
away. Deputy Wienhorst watched Mason stagger and sway as he walked,
noticed Mason had bloodshot and glassy eyes, and smelled alcohol on Mason.
Mason failed to follow instructions to complete a field sobriety test. Open beer
cans and a half empty case of beer were found in the truck. Based on these
facts, the evidence was sufficient to prove intoxication. See, e.g., Fields v. State,
888 N.E.2d 304, 308 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (affirming conviction of operating
while intoxicated based on similar evidence proving intoxication).
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Inappropriate Sentence
[8] Mason argues that, in light of his character and the nature of his offense, his
sentence was inappropriate.
We “may revise a sentence authorized by statute if, after due
consideration of the trial court’s decision, the Court finds that the
sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and
the character of the offender.” Ind. Appellate Rule 7(B).
“Although appellate review of sentences must give due
consideration to the trial court’s sentence because of the special
expertise of the trial bench in making sentencing decisions,
Appellate Rule 7(B) is an authorization to revise sentences when
certain broad conditions are satisfied.” Shouse v. State, 849
N.E.2d 650, 660 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006), trans. denied (citations and
quotation marks omitted). “[W]hether we regard a sentence as
appropriate at the end of the day turns on our sense of the
culpability of the defendant, the severity of the crime, the damage
done to others, and myriad other factors that come to light in a
given case.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008).
In addition to the “due consideration” we are required to give to
the trial court’s sentencing decision, “we understand and
recognize the unique perspective a trial court brings to its
sentencing decisions.” Rutherford v. State, 866 N.E.2d 867, 873
(Ind. Ct. App. 2007).
Couch v. State, 977 N.E.2d 1013, 1017 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012), reh’g denied, trans.
denied. The appellant bears the burden of demonstrating his sentence is
inappropriate. Amalfitano v. State, 956 N.E.2d 208, 212 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011),
trans. denied.
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[9] Regarding the nature of the offense, the trial court acknowledged Mason was
driving without a license. Mason also had a passenger in the vehicle, and
Mason put the passenger in danger. As a result of performing a burnout,
Mason also endangered other drivers when he crossed over the center line and
created a lot of dust, smoke and debris, making it difficult for other drivers to
see.
As for Mason’s character, the trial court noted Mason’s thirteen prior
misdemeanors and six prior felonies including his six prior convictions of
operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Mason argues the court did not
recognize several mitigating factors such as his two young children, his
financial support for his family, and his potential to receive treatment.
However, during the presentence investigation, Mason admitted he did not
have a job or any money and asserted he did not believe further treatment for
his substance abuse would do any good. Mason also expressed disinterest in
probation or any other community supervision. The trial court did
acknowledge Mason was respectful towards the jury and court staff.
[10] The sentencing guideline for a Level 6 felony is 6 months to 2.5 years. Ind.
Code § 35-50-2-7(b) (2016). The sentencing guidelines allow for an
enhancement following an adjudication as a Habitual Vehicular Substance
Offender of one to eight years. Ind. Code § 9-30-15.5-2(d) (2015). Considering
Mason’s character and the nature of his offense, we do not believe his sentence
of eight and half years is inappropriate.
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Conclusion
[11] The evidence demonstrates that Mason was intoxicated and, therefore, guilty of
Level 6 felony operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Also, in light of Mason’s
character and the nature of his offense, Mason’s eight-and-half-year sentence is
not inappropriate. Nevertheless, we remand for the trial court to fix the Order
and Abstract of Judgment as stated in footnote 7.
[12] Affirmed and remanded.
Baker, J., and Robb, J., concur.
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