Randy Tapp v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any
Mar 14 2017, 9:07 am
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
estoppel, or the law of the case. Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Megan J. Schueler Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Ferguson Law Attorney General of Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
James B. Martin
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Randy Tapp, March 14, 2017
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
60A04-1610-CR-2268
v. Appeal from the Owen Circuit
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Lori Thatcher
Appellee-Plaintiff Quillen, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
60C01-1603-CM-86
Baker, Judge.
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[1] Randy Tapp appeals his convictions for Class A Misdemeanor Resisting Law
Enforcement1 and Class B Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct. 2 He raises a
number of arguments on appeal, but we find one dispositive—whether he
knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to be represented by an attorney.
Finding that he did not, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.
Facts
[2] On March 8, 2016, Gosport Town Marshal James Harrington and Gosport
Police Officer Kemper Freeman went to Tapp’s residence to talk to his son,
Cody, regarding alleged ordinance violations for trash in the yard and a vehicle
parked on the town’s right of way. The officers spoke with Cody first, and he
was angry and repeatedly refused to identify himself. Tapp came out of the
house with a dog, which attacked Marshal Harrington. Tapp secured the dog
and commented that when the police returned, he and Cody “would have guns
on our side.” Tr. p. 29, 58. Tapp and Cody were combative and told the
officers they did not want them on the property.
[3] The next day, Marshal Harrington learned that a civil writ of attachment had
been issued for Tapp, so the marshal went back to Tapp’s residence to serve the
body attachment. When Marshal Harrington and Officer Robbie Bean arrived
at the residence, they again encountered Cody. Cody stated that his father was
1
Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1 (2014).
2
Ind. Code § 35-45-1-3(a)(1).
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not home, and Marshal Harrington responded that he did not believe Cody
because the marshal had heard conversation inside the house and had identified
one of the voices as Tapp.
[4] Cody went inside the house and Tapp came to the door. Marshal Harrington
began the process of arresting Tapp, asking him to turn around and place his
hands behind his back. Tapp initially complied, but as the marshal gripped
Tapp’s right hand, Tapp placed his left hand on the storm door and tried to pull
away. Cody reemerged from the house, and Marshal Harrington told him
repeatedly to move away. When Cody ignored that command, Marshal
Harrington pushed him away; a struggle then ensued between Marshal
Harrington and Tapp. It was raining and Marshal Harrington’s shoes were wet,
and as he struggled to gain control of Tapp, he lost his footing and both fell to
the ground. Tapp continued to resist being handcuffed and Cody continued to
interfere, threatening Marshal Harrington. Marshal Harrington instructed
Officer Bean to place Cody in custody; after that occurred, the marshal was
finally able to place Tapp in handcuffs. Tapp was combative throughout the
whole encounter.
[5] On March 10, 2016, the State charged Tapp with Class A misdemeanor
resisting law enforcement and Class B misdemeanor disorderly conduct. At the
initial hearing, Tapp indicated that he would hire his own attorney. He failed
to do so, and on May 5, 2016, the trial court appointed a public defender for
Tapp. That attorney filed a motion to withdraw five days later, which the trial
court granted; on the same day, the trial court appointed a second public
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defender to represent Tapp. On May 17, 2016, Tapp declined the second public
defender and again indicated a desire to hire his own attorney. The second
public defender withdrew two days later.
[6] On August 25, 2016, the trial court reconvened, and Tapp appeared without
counsel. The trial court ultimately granted Tapp’s request to proceed pro se.
On September 6, 2016, a bench trial took place, after which the trial court found
Tapp guilty as charged. The trial court sentenced Tapp to 365 days, suspended
to probation, for resisting law enforcement, and to 180 days, suspended to
probation, for disorderly conduct. Tapp now appeals.
Discussion and Decision
[7] Tapp raises a number of arguments on appeal, but we find one dispositive. He
argues that he did not knowingly and voluntarily waive his right to counsel. A
defendant who wishes to waive the constitutional right to counsel must do so
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. Hopper v. State, 957 N.E.2d 613, 617
(Ind. 2011). Therefore, a defendant who wishes to proceed pro se should be
made aware of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation such that
the record will show that he “knows what he is doing and his choice is made
with eyes open.” Id. Our Supreme Court has held that courts considering
whether a waiver of counsel was knowing and intelligent must evaluate (1) the
extent of the court’s inquiry into the defendant’s decision, (2) other evidence in
the record that establishes whether the defendant understood the dangers and
disadvantages of self-representation, (3) the background and experience of the
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defendant, and (4) the context of the defendant’s decision to proceed pro se. Id.
The trial court is in the best position to assess whether the defendant has made
a knowing and intelligent waiver, and we will affirm if the trial court “has made
the proper inquiries and conveyed the proper information, and reaches a
reasoned conclusion.” Drake v. State, 895 N.E.2d 389, 393 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008).
[8] At a May 17, 2016, hearing, Tapp indicated that he wanted his second public
defender to withdraw. He stated that he intended to hire his own attorney and
the trial court agreed, cautioning that it would not appoint further public
defenders for Tapp and stating that if Tapp did not have an attorney by
subsequent hearing dates, “you will be proceeding on your own and I would
caution you against that because obviously an attorney needs to do some
depositions in this case and a [sic] discovery in this case. You know, and get
some witnesses on board for—for all parties involved.” Tr. p. 6-7.
[9] At an August 25, 2016, pretrial hearing, Tapp appeared pro se. At that hearing,
the following discussion occurred:
Court:. . . Mr. Tapp, are you still wanting to proceed on your
own for representation purposes?
Tapp: I can’t afford not to and I won’t take that public defender
that wants me to plead guilty . . . .
***
Court:I—I’m willing to appoint you a public defender so that’s
where we’ve always been at.
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Tapp: No, ma’am.
Court:So, if you want to hire your own attorney, . . .
***
Tapp: I can’t afford to and I—I can’t afford to and I won’t take a
State representative that wants me to plead guilty to this.
***
Court:. . . I would think if your attorney tells you to plead and
you don’t, you have every right to go to trial and they still
have to take it to trial. So, if you want me to appoint
somebody that’s going to—
***
Tapp: I’m just going to relax and go upon the Lord’s word.
Court:Okay.
Tapp: He proceeds me. And, I—
Court:I—I agree. I’m a big—
Tapp: —I’m pretty sure he’ll represent me just well.
Court:I—I follow Jesus Christ as well. . . .
***
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Court:If you want me to appoint somebody that will take it to the
trial regardless, I’m willing to do that. . . .
***
Tapp: No, Ma’am.
***
Tapp: So, my God says he is my counselor in the Courtroom, so
I’m going to—I’m going to trust him upon his word.
***
Court:Well – well, Mr. Tapp, if you change your mind at any
time you want me to appoint someone, I will and certainly
I – I want a trial on this. I want you to be able to come
before me. So, I – and, if you don’t – if you don’t want to
plead, I don’t want you to plead. And, I want to hear the
evidence on it and an attorney has ethics and standards
that they must follow, they may think that it’s a better,
wise decision based upon what they view for you to plead.
I don’t know. But, the reality is [] they still have a duty
and obligation to present the evidence, object when certain
evidence comes in. If you give them evidence to present,
provided it’s truthful evidence and it doesn’t violate any of
their ethical[] rules, they still have the obligation to present
that. So, if you change your mind, you put something in
writing and I will appoint someone for you. If you hire
your own attorney, you’re entitled to do that. But, you’re
also entitled to represent yourself. And, we – we’ve done
this three or four times. So, I’m proceeding with you
representing yourself at this point in time unless you put
something in writing telling me differently. Okay?
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Tapp: Yes, Ma’am. We’re good. Thank you.
Tr. p. 16-19.3
[10] Aside from the trial court’s brief statement at the May 17 hearing—when a
request to proceed pro se was not even on the table—the trial court never once
advised Tapp about the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation.
Similarly, the trial court did not inquire into Tapp’s background and education,
so we have no way of evaluating this factor. And as for the context of the
decision to proceed pro se, Tapp did not want to be represented by any attorney
who advised him to plead guilty and he believed that he would be sufficiently
represented by God during his trial. We do not find this context helpful to a
ruling granting his request to represent himself.
[11] We are mindful of the frustration that the trial court must have felt as Tapp
refused representation by two public defenders and repeatedly voiced an
intention to retain private counsel but failed to do so. We are likewise mindful
that the trial court could not permit Tapp to postpone the trial indefinitely with
promises of private counsel on the horizon. But the right to representation by
an attorney is so sacrosanct, and so crucial to the administration of justice, that
certain procedures—including, most importantly, a pointed advisement
regarding the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation—simply must be
3
At that hearing, Tapp later requested to take a polygraph examination and stipulated to its admission into
evidence at trial regardless of the results.
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followed before a defendant is permitted to proceed pro se. In this case, those
procedures were not followed. As a result, the trial court erred by concluding
that Tapp had knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to counsel. We
reverse and remand for a new trial.
[12] The judgment of the trial court is reversed and remanded for further
proceedings.
Barnes, J., and Crone, J., concur.
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