Marlan Long v. State of Indiana ( 2014 )

Pursuant to
Pursuant to Ind.Appellate
Ind.Appellate Rule
Rule 65(D),
65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall notnot
this Memorandum Decision shall be
be regarded as precedent or
regarded as precedent or cited before cited Dec 31 2014, 9:09 am
before
any courtany courtfor except
except for the
the purpose of
purpose of establishing the defense
establishing the defense of res judicata, of
res judicata,
collateral collateral
estoppel, or estoppel,
the law ofor the
the
law
case. of the case.
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
WILLIAM A. RAMSEY GREGORY F. ZOELLER
RACHEL K. STEINHOFER Attorney General of Indiana
Murphy Ice LLP
Fort Wayne, Indiana MICHAEL GENE WORDEN
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
MARLAN LONG, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 49A02-1403-CR-200
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Steven R. Eichholtz, Judge
Cause No. 49G20-1108-FA-60050
December 31, 2014
MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION
BROWN, Judge
Marlan Long appeals his conviction and sentence for conspiracy to deal cocaine as
a class A felony. Long raises four issues, which we revise and restate as follows:
I. Whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain his conviction for
conspiracy to deal cocaine;
II. Whether the trial court erred in denying his motion for mistrial;
III. Whether the court abused its discretion in admitting certain
evidence; and
IV. Whether his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the
offense and the character of the offender.
We affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In August 2011, law enforcement officers from the Metro Drug Task Force of the
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (“IMPD”) and the Drug Enforcement
Agency (“DEA”) arranged for a confidential informant (the “C.I.”) to purchase a
kilogram, or brick, of cocaine from Vernon Woodruff, who had been the target of law
enforcement investigation. Law enforcement had previously used the C.I. to purchase
several smaller amounts of cocaine from Woodruff. The “buy bust” was to arrest the
source of the supply along with Woodruff. Transcript at 32. Law enforcement officers
desired to arrange a buy bust in part because they did not wish to purchase $30,000 worth
of cocaine.
On August 23, 2011, a DEA agent installed a video recording device in the C.I.’s
vehicle. Law enforcement, consisting of approximately fifteen officers, established
2
surveillance around Woodruff’s residence, and the C.I. was searched for contraband and
money and was fitted with a recording device.
The C.I. contacted Woodruff and stated he wanted a kilogram of cocaine, and
Woodruff called Bryant Williams to ask Williams if he could obtain the cocaine.
Williams told Woodruff that his cousin, Long, could supply the kilogram. Woodruff set
up a meeting with the C.I. and Williams. Woodruff would receive some money from the
seller and some cocaine from the C.I. for his role in the transaction. Woodruff’s role was
to arrange for the buyer, the C.I., to be at the meeting, and Williams’s role was to arrange
for the seller to be at the meeting.
The C.I. arrived at Woodruff’s house and parked at the rear of the house, and
Woodruff exited his house and spoke with the C.I. for a few minutes. Woodruff initially
asked the C.I. to go inside the house, but the C.I. stated he wished to stay outside. The
C.I. moved his vehicle to the front of Woodruff’s house. Woodruff exited and went back
inside his house a couple of times. Woodruff and Williams waited inside for the cocaine
to be delivered.
Eventually, Long and Che Brownlow arrived at Woodruff’s house driving a
Camaro, and Williams went outside and let them in the house. Woodruff had never met
Long or Brownlow. Brownlow was carrying a blue or black bag which contained the
cocaine, and he placed the bag on the kitchen table. Woodruff said that the buyer would
want to see and sample it before any money was transferred.
3
Long opened the bag, displaying the kilogram of cocaine wrapped in cellophane.
Woodruff handed a utility knife to Long, and Long cut the wrapper off of the cocaine.
Woodruff, Williams, Long, and Brownlow stood around the kitchen table. Williams
asked Long the price of the cocaine, Long decided the price, and Williams planned to add
an amount to the price as a fee for Williams and Woodruff.
Williams and Woodruff exited the house, with Williams carrying the bag of
cocaine, and entered the C.I.’s vehicle. Williams opened the bag and showed it to the
C.I., and the C.I. said that it was good and then made a phone call. After receiving the
takedown signal from the detective, law enforcement officers moved in around the C.I.’s
vehicle and entered Woodruff’s house, arresting Long, Brownlow, Woodruff, and
Williams and retrieving the kilogram of cocaine. Laboratory analysis of the substance
was performed within twenty-four hours, and the substance was confirmed to be a
kilogram of cocaine.
On August 26, 2011, the State charged Long with Count I, conspiracy to deal in
cocaine as a class A felony; Count II, dealing in cocaine as a class A felony; Count III,
possession of cocaine as a class C felony; and Count IV, operating a vehicle while
suspended as an habitual traffic violator as a class D felony.1 A jury trial was conducted
1
The appellant’s appendix does not include a copy of the charging information. The trial court
read the charging information at the beginning of the trial, and the court stated in part that the
information, “omitting the formal part reads” as follows:
that on or about August 23rd, 2011, Vernon Woodruff, Bryant Williams, Marlan Long
and Che Brownlow did with intent to commit the felony of dealing in cocaine, agree with
each other to commit said felony of dealing in cocaine which is to knowingly deliver to a
confidential informant a controlled substance, that is cocaine in an amount greater than
4
in January 2013, but the jury did not reach a verdict and the court declared a mistrial. On
October 3, 2013, Long filed a Request for 404(b) Notice requesting that the prosecution
provide reasonable notice in advance of trial of any evidence of other crimes, wrongs or
acts that it intended to introduce at trial, and the court granted the request. A second jury
trial was held on January 15 and 16, 2014. At the beginning of the trial, Long objected to
any admission of evidence pertaining to the cocaine because the evidence itself had been
physically destroyed, and the court overruled Long’s objection. IMPD Officer Dale
Young testified, in response to questioning by Long’s counsel, that he did not find
cocaine on Long as a part of the investigation in this case and that he knew Long from
previous investigations. Long moved for a mistrial based on Officer Young’s statements,
and the court denied Long’s motion. Prior to final arguments, the State moved to dismiss
the charge under Count IV, and the court granted the motion. The jury found Long guilty
on Count I, conspiracy to commit dealing in cocaine as a class A felony. The jury was
deadlocked as to Counts II and III, and the court declared a mistrial as to those counts.
Following a sentencing hearing, the court sentenced Long to thirty years in the
Department of Correction.
three grams. And that Bryant Williams performed the following overt act in furtherance
of the agreement, delivered said cocaine to confidential informant.
Transcript at 15-16.
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DISCUSSION
I.
The first issue is whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain Long’s conviction
for conspiracy to deal in cocaine as a class A felony. When reviewing claims of
insufficiency of the evidence, we do not reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of
witnesses. Jordan v. State, 656 N.E.2d 816, 817 (Ind. 1995), reh’g denied. Rather, we
look to the evidence and the reasonable inferences therefrom that support the verdict. Id.We will affirm the conviction if there exists evidence of probative value from which a
reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.Long asserts that the State failed to introduce evidence to establish that he was part
of an agreement with Woodruff, Williams, and Brownlow to sell cocaine to the C.I.
Long argues that he was charged with conspiring with Woodruff, Williams, and
Brownlow and that therefore it would be insufficient to show that Long conspired with
only Williams or with only Williams and Brownlow. Long argues that Woodruff was the
only person who offered testimony as to what transpired in the house and that Woodruff
did not testify whether there was an indication that Long was to receive any money for
the sale of the cocaine. Long asserts that, “[a]lthough Woodruff testified Williams had an
agreement with Woodruff [], this evidence does not show that Long deliberately entered
into any agreement with Woodruff, much less an agreement with Woodruff to sell
cocaine to the CI.” Appellant’s Brief at 12-13. Long further argues that Woodruff’s
testimony may show Long had a pre-existing relationship with Brownlow or Williams,
6
but that relationship or association standing alone is insufficient to establish a conspiracy
and that Long’s presence at Woodruff’s house is similarly insufficient to establish he
agreed with the other men to sell cocaine. Long also argues that the evidence that he
dictated the price of the cocaine does not establish that he agreed with anyone to sell
cocaine to the C.I. and that “the evidence suggests Long may have known of a
conspiracy; the evidence does not however, establish that Long was part of the
conspiracy.” Id. at 14.
The State maintains that Long, Woodruff, Williams, and Brownlow were intent on
selling a kilogram of cocaine to the buyer arranged by Woodruff and that they all worked
together to accomplish this goal. The State argues that Long was not previously known
by Woodruff, that Long would not have known Woodruff except through Williams, that
Long would not have known where to bring the cocaine except through Williams’s
directions, and that Brownlow would not have known anything about Woodruff except
through Long.
The offense of conspiracy is governed by Ind. Code § 35-41-5-2, which provided
in part at the time of the offense that “[a] person conspires to commit a felony when, with
intent to commit the felony, he agrees with another person to commit the felony,” that
“[a] conspiracy to commit a felony is a felony of the same class as the underlying
felony,” and “[t]he state must allege and prove that either the person or the person with
whom he agreed performed an overt act in furtherance of the agreement.” The State is
not required to prove the existence of a formal express agreement to establish a defendant
7
agreed to deal in cocaine. Simmons v. State, 828 N.E.2d 449, 454 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
The requisite agreement can be inferred from circumstantial evidence, including overt
acts of the parties in furtherance of the criminal act. Wallace v. State, 722 N.E.2d 910,
913 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000). Here, the underlying felony is dealing in cocaine as a class A
felony. The offense of dealing in cocaine is governed by Ind. Code § 35-48-4-1, which at
the time of the offense provided in part that “[a] person who: [1] knowingly or
intentionally . . . [2] delivers . . . [3] cocaine . . . commits dealing in cocaine . . . a Class B
felony . . . ,” and that “[t]he offense is a Class A felony if . . . the amount of the drug
involved weighs three (3) grams or more . . . .” Thus, to convict Long of conspiracy to
deal in cocaine as a class A felony, the State needed to prove that Long intended to
commit the felony, agreed with another person to commit the felony, and that Long or
one of the persons with whom he agreed performed an overt act in furtherance of the
agreement.
Long does not challenge the evidence that Williams carried the bag containing the
kilogram of cocaine to the C.I.’s vehicle in order to sell the cocaine to the C.I. or argue
that Williams’s actions did not constitute an overt act. In support of the element of an
agreement to which Long was a party, the evidence most favorable to the conviction is
that the C.I. indicated to Woodruff that he wanted a kilogram of cocaine and Woodruff
called Williams to ask if Williams could obtain the cocaine. Williams said that his
cousin, Long, could obtain the cocaine. Woodruff testified that he and Williams were at
Woodruff’s house, that Long and Brownlow arrived at the house, and that Brownlow
8
placed the bag of cocaine on the kitchen table. Woodruff testified that he stated that the
buyer would want to see and sample it before any money was transferred and that Long
opened the bag displaying the brick of cocaine. Woodruff testified that he handed a
utility knife to Long and that Long cut the wrapper off of the cocaine. Woodruff testified
that he, Williams, Long, and Brownlow stood around the kitchen table. Woodruff
indicated that no one appeared surprised or asked “what’s that” when the cocaine was
taken out of the bag. Transcript at 95. Woodruff further testified that Williams and Long
negotiated the price of the cocaine and that he was present and in the room during their
conversation. When asked “was there any talk or indication that Marlan Long was going
to receive any part of that money,” Woodruff testified “[h]e was the one dictating the
price of the kilo.” Id. at 115. When asked “[y]ou indicated that [Long] decided the
price,” Woodruff stated “[y]es.” Id. at 116. When asked what Williams was doing,
Woodruff testified “[h]e was . . . wantin’ to know what the selling price was so he can
tack on, like I was, our fee.” Id. When asked, “[s]o who did [] Williams ask what the
price was going to be,” Woodruff answered “[t]he defendant.” Id. Woodruff later
testified: “They set the price. They put the base price on it. And we tacked on what we
wanted.” Id. at 121.
Based upon our review of the record, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient
for a reasonable jury to find that Long was a party to an agreement to deliver cocaine
over three grams to the C.I. and to conclude that Long committed conspiracy to deal in
cocaine as a class A felony. See McCollum v. State, 582 N.E.2d 804, 816 (Ind. 1991)
9
(holding the evidence was sufficient to show the defendant had an agreement with
another person to sell cocaine to a third person), reh’g denied; Kirk v. State, 974 N.E.2d
1059, 1076 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (holding the evidence was sufficient to sustain the
defendant’s conviction for conspiracy to commit dealing in cocaine), trans. denied.
II.
The next issue is whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying Long’s
motion for mistrial. “The granting of a mistrial lies within the sound discretion of the
trial court, and we reverse only when an abuse of discretion is clearly shown.” Davis v.
State, 770 N.E.2d 319, 325 (Ind. 2002), reh’g denied. “The remedy of mistrial is
‘extreme,’ Warren v. State, 757 N.E.2d 995, 998-999 (Ind. 2001), strong medicine that
should be prescribed only when ‘no other action can be expected to remedy the situation’
at the trial level, Gambill v. State, 436 N.E.2d 301, 304 (Ind. 1982).” Lucio v. State, 907
N.E.2d 1008, 1010-1011 (Ind. 2009). We afford the trial court such deference on appeal
because the trial court is in the best position to evaluate the relevant circumstances of an
event and its impact on the jury. Alvies v. State, 795 N.E.2d 493, 506 (Ind. Ct. App.
2003), trans. denied. To prevail on appeal from the denial of a motion for a mistrial, the
appellant must demonstrate the statement or conduct in question was so prejudicial and
inflammatory that he was placed in a position of grave peril to which he should not have
been subjected. Id. We determine the gravity of the peril based upon the probable
persuasive effect of the misconduct on the jury’s decision rather than upon the degree of
impropriety of the conduct. Id.10
At trial, during the cross-examination of Officer Dale Young, the following
exchange occurred between Long’s counsel and Officer Young:
Q. Do you know if any other contraband was found in the home?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay, there was?
A. There were other pieces of evidence involve [sic] in the case. If are
[sic] saying was there small amount in the bedroom or something
like that, I don’t remember because I didn’t process that. I processed
the people. That’s the best way to put it.
Q. Okay, so being involve din [sic] this investigation you don’t know
whether or not cocaine was found in other portions of this home?
A. No because I was pulling stuff out of people’s pockets and
processing that.
Q. Um hm. Okay And you never found any cocaine on Marlan Long is
that correct?
A. Not part of this investigation.
Q. And you never - - not part of this investigation. Have you ever
found any cocaine on Marlan Long?
A. I was a district officer. So I knew Marlan from before this
investigation.
Q. Okay. And so you knew him - - he’s never been - - you knew of
Marlan Long is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. You were involved in this investigation is that correct?
A. Yes, as I testified.
11
Q. Right. Right and so with respect to this investigation, the target of
this investigation was Vernon Woodruff is that correct?
A. Say that again?
Q. Vernon Woodruff.
A. If you are describing him as the man with the braids, that actually
went out to the blue SUV in the front, yes he was the person hat [sic]
handed the cocaine. Yes.
Q. So that was Vernon Woodruff?
A. That’s the person that I believe you are trying to - - I know Marlan
from the Camaro from previous investigations I’ve done.
Transcript at 248-250. Following Officer Young’s testimony, Long moved for a mistrial
based on Officer Young’s response.2 The State argued that Officer Young did not answer
that he made any prior arrests of Long or found cocaine on Long in the past and that
Officer Young “answered truthfully in a way that didn’t imply any criminal history or
arrest of Marlan Long in the past.” Id. at 260. The court found that Officer Young’s
response was not a damaging statement and that Officer Young’s answer did not imply
there were other investigations. The court offered to admonish the jury, and Long’s
counsel indicated the defense did not desire any admonishment.
On appeal, Long argues that evidence of his prior wrongs or acts was inadmissible
under Ind. Evidence Rule 404(b), that Officer Young on two occasions “made it perfectly
clear to the jury that Officer Young was familiar with Long through Officer Young’s
2
Defense counsel stated it heard Officer Young’s response as “Not as part of this investigation.”
Transcript at 258. The prosecutor stated that she heard the response as “Not apart of this investigation.”
Id. at 259. The court indicated that Officer Young’s response was “not a part of this investigation.” Id.
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investigations undertaken as a narcotics officer,” and that “[t]he unescapable message
that the jury received was that Long had been involved in drugs on prior occasions and
was on the radar of Indianapolis narcotics officers.” Appellant’s Brief at 18-19. Long
contends that Officer Young’s testimony placed him in grave peril, that “Officer Young,
for no good reason, interjected Long’s prior involvement with narcotics into the case,”
that the improper character evidence was related to the charged offense, and that the
State’s case against Long “was far from strong” and “was largely circumstantial.” Id. at
21-23.
The State argues that Long waived his claim regarding the denial of his mistrial
motion because he refused the offer of an admonishment. The State maintains there was
no misconduct by Officer Young, that Long was not placed in grave peril, that Officer
Young’s testimony did not implicate Long in any prior drug dealing activity, and that
Officer Young could have been referring to Long as a witness or someone that he merely
ran across during an investigation. The State further argues, even if Officer Young’s
testimony constituted a violation of Rule 404(b), Long is not entitled to reversal because
any error was invited by Long as his counsel elicited Officer Young’s testimony.
In his reply brief, Long argues that this court has specifically rejected the
argument that a party waives appellate review by failing to request an admonishment in
addition to moving for a mistrial. Long also argues it would be particularly appropriate
to reject the State’s waiver argument here as the trial court recognized that an
admonishment would likely make matters worse. Long maintains that “[t]he obvious and
13
impermissible message Officer Young delivered to the jury was that Long had been
involved with narcotics on prior unrelated occasions.” Appellant’s Reply Brief at 13.
Long also argues that he did not invite impermissible testimony, that the fact Officer
Young offered the testimony on cross-examination has no bearing on whether he was
prejudiced, and that Officer Young’s answers were not responsive.
Ind. Evidence Rule 404(b) provides in part that “[e]vidence of a crime, wrong, or
other act is not admissible to prove a person’s character in order to show that on a
particular occasion the person acted in accordance with the character.” Rule 404(b) is
meant to exclude evidence “only when it is introduced to prove the ‘forbidden inference’
of demonstrating the defendant’s propensity to commit the charged crime.” Southern v.
State, 878 N.E.2d 315, 321 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), trans. denied. When Long’s counsel
asked Officer Young on cross-examination if he had ever found any cocaine on Long,
Officer Young testified: “Not part of this investigation.” Transcript at 249. When asked
if he ever found cocaine on Long, Officer Young testified “I was a district officer. So I
knew [Long] from before this investigation.” Id. Shortly thereafter, when Long’s
counsel asked whether Woodruff was the target of this investigation, Officer Young
replied affirmatively and stated that he knew Long “from previous investigations [he had]
done.” Id. at 250. The State presented evidence, as stated in Part I above, of Long’s
agreement with Woodruff, Williams, and Brownlow to sell cocaine to the C.I. Officer
Young did not make direct statements about Long’s criminal history or his knowledge of
any previous drug- or cocaine-related conduct by Long. While Officer Young’s
14
testimony could have created an inference that Long had been the subject of a law
enforcement investigation for prior bad conduct, such testimony does not violate
Evidence Rule 404(b). See Dixson v. State, 865 N.E.2d 704, 712 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007)
(holding that “evidence which creates a mere inference of prior bad conduct does not fall
within the purview of Evidence Rule 404(b)”) (citing Allen v. State, 743 N.E.2d 1222,
1232 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001) (holding that testimony which might have created an inference
that defendant had a prior criminal history did not run afoul of Evidence Rule 404(b)),
reh’g denied, trans. denied; Haak v. State, 695 N.E.2d 944, 947 (Ind. 1998) (holding that,
even if witness’s testimony that she was afraid of the defendant could have raised an
inference of prior bad acts by defendant, such an inference did not violate Evidence Rule
404(b) because the witness did not testify as to any conduct by the defendant)), trans.
denied. Moreover, we have stated that “[t]he question we must ask is whether, absent the
improper comment, it is clear beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury would have
returned a verdict of guilty.” See Greenlee v. State, 655 N.E.2d 488, 490 (Ind. 1995)
(citing Burdine v. State, 477 N.E.2d 544, 546 (Ind. 1985) (citing United States v. Hasting,
461 U.S. 499, 510, 103 S. Ct. 1974, 1981 (1983))). In this case, we conclude that, absent
the responses of Officer Young to which Long objected, it is clear that the jury would
have returned a verdict of guilty on the conspiracy charge in light of the evidence and
testimony presented by the State. While Officer Young indicated he did not find cocaine
on Long as part of this investigation and that he knew Long from previous investigations,
other evidence including the testimony of Woodruff as set forth in Part I above linked
15
Long to the conspiracy. See id. (observing that, in light of the trial testimony against
Greenlee from an eyewitness, it is likely the jury would have returned a verdict of guilty
even without the improper testimony” and holding that “[g]iven the strong testimony
against Greenlee and the absence of any evidence in the record of a deliberate attempt to
inject Officer Underwood’s testimony into trial, the trial court acted within its discretion
to deny Greenlee’s motion for a mistrial”). See also Reese v. State, 452 N.E.2d 936, 939-
940 (Ind. 1983) (noting that the defendant moved for a mistrial when a witness, Parker,
implied she had passed a polygraph test, observing that the answer given by Parker was
not deliberately induced, noting that “[t]he gauge [] is not exclusively the way in which
the testimony entered the case [] but rather, the probable impact of the irregularity upon
the verdict is of prime importance,” finding that, while the defendant argued the
conspiracy to commit arson could be inferred only from the testimony of Parker, there
had been prior testimony of two other witnesses which had linked the defendant to the
crime and from which a jury could have inferred a conspiracy, and holding that the court
did not abuse its discretion in denying the defendant’s motion for mistrial), reh’g denied.
Based upon the record, we conclude that Long has not established that Officer
Young’s responses during cross-examination were so prejudicial and inflammatory in
light of all of the evidence presented at trial that Long was placed in a position of grave
peril to which he should not have been subjected or that the jury’s decision was affected
by the responses. We cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in not declaring a
mistrial.
16
III.
The next issue is whether the court abused its discretion in admitting certain
evidence regarding the seized cocaine. Generally, we review the trial court’s ruling on
the admission of evidence for an abuse of discretion. Noojin v. State, 730 N.E.2d 672,
676 (Ind. 2000). We reverse only where the decision is clearly against the logic and
effect of the facts and circumstances. Joyner v. State, 678 N.E.2d 386, 390 (Ind. 1997),
reh’g denied. Even if the trial court’s decision was an abuse of discretion, we will not
reverse if the admission constituted harmless error. Fox v. State, 717 N.E.2d 957, 966
(Ind. Ct. App. 1999), reh’g denied, trans. denied.
Long argues that the court abused its discretion in admitting evidence pertaining to
cocaine that the State had destroyed. Long specifically points to Ind. Code § 35-33-5-5and argues that the cocaine was wrongfully destroyed and that the destruction of the
cocaine violated his due process rights. He contends “[i]t is possible that, had [he] been
able to examine and test the substance, the results could have been different than the one
and only test results upon which the State necessarily relied.” Appellant’s Brief at 30.
Long then asserts that “[n]othing in the record shows that the State informed Long or his
counsel that the evidence had been destroyed until the eve of trial.” Id. at 30.
The State maintains that, while Long objected to the admission of any cocaine
evidence at the beginning of trial, he made no objections to the testimony regarding the
cocaine during the trial and thus waived any argument and invited any error related to the
admission of the cocaine evidence. The State further argues that the statute to which
17
Long points is applicable to the manufacturing of methamphetamine or other dangerous
substances and not to dealing in cocaine and that the statute did not require suppression
of the cocaine evidence. The State also argues that Long had ample opportunity to have
the cocaine independently tested prior to the time it was accidentally destroyed and that
he was not denied due process. In his reply brief, Long argues that he preserved the issue
for appeal when he voiced his objection at the beginning of trial and that additional
objections in front of the jury would have served no purpose and would have caused him
to lose credibility.
At the beginning of trial, Long objected to “any admission . . . of evidence
pertaining to the cocaine since the evidence was itself in fact physically destroyed” and
cited Ind. Code § 35-33-5-5. Transcript at 5. The State responded that the due process
rights of Long had not been violated, that he had access to observe the cocaine at the
previous trial, and that his previous attorney deposed the chemist about her analysis of
the cocaine. The court found that the statute cited by Long did not apply and overruled
his objection. The State later presented testimony that the cocaine recovered by law
enforcement was tested within twenty-four hours of its seizure and that the cocaine and
the bag and wrapper in which it was contained were accidentally destroyed in November
2013. The State also introduced photographic evidence of the cocaine and the bag and
wrapper in which it was contained, the testimony of the forensic chemist who analyzed
the cocaine and determined that its weight was one kilogram, and the laboratory cocaine
analysis report dated August 25, 2011. Long did not object to the admission of any of
18
this evidence at trial. Long’s counsel specifically stated “[n]o objection” to the admission
of the State’s photographic evidence and the laboratory analysis report. See Transcript at
43, 92, 284.
“In order to preserve a claim of trial court error in the admission or exclusion of
evidence, it is necessary at trial to state the objection together with the specific ground or
grounds therefor at the time the evidence is first offered.” Mullins v. State, 646 N.E.2d
40, 44 (Ind. 1995) (citations omitted). “Failure to state the specific basis for objection
waives the issue on appeal.” Id. See also Lewis v. State, 755 N.E.2d 1116, 1122 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2001) (“Failure to make a contemporaneous objection to the admission of
evidence at trial results in waiver of the error upon appeal.”). Long failed to object to the
admission of the evidence regarding the recovered cocaine introduced by the State during
his trial, including the photographs of the cocaine, the testimony regarding the testing of
the cocaine, and the copy of the lab analysis report, and thus his arguments related to the
admission of this testimony and evidence are waived. Long does not allege fundamental
error in his briefs and accordingly has waived that claim as well.
We address Long’s argument that evidence of the cocaine was inadmissible
because the actual cocaine was accidentally destroyed before his second trial to the extent
he presented an argument on that basis at the beginning of trial. Ind. Code § 35-33-5-5governs the disposition of property held as evidence, and subsection (c) of the statute
provides in part that property which is unlawful to possess shall be destroyed by the law
19
enforcement agency sixty days after final disposition of the cause.3 While the cocaine
seized by law enforcement was accidentally destroyed in November 2013 prior to Long’s
second trial, we cannot say that reversal on this basis is warranted. We first observe that
Long was charged with and convicted of conspiracy to deal in cocaine and was not
convicted of possession of cocaine. Moreover, when determining whether a defendant’s
due process rights have been violated by the State’s failure to preserve evidence, we first
decide whether the evidence is potentially useful evidence or materially exculpatory
evidence. State v. Durrett, 923 N.E.2d 449, 453 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010) (citations omitted).
Long does not assert the cocaine was materially exculpatory but argues that it was
potentially useful and that, had he tested the substance, the results could have been
different than the test results upon which the State relied. Evidence is merely potentially
useful if no more can be said than that it could have been subjected to tests, the results of
which might have exonerated the defendant. Id. (citations omitted). The State’s failure
to preserve potentially useful evidence does not constitute a violation of due process
rights unless the defendant shows bad faith on the part of law enforcement. Id. The State
here presented evidence that the cocaine retrieved from Long and his co-conspirators had
been tested within twenty-four hours of its seizure and that the amount of cocaine
3
Ind. Code § 35-33-5-5(e) provides that a law enforcement agency may destroy “chemicals,
controlled substances, or chemically contaminated equipment (including drug paraphernalia as described
in IC 35-48-4-8.5) associated with the illegal manufacture of drugs or controlled substances” if the agency
“preserves a sufficient quantity of the . . . controlled substances . . . to demonstrate that the . . . controlled
substances . . . [were] associated with the illegal manufacture of drugs or controlled substances,” the
agency “takes photographs of the illegal drug manufacturing site,” and the agency “completes a chemical
inventory report.” Ind. Code § 35-33-5-5(e) relates to the destruction of evidence “associated with the
illegal manufacture” of controlled substances and thus does not govern the destruction of the cocaine in
this case.
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recovered weighed over one kilogram. The State further introduced, without objection,
photographs of the brick of cocaine and the bag and wrapper in which it was contained.
The State also presented, without objection, the testimony of the forensic chemist who
analyzed the cocaine and determined its weight to be over a kilogram and the laboratory
examination report dated August 25, 2011. Long had sufficient opportunity prior to
November 2013 to independently test the cocaine if he desired, and he has made no
showing of bad faith on the part of law enforcement. See id. (noting the failure to
preserve potentially useful evidence does not constitute a violation of due process rights
unless the defendant shows bad faith on the part of law enforcement). In addition, Long
argues as mentioned above that he was not informed the cocaine had been destroyed until
the eve of trial, which further supports the conclusion that he did not attempt to have the
cocaine independently tested and that he suffered no prejudice due to its accidental
destruction. Long has not demonstrated that he did not receive due process or is entitled
to reversal of his conviction for conspiracy to commit dealing in cocaine due to the
accidental destruction of the cocaine.
IV.
The next issue is whether Long’s sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of
the offense and the character of the offender. Ind. Appellate Rule 7(B) provides that this
court “may revise a sentence authorized by statute if, after due consideration of the trial
court’s decision, [we find] that the sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the
offense and the character of the offender.” Under this rule, the burden is on the defendant
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to persuade the appellate court that his or her sentence is inappropriate. Childress v.
State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080 (Ind. 2006).
Long argues the drug deal did not involve violence or the threat of violence and
that he was not in possession of a weapon when he was arrested. He argues that, while he
has a criminal history, the court recognized his felony convictions were not “the worst
felony convictions in the world.” Appellant’s Brief at 32 (citing Transcript at 414).
Long also argues that, while he was awaiting trial, he was gainfully employed, attended
school, excelled at his job, and that allowing him to serve all or part of his sentence
through community corrections would allow him to continue to support his three children
and fiancée’s child.
The State argues the nature of the offense is egregious based on the amount of
cocaine that Long conspired to deal and that several people were involved in his
conspiracy. The State further argues that Long’s character demonstrates his sentence is
not inappropriate, that his criminal behavior continued unabated from 1997 to the present
crime, that as an adult Long accumulated thirty-five arrests and six felony convictions,
and that he had numerous probation violations, many related to substance abuse. The
State contends there is nothing about the nature of the offense or Long’s character that
suggests the sentence imposed is inappropriate, either in its length or placement, other
than that it is too lenient.
Our review of the nature of the offense reveals that Long entered an agreement
with Brownlow, Woodruff, and Williams to sell a kilogram of cocaine. Woodruff
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indicated that the transaction was “a thirty to thirty-five thousand dollar transaction.”
Transcript at 120. Our review of the character of the offender reveals that, according to
the presentence investigation report (the “PSI”), Long was born December 12, 1982, he
has three dependents and is ordered to pay child support, and that his first arrest was at
age fourteen. The PSI indicates that Long’s criminal history includes juvenile
adjudications for carrying a handgun without a license in 1997 and fleeing law
enforcement in 1998, and that his adult criminal history includes possession of marijuana,
operating a vehicle having never received a license, and resisting law enforcement as
misdemeanors in 2000; resisting law enforcement as a misdemeanor in 2001; possession
of marijuana as a misdemeanor, operating a vehicle having never received a license as a
misdemeanor, possession of cocaine or schedule I or II drug as a class D felony, and
driving while license suspended as a misdemeanor in 2002; carrying a handgun without a
license as a class C felony and resisting law enforcement as a misdemeanor in 2003;
operating vehicle while intoxicated as a misdemeanor in 2006; disorderly conduct and
driving while license suspended as misdemeanors in 2007; criminal confinement as a
class D felony, battery as a class A misdemeanor, operating a vehicle while suspended as
a habitual traffic violator as a class D felony, and possession of a controlled substance as
a class D felony in 2008; resisting law enforcement as a misdemeanor in 2009; operating
a vehicle while suspended as a habitual traffic violator as a class D felony in 2011; and
operating motor vehicle after lifetime forfeiture of driving privileges as a class C felony
in 2013. The PSI further shows that Long’s probation was revoked a number of times.
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The PSI states that Long was employed doing interior construction from December 2013
through January 2014 and that he was previously employed as a traffic guard and
transportation navigator in 2013. Long reported that he smokes marijuana once weekly
and reported his last use on January 14, 2014. The PSI also provides that the results of
the Indiana Risk Assessment System show that his overall risk assessment score places
him in the high risk to reoffend category, with high scores in the domains of criminal
history and substance abuse.
After due consideration, we conclude that Long has not sustained his burden of
establishing that his advisory sentence of thirty years is inappropriate in light of the
nature of the offense and his character.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Long’s conviction and sentence.
Affirmed.
BAILEY, J., and ROBB, J., concur.
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