Stephen Anderson v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2018 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Dec 13 2018, 10:47 am
court except for the purpose of establishing
CLERK
the defense of res judicata, collateral Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Victoria L. Bailey Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Chandra K. Hein
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Stephen Anderson, December 13, 2018
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-CR-1322
v. Appeal from the Marion Superior
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Helen W. Marchal,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge
The Honorable Stanley Kroh,
Magistrate
Trial Court Cause No.
49G15-1701-F6-3735
Riley, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1322 | December 13, 2018 Page 1 of 9
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
[1] Appellant-Defendant, Stephen Anderson (Anderson), appeals the revocation of
his commitment in Community Corrections and the imposition of his
previously-suspended sentence.
[2] We affirm.
ISSUE
[3] Anderson presents two issues on appeal, which we restate as the following
single issue: Whether the trial court revealed bias and lack of impartiality at
Anderson’s revocation hearing.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
[4] On January 28, 2017, the State filed an Information, charging Anderson with
Count I, residential entry, a Level 6 felony; Count II, possession of marijuana, a
Class A misdemeanor; Count III, criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor;
and Count IV, possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor. On March
26, 2018, by agreement with the State, Anderson pleaded guilty to Counts I and
III, in exchange for a dismissal of the remaining charges. The same day, the
trial court sentenced Anderson to concurrent terms of two years on each Count
to be served in Community Corrections.
[5] On May 7, 2018, Community Corrections filed a notice of violation, alleging
that Anderson had repeatedly violated the “Duvall Residential Center (DRC)
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rules” by being disorderly at the center and for possessing “a controlled or
illegal substance” on at least three occasions. (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 68).
[6] On May 16, 2018, the trial court conducted a revocation hearing. At the
hearing, Anderson admitted to possessing illegal drugs, contrary to DRC’s
polices. Anderson then made the following request, “I wouldn’t mind going
back to Duval [sic]. I mean it’s fine with me[,] but I was really hoping for like []
house arrest.” (Transcript p. 8). Community Corrections maintained that
Anderson’s placement should be revoked since Anderson was “a security
threat.” (Tr. p. 12). When the trial court asked Community Corrections to
clarify that statement, Community Corrections stated that Anderson was a
“security risk because he ha[d] been caught” possessing drugs “on three
different occasions.” (Tr. p. 13). Following that argument, the trial court
ordered Anderson to serve 60 days in jail, and placed Anderson on “strict
compliance,” i.e., further violations would result in the revocation of his
placement. (Tr. p. 13).
[7] While respectfully recognizing the trial court’s ruling, Community Corrections
argued that they had tried to sanction Anderson “in-house,” but had been
unsuccessful. (Tr. p. 13). Community Corrections continued to argue, “we
have had difficulty controlling prohibited substances from coming into the
[DRC] . . . and we have had people that are [overdosing] over there . . . [a]nd
we have had to call EMS several times . . . We have had to give residents
Narcan because of [them] smoking this stuff and it’s becoming a risk in the
facility.” (Tr. p. 13).
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[8] Overlooking Community Corrections’ plea of help, the trial court proceeded to
admonish Anderson that any violation would result in the termination of his
placement. Instead of listening to the trial court or asking for permission to talk
with his attorney, Anderson immediately talked to his attorney. At that point,
the trial court reconsidered its prior ruling, revoked Anderson’s placement in
Community Corrections, and ordered Anderson to serve his previously-
suspended sentence of “295 actual days” in jail. (Tr. p. 14).
[9] Anderson now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
[10] Anderson argues that the judge showed bias toward him at his revocation
hearing. When the impartiality of a trial judge is challenged on appeal, we will
presume that the judge is unbiased and unprejudiced. Smith v. State, 770
N.E.2d 818, 823 (Ind. 2002). “Such bias and prejudice exist only where there is
an undisputed claim or where the judge expressed an opinion of the controversy
over which the judge was presiding.” Id. Adverse rulings are not sufficient of
themselves to establish bias or prejudice. Resnover v. State, 507 N.E.2d 1382,
1391 (Ind. 1987). The mere assertion of bias or prejudice is also not enough;
rather, it must be established from a judge’s actual conduct that bias or
prejudice “place[d] the defendant in jeopardy.” Smith, 770 N.E.2d at 823.
[11] In assessing a trial judge’s partiality, we examine the judge’s actions and
demeanor while recognizing the need for latitude to run the courtroom and
maintain discipline and control of the trial. Everling v. State, 929 N.E.2d 1281,
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1288 (Ind. 2010). “Even where the court’s remarks display a degree of
impatience, if in the context of a particular trial they do not impart an
appearance of partiality, they may be permissible to promote an orderly
progression of events at trial.” Id.[12] To preserve a claim of judicial bias, a party must raise the issue at the trial level.
Garrett v. State, 737 N.E.2d 388, 391 (Ind. 2000). Anderson readily concedes
that he did not object at his revocation hearing, and he seeks a review of his
claim under the fundamental error doctrine. See Ruggieri v. State, 804 N.E.2d
859, 863 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). The doctrine of fundamental error provides “an
exception to the general rule that failure to object at trial constitutes procedural
default precluding consideration of the issue on appeal.” Halliburton v. State, 1
N.E.3d 670, 678 (Ind. 2013). This “exception is extremely narrow and applies
only when the error constitutes a blatant violation of basic principles, the harm
or potential for harm is substantial, and the resulting error denies the defendant
fundamental due process. Id. The error claimed must either make a fair trial
impossible or constitute clearly blatant violations of basic and elementary
principles of due process. Id.[13] In support of his claim, Anderson argues that the trial court was punishing him
for conferring with his attorney, and he argues that the “trial court inserted itself
into the proceedings—whether because it felt disrespected or because it was in a
hurry to get through the calendar or for some other reason. Regardless of the
reason, the trial court did not act impartially.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 12).
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[14] Throughout the revocation hearing, Community Corrections maintained that
Anderson’s placement should be revoked since he could not adhere to the
policies. The trial court disregarded Community Corrections’ request and
sanctioned Anderson to serve 60 days in jail and ordered him to return to the
DRC. However, the trial court placed Anderson on strict compliance upon his
return to the facility. Following that ruling, Community Corrections
respectfully argued that the only reason it was seeking to revoke Anderson’s
placement was due to the fact that Anderson had smuggled drugs into the
facility which inherently posed a risk to other residents.
[15] The trial court disregarded Community Corrections’ argument, and proceeded
to admonish Anderson with further instructions: “You can’t have any other
previous problems. I also think Community Corrections is not going to try to
work this out with you administratively.” (Tr. p. 14). While issuing its order,
the trial court saw Anderson talking with his lawyer and being inattentive. At
that moment, the trial court changed its prior ruling and stated
You don’t seem to have any concern about anything the [c]ourt
is saying so I think it is probably better that your placement there
be revoked[,] and you finish this sentence in [] jail Mr. Anderson.
So, your 730-day sentence will be served in [] jail. You do have
70 actual days credit plus 70 day[s] earned and that is 70 actual
days plus 70 [days] earned. So, you will finish this sentence in []
jail Mr. Anderson. Your placement at Community Corrections
is revoked. And so, you have 295 actual days yet to serve. This
is the sentence the [c]ourt determined after considering evidence
and argument[s], so you do have the right to appeal the [c]ourt’s
decision . . . Do you understand your appeal rights?
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(Tr. p. 14). Anderson did not respond to the trial court’s question. The
following exchange between the trial court and Anderson’s attorney then
occurred:
TRIAL COURT: I don’t believe this. [] [I]s there some reason
that you seem to think that Mr. Anderson has to have a
conversation with you and not listen to what the [c]ourt has to
say? I don’t understand what is happening here. We are trying
to get through this calendar this morning.
ANDERSON’S ATTORNEY: Your Honor. . .
TRIAL COURT: I am talking but [Anderson] and [you] don’t
seem to have any concern about what the [c]ourt is saying at all.
ANDERSON’S ATTORNEY: Your Honor. Mr. Anderson was
indicating to me that he would, after the [c]ourt gave him the
option to go back to [DRC] that he would prefer to do his time in
custody.
TRIAL COURT: All right. That seems to be the best thing.
ANDERSON’S ATTORNEY: I am trying to explain to him
what that would mean.
TRIAL COURT: All right well that is what is happening Mr.
Anderson . . .
(Tr. pp. 14-15).
[16] In examining the trial court’s actions and demeanor throughout the revocation
proceedings, we cannot say that Anderson’s right to a fair hearing was
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impaired. Contrary to Anderson’s assertion that the trial court was punishing
him for speaking with his attorney, at no point did Anderson request for a
moment to confer with his attorney. Anderson’s behavior at the revocation
hearing showed that he was unwilling to pay attention, which was relevant to
the question of whether Anderson would adhere to a strict compliance policy
upon his return to the DRC. Also, we find that the trial court was not cross
with Anderson for delaying the proceedings that morning, rather, the trial
court’s comments reflect on its responsibility to maintain discipline and control
of the proceedings, even if it’s remarks displayed a degree of impatience.
Moreover, we find that any allegation that the trial court was acting out of
anger by issuing an adverse ruling is belied by the fact that Anderson was not
keen on returning to the DRC since he preferred home detention. Also, the
trial court’s decision came after Community Corrections’ arguments about
overdoses in its facility.
[17] In light of the foregoing, we conclude that Anderson has failed to demonstrate
error, let alone a fundamental error based on his allegation, that the judge who
oversaw his revocation hearing was biased against him.
CONCLUSION
[18] Based on the above, we conclude that Anderson has failed to demonstrate error,
let alone a fundamental error based on his allegation, that he was prejudiced by
the judge who conducted his revocation hearing.
[19] Affirmed.
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[20] Vaidik, C. J. and Kirsch, J. concur
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