Kenneth B. Hutslar v. State of Indiana ( 2014 )

Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
Memorandum Decision shall not be
May 14 2014, 8:01 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of
establishing the defense of res judicata,
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
MARK SMALL GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
MICHELLE E. BUMGARNER
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
KENNETH B. HUTSLAR, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 38A02-1310-CR-877
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE JAY SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Max C. Ludy, Jr., Judge
Cause No. 38D01-1303-CM-59
May 14, 2014
MEMORANDUM DECISION – NOT FOR PUBLICATION
BAKER, Judge
Appellant-defendant Kenneth B. Hutslar worked as a trustee while incarcerated at
the Jay County Jail. After Hutslar told law enforcement officials that he found a cell
phone in the laundry room, an investigation commenced because prisoners are prohibited
from having cell phones at the jail.
The jail officers found the phone as Hutslar described, and it was determined that
Hutslar’s last four social security digits unlocked the code to the phone. The officers
found text message exchanges between Hutslar and his girlfriend, Paula Champ, and one
of the numbers on the cell phone appeared several times on the inmate call log from
Hutslar’s cell block. Champ visited Hutslar many times at the jail, and a detective who
listened to a recorded conversation between Hutslar and Champ learned that Champ left
the phone in a jail trash can where a jail trustee could retrieve it.
In light of these circumstances, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to
support Hutslar’s conviction for Possession of a Cellular telephone or Device while
Incarcerated,1 a class A misdemeanor. Thus, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
FACTS
Hutslar was an inmate at the Jay County Jail in January 2013. At the time, Hutslar
was a jail “trustee,” an inmate who assists jail staff with chores including cleaning,
laundry, and kitchen duties. Trustees have access to various locations in the jail and are
not supervised while they are performing their duties.
1
Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-8.
2
On January 7, 2013, a situation arose at the jail that involved contraband, namely
marijuana and paraphernalia that had been found in the jail’s linen room. Correctional
Officer Eugene Schilling searched the linen area for those items. That same day, Hutslar
approached him and asked whether they had “found the cell phone.” Tr. p. 137. Officer
Schilling responded that he did not know anything about a cell phone. In response,
Hutslar told Officer Schilling that he wanted to talk with one of the chief deputies about
his credit time hearing. Chief Deputy Bicknell was already gone for the day, so Officer
Schilling escorted Hutslar to Sheriff Newton’s office.
Officer Schilling stayed in the office while Hutslar spoke with Sheriff Newton.
Hutslar informed Sheriff Newton that he wanted to discuss his credit time hearing and
that he would tell him exactly where the cell phone was located. Hutslar then informed
Sheriff Newton that the cell phone was in the kitchen, underneath a stack of milk cups.
Officer Schilling searched the area and found the phone precisely where Hutslar stated
that the phone would be. Officer Schilling retrieved the cell phone and brought it to the
Sheriff’s office.
Detective Patrick Wells of the Jay County Sheriff’s Office was directed to
investigate how the cell phone had reached a secure area of the jail. The phone had a
lock code, so he began by attempting to unlock it. Other investigators were in the office
with Detective Wells and discussed the fact that individuals often use the last four digits
of their social security number as a four-digit PIN on their cell phones. Using a list of the
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last four digits of each jail trustee’s social security number, Detective Wells was able to
unlock the telephone with the last four digits of Hutslar’s social security number.
When the phone was unlocked, Detective Wells reviewed the text messages and
contact numbers. He cross-referenced the numbers on the phone with calls from the
“legitimate” inmate call log. Tr. p. 168. One of the numbers on the cell phone appeared
several times on the inmate call log from Hutslar’s cell block.
Detective Wells listened to recordings of the calls to the number and determined
that it was Hutslar’s voice that he heard on the recording and an unidentified female
voice. Detective Wells subsequently checked Hutslar’s visitation log and determined that
most of Hutslar’s visits from females were from his girlfriend, Paula Champ.
Detective Wells decided to interview Champ to determine if she had been the
source of the cell phone. He subsequently determined that the frequently occurring
number on the cell phone belonged to Champ and that at least one of the text messages
told Champ that he loved her. Detective Wells also learned that Champ had smuggled
the cell phone into the jail by leaving it in a restroom trash can in one of the public areas,
where one of the trustees could retrieve it. Detective Wells reviewed recordings of
visits between Hutslar and Champ and observed them discussing the cell phone in a
“lightly veiled code,” including Champ’s verification of the phone’s lock code for
Hutslar. Id. at 172.
During one of the visits, Hutslar and Champ discussed a cell phone that Champ
had purportedly acquired for her son. Hutslar asked Champ for the phone’s security
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code, and she replied that Hutslar already knew the code because it was Hutslar’s social
security number. Hutslar repeated the number to Champ, whereupon Champ confirmed
that it was the proper number that could be used to “unlock” the phone. Id. at 173.
On March 5, 2013, Hutslar was charged with possession of a cellular telephone or
device while incarcerated, a class A misdemeanor. Following a jury trial on September
25, 2013, Hutslar was found guilty as charged and sentenced to nine months of
incarceration.2 Hutslar now appeals.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
Hutslar challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, claiming that his conviction
must be reversed because he was never found in actual possession of the phone.
Moreover, Hutslar argues that he “was not close enough to the cell phone [to support] a
finding of constructive possession.” Appellant’s App. p. 5. As a result, Hutslar argues
that his conviction must be reversed.
In reviewing challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence, we do not reweigh the
evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses. McHenry v. State, 820 N.E.2d 124, 126
(Ind. 2005). Rather, we view the evidence most favorable to the verdict. Id. Evidence is
sufficient if an inference may reasonably be drawn from it to support the verdict.
Townsend v. State, 934 N.E.2d 118, 126 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).
A defendant’s conviction can be sustained by proof of either actual or constructive
possession. Armour v. State, 762 N.E.2d 208, 216 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). An item can be
2
Champ ultimately pleaded guilty to the offense of Trafficking with an Inmate. Tr. p. 162-63.
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possessed jointly by the defendant and another without any showing that the defendant
had actual physical control thereof. Hundley v. State, 951 N.E.2d 575, 580 (Ind. Ct. App.
2011), trans. denied.
To prove constructive possession in this case, the State is only required to show
that Hutslar had knowledge of the cell phone’s presence as well as the intent and
capability to maintain dominion and control over it. State v. Emry, 753 N.E.2d 19, 22
(Ind. Ct. App. 2001). This factor may be established by circumstantial evidence. Id. Put
another way, the evidence establishing Hutslar’s constructive possession of the cell phone
will be sufficient to support his conviction if an inference may reasonably be drawn from
that evidence to support the verdict. Id.As discussed above, the evidence established that Hutslar knew that the phone was
located in the laundry room, even before the jail staff knew that a hidden phone even
existed at the jail. While working as a jail trustee, Hutslar had access to the kitchen
where the cell phone was hidden. The lock code on the phone corresponded with the last
four digits of Hutslar’s social security number, Champ took the phone into the jail, and
most of Hutslar’s text messages were to her, including an expression of love. Hutslar and
Champ were also heard during a recorded visit discussing the cell phone and its lock code
in a lightly veiled code. Id. at 162-63, 168, 170-71.
Finally, even though Hutslar contends that the phone could also have been
possessed by other inmates, the State was only required to prove that Hutslar possessed
the phone, whether or not his possession was exercised with another person or persons.
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Indeed, it is possible for multiple individuals to possess the same item. In short, the
conviction of one defendant for possessing an item does not preclude a finding that
another defendant possessed the same item. Godar v. State, 643 N.E.2d 12, 14 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1994). In this case, Hutslar had knowledge of the cell phone’s presence and had the
capability to maintain dominion and control over it. Hutslar informed the jail personnel
of the phone’s exact location and discussed the lock code with Champ who brought the
cell phone to the jail. In our view, these circumstances sufficiently proved that Hutslar
was in constructive possession of the cell phone.
In short, Hutslar’s arguments to the contrary are merely invitations for us to
reweigh the evidence and reevaluate the credibility of the witnesses, which we will not
do. Joslyn v. State, 942 N.E.2d 809, 811 (Ind. 2011). Thus, we decline to set aside
Hutslar’s conviction.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
BARNES, J., and CRONE, J., concur.
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