Robert F. Petty v. State of Indiana ( 2014 )

Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D), this
Memorandum Decision shall not be
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:
RYAN D. BOWER GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Salem, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
KARL M. SCHARNBERG
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
May 07 2014, 9:27 am
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
ROBERT F. PETTY, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 72A05-1305-CR-237
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE SCOTT CIRCUIT COURT
The Honorable Frank Newkirk, Special Judge
Cause No. 72C01-1009-MR-1
May 7, 2014
MEMORANDUM DECISION – NOT FOR PUBLICATION
RILEY, Judge
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Appellant-Defendant, Robert Petty (Petty), appeals his conviction for Count I,
voluntary manslaughter, Ind. Code § 35-42-1-3; Count II, removal of body from scene, a
Class D felony, I.C. § 36-2-14-17; and Count III, obstruction of justice, a Class D felony,
I.C. § 35-44-3-4.
We affirm.
ISSUES
Petty raises four issues on appeal which we restate as follows:
(1) Whether trial court abused its discretion in admitting several autopsy
photographs;
(2) Whether the trial court failed to tender the proper jury instructions;
(3) Whether there was sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt
Petty’s conviction of voluntary manslaughter; and
(4) Whether Petty’s sentence is inappropriate.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On April 7, 2007, Petty married Nina Keown (Keown), and welcomed their
daughter, B.P., a month later. On October 9, 2009, Petty and Keown divorced, but got
back together in July 2010. Keown was also in the process of moving back into Petty’s
house located on 7168 East Plymouth Road, Lexington, Indiana.
On August 7, 2010, Petty, Keown, and B.P drove to Clarksville, Indiana for a day
of shopping. Petty bought a video game at a game store, two pints of Jim Beam at a liquor
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store, and a ring for Keown at a pawn shop. They drove back to Lexington arriving around
4.30 p.m., dropped off B.P at Petty’s fathers’ house, and drove to Scottsburg, Indiana to
attend the HopStock Music Festival (concert). Petty and Keown were together at the
beginning of the concert but later separated. At some point, Petty wanted to go home. He
walked back to his Camo 4-Wheeler (4-Wheeler) only to find Keown standing next to it,
talking to somebody on her cellphone. Keown quickly hung up, and when Petty asked who
she was talking to, Keown replied, “none of your fucking business.” (Transcript p. 1488).
This made Petty angry and they started to argue. They were both intoxicated from the
alcohol they had consumed at the concert. The pair set off in the 4-Wheeler but stopped at
the intersection of Plymouth Road and Highway 3, where they got out and continued
arguing for about two to three minutes before climbing back into the 4-Wheeler and driving
the rest of the way home. Once they arrived at Petty’s residence, Petty snatched Keown’s
cellphone. Using her call history, Petty called the last number Keown had dialed. It turned
out that Keown had called a wrong number, and had spoken to a man by the name of Joe
Barger (Barger). Barger told Petty that Keown had called him three times asking for
“Mitch.” (Tr. p. 1456). Petty called Barger approximately ten times but Barger refused to
talk to him or disclose his identity. In one of these ten phone calls, Petty threatened Barger
and told him that he would go over to his house to “whip” and “kill” him. (Tr. p. 1462).
In the meantime, Keown had gone to the master bedroom and had passed out on the
bed, with her feet hanging over the foot of the bed. Since Petty did not get any information
from Barger, he went into the master bedroom to ask Keown the same question. Keown
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was unconscious and could therefore not answer him back. At this point, Petty was “mad
at her,” he got on top of Keown, put his hands on her throat and choked her. (Tr. p. 1575).
When Petty saw that Keown was not responding, Petty left the house and drove back
to Scottsburg, Indiana, stopping at Wal-Mart and Burger King. Approximately one hour
later, Petty drove back to his house and found Keown still unconscious and she had turned
blue. Petty tried to resuscitate Keown but she did not wake up. According to Petty, he
knew Keown had died because she had urinated on herself. Petty decided that he did not
want to go to jail, so he tried “to [] make it all disappear.” (Tr. p. 1527). Petty placed
Keown’s body and her boots into the back of his 4-Wheeler, and drove out into the
countryside stopping near Saluda, Indiana. He then placed two phone calls from Keown’s
cellphone in an attempt to divert suspicion from himself. After that, Petty removed
Keown’s cellphone battery, and threw it into the field. Petty decided not to dump Keown’s
body there, so he drove further down, stopping at Bethlehem Road in New Washington,
Indiana. The road was on hill and was overlooking a heavily wooded area. Petty picked
up Keown’s body, stepped over the guardrail, and began carrying her body down the hill
and into the woods. The hill was quite steep and Petty quickly fell, dropping Keown’s
body. Petty left Keown’s body where it came to rest. He then drove for a while only to
realize that Keown’s boots were still on the floorboard of his 4-Wheeler; he stopped and
pitched the boots over the guardrail. At some point, he also realized that he still had
Keown’s ring in his pocket, so he also pitched it somewhere along that route.
The next morning, he returned to the site where he had dumped Keown’s body to
retrieve her clothes, because Petty feared, if found, it might assist the police in identifying
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him as Keown’s killer. He then drove back home, and burned Keown’s clothes alongside
his bed clothes in his backyard. On the same day, Petty called Keown’s mother and
grandmother and asked whether they had seen or heard from Keown. Petty told them that
he and Keown had argued at the concert the night before, and the last time he had seen her
was when she walked away at the intersection of Plymouth Road and Highway 3. Petty
would continue to tell the same story to the police for about three weeks.
On August 26, 2010, while Petty was in custody for an unrelated case in Clark
County Jail, Petty asked to speak to the sheriff but he was not available. Petty spoke to
Deputy Sherriff, Racheal Lee (Deputy Lee), and he confessed to killing Keown and he
offered to aid the officers in Scott County with Keown’s investigation. Thereafter, Deputy
Lee called Scott County Sherriff Department, and arranged to meet officers near the site
where Petty had dumped Keown’s body. Keown’s skeletal body was found the next day.
On September 29, 2010, the State filed an Information charging Petty with Count I,
murder, I.C. § 35-42-1-1; Count II, removal of body from scene, a Class D felony, I.C. §
36-2-14-17; and Count III, obstruction of justice, a Class D felony, I.C. § 35-44-3-4. That
same day, the State amended the Information adding a fourth charge, Count IV, habitual
offender, I.C. § 35-50-2-8.
Petty’s jury trial was conducted on January 29, 2013 through February 13, 2013.
Toward the end of the trial, Petty tendered jury instructions on involuntary manslaughter.
The trial court denied his request and only instructed the jury on voluntary manslaughter
as the lesser-included offense of murder. At the close of the hearing, the jury returned a
guilty verdict of voluntary manslaughter, removal of body from scene, and obstruction of
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justice. Following the return of a guilty verdict on all Counts, Petty admitted to the habitual
offender charge.
On April 17, 2013, the trial court held Petty’s sentencing hearing. In the end, the
trial court sentenced Petty to consecutive sentences of: twenty years on voluntary
manslaughter, enhanced by thirty years due to his habitual offender status; three years for
removal of body from scene; and three years for obstruction of justice. Thus, Petty’s
aggregate sentence was fifty-six years.
Petty now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Admission of Photographs
“Because the admission and exclusion of evidence falls within the sound discretion
of the trial court, this court reviews the admission of photographic evidence only for abuse
of discretion.” Schiro v. State, 888 N.E.2d 828, 841 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (quoting Corbett
v. State, 764 N.E.2d 622, 626 (Ind. 2002)), trans. denied. Relevant evidence, including
photographs, may be excluded only if its probative value is substantially outweighed by
the danger of unfair prejudice. Ind. Evidence Rule 403. Even gory and revolting
photographs may be admissible as long as they are relevant to some material issue or show
scenes that a witness could describe orally. Schiro, 888 N.E.2d at 841. Photographs that
depict a victim’s injuries are generally relevant and admissible. Custis v. State, 793 N.E.2d
1220, 1224 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), trans. denied.
Petty argues that the trial court erred in admitting Exhibit “19[A-C], and 20A-L and
others.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 3). He argues that the admission of these exhibits was not
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relevant to the issues at trial, because there was no dispute about the identity of Keown or
that she had been killed. Petty therefore contends that the admission of the photographs
was substantially prejudicial and constituted a fundamental error.
In this case, Petty recognizes that he did not object to the admission of these
photographs at trial. “Failure to object to the admission of evidence at trial normally results
in wavier and precludes appellate review unless its admission constitutes fundamental
error.” We will find fundamental error only when there has been a “ ‘blatant violation of
basic principles’ that denies a defendant ‘fundamental due process.’ ” Goodwin v. State,
783 N .E.2d 686, 687 (Ind. 2003) (quoting Wilson v. State, 514 N.E.2d 282, 284 (Ind.
1987)). The “error must be so prejudicial to the rights of the defendant as to make a fair
trial impossible.” Wiley v. State, 712 N.E.2d 434, 444–45 (Ind. 1999).
Looking at the record, we find that the trial court’s admission of the said exhibits
did not constitute a fundamental error. Exhibit 19A-C, and 20A, were photographs of
Keown’s skeletal remains. Since the remains were in a body bag, the pathologist explained
that the photographs were taken when he and his team were assembling the skeleton, and
positioning the bones in order.
Exhibit 20B, depicted two clavicles, one of which was longer than the other. The
pathologist explained that fractures associated with the skeletal remains were useful in
identifying a person, if they are at all listed in a person’s medical history. The pathologist
explained that one of the clavicles retrieved at the site was thicker in the middle because it
healed from a fracture. Later at trial, Keown’s mother testified that Keown broke her
collarbone in “4-wheeler accident” about “a year or two” ago. (Tr. p. 1445)
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Exhibit 20C and D, displayed photograph of Keown’s upper and lower jaw with
several teeth missing. The pathologist further explained that the dental records of a person
were also useful to identify a person. Later at trial, the forensic dentist, testified that these
two exhibits were used to positively identify Keown. He concluded that when he compared
the post-mortem x-ray dental records, and the ante-mortem x-ray dental records, there was
a match. Keown had previously extracted some teeth, she had fillings on some of her teeth,
and she had also had a root canal conducted on one of her teeth. See, Catrabone v State,
490 N.E.2d 272, 273 (1986) (where identification of the skeletal remains was made
through dental records).
Exhibit 20E-L, depicting Keown’s fractured ribs and skull were also introduced.
The pathologist explained that the objective was to look for evidence of trauma. He stated
that the fractures identified on the ribs had occured prior to her death, and were not
associated with her death. He also explained that there was no trauma on her skull. Even
though the admission of Exhibit 20E-L had no probative value of establishing Keown’s
cause of death, we find the admission of the exhibits was a harmless error. We note that
“[e]rrors in the admission or exclusion of evidence are to be disregarded as harmless error
unless they affect the substantial rights of a party.” Fleener v. State, 656 N.E.2d 1140,
1141 (Ind. 1995) (citations omitted).
Overall, Petty has not demonstrated how the admission of the photographs affected
his substantial rights. It is undisputed that Petty killed Keown, threw her body into the
woods, and waited three weeks before telling anyone. By the time the police recovered
Keown’s body, it had decomposed and they could only retrieve her skeleton. Moreover,
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we find that the photographs at issue here were admitted in conjunction with expert
testimonies to explain Keown’s identity and possibly identify her cause of death. We are
not persuaded that the photographs at issue were prejudicial as to influence the jury
improperly. We therefore conclude the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the
photographs.
II. Jury Instructions
Petty argues that the trial court abused its discretion when it denied his proposed
jury instruction offering involuntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense to the
murder charge. He contends that his request should have been granted because involuntary
manslaughter is a factually included lesser offense of murder and there was a serious
evidentiary dispute as to whether Petty intended to kill or merely batter Keown.
The manner of instructing a jury lies largely within the sound discretion of the trial
court, and we review only for an abuse of that discretion. Emerson v. State, 724 N.E.2d
605, 608 (Ind. 2000); Stringer v. State, 853 N.E.2d 543, 548 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). An
abuse of the trial court’s discretion occurs “when ‘the instructions as a whole mislead the
jury as to the law in the case.’ ” Ham v. State, 826 N.E.2d 640, 641 (Ind. 2005) (quoting
Carter v. State, 766 N.E.2d 377, 382 (Ind. 2002)). A defendant is only entitled to a reversal
if he affirmatively demonstrates that the instructional error prejudiced his substantial rights.
Hero v. State, 765 N.E.2d 599, 602 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied.
A trial court must engage in a three-step analysis when determining whether to
instruct a jury on a lesser included offense of the crime charged. Wright v. State, 658
N.E.2d 563, 566-67 (Ind. 1995). First, the trial court must consider whether the alleged
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lesser included offense is an inherently included offense to the principal charge. Id. If it
is not, the trial court must then decide whether the alleged lesser included offense is a
factually included offense to the principal charge. Id. at 567. Finally, if the alleged lesser
included offense is either an inherently or factually included offense to the principal charge,
then the trial court must determine if there is a serious evidentiary dispute regarding the
element that distinguishes the lesser offense from the principal charge. Id. If such a dispute
is present and a jury could conclude that the lesser offense was committed but not the
principal charge, then it is a reversible error for the trial court to refuse to give the jury
instructions on the lesser included offense. Id.
Murder is defined as “knowingly or intentionally” killing another human being. Ind.
Code § 35-42-1-1(1). Involuntary manslaughter is the killing of a human being while
“committing or attempting to commit . . . battery.” I.C. § 35-42-1-4(c)(3). The trial court’s
refusal to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense would have been an abuse of
discretion only if there was a serious evidentiary dispute as to whether Petty’s intent was
to kill or merely batter Keown. See Ketcham v. State, 780 N.E.2d 1171, 1178 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2003), trans. denied.
It is undisputed that involuntary manslaughter is not an inherently included lesser
offense to murder, but it may be a factually included lesser offense if the charging
instrument alleges that the killing was accomplished by a battery. Evans v. State, 727
N.E.2d 1072, 1081 (Ind. 2000). A factually included lesser offense exists when the
charging instrument alleges that the means used to commit the charged crime include all
of the elements of the alleged lesser included offense. Wright, 658 N.E.2d at 567.
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Here, the charging Information stated that Petty “knowingly or intentionally” killed
Keown. (Appellant’s App. p. 35). Because the information did not assert a battery,
involuntary manslaughter in this case was not a factually included lesser offense of murder.
The trial court therefore did not err in refusing to give the instruction involuntary
manslaughter. See Wright, 658 N.E.2d at 567.
III. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Petty contends that the State failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain his
conviction for voluntary manslaughter. Specifically, he contends the State failed to prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to kill Keown when he strangled her.
Our standard of review with regard to sufficiency claims is well settled. In reviewing
a sufficiency of the evidence claim, this court does not reweigh the evidence or judge the
credibility of the witnesses. Agilera v. State, 862 N.E.2d 298, 306 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).
We will consider only the evidence most favorable to the verdict and the reasonable
inferences drawn therefrom and will affirm if the evidence and those inferences constitute
substantial evidence of probative value to support the judgment. Id. A conviction may be
based upon circumstantial evidence alone. Id. Reversal is appropriate only when
reasonable persons would not be able to form inferences as to each material element of the
offense. Abney v. State, 822 N.E.2d 260, 264 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
A conviction of voluntary manslaughter requires proof that Petty intentionally or
knowingly killed Keown while acting under sudden heat. I.C. § 35-42-1-3. “Sudden heat”
is characterized as anger, rage, resentment, or terror sufficient to obscure the reason of an
ordinary person, preventing deliberation and premeditation, excluding malice, and
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rendering a person incapable of cool reflection. Dearman v. State, 743 N.E.2d 757, 760
(Ind. 2001).
Here, the evidence in favor of the judgment indicates that Petty knowingly or
intentionally killed Keown while acting under sudden heat. Petty testified that he and
Keown fought about the identity of the person that Keown had talked to on the night she
died. Petty testified that after Keown refused to tell him who she was talking to, he became
angry. When asked to rate his anger on a ten-point scale, Petty testified that he was a nine.
Petty said that he was so angry that night that he was planning to kill whoever Keown had
been talking to on the phone. Also, the record shows that Petty called Barger, who refused
to identify himself. In his anger, Petty went back to the bedroom, got on top of a passed
out Keown, and choked her. See Erlewein v. State, 775 N.E.2d 712, 715 (Ind. Ct. App.
2002) (where this court stated that choking someone for a minimum of forty-five seconds
clearly evinces an intent to kill or, at the very least, an awareness of a high probability that
death would result). Petty also admitted that he had a harder time controlling his thoughts
and actions when angry. Moreover, Barger testified that when Petty called him on the night
Keown was killed, Petty was really angry.
Based on the foregoing, we find that the evidence presented by the State permitted
the jury to come to a reasonable conclusion that in a fit of anger brought first by Keown’s
defiance and then Barger’s, Petty went to his bedroom and strangled Keown to death.
IV. Inappropriate Sentence
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Lastly, Petty contends that the sentence imposed is inappropriate based on the nature
of the offense and his character. 1
Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B) provides that we “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.” The burden is on the defendant to persuade the appellate
court that his or her sentence is inappropriate. Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080
(Ind. 2006). “Ultimately the length of the aggregate sentence and how it is to be served
are the issues that matter.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008). Whether
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 a
myriad of other considerations that come to light in a given case. Id.
The advisory sentence is the starting point the legislature has selected as an
appropriate sentence for the crime committed. Abbott v. State, 961 N.E.2d 1016, 1019
(Ind. 2012). A sentence for Class B felony ranges from a fixed term of between six and
twenty years, with the advisory sentence being ten years. See I.C. § 35-50-2-5. Whereas a
sentence for a Class D felony ranges from six months to three years, with an advisory
sentence of one and a half years. See I.C. § 35-50-2-7(a). Here, the trial court sentenced
Petty to an aggregate consecutive sentence of twenty years for voluntary manslaughter,
enhanced by thirty years due to his habitual offender status; three years for removal of body
from scene; and three years for obstruction of justice.
1
Petty presents his sentencing argument as two issues. However issue IV is comprised of a single paragraph
reciting the standard of review. In that paragraph, Petty alleges that the trial court abused its discretion by “maxing
out” his sentence. (Appellant’s Br. p. 7). We shall address his contention under this discussion.
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In reviewing the nature of the crime, we note that Petty choked Keown and she died
as a result. After he realized that Keown had died, Petty decided that he “didn’t want to go
to jail” and decided he would “try to just make it all disappear.” (Tr. p. 1527). In the dead
of the night, Petty loaded Keown’s body on his 4-wheeler, drove to the countryside, and
dumped her body in the woods, hoping it would never be found.
As, for Petty’s character, he points out that he is a “moderate” offender.
(Appellant’s Br. p. 8). We disagree. Petty’s extensive criminal history includes armed
robbery, burglary, theft, battery, and domestic battery on Keown. In addition, Petty
committed the instant offenses while on probation. Although Petty was enraged by Keown
not telling him who she was talking to on her cellphone, that was no reason for him to take
her life. Also, Petty’s criminal history does not suggest that he has led a law abiding life
and this fact negatively affects his character. Therefore, we find Petty’s sentence is not
inappropriate in light of the nature of the crimes and his character.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we find that: (1) the trial court did not abuse its discretion
in admitting the photographs; (2) the trial court properly declined to instruct the jury on
involuntary manslaughter; (3) there was sufficient evidence to support Petty’s conviction
for voluntary manslaughter; and (4) Petty’s sentence is appropriate.
We affirm.
ROBB, J. and BRADFORD, J. concur
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