Timothy J. Gilbert v. State of Indiana ( 2012 )

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:
JOHN ANDREW GOODRIDGE, ESQ. GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Evansville, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
RICHARD C. WEBSTER
Deputy Attorney General
FILED
Indianapolis, Indiana
Nov 29 2012, 9:48 am
IN THE
CLERK
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA of the supreme court,
court of appeals and
tax court
TIMOTHY J. GILBERT, )
)
Appellant-Petitioner, )
)
vs. ) No. 62A01-1205-PC-213
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Respondent. )
APPEAL FROM THE PERRY CIRCUIT COURT
The Honorable David O. Kelley, Special Judge
Cause No. 62C01-0506-FA-474
November 29, 2012
MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION
BAILEY, Judge
Case Summary
In 2006, Timothy J. Gilbert (“Gilbert”) was convicted of two counts of Child
Molesting, one as a Class A felony1 and one as a Class C felony2, and Escape, as a Class C
felony.3 On direct appeal, Gilbert’s sentence was revised but his convictions were otherwise
affirmed. He subsequently filed a petition for post-conviction relief, which the post-
conviction court denied. Gilbert now appeals.
We affirm.
Issue
Gilbert raises the sole issue of whether the post-conviction court erred when it
concluded that he did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel. He points to three alleged
grounds for relief, namely:
1. Trial counsel failed to object to the admission of evidence;
2. Trial counsel failed to present exculpatory evidence; and
3. The cumulative effect of trial counsel’s ineffective performance and the
trial court’s error.
Facts and Procedural History
We take our statement of facts concerning Gilbert’s offenses from this Court’s
unpublished opinion affirming the convictions on direct appeal:
S.J.C. was approximately six years old when her mother married Gilbert.
Several times when S.J.C. was between the ages of nine and eleven, Gilbert
1
Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(a)(1).
2
I.C. § 35-42-4-3(b).
3
I.C. § 35-44-3-5(a).
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engaged in sexual touching and sexual deviate contact with her. S.J.C. did not
tell anyone about these incidents when they occurred. In May 2005, when
S.J.C. was approximately sixteen years old, police contacted her concerning
allegations that Gilbert possessed nude pictures of her. At this time, S.J.C. told
her mother and police that Gilbert had previously molested and engaged in
sexual deviate conduct with her. Police investigated the allegations, arrested
Gilbert on June 1, 2005, and subsequently executed a search warrant, leading
to the discovery of evidence. Following his arrest, police left Gilbert
unattended in the jail’s booking area, and Gilbert escaped through a side door.
Police apprehended Gilbert later the same night after finding him hiding
underneath a trailer. On June 6, 2005, the State charged Gilbert with the two
counts of child molesting and escape. On August 26, 2005, Gilbert moved to
sever the child molesting counts from the escape count, and the trial court
severed the counts and ordered separate trials. A jury found Gilbert guilty of
both child molesting counts, and Gilbert then pled guilty to escape.
Gilbert v. State, No. 62A03-0601-CR-20, slip op. at 2-3 (Ind. Ct. App. Dec. 29, 2006).
After the trial court entered judgments of conviction, it sentenced Gilbert to thirty
years imprisonment for the charge of Class A felony Child Molesting, four years
imprisonment for the charge of Class C felony Child Molesting, and four years imprisonment
for the Class C felony charge of Escape, with all the sentences to run consecutively. This
yielded an aggregate term of imprisonment of thirty-eight years. Id. at 4.
Gilbert appealed and challenged the propriety of his sentence. A panel of this Court
affirmed Gilbert’s convictions, but reversed and remanded the trial court’s sentencing order
with instructions for the trial court to modify Gilbert’s sentence to run the four-year term of
imprisonment for Escape concurrently with his sentences for Child Molesting. This yielded
an aggregate term of imprisonment of thirty-four years. Id. at 5-6.
On December 21, 2007, Gilbert filed his petition for post-conviction relief, alleging
that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. On July 13, 2010, the post-
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conviction court conducted an evidentiary hearing on Gilbert’s petition for post-conviction
relief. On April 11, 2012, the post-conviction court entered its order denying Gilbert’s
petition for relief.
This appeal ensued.
Discussion and Decision
Standard of Review
Gilbert contends that the post-conviction court erred when it denied his petition for
relief. Our standard of review in appeals from post-conviction proceedings is well-
established.
In reviewing the judgment of a post-conviction court, appellate courts consider
only the evidence and reasonable inferences supporting its judgment. Conner
v. State, 711 N.E.2d 1238, 1245 (Ind. 1999). The post-conviction court is the
sole judge of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses. Fisher v. State,
810 N.E.2d 674, 679 (Ind. 2004). To prevail on appeal from denial of post-
conviction relief, the petitioner must show that the evidence as a whole leads
unerringly and unmistakably to a conclusion opposite to that reached by the
post-conviction court. Graves v. State, 823 N.E.2d 1193, 1197 (Ind. 2005).
Where, as here, the post-conviction court enters findings and conclusions in
accordance with Indiana Post–Conviction Rule (1)(6), we will reverse “upon a
showing of clear error—that which leaves us with a definite and firm
conviction that a mistake has been made.” Ben-Yisrayl v. State, 729 N.E.2d
102, 106 (Ind. 2000) (quotation omitted), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 830, 122 S.Ct.
73, 151 L.Ed.2d 38 (2001). Only where the evidence is without conflict and
leads to but one conclusion, and the post-conviction court has reached the
opposite conclusion, will its findings or conclusions be disturbed as being
contrary to law. Miller v. State, 702 N.E.2d 1053, 1058 (Ind. 1998).
Hall v. State, 849 N.E.2d 466, 468-69 (Ind. 2006).
To prevail in a post-conviction claim alleging the violation of the Sixth Amendment
right to effective assistance of counsel, a defendant must establish the two components set
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forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). “First, a defendant must show that
counsel’s performance was deficient.” Id. at 687. This requires a showing that counsel’s
representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that “counsel made
errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as ‘counsel’ guaranteed to the defendant by
the Sixth Amendment.” Id. Counsel’s performance is presumed effective, and a defendant
must offer strong and convincing evidence to overcome this presumption. Ben-Yisrayl v.
State, 729 N.E.2d 102, 106 (Ind. 2000).
“Second, a defendant must show that the deficient performance prejudiced the
defense. This requires showing that counsel’s errors were so serious as to deprive the
defendant of a fair trial,” that is, a trial where the result is reliable. Strickland, 466 U.S. at
687. To establish prejudice, a “defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability
that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.” Id. at 694. A reasonable probability is one that is sufficient to undermine
confidence in the outcome. Id.During Gilbert’s trial, the State elicited testimony from S.J.C. concerning her reasons
for speaking with police. This testimony included S.J.C.’s repetition of certain information
she had received; Gilbert’s trial counsel did not seek to prevent introduction of this testimony
through a motion in limine or objection at trial. Gilbert’s trial counsel also did not object to
the testimony of several witnesses concerning Gilbert’s escape from the Perry County Jail
after his arrest. Finally, Gilbert’s trial counsel did not attempt to introduce evidence
concerning S.J.C.’s conduct at the time of Gilbert’s offenses or concerning venereal diseases
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Gilbert was alleged to have that Gilbert now contends amounted to exculpatory evidence.
Gilbert now raises these as bases for post-conviction relief; we address each contention in
turn.
Failure to Object to the State’s Introduction of Evidence
Gilbert first contends that his trial counsel was ineffective by failing to object to
evidence the State introduced. He draws our attention to two specific types of evidence, both
of which he argues should have been excluded under Indiana Evidence Rule 404(b): S.J.C.’s
testimony concerning her reasons for reporting Gilbert’s conduct to the police, and several
police officers’ testimonies concerning Gilbert’s escape from the Perry County Jail.
Relevant evidence is that evidence “having any tendency to make the existence of any
fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable
than it would be without the evidence.” Ind. Evidence Rule 401. Relevant evidence is
admissible unless otherwise provided by applicable law; evidence that is not relevant is not
admissible. Evid. R. 402.
The admissibility of relevant evidence is limited by, among others, Evidence Rules
403 and 404. Rule 403 provides that relevant evidence may be excluded “if its probative
value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues,
or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, or needless presentation of
cumulative evidence.” Rule 404 provides that “[e]vidence of a person’s character or trait of
character is not admissible” except in certain circumstances. Evid. R. 404(a). Further,
“[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a
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person in order to show action in conformity therewith,” but may be admissible “for other
purposes, such as proof of motive, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence
of mistake or accident,” subject to reasonable notice or good cause shown for lack of notice.
Evid. R. 404(b).
Gilbert points to two incidences in which he claims trial counsel failed to object to
prior-acts evidence that he contends were inadmissible under Rule 404. The first of these
relates to S.J.C.’s testimony concerning her reasons for giving a statement to police
implicating Gilbert. Gilbert’s second contention relates to testimony from several witnesses
concerning his escape from the Perry County Jail.
We turn first to Gilbert’s contentions concerning counsel’s failure to object to portions
of S.J.C.’s testimony. Gilbert takes issue with his counsel’s lack of objection to the
following testimony from S.J.C.:
[THE STATE]: Why did you decide to tell?
[S.J.C.]: Because they [Perry County Sheriff and a deputy who conducted
an interview with S.J.C.] had said something about another incident with a
young girl, and not as young as I was, but just, I think she was like 16 or 17
and I had always just thought that I was just convenient for him [Gilbert] and
that he would never do it again, and then I thought about my little sister …
who’s right now 11 years old, and I was afraid for her and I didn’t want
anything to happen to her and I thought about what happened to me and I
never wanted him [Gilbert] to see her again.
(Trial Tr. at 279.)
Gilbert’s trial counsel did not object to this testimony. However, the testimony did not
go unchallenged. Counsel inquired further into this testimony during cross-examination, and
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asked S.J.C. whether she was aware that the report of another possible victim was ultimately
determined to be false. In addition, Gilbert’s trial counsel introduced testimony from Perry
County Sheriff Leslie Glenn that the allegations concerning Gilbert’s conduct with another
sixteen- or seventeen-year-old were not related to a child molesting case, but instead would
have resulted in internal disciplinary action. At the post-conviction hearing, counsel testified
that part of the strategy at trial was to characterize S.J.C. as out to “save the world” and
“making this stuff up to make herself look like a hero,” and that this testimony advanced that
strategy. (PCR Tr. at 59.)
Upon seeking post-conviction relief, Gilbert now challenges “classical tactical choices
of [the] sort [that] hardly ever support a claim of ineffective assistance because they are
matters of trial strategy.” Woods v. State, 701 N.E.2d 1208, 1225 (Ind. 1998). While trial
counsel’s approach to Gilbert’s case may not have been successful, we do not second-guess
such tactical and strategic decisions as those to which Gilbert now objects. We therefore
cannot conclude that the post-conviction court erroneously denied Gilbert’s petition on this
basis.
We next turn to Gilbert’s complaint that his trial counsel failed to object to evidence
concerning Gilbert’s escape from the Perry County Jail. During the course of the trial,
several witnesses testified concerning the chain of events leading to Gilbert’s escape from the
Perry County Jail and his subsequent recapture. Gilbert had already won bifurcation of his
trial, with the charge of escape to be tried after the trial for child molesting; thus, the escape
charge was not before the jury for a determination of guilt. At the post-conviction hearing,
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Gilbert’s trial counsel acknowledged that he should have objected or sought to exclude
evidence concerning Gilbert’s escape from the jail. But during the trial, counsel obtained a
limiting instruction from the trial court, admonishing the jury that
Evidence has been introduced that the Defendant was involved in a crime,
escape from custody, other than those crimes charged in the information. This
evidence has been received solely on the issue of Defendant’s knowledge.
This evidence should be considered by you only for that limited purpose.
(Trial App. at 130.)
Generally, “[a] timely and accurate admonition is presumed to cure any error in the
admission of evidence.” Banks v. State, 761 N.E.2d 403, 405 (Ind. 2002). Assuming,
without deciding, that Gilbert’s trial counsel failed to properly object to evidence concerning
Gilbert’s escape from jail that would otherwise be inadmissible, Gilbert advances no
argument that the risk of harm from that erroneous admission of evidence was not cured by
the jury instruction quoted above. Absent more, we cannot conclude that the post-conviction
court erred in denying post-conviction relief on this ground, as Gilbert has not demonstrated
that he was prejudiced by the admission of that evidence, even in the face of the jury
admonishment.
Because we do not second-guess the strategic decisions of trial counsel and cannot
conclude that Gilbert was prejudiced by his counsel’s failure to object to evidence concerning
Gilbert’s escape from the Perry County Jail, we cannot conclude that the post-conviction
court erred in denying Gilbert’s petition for post-conviction relief on the basis of counsel’s
failure to object to the admission of evidence.
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Failure to Produce Allegedly Exculpatory Evidence
Gilbert also contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to introduce
exculpatory evidence at trial. Trial counsel’s decision whether to call a witness “is a matter
of trial strategy which an appellate court will not second-guess, although a failure to call a
useful witness can constitute deficient performance.” Brown v. State, 691 N.E.2d 438, 447
(Ind. 1998) (citations omitted). Nevertheless, we do not “declare counsel ineffective for
failure to call a particular witness absent a clear showing of prejudice.” Ben-Yisrayl v. State,
729 N.E.2d 102, 108 (Ind. 2000).
At the post-conviction hearing, Gilbert produced testimony from his trial counsel and
from his brother, Shawn Gilbert (“Shawn”), that counsel did not speak with certain proposed
witnesses during his investigation of the case and deposed some witnesses but did not call for
their testimony at trial. Gilbert did not testify at the post-conviction hearing to provide
testimony on what these proposed witnesses would say. Shawn did testify, however, and
indicated that these proposed witnesses could provide character testimony and would testify
to their observations of S.J.C.’s interactions with Gilbert during the period of time
encompassed by the charged offenses.
Gilbert also produced testimony from one of these witnesses, Pete Riddle (“Riddle”),
who was present at the courthouse during Gilbert’s trial but was not called to testify at the
trial. Riddle testified during the post-conviction proceeding that he did not observe any
interactions between S.J.C. and Gilbert that he thought were inappropriate or unusual during
regular game nights at Gilbert’s home during the time period of the charged offenses, nor did
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he perceive S.J.C. to be withdrawn, angry, or stand-offish toward Gilbert. On cross-
examination, Riddle acknowledged no special expertise in recognizing behavioral patterns
among individuals who have been victims of child molesting. Yet none of this rises to level
of potentially exculpatory testimony without which Gilbert was prejudiced at trial.
Gilbert also contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to introduce
evidence concerning Gilbert’s diagnosis of genital warts and to pursue evidence concerning
whether S.J.C. had contracted the condition. The rationale behind this theory on seeking
post-conviction relief appears to be that if S.J.C. had never been diagnosed with genital
warts, the absence of that diagnosis would tend to exculpate Gilbert. But Gilbert’s trial
counsel investigated that theory and ultimately decided not to pursue it because at least one
physician indicated that it would have been impossible to know whether Gilbert was
contagious when he had sexual contact with S.J.C. Absent that information, Gilbert’s trial
counsel concluded that the theory was too tenuous to be worth pursuing and testified at the
post-conviction hearing that they were a “double-edged sword” because of the possible harm
to Gilbert’s case that could come from introducing evidence that he had engaged in
unprotected sex. (PCR Tr. at 70.) Simply put, this is another strategic decision of counsel
that we decline to second-guess upon post-conviction review.
We cannot conclude that the post-conviction court erred when it concluded that
Gilbert did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel as a result of the failure of counsel to
call witnesses such as Riddle or to introduce evidence concerning Gilbert’s venereal disease.
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Cumulative Error
As we find neither prejudice nor error in any of the bases that Gilbert advances as
instances of ineffective assistance of counsel, we cannot conclude that counsel’s aggregate
errors resulted in deprivation of Gilbert’s Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of
trial counsel.
Conclusion
The post-conviction court did not err when it concluded that Gilbert was not deprived
of effective assistance of counsel at trial. We therefore affirm the post-conviction court’s
judgment denying Gilbert’s petition for post-conviction relief.
Affirmed.
RILEY, J., and CRONE, J., concur.
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