Tyler J. Collins v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Jun 07 2017, 8:56 am
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
the defense of res judicata, collateral Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Brian A. Karle Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Ball Eggleston, PC Attorney General of Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Eric P. Babbs
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Tyler J. Collins, June 7, 2017
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
79A05-1612-CR-2894
v. Appeal from the Tippecanoe
Superior Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Laura Zeman,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
79D04-1608-F6-800
Brown, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A05-1612-CR-2894 |June 7, 2017 Page 1 of 9
[1] Tyler J. Collins appeals his sentence for unlawful possession of a syringe as a
level 6 felony. Collins raises one issue which we revise and restate as whether
his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and his
character. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] On August 26, 2016, with intent to violate Ind. Code §§ 16-42-19 or §§ 35-48-4,
Collins knowingly possessed or had under his control a syringe or needle or an
instrument adapted for the use of heroin by injection.1 Collins possessed the
syringe with the intent to inject heroin and used the syringe to do so.
[3] On August 31, 2016, the State charged him with Count I, unlawful possession
of a syringe as a level 6 felony, and the court set his bond at $2,500. The State
subsequently moved to amend the charging information to add Count II,
possession of paraphernalia with a prior conviction, a class A misdemeanor,
and the court granted the motion. In October 2016, Collins filed a motion for
reduction of bond, and the court entered an order reducing his bond to $1,000
with the requirement that he enroll in and successfully complete a substance
abuse treatment program as recommended by Sycamore Springs. An entry in
the chronological case summary (“CCS”) dated October 31, 2016, states a cash
bond was entered in the clerk’s office, and entries in the CCS on November 2
1
Ind. Code § 16-42-19-18 provides “[a] person may not possess with intent to: (1) violate this chapter [the
Indiana Legend Drug Act]; or (2) commit an offense described in IC 35-48-4; a hypodermic syringe or needle
or an instrument adapted for the use of a controlled substance or legend drug by injection in a human being”
and that a violation constitutes a level 6 felony.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A05-1612-CR-2894 |June 7, 2017 Page 2 of 9
and 4, 2016, state that a report was filed by Sycamore Springs and that Collins
showed proof of enrollment there.
[4] On November 4, 2016, the court held a guilty plea hearing at which Collins
pled guilty to Count I, unlawful possession of a syringe as a level 6 felony, and
the State agreed to forgo prosecution on Count II. Collins agreed that he had
possession of a syringe, the syringe was an item used for the injection of a
controlled substance, he possessed the syringe with the intent to inject heroin,
that was a violation of Ind. Code § 35-48-4, and he did in fact use the syringe to
inject heroin.
[5] On December 5, 2016, the court held a sentencing hearing. At the hearing,
Collins’s counsel indicated that Collins would like to withdraw his guilty plea,
and Collins stated that he had just come across a woman who indicated the
syringes belonged to her. The court recounted the questions it had asked
Collins at the guilty plea hearing and noted that an ambulance had been called
and that but for that ambulance Collins would be dead, and Collins stated that
he understood. The court denied Collins’s request to withdraw his plea.
Collins indicated he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, manic
depressive order, and general anxiety disorder, and he testified that when the
doctor saw him regarding his social security disability “they determined that my
spinal meningitis probably ate so much of brain that I am what they would
classify as mildly retarded.” Transcript Volume 2 at 20-21. Collins indicated
that he went to Sycamore Springs as a condition of his bond and that he wanted
to obtain the treatment on his own as well. When asked if he had been
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A05-1612-CR-2894 |June 7, 2017 Page 3 of 9
compliant, Collins answered affirmatively and testified he received a shot of
Vivitrol every twenty-eight to thirty-two days. When asked the next step in the
program, he testified he attended five days a week, then there would be a step
down to three days a week for so many weeks, then two days a week for so
many weeks, and then one day a week and then hopefully after care.
[6] When asked “you owe Community Corrections money so you wouldn’t be able
to . . . pay them and . . . that’s not really an option for you correct,” Collins
replied “No, I collect Social Security Disability and . . . my dad just recently
told me that since I’ve been straightening my act up he’s, they’re re-letting me
live with them” and “therefore he was going to let me pay on the rent and . . . if
I need to pay payments or whatever . . . to Community Corrections if need be
then I got the support finally.” Id. at 23. He indicated he owed Community
Corrections $1,119 and his disability benefit was $656 per month. When asked
what was different this time, Collins answered that “before [he] never actually
wanted rehab” and he “just had three close friends go to heaven this year.” Id.
at 28. The State requested a sentence of two and one-half years, all executed,
and that if the court elected to permit Collins to continue with treatment, his
sentence be stayed upon his successful completion of treatment and probation.
Collins requested that the remainder of his sentence after time served be
suspended to probation. The court stated it would release the cash bond and
$950 of the bond would apply toward the Community Corrections fee.
[7] The court found Collins’s criminal history, multiple petitions to revoke in past
cases, and multiple failed attempts at rehabilitation and treatment to be
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A05-1612-CR-2894 |June 7, 2017 Page 4 of 9
aggravating circumstances. It sentenced him to two and one-half years
executed to be served in Tippecanoe County Community Corrections and
ordered that he was entitled to credit for sixty-five actual days plus sixty-five
days good time credit. The court also ordered that, “if [Collins] is not accepted
into Community Corrections or violates Community Corrections rules and
removed from Community Corrections, [he] shall serve the balance of the
executed sentence in the Tippecanoe County Jail or the Indiana Department of
Correction [(“DOC”)].” Appellant’s Appendix Volume 2 at 36.2
Discussion
[8] The issue is whether Collins’s sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of
the offense and his character. Ind. 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.” Under this rule, the
2
On appeal, Collins states: “As of the date of this Appellant’s Brief, Collins was serving executed time in the
Tippecanoe County Jail. See Tippecanoe County Jail, http://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/467/Current-Inmate-
Listing (last visited March 4, 2017).” Appellant’s Brief at 6 n.3. In its appellee’s brief, the State responds:
“Review of the website provided by Collins, as of the time the State files this brief, shows that his name is not
currently listed as an inmate at the Tippecanoe County Jail. See http://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/467/
Current-Inmate-Listing (viewed April 3, 2017).” Appellee’s Brief at 5 n.3. Our review reveals that the
information under Collins’s name on Tippecanoe County’s website sets forth a booking date of May 5, 2017,
and states, under “Current Status,” the phrase “No Hold,” which means “[i]f all eligibility requirements are
met, inmate may be released on bond.” See http://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/467/Current-Inmate-Listing)
(last visited May 24, 2017). The information also includes, under “Charge Details,” entries for “work release
violation (jail use only),” with a corresponding scheduled court date of June 6, 2017, under the cause number
from which this appeal arises, and “possession of methamphetamine” and “possession of salvia or synthetic
cannabinoid.” Id. The page also includes a disclaimer stating “[a]ll information has been derived from
public records that are constantly undergoing change and is not warranted for content or accuracy.” Id.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A05-1612-CR-2894 |June 7, 2017 Page 5 of 9
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).
[9] Collins asserts that his offense is no more or less egregious than the typical
offense for which he was convicted, he victimized only himself through his
conduct, and his maximum, fully-executed sentence is inappropriate. He
argues he pled guilty without the benefit of a plea agreement, he took initiative
during the time his case was pending to seek substance abuse treatment at
Sycamore Springs, his forgery convictions occurred over ten years ago, the
majority of his charges correlate with his addiction issues, his best opportunity
to rehabilitate is with intensive substance abuse and mental health treatment
rather than a maximum jail sentence, and he is a victim of mental illness and an
ongoing battle with addition. He requests this court to revise his sentence to
include time on probation during which meaningful mental health and
substance abuse treatment may be obtained under the watchful eye of a
probation officer.
[10] The State responds that Collins has a long criminal history consisting of felony
and misdemeanor convictions and adjudications as well as probation violations
and revocations and, despite these contacts with the criminal justice system and
prior leniency, he has continued to commit criminal offenses. The State also
asserts that Collins has not accepted responsibility for his actions and that he
makes no argument there is a nexus between his mental health issues and the
instant offense.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A05-1612-CR-2894 |June 7, 2017 Page 6 of 9
[11] Our review of the nature of the offense reveals that Collins, with intent to
violate Ind. Code §§ 16-42-19 or §§ 35-48-4, knowingly possessed or had under
his control a syringe for the use of heroin by injection. At the guilty plea
hearing, Collins admitted that he used the syringe to inject heroin.
[12] Our review of the character of the offender reveals that Collins pled guilty
without the benefit of a plea agreement and the State agreed to forgo
prosecution of the charge for possession of paraphernalia with a prior
conviction. According to the presentence investigation report (“PSI”), Collins
was born on May 12, 1988, and has juvenile adjudications for truancy in 2001,
battery resulting in bodily injury and residential entry in 2002, and theft and
auto theft in 2003. Also as a juvenile, a petition for modification of disposition
was filed due to Collins intimidating and threatening his teacher in May 2003,
and the court granted the petition; a petition for modification of disposition was
filed due to his taking his parents’ van without permission and providing a false
name to police in September 2003, and he was ordered to complete home-based
services; and a petition for modification of disposition was filed due to his
pushing his mother into a wall, and the court granted the petition. As an adult,
Collins was convicted of failure to stop after an accident resulting in non-
vehicular damage as a class B misdemeanor in 2006; two counts of forgery as
class C felonies, theft as a class D felony, and possession of marijuana as a class
A misdemeanor in 2007; obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit
(conspiracy to commit) as a class D felony in February 2008; battery resulting
in bodily injury as a class A misdemeanor in September 2008; possession of a
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A05-1612-CR-2894 |June 7, 2017 Page 7 of 9
narcotic drug (attempt to commit) and battery resulting in bodily injury (prior
with same victim) as class D felonies, resisting law enforcement as a class A
misdemeanor, and battery as a class B misdemeanor in 2012; driving while
suspended (prior within ten years) as a class A misdemeanor in 2015; and
possession of paraphernalia and knowingly or intentionally operating a motor
vehicle without ever receiving a license as class C misdemeanors in 2016.
[13] In addition, the PSI indicates that Collins violated work release in 2006 by
stealing from another work release participant and was transported to the
Tippecanoe County Jail; a notice of work release rejection was filed in February
2008 due to his possessing contraband and providing a false statement to a work
release officer, and he was transported to jail; he tested positive for cocaine and
marijuana in May 2008; a notice of home detention violation was filed in
November 2008 due to his being found at a motel injecting cocaine, and he was
remanded to jail; and a petition to revoke probation was filed in 2011 due to his
testing positive for marijuana, and the petition was found true. The PSI further
states Collins failed to report to the probation department after his guilty plea
hearing in November 2016 and has a long history of non-compliance with
community-based services. The PSI also observes that a presentence
investigation report filed in another cause indicated that Collins had been
diagnosed with bipolar disorder and manic depressive disorder at ten years of
age, was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder more recently, lost
hearing due to contracting spinal meningitis in 2000 and had surgeries related
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A05-1612-CR-2894 |June 7, 2017 Page 8 of 9
to his hearing loss, and reported a history of using and/or abusing alcohol,
marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.
[14] After due consideration, we conclude that Collins has not sustained his burden
of establishing that his sentence of two and one-half years to be served on
community corrections if accepted is inappropriate in light of the nature of the
offense and his character.
Conclusion
[15] For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Collins’s sentence.
[16] Affirmed.
May, J. and Pyle, J., concur.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A05-1612-CR-2894 |June 7, 2017 Page 9 of 9