Samuel Gebrehiwet v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2020 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Mar 17 2020, 9:56 am
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Ellen M. O’Connor Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Marion County Public Defender Agency Attorney General of Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Courtney L. Abshire
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Samuel Gebrehiwet, March 17, 2020
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
19A-CR-2045
v. Appeal from the Marion Superior
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Matthew Kubacki,
Appellee-Plaintiff, Judge Pro Tem
Trial Court Cause No.
49G08-1902-CM-5214
Robb, Judge.
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Case Summary and Issue
[1] Following a bench trial, Samuel Gebrehiwet was found guilty of battery
resulting in bodily injury as a Class A misdemeanor and public intoxication, a
Class B misdemeanor. He was sentenced to concurrent sentences of 365 days
for the battery conviction, with 359 days suspended to probation; and sixty days
for the public intoxication conviction, with fifty-four days suspended to
probation. Gebrehiwet appeals, raising one issue for the court’s review which
we restate as whether the trial court should have granted his Indiana Trial Rule
41(B) motion for involuntary dismissal of the public intoxication charge.
Concluding that the trial court did not err in denying Gebrehiwet’s motion, we
affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] Paul Carroll worked as a barback and a bouncer at a drinking establishment
(“Pub”) located in downtown Indianapolis. His duties included stocking the
bar area and, when necessary, escorting troublesome, intoxicated, and unruly
patrons from the Pub.
[3] On February 9, 2019, at around 10:50 p.m., Paul was working in the back room
of the Pub when he noticed Gebrehiwet bothering a dancing couple by dancing
behind the woman. Whenever her partner moved her away from Gebrehiwet,
Gebrehiwet would follow the woman and resume dancing behind her. Paul
and his manager noticed that the woman’s partner was becoming frustrated,
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and the manager told Paul that “it’s time for [Gebrehiwet] to go.” Bench Trial
& Sentencing, Volume II at 9. Paul noticed that Gebrehiwet seemed
intoxicated. He approached Gebrehiwet and asked him to leave the Pub.
Gebrehiwet was not happy about leaving the Pub, but he agreed to leave, did
not argue with Paul, and showed no signs of aggression.
[4] Paul escorted Gebrehiwet to a side door. Paul testified that the Pub uses this
door to remove patrons because once the door closes, it automatically locks—
preventing reentry. He also testified that bouncers are taught never to have
their back to a patron, as a safety precaution. When Paul and Gebrehiwet
reached the side door, Paul told Gebrehiwet to open the door. Gebrehiwet
asked Paul to open the door, but Paul refused and told Gebrehiwet to open it.
[5] Gebrehiwet opened the door as Paul stood behind him. Paul intended to close
the door after Gebrehiwet; however, Gebrehiwet stopped in the doorway,
pivoted, and tried to close the door on Paul while simultaneously throwing a
beer bottle at him. Paul put his foot in the path of the door so Gebrehiwet
could not close it. Paul ducked, but the bottle hit him in the temple causing
him pain. Paul then pushed Gebrehiwet out of the doorway and onto the
sidewalk. Paul testified that he pushed Gebrehiwet because “he was showing
signs of aggression. He had already hit me. So, I didn’t know what else he was
going to do. I was defending myself and I just got him out of the way.” Id. at
12.
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[6] A police officer who had been eating inside the Pub walked to the door and told
Paul to leave Gebrehiwet alone. Paul then “walked to the other side of the
building to calm down because [he] was a little bit upset.” Id. at 13.
[7] The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department dispatched Officer Kari
Pennington to a fight reported at the Pub. She was told the suspect was leaving
the Pub. Officer Pennington, already close to the Pub, spotted the suspect
(Gebrehiwet) as she received the dispatch. She watched Gebrehiwet walk from
the Pub and across four lanes of traffic, heading towards the far sidewalk and
staggering as he walked. She stopped him on the other side of a railroad trestle.
[8] Officer Pennington had received training and was experienced in identifying
intoxicated individuals. She determined that Gebrehiwet was intoxicated
because she noticed that he swayed as he stood and staggered as he walked.
She smelled the odor of alcohol on his breath and body, and she testified that he
had a “hundred-yard stare”— as if he was “almost looking through [her].” Id.
at 20-21.
[9] On February 10, 2019, the State charged Gebrehiwet with battery resulting in
bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor. He also was initially charged with
public intoxication, as a Class B misdemeanor, alleging that while he was in a
state of intoxication, he had endangered a person’s life. On July 15, 2019, the
State amended the public intoxication count to allege that while Gebrehiwet
was in a state of intoxication, he harassed, annoyed, or alarmed the bouncer.
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[10] On August 1, 2019, a bench trial was held. After the State presented its case,
Gebrehiwet moved for involuntary dismissal of the public intoxication count,
pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 41(B). The trial court denied the motion,
finding that the State had met its burden to prove the elements of both counts—
Class A misdemeanor battery and Class B misdemeanor public intoxication.
The court then found Gebrehiwet guilty as charged. Regarding finding
Gebrehiwet guilty of both public intoxication and battery resulting in bodily
injury, the trial court explained:
As it pertains to count two, I do find from the testimony that the
defendant was in a place – a public place or a place of public
resort that being the [Pub]. That was through the testimony of
[Paul]. I do find that he was intoxicated based upon the
testimony from [Paul] all be it [sic] he doesn’t have formal
certification. He was a bouncer and a [barback]. I previously
when I was in college served as a bouncer and a [barback] and
while I didn’t have formal training, I could tell when someone
was drunk just based on looking at them. Also, from the
testimony of Officer Pennington who . . . has gone through
extensive training and believed the defendant was intoxicated
based on the indicators that she saw. That occurred as a use of
alcohol. As it pertains to whether or not he was harassing or
annoying or alarming Paul Carroll – I do take into consideration
counsel’s argument as to the duplicative use of the evidence to
find him guilty in count one and attempting to use the same in
count two as it pertains to him throwing the bottle and the
argument that that bottle throwing was as to the harassing,
annoying or alarming nature of Paul Carroll; however, based on
[Paul]’s testimony alone – it went beyond just a little bit more to
the throwing of the bottle just that this individual attempted to
close the door. He was unaware if these things could go forward
to the point where he had to push the defendant outside of the
bar and stand over him to make sure that nothing went down.
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While if the State proceeded only on the grounds of the bottle
being thrown causing pain, I would find that counsel – your
argument would have merit, but because of those other things all
be it [sic] somewhat miniscule – I do believe that it does rise to
the level of harassing, annoying or alarming Paul Carroll as he
was unsure how this situation could escalate and where it could
go from there. I do find as it pertains to this particular count and
there’s no rope [sic] definition that is specific to Public
Intoxication with harassing, annoying or alarming. . . . I do find
the actions of the defendant to be that harassing, annoying or
alarming and do find that there is separate evidence used to
convict the defendant on count two separate from count one. I
make that peculiarly [sic] for the record so if it does go to the
Court of Appeals, they’re aware of how the [c]ourt came to that
decision and based upon the actions that happened after the
bottle was thrown including the door being slammed, the fact
that his attitude and demeanor switched from being compliant to
non-compliant and [Paul] testified that he felt compelled to stand
over the defendant until law enforcement came because he was
unsure if this was going to escalate or what was going to happen.
So, I do find [the] State met their burden as it pertains to counts
one and two and find Mr. Gebrehiwet . . . guilty of counts one
and two.
Id. at 29-31.
[11] The trial court sentenced Gebrehiwet to 365 days, with 359 days suspended to
probation for the battery conviction and sixty days, with fifty-four days
suspended to probation for the public intoxication conviction – with the
sentences to run concurrently. Gebrehiwet now appeals.
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Discussion and Decision
Motion for Involuntary Dismissal
[12] Gebrehiwet contends the State failed to present sufficient evidence to support
his conviction of public intoxication, and therefore the trial court should have
granted his Trial Rule 41(B) motion for involuntary dismissal of the public
intoxication charge.
A. Standard of Review
[13] When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we neither reweigh the
evidence nor reexamine witness credibility. Bowman v. State, 51 N.E.3d 1174,
1181 (Ind. 2016). We consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences
supporting the judgment. Id. Reversal is appropriate only when a reasonable
person would not be able to form inferences as to each material element of the
offense. Naas v. State, 993 N.E.2d 1151, 1152 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013).
[14] Trial Rule 41(B) states, in pertinent part:
Involuntary dismissal: Effect thereof. After the plaintiff or party with
the burden of proof upon an issue, in an action tried by the court
without a jury, has completed the presentation of his evidence
thereon, the opposing party, without waiving his right to offer
evidence in the event the motion is not granted, may move for a
dismissal on the ground that upon the weight of the evidence and
the law there has been shown no right to relief. The court as trier
of the facts may then determine them and render judgment
against the plaintiff or may decline to render any judgment until
the close of all the evidence. . . .
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[15] Our review of the trial court’s Trial Rule 41(B) decision is well-established:
The grant or denial of a motion to dismiss made
under Trial Rule 41(B) is reviewed under the clearly
erroneous standard. Taflinger Farm v. Uhl, 815
N.E.2d 1015, 1017 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). In
reviewing a motion for involuntary dismissal, this
court will not reweigh the evidence or judge the
credibility of the witnesses. Id. We will reverse the
trial court only if the evidence is not conflicting and
points unerringly to a conclusion different from the
one reached by the lower court. Chemical Waste
Mgmt. of Ind., L.L.C. v. City of New Haven, 755
N.E.2d 624, 635 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).
Thornton–Tomasetti Eng’rs v. Indianapolis–Marion County Pub.
Library, 851 N.E.2d 1269, 1277 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). In a
criminal action, “[t]he defendant’s [Trial Rule 41(B)] motion is
essentially a test of the sufficiency of the State’s evidence.”
Workman v. State, 716 N.E.2d 445, 448 (Ind. 1999). Notably, our
review of the denial of the motion for involuntary dismissal is
limited to the State’s evidence presented during its case-in-
chief. See Harco, Inc. v. Plainfield Interstate Family Dining
Assocs., 758 N.E.2d 931, 938 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001); see
also Stephenson v. Frazier, 425 N.E.2d 73, 74 (Ind. 1981) (“‘Our
review of the denial of the motion for involuntary dismissal . . . is
limited to an examination of the evidence most favorable to [the
State] which was presented prior to the filing of the motion.’”)
(quoting F.D. Borkholder Co. v. Sandock, 274 Ind. 612, 413 N.E.2d
567, 570 n.2 (1980)), superceded on other grounds, Ind. Trial
Rule 41(B) (as amended Nov. 4, 1981).
Williams v. State, 892 N.E.2d 666, 670-71 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (alterations in
original), trans. denied.
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B. Sufficiency of the Evidence – Public Intoxication
[16] Gebrehiwet was convicted of public intoxication, a Class B misdemeanor,
which, in relevant part, is defined as follows:
[I]t is a Class B misdemeanor for a person to be in a public place
or a place of public resort in a state of intoxication caused by the
person’s use of alcohol . . . if the person:
(1) endangers the person’s life;
(2) endangers the life of another person;
(3) breaches the peace or is in imminent danger of
breaching the peace; or
(4) harasses, annoys, or alarms another person.
Ind. Code § 7.1-5-1-3(a). Gebrehiwet was specifically charged under Indiana
Code section 7.1-5-1-3(a)(4). Gebrehiwet does not argue that he was not
intoxicated in a public place. Instead, he contends that the evidence was
insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he harassed, annoyed, or
alarmed the bouncer. We disagree and find that the facts do demonstrate that
Gebrehiwet was harassing, annoying, or alarming another person, per section
(a)(4) of the public intoxication statute.
[17] When Paul attempted to send Gebrehiwet out of the Pub’s side door,
Gebrehiwet stopped in the doorway, pivoted, and tried to slam the door on
Paul. At the same time, Gebrehiwet threw a beer bottle at Paul, hitting the
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bouncer in the temple. Paul testified that Gebrehiwet began to show signs of
aggression, and Paul felt compelled to push Gebrehiwet out of the doorway and
onto the sidewalk. As Paul describes the situation, “[Gebrehiwet] was showing
signs of aggression. He had already hit me. So, I didn’t know what else he was
going to do. I was defending myself and I just got him out of the way.” Bench
Trial, Vol. II at 12. A police officer who had been eating in the Pub intervened.
Paul was so upset by the encounter with Gebrehiwet that he had to walk away
from the situation and calm himself.
[18] In finding Gebrehiwet guilty of both battery resulting in bodily injury and Class
B misdemeanor public intoxication, the court emphasized:
I do take into consideration counsel’s argument as to the
duplicative use of the evidence to find him guilty in count one
and attempting to use the same in count two as it pertains to him
throwing the bottle and the argument that that bottle throwing
was as to the harassing, annoying or alarming nature of Paul
Carroll; however, based on [Paul]’s testimony alone – it went beyond
just a little bit more to the throwing of the bottle just that this individual
attempted to close the door. He was unaware if these things could go
forward to the point where he had to push the defendant outside of the
bar and stand over him to make sure that nothing went down. . . .
[Paul] was unsure how this situation could escalate and where it
could go from there. . . . [T]he fact that his attitude and demeanor
switched from being compliant to non-compliant and [Paul] testified that
he felt compelled to stand over the defendant until law enforcement came
because he was unsure if this was going to escalate or what was going to
happen[,] I do find [the] State met their burden as to counts one
and two . . . .
Id. at 29-31 (emphasis added).
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[19] Gebrehiwet became aggressive, slammed a door, and alarmed Paul to such an
extent that Paul felt compelled to push Gebrehiwet out of the doorway and
onto the sidewalk because Paul “didn’t know what else [Gebrehiwet] was going
to do.” Id. at 12. Paul was so upset by the encounter that he needed time to
calm himself. Based on these facts, we cannot say that the evidence presented
by the State is insufficient to allow a reasonable trier of fact to conclude that
Gebrehiwet was in a public place in a state of intoxication and harassed,
annoyed, or alarmed another person. Accordingly, we conclude that the
evidence is sufficient to support Gebrehiwet’s conviction for Class B
misdemeanor public intoxication; and, the trial court’s denial of Gebrehiwet’s
Trial Rule 41(B) motion for involuntary dismissal of the public intoxication
charge was not clearly erroneous, as the State’s evidence from its case-in-chief
does not “point[ ] unerringly to a conclusion different from the one reached” by
the trial court on Gebrehiwet’s motion. See Thornton–Tomasetti Eng’rs, 851
N.E.2d at 1277.
Conclusion
[20] The trial court’s denial of Gebrehiwet’s Trial Rule 41(B) motion was not clearly
erroneous. The State presented sufficient evidence to support Gebrehiwet’s
conviction for Class B misdemeanor public intoxication beyond a reasonable
doubt. Thus, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
[21] Affirmed.
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Bradford, C.J., and Altice, J., concur.
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