Charles Anthony Hardy, Jr. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2016 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Oct 12 2016, 8:29 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
court except for the purpose of establishing Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Yvettte M. LaPlante Gregory F. Zoeller
Keating & LaPlante, LLP Attorney General of Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Christina D. Pace
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Charles Anthony Hardy, Jr., October 12, 2016
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
82A05-1512-CR-2242
v. Appeal from the
Vanderburgh Circuit Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable
Appellee-Plaintiff. Michael J. Cox, Magistrate
Trial Court Cause No.
82C01-1404-FB-512
Kirsch, Judge.
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[1] Following a jury trial, Charles Anthony Hardy, Jr. (“Hardy”), appeals his
convictions for Class B felony dealing in methamphetamine 1 and Class C felony
operating a motor vehicle after forfeiture of driving privileges for life2 and raises
the following restated issued: whether the State presented sufficient evidence to
support his convictions.
[2] We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[3] On April 23, 2014, Evansville Police Department Detective Michael Gray
(“Detective Gray”) of the Narcotics Joint Task Force (“NJTF”) met with a
confidential informant (“the C.I.”), who informed Detective Gray that he could
buy methamphetamine from Hardy. The NJTF decided to proceed to “set up a
deal,” and, in Detective Gray’s presence, the C.I. called Hardy at and arranged
to meet him that afternoon. Tr. at 74, 214. Detective Gray searched the C.I.,
and no drugs were found on him. Detective Gray equipped the C.I. with an
audio recording device and a transmitter and gave him cash that previously had
been photocopied.3 The sale was arranged to occur at a certain Marathon gas
1
See Ind. Code § 35-48-4-1.1(a)(1). We note that the statutes under which Hardy was convicted were
amended, effective July 1, 2014, but we will apply the versions of those statutes that were in effect at the time
Hardy committed his offenses, in April 2014.
2
See Ind. Code § 9-30-10-17.
3
The record is conflicting as to whether the C.I. was given $200 and spent all of it, or whether he was given
$300 and spent $200 of that, returning the excess $100 to the detective. Tr. at 77, 140.
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station, and Detective Gray dropped off the C.I. at a location within walking
distance of the gas station.
[4] Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Jason Ashworth
(“Sergeant Ashworth”) and Detective Gray, along with other NJTF officers,
provided surveillance of the transaction. Sergeant Ashworth observed the C.I.
get into a maroon Dodge Durango that was being driven by Hardy. Hardy and
the C.I. were the only individuals in the Durango. NJTF officers heard Hardy
tell the C.I. that he was going to drive to an apartment to find out who had
stolen his girlfriend’s drugs that he had given to her. Id. at 23 (referring in the
vehicle to his girlfriend’s “sh*t”) and 95 (referring in the apartment to his
girlfriend’s “dope”); State’s Ex. 5. Realizing that the controlled buy was “going
mobile,” such that Hardy and the C.I. were moving to another location, the
NJTF officers adjusted their perimeter set-up and followed Hardy’s vehicle to
an apartment at Michigan and Read Streets. Tr. at 78.
[5] Sergeant Ashworth observed Hardy and the C.I. enter the apartment, and, from
a separate location, Detective Gray, also saw the two men enter the residence.
After approximately fifteen minutes, the C.I. and Hardy left the Michigan and
Read Street apartment and got into the Durango, along with a third unnamed
person. Hardy drove back to the gas station, and the C.I. exited the Durango.
The C.I. walked to the initial drop-off location, where Detective Gray picked up
the C.I. and took him to a location where the officers “debriefed” the C.I., to
talk about what happened during the sale. Id. at 81. The C.I. turned over to
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Detective Gray a substance later confirmed to be 1.8 grams of
methamphetamine for which the C.I. had paid $200.
[6] The following day, on April 24, 2014, Detective Gray, who knew that Hardy’s
driver’s license had been suspended for life, observed Hardy driving the Dodge
Durango. Detective Gray radioed uniformed officers in the area and told them
that Hardy’s driving privileges had been suspended for life and there was a
warrant out for his arrest. Evansville Police Detective Jeff Kingery (“Detective
Kingery”) ran a search of Hardy’s name, which provided Detective Kingery
with a photograph of Hardy and confirmed that Hardy was “HTV for life.” Tr.
at 155-56. Thereafter, Detective Kingery and his NJTF partner Vanderburgh
County Sheriff’s Department Detective Michael Bishop (“Detective Bishop”)
performed a traffic stop of the Dodge Durango that Hardy was driving.
[7] Detective Kingery removed Hardy from the vehicle and placed him under
arrest. Detective Bishop made contact with the passenger, who happened to be
the C.I., and had him exit the vehicle. The C.I. was searched but did not have
any contraband on him. When Detective Kingery patted down Hardy, he
found that Hardy had “a large amount of currency” on him, which was later
determined to be $2,500, and four of the fifty-dollar bills were later determined
to be the photocopied buy money that Detective Gray had given to the C.I. the
day before. Id. at 122.
[8] Meanwhile, Detective Bishop performed a search of the Durango. He found
plastic bags inside the console between the seats, and, under the driver’s seat, he
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found a camouflaged zipper pouch containing a green leafy substance in a
plastic bag, two other plastic bags containing a white crystal-like substance, and
a digital scale. Id. at 168-69; State’s Exs. 11-14, 22-26, 32. He also discovered
another clear plastic bag containing a green leafy substance under the console.
Later analysis revealed that the two plastic bags of green leafy substance
contained over thirty grams of marijuana. Tr. at 209; State’s Ex. 32. One of the
plastic bags that contained a white crystal-like substance was later determined
to be dimethylsulfone, a common cutting agent for methamphetamine. The
other plastic bag that contained a white crystal-like substance later tested
positive as being .39 grams of a combination of three substances:
methamphetamine, dimethylsulfone, and marijuana.4 Tr. at 205-12, 221; State’s
Exs. 30, 31. A cell phone was also found in the Durango. From a law
enforcement cell phone, Detective Gray dialed the phone number that the C.I.
had used the day before to call Hardy to set up the controlled buy, and the cell
phone found in the Durango rang. The “back drop” or screensaver photograph
on the cell phone was a picture of Hardy. Tr. at 120, 147.
[9] On April 28, 2014, the State charged Hardy with the following three counts, all
related to the traffic stop occurring on April 24: (1) Count 1, Class B felony
delivery of methamphetamine; (2) Count 2, Class C felony operating a motor
vehicle after forfeiture of license for life; and (3) Count 3, Class D felony
4
When asked on cross-examination how a white crystal-like substance could also test positive for marijuana,
Detective Gray offered that perhaps it was residue of marijuana from re-use of the bag. Tr. at 235.
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delivery of marijuana. Appellant’s App. at 17-18. Approximately one year later,
the State amended the information to add Count 4, Class B felony delivery of
methamphetamine related to the C.I. transaction on April 23. Id. at 32. A two-
day jury trial was held in October 2015.
[10] At the jury trial, Detective Gray, who has participated in hundreds of
undercover buy operations, explained the protocols of controlled drug buys,
and he explained that the term “dope” refers to methamphetamine, heroin, or
cocaine, but does not refer to marijuana. Tr. at 220. When asked to explain the
substance dimethylsulfone, which was found in the Durango on April 24,
Detective Gray explained that it is commonly referred to as “MSM” and is
“specifically used for cutting methamphetamine” in order to increase quantity
and maximize profits. Id. at 238, 239.
[11] During Detective Gray’s testimony, the State introduced as an exhibit the audio
recording of the C.I.’s April 23, 2014 encounter with Hardy. Detective Gray
identified Hardy’s voice on the audio by explaining that he knew the C.I.’s
voice, and there were only two people in the car, and “through the process of
elimination,” he knew the other voice belonged to Hardy. Id. at 91. Over
Hardy’s objection, the audio recording was played for the jury, and it began
with the conversation between Hardy and the C.I. in the Durango. After the
C.I. got into the vehicle, Hardy told the C.I. that he needed to go to an
apartment to find out who stole his girlfriend’s “sh*t” that Hardy had given to
her for her “to get high on,” “not all these punk a*s mother f*ckers” who took
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her “sh*t.” Id. at 89-90. Detective Gray observed Hardy and the C.I. go into
the apartment.
[12] The audio recording taken in the apartment contained the voices of at least
three adult males, including Hardy and the C.I., two females, and a child.
Detective Gray described that what he heard on the audio was “chaotic,” as
there were various people talking, a television playing, and a child or children
present. Id. at 132. There was conversation about drugs, including a male
voice stating, “I want my girlfriend’s dope.” Id. at 95.
[13] The State’s evidence also included text messages extracted from the cell phone
found in the Durango, the lab analysis of the substances found on the C.I. and
in the Durango, and money found on Hardy. The C.I. did not testify at trial.
After the conclusion of the State’s witness testimony, it introduced Hardy’s
certified driving record obtained from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
(“BMV”), which the trial court admitted without objection. State’s Ex. 34.
[14] Hardy was found guilty of: (1) Count 1, Class D felony possession of
methamphetamine, a lesser included charge of Class B felony dealing in
methamphetamine; (2) Count 2, Class C felony operating a motor vehicle after
forfeiting driving privileges for life; and (3) Count 4, Class B felony dealing in
methamphetamine. Appellant’s App. at 113-14, 116. Hardy was found not
guilty of Count 3, Class D felony dealing in hash oil, hashish, or marijuana. Id.
at 115. At the subsequent sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced Hardy
to an executed term of two years for possession of methamphetamine, an
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executed term of four years for operating a motor vehicle after forfeiting driving
privileges for life, and an executed term of fifteen years for delivery of
methamphetamine; the trial court ordered the sentences to be served
concurrently. Hardy now appeals.
Discussion and Decision
[15] Hardy asserts that two of his convictions are not supported by sufficient
evidence, namely the Class B felony dealing in methamphetamine conviction,
stemming from the controlled buy on April 23, and the Class C felony operating
a motor vehicle after forfeiting driving privileges for life conviction. When we
review the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction, we
consider only the probative evidence and reasonable inferences supporting the
verdict. Buelna v. State, 20 N.E.3d 137, 141 (Ind. 2014). We neither reweigh
the evidence nor assess witness credibility. Robertson v. State, 877 N.E.2d 507,
515 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). It is not necessary that the evidence overcome every
reasonable hypothesis of innocence. Hale v. State, 875 N.E.2d 438, 445 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2007), trans. denied. Rather, we will affirm the conviction if there exists
evidence of probative value from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Robertson, 877 N.E.2d at 515.
Reversal is appropriate only when reasonable persons would not be able to form
inferences as to each material element of the offense. Heyen v. State, 936 N.E.2d
294, 302 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010), trans. denied.
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I. Dealing in Methamphetamine
[16] Hardy claims the jury’s verdict of guilty of dealing in methamphetamine was
“merely speculative.” Appellant’s Br. at 8. He argues that “there were too many
uncontrolled factors,” and the evidence was insufficient to convict him. Id. at
9.
[17] To convict Hardy of dealing in methamphetamine, the State was required to
prove that Hardy knowingly or intentionally delivered methamphetamine to the
C.I. Ind. Code § 35-48-4-1.1(a)(1). Here, Hardy argues that the State failed to
establish that it was Hardy who transferred methamphetamine to the C.I. and
that the jury’s finding to the contrary was based on speculation. In support of
his position, he observes that the controlled buy was moved from its original
location at the gas station to an apartment, inside of which there were various
unidentified persons, the scene was “chaotic” with a television playing and
various people speaking, and one of the unidentified individuals left the
apartment with Hardy and the C.I. Hardy also argues that the C.I. had “no
track record with the police” and was not known to be credible. Appellant’s Br.
at 11. Hardy maintains that “the detectives lost control of the controlled buy so
much that the jury’s verdict regarding Hardy’s dealing in methamphetamine is
based entirely on speculation.” Id. at 10. At its core, Hardy’s argument is that
there was insufficient evidence from which the jury could infer that he was the
person that sold methamphetamine to the C.I. on April 23. We disagree.
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[18] On April 23, the C.I. informed law enforcement that he could purchase
methamphetamine from Hardy, and a controlled buy was arranged. The C.I.,
using a law enforcement phone, called Hardy’s phone number, which the C.I.
knew, and arranged to meet Hardy at a Marathon gas station. The C.I. was
searched beforehand, and there were no drugs on him, and he was provided
with previously-photocopied buy money. The C.I. met Hardy at the agreed
Marathon station. The C.I. got into Hardy’s vehicle, and the two of them drove
to an apartment because Hardy wanted to determine who stole the drugs that
Hardy had given to his girlfriend. NJTF officers observed the C.I. and Hardy
enter the apartment. The audio from inside the apartment was, at times,
unclear, although conversation about drugs and “dope” can be heard. Tr. at 95,
99, 100, 102, 104, 105, 109. When the C.I. and Hardy exited the apartment,
they got into Hardy’s Durango, Hardy dropped off the C.I. back at the
Marathon station, and the C.I. then met up with Detective Gray. After being
debriefed, the C.I. turned over to Detective Gray 1.8 grams of
methamphetamine. When Hardy’s vehicle was stopped by police the next day,
Hardy had on his person $200 of the previously-photocopied buy money,
specifically four of the fifty-dollar bills. Hardy also had nearby to him in the
Durango, among other things, empty baggies, a digital scale, over thirty grams
of marijuana, and the MSM cutting agent, all of which Detective Gray testified
were indicators of dealing, as opposed to only using, methamphetamine.
Detective Gray also observed that Hardy had $2,500 in cash on his person,
mostly in $20s, $10s, and $5s, which also suggested to Detective Gray, in
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combination with the other items in Hardy’s vehicle, that Hardy was dealing
drugs.
[19] Hardy urges us to find that his situation was similar to that of the defendant in
Watson v. State, 839 N.E.2d 1291 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), where this court
overturned Watson’s conviction for dealing in cocaine. 839 N.E.2d at 1294.
There, a confidential informant advised a detective that she could purchase
cocaine from Watson at a certain White Castle restaurant. Thereafter, the
confidential informant met with United Drug Task Force (“UDTF”) officers to
prepare for the drug buy. Id. at 1292. Officers photocopied cash and gave the
buy money to the confidential informant, and they equipped her with an audio
transmitter. Id. The UTDF officers did not search the confidential informant
before the buy. Id.
[20] The confidential informant and Watson met at the White Castle, the
confidential informant got in Watson’s vehicle for less than a minute, and then
exited it. Thereafter, UDTF officers took both the confidential informant and
Watson into custody. The buy money was found on Watson, and 3.25 grams
of cocaine was found in the confidential informant’s front pocket. Id. Watson
was charged with dealing in cocaine and possession of cocaine. At trial, the
confidential informant did not testify. A jury found Watson guilty, and the trial
court entered conviction and sentence on the dealing charge. Id. at 1293.
[21] On appeal, Watson argued that the evidence was insufficient to convict him.
“Specifically, he asserts the buy was not ‘controlled’ because the [confidential
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informant] was not searched prior to the buy.” Id. A panel of this court agreed
with Watson, stating, “Because the [confidential informant] was not searched prior to
the buy and the [confidential informant] did not testify about receiving the
cocaine from Watson, we must agree with Watson that no reasonable fact-
finder, based on this evidence alone, could have found beyond a reasonable
doubt he originally possessed the cocaine found on the [confidential informant]
after the buy.” Id. (emphasis added). The Watson court reasoned,
“Presumably, the pre-buy search establishes the person making the purchase for
the police does not have contraband prior to the transaction with the target.”
Id. at 1294. The State in Watson argued that other circumstantial evidence
showed that Watson was the source of the cocaine; however, the Watson court
rejected that argument and held, “We are unwilling to hold that where the
[confidential informant] is not searched prior to the controlled buy and the [confidential
informant] does not testify at trial, a defendant’s possession of the buy money is
sufficient to sustain a conviction.” Id. (emphasis added). It concluded, “We
find the lack of a pre-buy search is fatal to the State’s charge of dealing in
cocaine.” Id.
[22] We find that Watson, while relevant and factually similar, is distinguishable
from the present case, where the C.I. was searched before and after the
controlled drug buy. Tr. at 73-74, 81. The Watson court noted the importance
of the pre-buy search to its decision, “We emphasize that had the [confidential
informant] testified or had she been properly searched before the buy, the jury would
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have had a reasonable basis for believing Watson had the cocaine before the
buy.” Watson, 839 N.E.2d at 1294 (emphasis added).
[23] This court has recognized that in a controlled buy situation, “The adequacy of
control goes to the weight and credibility of the evidence presented, which we
will not reweigh.” Heyen, 936 N.E.2d at 302 (citing Hudson v. State, 462 N.E.2d
1077, 1083 (Ind. Ct. App. 1984)). Whether the jury here could have made
different inferences and reached a different conclusion from the evidence is not
the pertinent inquiry. Rather, we are to determine whether, considering only
the evidence and inferences supporting the verdict, there exists evidence of
probative value from which a reasonable trier of fact could have found Hardy
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Robertson, 877 N.E.2d at 515. Based on the
record before us, we find that the inference made here by the jury – that Hardy
was the one who delivered the methamphetamine to the C.I. – was reasonable.
Hardy’s argument is a request for us to reweigh the evidence, which we cannot
do. Id. The State presented sufficient evidence to support Hardy’s conviction
for Count 4, dealing in methamphetamine.
II. Operating a Motor Vehicle After Forfeiture of Privileges
[24] Hardy asserts on appeal that the evidence was not sufficient to convict him of
Class C felony driving a motor vehicle after forfeiting his driving privileges for
life because the State failed to tie the BMV driving record to Hardy. To convict
Hardy, the State was required to prove that Hardy (1) operated a motor vehicle,
and (2) that his driving privileges had been suspended for life. Ind. Code § 9-30-
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10-17. On appeal, Hardy argues that, although a certified BMV driving record
“of a man named Charles Hardy” was admitted into evidence, the State failed
to produce any identifying information to properly tie him to the driving record
that was admitted into evidence, and, thus, the evidence was insufficient to
convict him. Appellant’s Br. at 12.
[25] Initially, the State asserts that Hardy has waived this claim because, at trial, he
acknowledged that he was the same “Charles Hardy” as the person whose
name appeared on the driving record. Before resting its case at trial, the State
advised the trial court that the State had finished its presentation of evidence
through witnesses, but that “[w]e do have one more exhibit.” Tr. at 241. The
exchange was as follows:
Prosecutor: What I have is the certified driving record from the
Bureau of Motor Vehicles. It’s certified, it’s self-authenticating, I
would offer that as State’s Exhibit #34.
Defense Attorney: No objection, Judge.
Court: What is it again please?
Prosecutor: It is the certified driving record, and it’s State’s
Exhibit #34.
Court: Is that for Mr. Hardy?
Prosecutor: It is.
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Court: Alright, without objection, State’s Exhibit #34 is
admitted into evidence[.]
Id. (emphasis added). The State urges on appeal that, given that the trial court
asked if the record was Hardy’s, the State confirmed that it was Hardy’s record,
and Hardy did not object, Hardy cannot now claim that the State failed to tie
the driving record to him. The State also notes that in defense counsel’s closing
argument, he twice addressed the driving charge and indicated to the jury that it
was not being challenged:
I’m not even going to dispute, and waste your time, that Mr.
Hardy was driving that day. I think it’s clear from the evidence
that you’ve heard that [Hardy] was driving that vehicle, whether
it was his vehicle or not . . . [H]e was driving the vehicle, he
wasn’t allowed to be, so I think Count [2] is pretty self-
explanatory, I wouldn’t ask you to waste much time on that.
Id. at 283. Later, counsel again acknowledged that, as to “the driving charge,”
Hardy was “not arguing” that the State did not prove its case, in contrast to the
drug-related offenses, which Hardy argued the State failed to prove. Id. at 295.
We find that, based on the record before us, Hardy did not preserve any claim
regarding the BMV record; indeed, he did not oppose the State’s assertion that
the record was his and indicated to the jury that the driving charge (Count 2)
was not at issue. See Flowers v. State, 783 N.E.2d 1051, 1055 (Ind. 2000) (where
defendant did not object “to the taking of blood, hair, and saliva samples,” and
at trial only objected to chain of custody, he waived appellate claim that
evidence was inadmissible as product of search incident to illegal arrest).
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[26] Regardless of waiver, the evidence was sufficient. Detective Gray testified that
he saw Hardy driving on April 24, 2014. He was aware that Hardy’s driving
privileges had been forfeited for life, and he radioed other uniformed officers to
request that they conduct a traffic stop. Detective Kingery testified that upon
being contacted by “the undercover[]” officers, he ran Hardy’s name and status
in a search and confirmed he was “HTV for life,” and he “pulled up” a
photograph of Hardy. Tr. at 155-56. When Detective Kingery stopped Hardy
in the Durango, he approached the vehicle, asked the driver his name, and,
upon being “satisfied that [he] was the person who[se] license was HTV,”
Detective Kingery removed Hardy from the car and arrested him. Id. at 157.
Hardy’s BMV record was admitted into evidence without objection. We find
that the evidence was sufficient to convict Hardy of Class C felony operating a
motor vehicle after his driving privileges were forfeited for life.
[27] Affirmed.
[28] May, J., and Crone, J., concur.
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