Kenneth D. Ratliff v. State of Indiana ( 2024 )

FILED
Aug 26 2024, 9:09 am
CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
IN THE
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Kenneth Ratliff,
Appellant-Defendant
v.
State of Indiana,
Appellee-Plaintiff
August 26, 2024
Court of Appeals Case No.
24A-CR-107
Appeal from the Porter Superior Court
The Honorable Jeffrey W. Clymer, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
64D02-2104-F2-3540
Opinion by Judge Mathias
Judges Riley and Felix concur.
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Mathias, Judge.
[1] Kenneth Ratliff appeals his convictions for Level 3 felony burglary, Level 3
felony rape, and Class A misdemeanor battery. He also appeals his sentence.
Ratliff raises three issues for our review, which we restate as follows:
1. Whether the trial court clearly erred when it concluded that
the prosecutor did not intentionally “goad” Ratliff into moving
for a mistrial.
2. Whether Ratliff’s conviction for Class A misdemeanor battery
is contrary to Indiana’s protection against substantive double
jeopardy.
3. Whether Ratliff’s sentence is inappropriate in light of the
nature of the offenses and his character.
[2] We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with instructions for the trial
court to vacate Ratliff’s conviction and sentence for Class A misdemeanor
battery.
Facts and Procedural History
[3] In the spring of 2020, J.B. met Ratliff through a mutual friend. Ratliff stopped
by J.B.’s apartment in Valparaiso a couple of times per month to give the
mutual friend a ride. Ratliff visited J.B.’s apartment about five times.
[4] In the early morning hours of April 15, 2021, J.B. woke to the sound of loud
banging on her front door. J.B. went downstairs, looked out a window next to
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the front door, and yelled, “Who’s out there?” Tr. Vol. 5, p. 169. Ratliff
responded, “Ken.” Id. J.B. recognized Ratliff’s voice.
[5] J.B. told Ratliff “to leave and go home.” Id. at 170. Ratliff then punched
through the window where J.B. was standing, reached inside her apartment,
and unlocked the front door. He cut his forearm in the process. J.B. was
screaming, and Ratliff told her to “Shut up.” Id. at 171. He then grabbed her
and forced her back up the stairs to her bedroom. While doing so, he was
hitting J.B.’s head and face.
[6] In her bedroom, Ratliff “pushed” J.B. down onto her bed and removed her
pants and underwear. Id. at 172. Ratliff pulled his pants down, and then he
raped her. About an hour later, he fell asleep. Once Ratliff was asleep, J.B.
escaped from her bedroom, grabbed her phone, and hid inside a closet. From
inside the closet, she called police.
[7] Valparaiso Police Department Officers Peter Castillo and Matthew Zavacki
were the first to respond to the scene. J.B. met them near her front door, where
they observed the broken window along with glass on the ground. The officers
also observed drops of blood going up the stairs. And, in J.B.’s bedroom, they
caught Ratliff with his pants down while he was still asleep in the bed. Officer
Castillo also noticed that Ratliff had a fresh wound on his right arm that was
bleeding. The officers arrested Ratliff.
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[8] J.B. was transported to a nearby hospital and examined. She had injuries to her
face and head as well as to her genitals. A DNA analysis identified Ratliff’s
DNA in samples taken from, on, and in J.B.’s body.
[9] The State charged Ratliff in relevant part with Level 3 felony burglary, Level 3
felony rape, and Class A misdemeanor battery. Specifically, the last-amended
information stated as follows:
Count I
Burglary (Level 3 Felony)
I.C. 35-43-2-1(2)
. . . Kenneth Ratliff . . . on or about April 15, 2021, did break and
enter the building or structure of Victim #1 . . . with intent to
commit a felony of in [sic] it and resulted in bodily injury to
Victim #1 . . . .
Count II
Rape (Level 3 felony)
I.C. 35-42-4-1(a)(1)
. . . Kenneth Ratliff . . . on or about April 15, 2021, did
knowingly or intentionally have sexual intercourse with Victim
#1 . . . when Victim #1 was compelled by force or imminent
threat of force . . . .
***
Count IV
Battery (A Misdemeanor)
I.C. 35-42-2-1(d)(1)
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. . . Kenneth Ratliff . . . on or about April 15, 2021, did
knowingly or intentionally touch Victim #1 in a rude, insolent,
or angry manner and resulted in bodily injury to Victim #1 . . . .
Appellant’s App. Vol. 2, pp. 77-78 (bold, underlining, and capitalization
removed).
[10] In September 2023, the State filed two notices of intent to introduce evidence
under Indiana Evidence Rules 404(b) and 412(c) regarding a prior alleged rape
of J.B. by Ratliff in August 2020. Ratliff also filed a notice of intent to introduce
that same evidence under Rule 412(c). The trial court held a hearing on the
admissibility of any such evidence, after which the court ordered as follows:
Prior [s]exual conduct with the Defendant, including the
previous alleged Rape[:] the State argues that the alleged conduct
is admissible under Indiana Rule of Evidence 404(b) [as] lack of
mistake, etc. The Defendant argues it is admissible for
impeachment under [Rule] 608. The Court finds that the
Defendant may not introduce the evidence to impeach unless the
State first introduces testimony. (Opens the door[.]) The
Defendant did not argue . . . that he seeks to introduce the
evidence . . . to prove consent. The evidence of alleged sexual
conduct only with the Defendant may be introduced by the State
under [Rule] 412(b)(1)(B).
Id. at 88.
[11] Thereafter, Ratliff’s jury trial began. In his opening statement, the prosecutor
outlined the expected witness testimony. In doing so, the prosecutor stated that,
in speaking with a detective about the April 15, 2021, events, J.B. told the
detective “of another scenario where Ken had raped her.” Tr. Vol. 3, p. 64.
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Ratliff objected and moved for a mistrial on the ground that that “statement is
very, very damning, Judge.” Id. The prosecutor responded: “My understanding
of your ruling was that . . . [,] if the State chooses to put that into evidence, that
it’s admissible.” Id. The trial court overruled Ratliff’s objection and request for a
mistrial, stating “the State may introduce that evidence.” Id. The prosecutor
then told the jury: “You’ll hear about this earlier report that [J.B.] made that the
same Ken was in her apartment and raped her in August 2020,” but, because
“Ken’s last name was unknown at that time . . . and [J.B.] did not wish to
pursue charges due to fear of retaliation[,] . . . that case was dropped.” Id. at 65.
The prosecutor concluded his opening statement by stating that the instant
charges would be “about an allegation in April of 2021 and an allegation in
August of 2020.” Id. at 66.
[12] The next morning, the trial court opened the proceedings by informing counsel
that the court had reviewed the transcript of the prosecutor’s opening statement.
The court asked the prosecutor: “Aren’t you . . . trying to argue [to] find him
guilty this time because he wasn’t found guilty last time he raped her?” Tr. Vol.
4, p. 3. The prosecutor responded that he was “not arguing that” and that,
when J.B. testifies, in her “mind[] this [August 2020 incident] was a rape,” and
“she may use . . . that word.” Id. The prosecutor added: “we had hearings
on . . . 404([b]) and I was given permission by this Court to use that [evidence].
If the Court would have ruled otherwise, [I] wouldn’t [have] presented [it to
the] jury.” Id. at 6. Ratliff renewed his motion for a mistrial, which the court
then granted. In doing so, the court stated: “I don’t find that the State did
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anything intentional” in putting the court in the position of having to declare
the mistrial. Id. at 8.
[13] Prior to the commencement of his second trial, Ratliff moved to dismiss the
charges on double-jeopardy grounds. The court held a hearing on that motion
and reaffirmed its prior finding that the prosecutor’s opening statements were
not intended “to goad the defendant into moving for a mistrial.” Id. at 36.
Instead, the court faulted itself for the circumstances, noting that “I . . . should
have been clearer in my [pretrial evidentiary] rulings on prior sexual conduct, if
any, between the defendant and the alleged victim,” and that what the
prosecutor “actually did isn’t entirely inconsistent with what the order says.” Id.
at 39-40. Ratliff renewed his motion to dismiss at the commencement of his
second trial, which the court denied.
[14] At Ratliff’s second trial, J.B., responding and investigating officers, and medical
experts testified for the State. After the parties had presented their evidence, the
prosecutor explained how the evidence fit the charges as follows:
We’re going to start with Count I. . . . The defendant knowingly
or intentionally broke and entered the building or structure of
[J.B.] with the intent to commit a felony and the offense resulted
in bodily injury to [J.B.] . . . .
***
[T]hat the offense resulted in bodily injury. We saw pictures of
[J.B.]. We saw pictures from a few days later, bruising on her
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face. We heard [J.B.’s] testimony, fractured nose. We saw the
photos [from the hospital], the blood on her nose . . . .
Let’s go to rape. Count II, the felony that was committed inside
of [J.B.’s] apartment. The defendant . . . knowingly or
intentionally had sexual intercourse with [J.B.] when [s]he was
compelled by force or imminent threat of force. So what does
that mean? Force or imminent threat of force? The punching on
the stairs. [J.B.] screaming. The defendant saying shut up,
beating her until she shut up. [J.B.] why did[n’t] you get up and
run away? Why didn’t you get out? “I was scared he was going to
beat me again.” That’s imminent threat of force.
. . . I’m arguing to you, there was force by the beating, clear by
the injuries [J.B.] sustained, and there was also imminent threat
of force. . . .
***
Count IV, battery. The defendant knowingly or intentionally
touched [J.B.] . . . in a rude, insolent, or angry manner which
resulted in bodily injury to [J.B.] . . . . We heard [J.B.’s]
testimony of what happened on the stairs. . . . Bodily injury,
what does that mean? Pain. [J.B.] said she had pain. She was in
shock. She was numb . . . while this was occurring but she had
pain. You saw the blood under her nose, the bruises days later.
[J.B.’s] testimony of a fractured nose. That’s injury.
Tr. Vol. 5, pp. 246-49.
[15] Thereafter, the jury found Ratliff guilty of Level 3 felony burglary, Level 3
felony rape, and Class A misdemeanor battery, and the court entered its
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judgment of conviction on those counts accordingly. After a sentencing hearing,
the court found as follows:
I did consider his criminal history and I did consider the fact that
while he was on pretrial supervision from this court, he picked up
a number of other charges, two domestic battery charges with
two separate victims. So in terms of violence towards others, the
jury found that Mr. Ratliff battered the victim in this case and
he’s charged—and Mr. Ratliff is presumed innocent unless and
until he’s proven guilty—but he’s charged in two other cases in
this court . . . . So I find as aggravators his prior criminal history
and his subsequent criminal history while on pretrial release from
this court as aggravators.
As mitigators, I find none.
Tr. Vol. 6, p. 68. The court then sentenced Ratliff to an aggregate term of
twenty-eight years with three years suspended to probation. This appeal ensued.
1. The trial court did not violate Ratliff’s double-jeopardy
rights by holding a second trial after the mistrial.
[16] On appeal, Ratliff first asserts that the trial court violated his federal and state
rights to be free from double jeopardy when the court held a second trial on the
State’s allegations after the court had granted Ratliff’s motion for a mistrial in
the first trial. Our Supreme Court has explained the law underlying Ratliff’s
double-jeopardy argument as follows:
The Fifth Amendment provides that no person shall “be subject
for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.”
U.S. Const. amend. V. Although a defendant’s motion for a
mistrial constitutes “a deliberate election on his part to forgo his
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valued right to have his guilt or innocence determined before the
first trier of fact,” United States v. Scott, 437 U.S. 82, 93, 98 S. Ct.
2187, 57 L. Ed. 2d 65 (1978), the United States Supreme Court
has provided a narrow exception that bars a second trial after a
mistrial “where the governmental conduct in question is intended
to ‘goad’ the defendant into moving for a mistrial.” Oregon v.
Kennedy, 456 U.S. 667, 676, 102 S. Ct. 2083, 72 L. Ed. 2d 416(1982). The subjective intent of the prosecutor is the dispositive
issue. Wilson v. State, 697 N.E.2d 466, 472 (Ind. 1998). Although
a trial court’s determination of prosecutorial intent is not
conclusive for purposes of appellate review, its determination is
“very persuasive.” Id. at 473. “It is a factual determination that
we review under a clearly erroneous standard.” Butler v. State, 724
N.E.2d 600, 604 (Ind. 2000).
Farris v. State, 753 N.E.2d 641, 645-46 (Ind. 2001). 1
[17] Thus, the critical inquiry in determining whether a second trial is prohibited
after the trial court has entered a mistrial on a defendant’s motion is “whether
the prosecutor brought about the mistrial with the intent to cause termination of
the trial. If the State acted with intent to force the defendant into moving for a
mistrial, the prohibition against double jeopardy bars a second prosecution.”
Wilson, 697 N.E.2d at 472 (quotation marks omitted). The Supreme Court of
the United States has made the rationale for that rule clear: “where a
defendant’s mistrial motion is necessitated by judicial or prosecutorial
impropriety designed to avoid an acquittal, reprosecution might well be barred.”
1
The constitutional right to be free from double jeopardy where a prosecutor “goads” the defendant into
moving for a mistrial is also codified in Indiana. See Ind. Code § 35-41-4-3(b) (2020).
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Kennedy, 456 U.S. at 678-79 (quoting United States v. Jorn, 400 U.S. 470, 485
n.12 (1971) (plurality opinion)) (emphasis added).
[18] Ratliff argues that the prosecutor’s opening statements that Ratliff “had raped”
J.B. on a prior, uncharged occasion and that the instant charges were “about”
both the April 15, 2021, incident and prior incident were such flagrant
violations of the law that the prosecutor must have intended to goad Ratliff into
moving for the mistrial. See Tr. Vol. 3, pp. 64, 66. The prosecutor’s statements
certainly justified the entry of the mistrial. But the prosecutor also made the
statements in his opening statement. The rule that prohibits retrial where the
defendant had asked for a mistrial seeks to avoid gamesmanship by prosecutors
who have concluded that the first trial is likely to result in an acquittal. See
Kennedy, 456 U.S. at 678-79. It is difficult to imagine how that rule can be
applied to a prosecutor’s opening statement.
[19] Further, the trial court’s finding that the prosecutor did not act with an intent to
cause the termination of the first trial is supported by the record. Again, the
statements were made during the prosecutor’s opening statement, which
suggests that his inappropriate comments were not intended to cause a mistrial.
Further, the prosecutor made clear to the court that he thought he was acting in
accordance with the court’s pretrial evidentiary ruling regarding the prior
incident. The trial court credited the prosecutor’s explanation and agreed that
its pretrial order was unclear. We therefore cannot say that the trial court’s
finding that the prosecutor did not have the intent to cause the mistrial is clearly
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erroneous. The trial court did not violate Ratliff’s double-jeopardy rights when
it held his second trial.
2. Ratliff’s conviction for Class A misdemeanor battery is
contrary to Indiana’s protection against substantive double
jeopardy.
[20] Ratliff also argues that the trial court violated his substantive double-jeopardy
rights when it entered judgment of conviction on either the Level 3 felony
burglary or the Level 3 felony rape and also the Class A misdemeanor battery.
We review such questions de novo. A.W. v. State, 229 N.E.3d 1060, 1064 (Ind.
2024). We limit our review of Ratliff’s argument to his convictions for Level 3
felony rape and Class A misdemeanor battery.
[21] Indiana’s protection against substantive double jeopardy prohibits “multiple
convictions for the same offense in a single proceeding.” Id. at 1066. To
determine if a substantive double-jeopardy violation has occurred, we apply a
“three-part test based on statutory sources . . . .” Id. The first step is to look to
the statutory language of the offenses at issue; if that language “clearly permits
multiple punishments,” then “there is no violation of substantive double
jeopardy.” Id. (quotation marks omitted). Here, Ratliff and the State agree that
the first step is not dispositive, and so we proceed to the second step.
[22] Under the second step, as clarified by our Supreme Court in A.W., we look to
the face of the charging information to discern if the factual bases identified for
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the charges implicate our statutory definitions of an “included offense.” Id. In
particular, the Indiana Code defines an included offense as an offense that:
(1) is established by proof of the same material elements or less
than all the material elements required to establish the
commission of the offense charged;
(2) consists of an attempt to commit the offense charged or an
offense otherwise included therein; or
(3) differs from the offense charged only in the respect that a less
serious harm or risk of harm to the same person, property, or
public interest, or a lesser kind of culpability, is required to
establish its commission.
I.C. § 35-31.5-2-168. As our Supreme Court further clarified, an offense is an
included offense under that statute where the charging information states that
the “means used” to commit the alleged greater offense “include all of the
elements of the alleged lesser included offense.” A.W., 229 N.E.3d at 1067
(quotation marks omitted).
[23] Here, aside from names and dates, the face of the charging information for the
Level 3 felony rape and Class A misdemeanor battery allegations simply tracks
the statutory language of the offenses. Appellant’s App. Vol. 2, pp. 77-78; see
also I.C. §§ 35-42-2-1(d)(1), 35-42-4-1(a)(1) (2020). Thus, the Class A
misdemeanor battery allegation stated that Ratliff had knowingly or
intentionally “touche[d] [J.B.] in a rude, insolent, or angry manner,” while the
Level 3 felony rape allegation stated that Ratliff had knowingly or intentionally
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had sexual intercourse with J.B. when she was “compelled by force or
imminent threat of force.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 2, pp. 77-78; see also I.C. §§ 35-
42-2-1(d)(1), 35-42-4-1(a)(1) (2020).
[24] That language alone does not demonstrate that the two offenses were separate
offenses. The means used to commit the greater offense could have included all
of the elements of the alleged lesser offense based on the face of the
information. For example, the means used to show that J.B. had been
“compelled by force or imminent threat of force” in the rape allegation could
include all of the elements required to demonstrate the battery allegation.
[25] Thus, the State’s charging information fails to make clear that the factual bases
for those two offenses were different. In such circumstances, our Supreme
Court held in A.W. that the charging information is to be deemed ambiguous,
and those ambiguities “must [be] construe[d] . . . in the defendant’s favor” and
against the State as the author of the charges. 229 N.E.3d at 1069. Further,
those ambiguities require us to conclude that the defendant has established “a
presumptive double jeopardy violation” at this step in the analysis. Id. For its
part, the State agrees that Ratliff has demonstrated a presumptive double-
jeopardy violation.
[26] With Ratliff having established a presumptive double-jeopardy violation, in step
three of our analysis the burden is on the State to rebut that presumption. That
is, the State must demonstrate that it made clear to the fact-finder at trial that
the apparently included charge was supported by independent evidence such
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that the State made a “distinction between what would otherwise be two of the
‘same’ offenses.” Id. at 1071. However, if the State’s reliance on the evidence at
trial “show[s] only a single continuous crime, and one statutory offense is
included in the other,” the State may not obtain cumulative convictions. Id.
(quotation marks omitted).
[27] Here, the State cannot demonstrate a distinction between the rape allegation
and the battery allegation based on how the State asked the jury to apply the
evidence. In its attempt to rebut the presumptive double jeopardy violation, the
State asserts that “the act of sexual intercourse” was an act “separate and
distinct from [Ratliff] . . . beating J.B. on the stairwell.” Appellee’s Br. at 27.
But the State’s argument disregards the statutory requirement that the sexual
intercourse here was “compelled by force or imminent threat of force.” See I.C.
35-42-4-1(a)(1) (2020). And, as to that requirement, the prosecutor made clear
to the jury that the means used by Ratliff to compel J.B. by force or imminent
threat of force to engage in sexual intercourse was the same evidence that the
prosecutor argued supported the battery allegation: Ratliff striking J.B. about
the head and face on their way up the stairs after he had broken into her
apartment.
[28] As the means used to compel J.B. by force or imminent threat of force to
submit to sexual intercourse with Ratliff included all the elements of the Class
A misdemeanor battery allegation, and as the evidence relied on by the
prosecutor shows only a single continuous crime of Level 3 felony rape,
Ratliff’s convictions for both offenses is contrary to law.
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[29] Where a defendant is found guilty of both the greater offense and an included
offense, the proper procedure is to vacate the conviction for the included offense
and to enter a judgment of conviction and sentence only upon the greater
offense. See, e.g., Demby v. State, 203 N.E.3d 1035, 1046 (Ind. Ct. App 2021),
trans. denied. We therefore reverse Ratliff’s conviction for Class A misdemeanor
battery and remand to the trial court for it to vacate that conviction and his one-
year concurrent sentence accordingly.
3. Ratliff’s sentence is not inappropriate.
[30] Last, Ratliff argues that his aggregate sentence of twenty-eight years with three
years suspended to probation is inappropriate in light of the nature of the
offenses and his character. 2 Under Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B), we may modify
a sentence that we find is “inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and
the character of the offender.” Making this determination “turns on our sense of
the culpability of the defendant, the severity of the crime, the damage done to
others, and myriad other factors that come to light in a given case.” Cardwell v.
State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008). Sentence modification under Rule
7(B), however, is reserved for “a rare and exceptional case.” Livingston v. State,
113 N.E.3d 611, 612 (Ind. 2018) (per curiam).
2
As Ratliff’s sentence on the Class A misdemeanor battery conviction was ordered to run concurrently with
his sentence on the Level 3 felony rape conviction, our holding in part 2 of this opinion does not affect his
aggregate sentence.
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[31] When conducting this review, we generally defer to the sentence imposed by
the trial court. Conley v. State, 972 N.E.2d 864, 876 (Ind. 2012). Our role is to
“leaven the outliers,” not to achieve what may be perceived as the “correct”
result. Id. Thus, deference to the trial court’s sentence will prevail unless the
defendant persuades us the sentence is inappropriate by producing compelling
evidence portraying in a positive light the nature of the offense—such as
showing restraint or a lack of brutality—and the defendant’s character—such as
showing substantial virtuous traits or persistent examples of positive attributes.
Stephenson v. State, 29 N.E.3d 111, 122 (Ind. 2015).
[32] Ratliff appeals his convictions for two Level 3 felonies. A Level 3 felony carries
a sentencing range of three to sixteen years, with an advisory term of nine
years. I.C. § 35-50-2-5(b). The trial court ordered Ratliff to serve twelve years on
his Level 3 felony burglary conviction and sixteen years on the Level 3 felony
rape conviction, with three of those sixteen years suspended to probation. The
court ordered those sentences to be served consecutively.
[33] We cannot say that Ratliff’s aggregate sentence is inappropriate, and his
arguments on appeal simply seek to have our Court substitute its judgment for
the trial court’s, which we will not do. See Stephenson, 29 N.E.3d at 122. Ratliff
presents no compelling evidence that portrays the offenses in a positive light or
shows that his character has substantial virtuous traits or positive attributes. We
therefore affirm his sentence. See id.
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Conclusion
[34] For all of these reasons, we affirm Ratliff’s convictions and sentences for Level
3 felony burglary and Level 3 felony rape. However, we reverse his conviction
for Class A misdemeanor battery, and we remand with instructions for the trial
court to vacate that conviction and its sentence.
[35] Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions.
Riley, J., and Felix, J., concur.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
James E. Harper
Harper & Harper, LLC
Valparaiso, Indiana
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Theodore E. Rokita
Attorney General of Indiana
Jodi Kathryn Stein
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
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