Mark H. Soto v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Oct 01 2018, 10:15 am
Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as
CLERK
precedent or cited before any court except for the Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, and Tax Court
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Joseph A. Sobek Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Reed, Earhart & Lennox, LLC Indiana Attorney General
Warsaw, Indiana
Tyler G. Banks
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Mark H. Soto, October 1, 2018
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
43A04-1710-CR-2388
v. Appeal from the Kosciusko Circuit
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Stephen R. Bowers,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Special Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
43C01-1602-F5-146
Shepard, Senior Judge.
[1] Mark H. Soto joined with Kevin Bronson, a self-proclaimed gang member, in
an ongoing enterprise to coerce money from others through threats of gang
violence. Among these, Soto told James McLaurin that if he did not comply
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with their demands, McLaurin and his wife and children would be tortured and
murdered by a biker gang. Soto appeals his convictions of two counts of
1
corrupt business influence, both Level 5 felonies, and one count of
2
intimidation, a Class D felony. We affirm.
[2] Soto was a pastor and a professor at a private Christian university. Bronson
was a career criminal and a self-proclaimed member of the Aryan Brotherhood,
a prison-based gang. The two met in 1998, and Soto became Bronson’s mentor.
Soto and Bronson continued their relationship during Bronson’s periodic
incarcerations, including a stint in the Kosciusko County Jail from 2010 to
2012. Bronson claimed to have become a devout Christian, and Soto
convinced the jailers to give Bronson special treatment, including a phone in his
cell. Soto provided credibility in Bronson’s dealings with others due to his
“impeccable” reputation as a pastor and educator. Tr. Vol. 4, pp. 89, 153.
[3] Bronson had planned to make a movie about his life since at least 2008, and he
claimed that the Brotherhood would release him from membership if the movie
depicted that group in a terrifying light. Bronson also needed assistance with
living expenses when he was not incarcerated. He told Soto that he would give
Soto part of the proceeds from the film in exchange for helping him. Further,
Bronson would establish a nonprofit organization for ministry purposes, which
1
Ind. Code § 35-45-6-2 (2014).
2
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1 (2013).
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Soto would run. Finally, Bronson had introduced Soto to his wealthy father,
from whom he expected to receive a large inheritance. Bronson named Soto as
a beneficiary in his will.
[4] Acting on Bronson’s behalf, Soto reached out to several individuals for help
with the movie and funding Bronson’s living expenses. Among others, he
contacted attorney David Baker and pastor James McLaurin. Bronson met
separately with both men, in Soto’s presence. During initial meetings, Bronson
told Baker and McLaurin that he was a member of the Brotherhood and would
be free only if he made a movie demonstrating how “bad the brotherhood was.”
Tr. Vol. 3, p. 122. The movie would also depict Bronson’s purported attempts
to redeem himself. In later, separate meetings with Baker and McLaurin,
Bronson told each of them in Soto’s presence that the Brotherhood was a
violent gang, wanted the movie completed, and would torture and murder
Baker, McLaurin, and their wives and children if they did not cooperate.
[5] Soto separately made threats to Baker and McLaurin. After the initial meeting
involving Bronson, Baker, and Soto, Soto told Baker that the Brotherhood
supported “this story being told” and that they would “have to see it through
[to] fruition.” Id. at 118-19. Soto told McLaurin that, because he knew about
Bronson’s situation, he was “in threat” as well. Id. Soto made it clear
McLaurin was now on the “radar of the Aryan Brotherhood.” Id. at 44. Both
men believed the threats and were fearful. Soto and Bronson eventually
introduced Baker to McLaurin.
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[6] Baker incorporated a business entity, Young Dragon Enterprises, LLC, to
manage negotiations with film companies. Bronson had a fifty percent interest
in the LLC, while Soto owned thirty percent and McLaurin owned twenty
percent. Bronson and Soto opened two bank accounts for Young Dragon, a
capital account and a corporate account. Soto had access to both accounts, and
Bronson had access to the corporate account. McLaurin made deposits in the
capital account and tracked the movement of funds to the corporate account.
[7] McLaurin asked his friend Tyler Silveus to help pay for the project and
Bronson’s living expenses. McLaurin also provided his own personal funds
under threat. From September through December 2012, McLaurin wrote
personal checks totaling over six thousand dollars to Soto, allegedly for
Bronson’s benefit. Soto personally picked up each check from McLaurin.
[8] McLaurin was unhappy at the rate money was being withdrawn from Young
Dragon’s accounts, and at one point he refused to locate additional money until
he, Bronson, Soto, and Baker met to discuss “accountability and rules of
engagement.” Tr. Vol. 2, p. 220. Soto arranged such a meeting on December
17, 2012, at a church in Van Wert, Ohio. Soto told McLaurin and Baker that
fourteen bikers were in the area and were ready to act against McLaurin and
Baker if they were not “in full compliance with where they wanted to go.” Id.
at 221. Baker understood Soto to mean that he “wouldn’t make it home” if he
and McLaurin did not comply. Tr. Vol. 3, p. 149. After the meeting,
McLaurin and Baker were afraid and talked on their phones as they drove
home to ensure each arrived safely.
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[9] Bronson continued to threaten Baker and McLaurin’s families with torture and
murder by the Brotherhood if progress was not made. Soto and Bronson
separately told Baker and McLaurin that “Sky Blue” was the leader of the
Brotherhood. Tr. Vol. 2, p. 227; Tr. Vol. 3, p. 125. They also told Baker and
McLaurin that their communications were being monitored by the
Brotherhood. Bronson further told McLaurin the Brotherhood was watching
his house “at all times.” Tr. Vol. 2, p. 232.
[10] Soto also continued to threaten Baker in a series of emails. For example, in a
February 4, 2013 email, Soto told Baker it was “imperative that we show some
progress” because “demands are now being made on us to get them finished . . .
PLEASE do this so we all do not have to deal with the consequences . . .” Tr.
Vol. 8, State’s Ex. 28.
[11] Baker understood that Soto’s reference to “consequences” was related to
Bronson’s repeated claims that the Brotherhood would kill Baker’s family.
Throughout his years-long association with Bronson and Soto, Baker perceived
the threats as directed at himself and McLaurin, never Soto. In addition, Soto
told Baker about his communications with Brotherhood leadership, leaving an
impression that he had a good relationship with them.
[12] Eventually, McLaurin was so exasperated that he texted Bronson, demanding
to speak with Sky Blue. In response, Soto and Bronson called McLaurin on the
night of January 2, 2013. Soto told McLaurin he “had crossed a line and that I
had messed up and that bikers were coming from Fort Wayne to take action on
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my family.” Tr. Vol. 2, p. 229. Bronson was shouting in the background that
the bikers were going to kill them all. McLaurin understood Soto and Bronson
as indicating “that my family would die in my presence as I watched, and they
would end with me.” Id. at 230. Soto said the bikers would arrive at
McLaurin’s house at 3 a.m.
[13] McLaurin called Tyler Silveus, who came over and picked up McLaurin’s wife
and children. McLaurin stayed at his house to confront the bikers, but no one
arrived. Bronson told McLaurin the bikers had seen McLaurin’s family leave
the house and were “impressed” that he did not call the police. Id. at 234.
[14] Eventually, McLaurin and Baker both ended their involvement with Soto and
Bronson despite their fears of retribution, forcing Soto and Bronson to turn to
other individuals for financial support. Bronson spoke with Silveus and told
him the Brotherhood was monitoring his cell phone. Silveus was afraid for
himself and his family because Bronson had told him that he would be killed if
the movie project failed, and “if anything happened to [Bronson] it would [also]
happen to me and my family.” Tr. Vol. 5, p. 114. Silveus believed that even if
the Brotherhood was not involved, he’d “been around [Bronson] enough to be
concerned about him, in particular, and if pushed to a corner what could he be
capable of.” Id. at 113. From September 2012 through February 2013 Silveus
wrote several checks to Mark Soto totaling $15,010. One of the checks stated
the money was for Soto to purchase cabinets to renovate his kitchen. In all,
Silveus paid out over $140,000 to Young Dragon and Soto. Others paid lesser
amounts to Young Dragon.
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[15] Bronson was arrested on unrelated charges in December 2014, and the police
were eventually informed of Soto and Bronson’s scheme. The State charged
Soto with three counts of corrupt business influence, all Class C felonies/Level
5 felonies, and three counts of intimidation, one as a Class D felony/Level 6
felony, and the other two as Class D felonies. A jury determined Soto was
guilty of two of the counts of corrupt business influence and one count of
intimidation but found him not guilty of the remaining charges. The trial court
imposed a sentence, including ordering Soto to pay restitution as follows:
Christian McCray $9,119.57
Derek Hobbs $5,000
Tyler Silveus $143,578.32
Cory Greene $3,150
I. Inconsistent Verdicts
[16] Soto first argues his three convictions should be reversed because they are
factually inconsistent with his not guilty verdicts on other counts. The Indiana
Supreme Court has stated, “Jury verdicts in criminal cases are not subject to
appellate review on grounds that they are inconsistent, contradictory, or
irreconcilable.” Beattie v. State, 924 N.E.2d 643, 649 (Ind. 2010). Soto claims
the facts of this case are distinguishable from the facts in Beattie, but we are not
free to disregard the Supreme Court’s directive.
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II. Sufficiency of the Evidence
[17] When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we consider only probative
evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court’s judgment. Burns v. State,
91 N.E.3d 635 (Ind. 2018). We do not assess the credibility of the witnesses or
reweigh the evidence. Id. Reversal is appropriate only when no reasonable
fact-finder could find the elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable
doubt. Id.
[18] To obtain a conviction against Soto for Count I, corrupt business influence as a
Level 5 felony, the State was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
Soto and Bronson knowingly or intentionally received money from individuals,
which was derived from their pattern of acts of intimidation against those
individuals, and that Soto and Bronson invested the proceeds in Young Dragon
Enterprises, LLC. See Ind. Code § 35-45-6-2. Further, to obtain a conviction
against Soto for Count III, a second charge of corrupt business influence as a
Level 5 felony, the State was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
Soto and Bronson knowingly or intentionally conducted the business of Young
Dragon Enterprises, LLC, through a pattern of racketeering activity, specifically
acts of intimidation. Id.
[19] The evidence at trial did establish that Soto and Bronson collaborated to coerce
their victims to provide services and money. Soto and Bronson’s goals were
twofold: to make a movie about Bronson’s life, and to provide money for
themselves. The two repeatedly made direct and indirect threats to their
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victims that the Brotherhood would torture and murder their families. They
forced Baker to incorporate Young Dragon, which was the entity that received
most of the money they coerced from Silveus and others. Soto had the
authority to withdraw money from Young Dragon’s accounts. Further, Soto
also received funds directly from McLaurin, Silveus, and others. He used some
of the money to renovate his kitchen.
[20] This is sufficient evidence to prove the two separate counts of corrupt business
influence. Soto argues there was no “pattern” of intimidation against the
victims, and that all acts of intimidation were committed by Bronson. These
arguments are a request to reweigh the evidence.
[21] To obtain a conviction against Soto for Count V, intimidation as a Class D
felony, the State was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Soto
communicated a threat to McLaurin with the intent that he be placed in fear of
retaliation for asking to contact Bronson’s alleged superior in the Brotherhood,
causing McLaurin to engage in conduct against his will, specifically, sending
his family from their home in the middle of the night and remaining awake to
await possible attack on him and his family. See Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1.
[22] The facts set forth above establish that after McLaurin demanded to talk with
“Sky Blue,” Soto and Bronson called him on the night of January 2, 2013.
While Bronson screamed in the background, Soto told McLaurin he “had
crossed a line and that I had messed up and that bikers were coming from Fort
Wayne to take action on my family.” Tr. Vol. 2, p. 229. Soto’s threat caused
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McLaurin to send his wife and children away while he stayed behind to
confront any assailants. This is sufficient evidence to establish the elements of
intimidation beyond a reasonable doubt. Soto argues there is insufficient
evidence that he was one of the persons who called McLaurin, and he further
claims he was also being threatened by Bronson. These arguments are requests
to reweigh the evidence.
III. Restitution
[23] For his final claim, Soto argues the trial court deprived him of due process in
awarding restitution. An order of restitution is a matter within the court’s
sound discretion and will be reversed only on a showing of abuse of discretion.
Archer v. State, 81 N.E.3d 212 (Ind. 2017). Due process requires reasonable
notice, an opportunity for a fair hearing, and a right to have a court of
competent jurisdiction decide the case. McCallip v. State, 580 N.E.2d 278 (Ind.
Ct. App. 1991).
[24] Soto claims the restitution order was unfair because the State did not present
any evidence at sentencing to support its request for restitution. At trial, the
State submitted ample, specific evidence of the amounts paid by the victims,
including copies of checks. These documents were apparently provided to Soto
in discovery prior to trial. We cannot conclude Soto was deprived of
reasonable notice of the amount of damages.
[25] Soto next argues the trial court deprived him of due process by ordering him to
pay restitution to Silveus because the jury determined he was not guilty of
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intimidating Silveus. In addition, he claims Silveus conceded at trial that not
all of his payments to Young Dragon and Soto were driven by fear. In effect,
Soto wishes to contest what parts of the restitution to Silveus rest on his
conviction under Count I as opposed to Counts III or V. This seems likely to
be a repackaging of his argument about inconsistent verdicts, but if not, Soto
has not supplied argument about the distribution of restitution between counts.
[26] Finally, Soto claims the court failed to consider whether he could afford
restitution. An inquiry into ability to pay is required by due process if
restitution is a condition of probation. M.L. v. State, 838 N.E.2d 525 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2005), trans. denied. The court explained to Soto his ability to pay would
“be determined in conjunction with [the] probation department” and would be
addressed in a “further hearing at a later date.” Tr. Vol. 6, p. 210. The court
did not abuse its discretion by deferring inquiry into Soto’s ability to pay.
[27] For the reasons stated above, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
[28] Affirmed.
Riley, J., and Altice, J., concur.
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