David L. Tavernier v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Dec 02 2019, 6:15 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.
APPELLANT PRO SE ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
David L. Tavernier Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Branchville, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Matthew B. MacKenzie
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
David L. Tavernier, December 2, 2019
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
19A-CR-499
v. Appeal from the
Morgan Superior Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable
Appellee-Plaintiff. Brian Williams, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
55D02-1410-FC-1594
Altice, Judge.
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Case Summary
[1] Following his guilty plea to Class C felony nonsupport of a dependent child,
David Tavernier appeals, asserting that his eight-year sentence with four years
suspended is inappropriate.
[2] We affirm.
Facts & Procedural History
[3] Tavernier and Darla Cook (Mother) are the biological parents of K.C. (Child)
born in 2003. Paternity was established in 2005, and Tavernier was ordered to
pay child support in the amount of $57 per week, plus $3 per week for a then-
existing arrearage of $1697. Between October 2009 and June 2014, Tavernier
failed to pay $15,000 in support. As of August 2014, Tavernier’s arrearage
amount was $20,911.92. On October 21, 2014, the State charged Tavernier
with two counts of nonsupport of a dependent child, one as a Class C felony
and one as a Level 5 felony. 1 By August 31, 2018, Tavernier’s arrearage total
was $29,284.92.
[4] While the case was pending for over four years, the matter convened for pretrial
and status hearings and was repeatedly continued while Tavernier sought
counsel, which he obtained on a couple of occasions. Tavernier failed to
1
The Class C felony concerned the time period of October 11, 2009 through June 30, 2014, and the Level 5
felony concerned the time period after July 1, 2014 with an enhancement based upon a prior conviction for
nonsupport of a dependent.
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appear at an August 2016 hearing, and an arrest warrant was issued and
eventually served in May 2017. He was released on bond and then failed to
appear at a September 2018 change-of-plea hearing. A warrant was again
issued, and he was held without bond until he appeared at a January 7, 2019
hearing, at which he entered into a plea agreement. The agreement provided
that Tavernier would plead guilty to the Class C felony charge, the State would
dismiss the Level 5 felony charge, and the term of the sentence and probation
would be open to the trial court’s discretion but the aggregate sentence was
capped at eight years with a maximum executed sentence of four years.
[5] At the January 22, 2019 sentencing hearing, Tavernier explained that he was
self-employed with a general contracting business and had been “working hard
with [his] business to produce enough money” but it was not enough.
Transcript at 82. He requested home detention and stated that he “would get a
W-2 type job” so that support could be withheld from his check. Id. at 81.
Tavernier acknowledged that he had a 2006 conviction for nonsupport of a
dependent child but stated that it was for other children. He conceded that the
2006 conviction did not impress upon him the importance of supporting his
children. He acknowledged that in August 2014 he owed over $29,000 and that
his current arrearage was over $30,000. In responding to the State’s inquiry as
to why the court “should for one second entertain the concept that you’re going
to start paying now miraculously when you basically haven’t paid anything for
the last eight years,” Tavernier responded, “I will maintain a W-2 job,” adding
“I never had a chance to at any time . . . be on a program to help pay for this
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child support that I owe[.]” Id. at 84. The presentence investigation report
reflected Tavernier’s criminal history, which began in 1990 and spanned to
2014 and included twelve misdemeanors and at least six felonies.
[6] At a subsequent pronouncement-of-sentence hearing, the State argued that
Tavernier “basically hasn’t been paying at all” and has “done everything he can
to avoid having to pay,” and Mother and Child had to give up “all kinds of
things” due to his nonpayment. Id. at 94. Tavernier’s counsel argued that there
had been no evidence presented that Child “went without anything during the
course of child’s life while [] Tavernier was not paying child support,”
Tavernier took responsibility for his failure to pay by pleading guilty, and he
had a plan for meeting his obligation. Id. at 95. Tavernier gave a statement in
allocution apologizing for not paying child support, assured that he would have
a W-2 job in thirty days, and asked for release to be able to work. He noted,
“I’m not pointing any fingers, but I think the programs need to be more in effect
for people as me to get guidance from situations in this to help get the best thing
done for the child to pay child support payments[.]” Id. at 97.
[7] Mother gave a victim’s statement, stating that she had worked two jobs for
Child’s entire life and that Child “went without a lot[,]” including “a dad” as
Child, who was fifteen at the time of the hearing, had only met Tavernier twice.
Id. at 98.
[8] The trial court sentenced Tavernier to eight years with four years suspended to
probation. The court stated, “I cannot fathom coming in here and trying in any
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way whatsoever trying to sell the idea that we haven’t got . . . proof that this
child has not done without[,]” and it rejected Tavernier’s comments that he
needed to be on some sort of “program” in order to support Child. Id. at 99.
The court reminded Tavernier, “you hold the keys by finally doing what you
should have been doing all along[,]” and it ordered Tavernier to pay $600 per
month toward arrears. Id. at 102. Tavernier now appeals.
Discussion and Decision
[9] Tavernier contends that his sentence is inappropriate. 2 Pursuant to Ind.
Appellate Rule 7(B), this Court “may revise a sentence authorized by statute if,
after due consideration of the trial court’s decision, the Court finds that the
sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character
of the offender.” Our Supreme Court has explained that the principal role of
appellate review should be to attempt to leaven the outliers, “not to achieve a
perceived ‘correct’ result in each case.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1225
(Ind. 2008). “‘[W]e must and should exercise deference to a trial court’s
sentencing decision, both because Rule 7(B) requires us to give ‘due
consideration’ to that decision and because we understand and recognize the
unique perspective a trial court brings to its sentencing decisions.’” Rogers v.
2
Tavernier’s appellate challenge to his sentence intertwines abuse of discretion language and inappropriate
sentence language. See e.g. Appellant’s Brief at 7 (“The trial court abused its discretion in sentencing Defendant
to the advisory sentence given the character of the offender and the nature of the offense.”) It is well-settled
that the two types of claims are distinct and are to be analyzed separately. King v. State, 894 N.E.2d 265, 266
(Ind. Ct. App. 2008). Because the substance of Tavernier’s arguments focuses on the nature of his offense
and his character, we find that his claim is that his sentence is inappropriate. To the extent that he claims
that the trial court abused its discretion, his claim is waived.
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State, 878 N.E.2d 269, 275 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (quoting Stewart v. State, 866
N.E.2d 858, 866 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007)), trans. denied. “Such deference should
prevail unless overcome by compelling evidence portraying in a positive light
the nature of the offense (such as accompanied by restraint, regard, and lack of
brutality) and the defendant’s character (such as substantial virtuous traits or
persistent examples of good character).” Stephenson v. State, 29 N.E.3d 111, 122
(Ind. 2015). The question under App. R. 7(B) is “not whether another sentence
is more appropriate” but rather “whether the sentence imposed is
inappropriate.” Miller v. State, 105 N.E.3d 194, 196 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018). In
conducting our review, we may consider “all aspects of the penal consequences
imposed by the trial court in sentencing, i.e., whether it consists of executed
time, probation, suspension, home detention, or placement in community
corrections, and whether the sentences run concurrently or consecutively.”
Davidson v. State, 926 N.E.2d 1023, 1025 (Ind. 2010). Tavernier bears the
burden of persuading us that his sentence is inappropriate. Barker v. State, 994
N.E.2d 306, 315 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied.
[10] When determining whether a sentence is inappropriate, the advisory sentence is
the starting point the Legislature has selected as an appropriate sentence for the
crime committed. Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1081 (Ind. 2006). Here,
Tavernier was convicted of one Class C felony, for which the sentencing range
is between two and eight years, with the advisory being four years. See Ind.
Code § 35-50-2-6. The trial court sentenced Tavernier to eight years,
suspending four of those to probation.
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[11] We have recognized that “[t]he nature of the offense is found in the details and
circumstances of the commission of the offense and the defendant’s
participation.” Croy v. State, 953 N.E.2d 660, 664 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). As to
the nature of the offense, Tavernier points to the fact that his arrearage did not
increase dramatically between May 2003 to August 2014 and he had made
some payments during that time. Appellant’s Brief at 10. We are unpersuaded,
however, by his arguments. This is Tavernier’s second conviction for
nonsupport of a dependent child. He conceded that a 2006 conviction for the
same offense did not motivate him to pay support. It is undisputed that
between August 2014 and December 2018, his arrearage increased by almost
$10,000 such that the total was over $30,000 by December 2018. The nature of
the offense does not warrant reduction of his sentence.
[12] “The character of the offender is found in what we learn of the offender’s life
and conduct.” Croy, 953 N.E.2d at 664. Tavernier highlights that (1) he took
responsibility by pleading guilty, (2) he had “no conscious knowledge” that
Child was “going without” due to his nonpayment of support, and (3) there is
no evidence that he acted in “callous disregard” of Child’s needs, and therefore,
he argues, his character does not warrant the four-year executed sentence.
Appellant’s Brief at 11. We disagree. Tavernier’s arguments regarding his
character overlook the well-settled principle that “[w]hen considering the
character of the offender, one relevant factor is the defendant’s criminal
history.” Johnson v. State, 986 N.E.2d 852, 857 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). The
presentence investigation report reflected that Tavernier has been convicted of
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twelve misdemeanors and at least six felonies, including Class D felony
nonsupport of a dependent, and he has violated probation. Tavernier’s counsel
conceded to the trial court that Tavernier’s criminal history was “significant.”
Transcript at 96.
[13] Tavernier attempted to lessen his responsibility for his nonpayment of support
for almost eight years by suggesting to the trial court that he never had a chance
to be in a program to help him with child support. The trial court rejected this
attempt to shift blame, as do we. Furthermore, the record reflects that, after the
State filed charges in 2014, the case proceeded for years, with two arrest
warrants being issued for failing to appear. We find nothing in the record to
suggest that his sentence is inappropriate in light of his character.
[14] Accordingly, Tavernier has failed to carry his burden of establishing that his
eight-year sentence with four years suspended is inappropriate. 3
[15] Judgment affirmed.
Brown, J. and Tavitas, J., concur.
3
While this appeal was pending, Tavernier filed with this court two, seemingly identical, pro-se Motions on
Constitutional Guarantees for Relief on Final Judgment. Tavernier’s motions are difficult to follow, making
claims that he has “suffered through living in anxiety, insecurity, and a continuous fear of the burden
between right and wrong in unjustified judgments made and introduced by the lower court in there
unbalanced justice scales, with conflicting views and agreements” and that he has been “brutally attacked
with commands from the lower court by a moral force, of unjustified rulings, of complete discretion and
disrespectful decisions, of an obvious disposal of Appellant’s credibility to understand the evidence[.]” Oct. 8,
2019 Motion on Constitutional Guarantees for Relief from Final Judgment at 3-4. It is not clear what relief he seeks,
but it appears that Tavernier is asking this court to vacate his conviction or revise his sentence. We hereby
deny his motions.
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