James Murphy 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 11 2019, 9:52 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
Zachary J. Stock Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Angela Sanchez
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
James Murphy, December 11, 2019
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
19A-CR-1289
v. Appeal from the Hendricks
Superior Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Stephenie LeMay-
Appellee-Plaintiff. Luken, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
32D05-1811-CM-1664 & 32D05-
1811-CM-1668
Riley, Judge.
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STATEMENT OF THE CASE
[1] Appellant-Defendant, James Murphy (Murphy), appeals his convictions for
intimidation, a Class A misdemeanor, Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(a)(1); resisting law
enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor, I.C. § 35-44.1-3(a)(1); and disorderly
conduct, a Class B misdemeanor, I.C. § 35-45-1-3(a)(2).
[2] We affirm in part, and reverse in part.
ISSUE
[3] Murphy presents this court with one issue on appeal, which we restate as:
Whether the State presented sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to
support his convictions.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
[4] On August 20, 2018, United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier Kiesha
Fassett (Fassett) was delivering mail on Gibbs Street in Plainfield, Indiana.
Murphy drove toward Fassett, parked his truck, and exited. Murphy
approached Fassett and accused her of “withholding his check.” (Transcript
Vol. II, p. 13). When Fassett stated that she did not have Murphy’s check,
Murphy threatened Fassett that if she “didn’t deliver his check,” he was going
to hurt her. (Tr. Vol. II, p. 15). Scared by Murphy’s actions, Fassett warned
Murphy to “back up” or that she would use her “dog spray” on him. (Tr. Vol.
II, p. 16). Fassett called the police as well as her “postal supervisors due to her
fear of returning” on that route to deliver mail. (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p.
14). Murphy drove off before the police arrived.
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[5] On August 24, 2018, Officer Cole Wuest (Officer Wuest) of the Plainfield
Police Department went to Murphy’s home. Upon arrival, Officer Wuest
knocked on the door and initiated contact with Murphy. Officer Wuest advised
Murphy that he was there to follow up on the incident between Murphy and
Fassett. Murphy admitted that he “did get angry” during his encounter with
Fassett, and he claimed that he was upset with Fassett since she was supposed
to be delivering his $1,000 “tax check.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 15).
[6] On September 4, 2018, under Cause Number 32D05-1811-CM-1664 (Cause
No. 1164), the State filed an Information, charging Murphy with intimidation,
a Class A misdemeanor. Also, a no-contact order was issued against Murphy.
On October 2, 2018, the State issued a warrant for Murphy’s arrest because he
failed to appear for his initial hearing.
[7] On October 3, 2018, in the company of other officers, Officer Joshua Jellison
(Officer Jellison), arrived at Murphy’s home to arrest Murphy. Murphy’s
mother answered the door and Officer Jellison informed her that he was there
to speak with Murphy. When Murphy came to the door, Officer Jellison
informed Murphy that he had a warrant for his arrest. Officer Jellison asked
Murphy “approximately two (2) to three (3) times to step out of the house.”
(Tr. Vol. II, p. 43). Murphy refused to exit his house and at that point, Officer
Jellison put his “right hand on the cusp of [Murphy’s] right elbow, and [his] left
hand on [Murphy’s] wrist” so that he “could gain control and place [Murphy]
in cuffs.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 43). Officer Jellison then attempted to pull Murphy
out of the house, but Murphy pulled away multiple times. With the help of
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another officer, Officer Jellison forcefully removed Murphy from the house.
During his arrest, Murphy repeatedly yelled at the officers that he “didn’t need
to come with [the officers],” the warrant was not “good”, and he had “been
pardoned for his crimes.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 49). Also “screaming at the top of his
lungs,” Murphy yelled that he had been “pardoned by Donald Trump” and “he
wasn’t responsible for whatever the original charge was on the warrant.” (Tr.
Vol. II, pp. 44, 51).
[8] Despite numerous warnings, Murphy did not cease screaming. Eventually
Murphy calmed down. The commotion resulted in Murphy’s mother exiting
the house. Murphy’s mother then approached the officers and yelled at the
officers that they were not going to take her son. The officers detained
Murphy’s mother. Observing his mother in handcuffs, Murphy resumed being
animated, and addressing the officer’s actions against his mother, he screamed
at the “top of his lungs,” stating, “you can’t do this.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 39).
[9] The following day on October 3, 2018, in Cause Number 32D05-1811-CM-
1668(Cause No. 1668), the State filed another Information, charging Murphy
with Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement, and Class B
misdemeanor disorderly conduct. On November 16, 2018, Cause No. 1668
was transferred to the Hedrick Superior Court to be heard with Cause No.
1664. On May 16, 2019, the trial court conducted a joint bench trial for both
Causes. At the close of the evidence, the trial court found Murphy guilty on all
Counts. The trial court then sentenced Murphy to concurrent sentences of 365
days for intimidation, 365 days for resisting law enforcement, and 180 days for
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disorderly conduct. The trial court, however, suspended Murphy’s sentence to
probation.
[10] Murphy now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Standard of Review
[11] Murphy claims that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of
intimidation, resisting law enforcement, and disorderly conduct. When
reviewing a claim of insufficient evidence, it is well-established that our court
does not reweigh evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses. Walker v. State,
998 N.E.2d 724, 726 (Ind. 2013). Instead, we consider all of the evidence, and
any reasonable inferences that may be drawn therefrom, in a light most
favorable to the verdict. Id. We will uphold the conviction “‘if there is
substantial evidence of probative value supporting each element of the crime
from which a reasonable trier of fact could have found the defendant guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id. (quoting Davis v. State, 813 N.E.2d 1176, 1178
(Ind. 2004)).
II. Intimidation
[12] Murphy first argues that there “is absolutely no evidence that [his] threat to
harm Fassett was made in retaliation for a prior lawful act.” (Appellant’s Br. p.
9). To prove intimidation, the State was required to establish beyond a
reasonable doubt that: “A person who communicates a threat to another
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person, with the intent: . . . (2) That the other person be placed in fear of
retaliation for a prior lawful act . . . commits intimidation, a Class A
misdemeanor.” I.C. § 35-45-2-1(a)(2). Murphy appears to be challenging the
sufficiency of the second element.
[13] In Chastain v. State, 58 N.E.3d 235, 241 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), trans. denied, we
held that “a conviction under the intimidation statute should not depend upon a
precise parsing of the threatening language used by a defendant or a detailed
timeline of when a threat was issued in relation to a prior lawful act.” (internal
citations omitted). Rather, what is required is that there be a clear nexus
between the prior lawful act and the defendant’s threat. See id. (emphasis
added).
[14] On August 20, 2018, Murphy drove up to Fassett while she was delivering mail
for the USPS, parked his truck and exited, and then repeatedly demanded his
check from Fassett. When Fassett stated that she did not have Murphy’s check,
Murphy repeatedly threatened to hurt Fassett. Fasset committed a lawful act—
refusing to deliver a nonexistent check to Murphy—and Murphy immediately
threatened to harm Fassett. Thus, it was reasonable for the trier of fact to find
that there was a clear nexus between that prior lawful act and Murphy’s threat
to harm Fassett. Fassett was engaged in a prior lawful act, and Murphy’s threat
was in direct response to Fassett’s prior lawful act. Therefore, we conclude that
the State presented sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to support
Murphy’s intimidation conviction.
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III. Resisting Law Enforcement
[15] To convict Murphy of Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement, the
State was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Murphy knowingly
or intentionally forcibly resisted, obstructed, or interfered with a law
enforcement officer or a person assisting the officer while the officer was
lawfully engaged in the execution of the officer’s duties. I.C. § 35-44.1-3-
1(a)(1).
[16] Murphy argues that “[i]t is also difficult to see how refusing to leave one’s
house or simply pulling away from an officer constitutes forceful resistance.”
(Appellant’s Br. p. 11). When Officer Jellison arrived at Murphy’s home, he
informed Murphy that he had a warrant for his arrest. Officer Jellison asked
Murphy “approximately two (2) to three (3) times to step out of the house.”
(Tr. Vol. II, p. 43). Murphy refused to exit his house and at that point, Officer
Jellison put his “right hand on the cusp of [Murphy’s] right elbow, and [his] left
hand on [Murphy’s wrist” so that he “could gain control and place [Murphy] in
cuffs.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 43). Officer Jellison then attempted to pull Murphy out
of the house, but Murphy pulled away multiple times. With the help of another
officer, Officer Jellison forcefully removed Murphy from the house. Because
Murphy was attempting to kick the officers, he was forced to sit down on the
ground.
[17] Based on the evidence, the State presented sufficient evidence beyond a
reasonable doubt that Murphy forcibly resisted law enforcement. See Walker v.
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State, 998 N.E.2d 724, 725 (Ind. 2013) (“A person forcibly resists a police
officer when he uses strong, powerful, violent means to impede an officer in the
lawful execution of his duties.”)
IV. Disorderly Conduct
[18] Lastly, to prove that Murphy committed Class B misdemeanor disorderly
conduct, the State needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Murphy
recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally made unreasonable noise and continued
to do so after being asked to stop. See I.C. § 35-45-1-3(a)(2).
[19] Murphy contends that he was engaging in political speech at the time of his
arrest, and thus, his outbursts were protected by Article 1, section 9 of the
Indiana Constitution. Article 1, section 9 provides: “No law shall be passed,
restraining the free interchange of thought and opinion, or restricting the right
to speak, write, or print, freely, on any subject whatever: but for the abuse of
that right, every person shall be responsible.”
[20] In reviewing the constitutionality of Indiana Code section 35-45-1-3 as applied
to a defendant, we employ a two-step analysis. “First, we must determine
whether state action has restricted a claimant’s expressive activity; second, if it
has, we must decide whether the restricted activity constituted an ‘abuse’ of the
right to speak.” Blackman v. State, 868 N.E.2d 579, 584-85 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007)
(citing Whittington v. State, 669 N.E.2d 1363, 1367 (Ind. 1996)).
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[21] Here, the record reveals that Murphy was arrested for disorderly conduct after
he screamed at Officer Jellison and other officers during his arrest despite being
asked to stop several times. See Johnson v. State, 719 N.E.2d 445, 448 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1999) (holding that a person’s conviction for making unreasonable noise
based solely on his loud speaking during a police investigation constitutes state
action restricting the claimant’s expressive activity). Murphy has established
that the State restricted his expressive activity, therefore, the first prong is
satisfied.
[22] Turning to the second prong, it
hinges on whether the restricted expression constituted political
speech. If the claimant demonstrates under an objective standard
that the impaired expression was political speech, the impairment
is unconstitutional unless the State demonstrates that the
magnitude of the impairment is slight or that the speech
amounted to a public nuisance such that it inflict[ed]
particularized harm analogous to tortious injury on readily
identifiable private interests. If the expression, viewed in context,
is ambiguous, it is not political speech, and we evaluate the
constitutionality of the impairment under standard rationality
review.
Barnes v. State, 946 N.E.2d 572, 577 (Ind. 2011), adhered to on reh’g, 953 N.E.2d
473 (Ind. 2011).
[23] At the bench trial, Officer Jellison testified that during the arrest, Murphy
challenged the validity of the warrant. Officer Jellison stated that Murphy
repeatedly yelled at the officers that he “didn’t need to come with [the
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officers],” the warrant was not “good”, and he had “been pardoned for his
crimes.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 49). Murphy additionally stated that “he wasn’t
responsible for whatever the original charge was on the warrant because he had
been pardoned by Donald Trump.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 51). Also, evidence was
presented that when Murphy observed his mother in handcuffs, Murphy, who
had complied with the officers’ demand to remain quiet, loudly protested her
arrest by stating, “you can’t do this.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 39). Murphy subsequently
testified that although he was not a “big fan of the constitution,” he at least had
a “constitutional right” to know “what he was being arrested for.” (Tr. Vol. II,
p. 54). In his brief, Murphy contends that he “did not believe the officers were
engaged in a lawful arrest,” and while his outbursts were not delivered in a
“sophisticated manner,” they were political expressions, and are therefore
protected. (Appellant’s Br. p. 14).
[24] This court has repeatedly concluded that where the defendant’s speech was
directed exclusively at state actors and focused exclusively on the actions or
conduct of state actors, the speech is political. For example, in Dallaly v. State,
916 N.E.2d 945, 953 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), we concluded that the aim or focus
of the defendant’s expressive activity was to criticize the actions of the police
officers and constituted political expression. In U.M. v. State, 827 N.E.2d 1190,
1193 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), we held that defendant’s speech in regard to his
companion’s inability to hold up his arms was an expression regarding the
legality and appropriateness of police conduct toward his companion and was
political speech. Lastly, in Johnson v. State, 747 N.E.2d 623, 630-31 (Ind. Ct.
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Ohio App. 2001), we held that the defendant criticized the conduct of an official
acting under color of law, therefore, his speech was protected political speech.
[25] Here, during his encounter with the officers, notwithstanding his claim that he
had been pardoned by President Trump, Murphy loudly protested the legality
of the warrant, and the appropriateness of police conduct toward him and his
mother. Indeed, Murphy’s statements criticized the conduct of an official
acting under color of law. See Johnson, 747 N.E.2d at 630. Thus, Murphy’s
speech constituted political speech as the focus of his expressive activity was to
criticize the actions of Officer Jellison and others in arresting him and his
mother. See Shoultz v. State, 735 N.E.2d at 826-27 (holding that Shoultz
engaged in protected political speech when he asked the arresting police officer
what the problem was and why he was bothering other people, demanded
whether the officer had a warrant to be on the property, and requested that the
officer leave if he did not have a warrant), trans. denied. Accordingly, Murphy
has met the second prong of the test.
[26] If the claimant demonstrates under an objective standard that the impaired
expression was political speech, the impairment is unconstitutional unless the
State demonstrates that the “magnitude of the impairment” is slight or that the
speech amounted to a public nuisance such that it “inflict[ed] ‘particularized
harm’ analogous to tortious injury on readily identifiable private interests.”
Barnes, 946 N.E.2d at 577 (quoting Whittington, 669 N.E.2d at 1370).
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[27] In the instant case, Officer Jellison and the other officers described Murphy’s
protests as loud. However, we cannot say that the State demonstrated that the
magnitude of the impairment was slight. Nor can we say that the harm suffered
by Murphy’s neighbors rose above the level of a fleeting annoyance or that the
State demonstrated that Murphy’s loud protests diverted the officers’ attention
away from the task at hand, i.e., arresting Murphy due to Murphy’s speech.
[28] Accordingly, we conclude that Murphy’s speech was protected political speech
and did not constitute an abuse of the right to free speech under the Indiana
Constitution. We, therefore, reverse Murphy’s Class B misdemeanor disorderly
conduct conviction.
CONCLUSION
[29] Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the State presented sufficient evidence
beyond a reasonable doubt to convict Murphy of his intimidation and resisting
law enforcement offenses. However, we reverse Murphy’s conviction for Class
B misdemeanor disorderly conduct after concluding that Murphy’s speech was
protected political speech and did not constitute an abuse of the right to free
speech under the Indiana Constitution.
[30] We affirm in part, and reverse in part.
[31] Baker, J. and Brown, J. concur
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