Eugene C. Tschopp v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Nov 02 2018, 7:35 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
the defense of res judicata, collateral and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Jennifer L. Koethe Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
La Porte, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Caroline G. Templeton
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Eugene C. Tschopp, November 2, 2018
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-CR-287
v. Appeal from the La Porte Superior
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Michael S.
Appellee-Plaintiff. Bergerson, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
46D01-1705-F1-417
Bailey, Judge.
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Case Summary
[1] Eugene C. Tschopp (“Tschopp”) appeals his convictions, following a jury trial,
for two counts of child molesting as Level 1 felonies; 1 two counts of child
molesting as Level 4 felonies;2 incest as a Level 4 felony;3 and criminal
confinement as a Level 5 felony.4 We affirm.
Issues
[2] Tschopp raises the following two issues on appeal:
I. Whether he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel.
II. Whether the State presented sufficient evidence to support
his conviction for criminal confinement.
Facts and Procedural History
[3] In December 2016, J.T. was thirteen years old and lived with her father,
Christopher Tschopp (“Father”), step-mother, Tschopp, her sister, her brother,
and one of her step-brothers, C.J. Tschopp is J.T.’s paternal uncle. J.T. shared
a bedroom on the second floor of the home with her younger sister, I.T. The
1
Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(a)(1).
2
I.C. § 35-42-4-3(b).
3
I.C. § 35-46-1-3.
4
I.C. § 35-42-(b)(1).
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two sisters had bunk beds and J.T. would frequently sleep in the bottom bed
with I.T. because of nightmares.
[4] In January 2017, J.T. and I.T. informed Father that Tschopp had molested
them. Father and his wife reported the accusations to the authorities and, on
May 10, 2017, the State charged Tschopp with two counts of child molesting,
as Level 1 felonies; three counts of child molesting, as Level 4 felonies; incest,
as a Level 4 felony; and criminal confinement, as a Level 5 felony. A jury trial
began on October 23, 2017.
[5] At trial, J.T. testified in detail about eight separate instances that occurred
during the winter of 2016-2017, in which Tschopp had sexual intercourse with,
and/or sexually assaulted, J.T. in her home. J.T. described the times, places,
and events of each occurrence in some detail. She testified that on at least four
of these occasions, Tschopp entered her room during the night, woke her up,
and either sexually assaulted her there or else had her follow him downstairs
where he sexually assaulted her. J.T. testified that Tschopp molested her by
touching her vagina and breasts and by penetrating her vagina with both his
fingers and penis. She testified that on the last occasion, Tschopp bit J.T. on
her arm when he was attempting to wake her but she was moving around. The
bite left a mark on J.T.’s arm. On cross-examination of J.T., Tschopp’s lawyer
asked her about the large number of people in the house, whether C.J. was
sometimes in her bedroom, and her father’s rule that C.J. was not supposed to
be in J.T.’s bedroom.
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[6] I.T. also testified at Tschopp’s trial. I.T. testified about one instance in which
Tschopp grabbed I.T., pulled her onto his cot in the living room, and rubbed
her “butt” with his hand “in a circular motion.” Tr. Vol. II at 100. I.T. also
testified about two separate occasions when she witnessed Tschopp sexually
assault J.T. I.T. testified that, on more than one occasion, she witnessed
Tschopp enter her and J.T.’s bedroom while the girls were in bed and place
either a basket or a chair up against the bedroom door to keep the door closed.
I.T. testified that, on those occasions, Tschopp tried to wake up J.T. I.T. said
she eventually convinced J.T. to tell their father about the molesting. J.T.
informed her father of the molesting by writing it in notes because she was
“scared” to tell him in person. Id. at 169. On cross-examination, Tschopp’s
counsel asked I.T. about where the other males in the house slept. I.T. testified
that there was a house rule that “people were not allowed in each other’s room
because [two of the boys] got into a fight.” Id. at 113. Tschopp’s counsel also
brought out testimony that I.T.’s nightmares sometimes cause her to imagine
things.
[7] Father testified that J.T. had become more withdrawn and “moody” around
Christmas 2016, and that he first learned about J.T.’s and I.T.’s allegations
about Tschopp when they informed him through hand-written notes. Id. at
211. Father testified that he confronted Tschopp about the allegations, and
Tschopp became angry and left the house that day. Father’s wife, “Donica,”
testified that she contacted the police. Donica testified that J.T. had become
more secluded and began layering her clothes around Christmas of 2016. She
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testified that, on the day she called the police, she saw a mark on J.T.’s arm and
J.T. told Donica that Tschopp had bitten her. On cross-examination, Donica
testified that the boys in the house understood the house rule that they must
knock before entering someone else’s bedroom.
[8] Deputy Jon Samuelson of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department testified
that, on January 12, 2017, he responded to a report from Donica that her step-
children had been inappropriately touched by their uncle. On cross-
examination, Tschopp’s lawyer raised questions about the Deputy’s memory.
[9] In his brief closing argument to the jury, Tschopp’s lawyer pointed out that
there was no physical evidence or other eyewitnesses to corroborate J.T.’s and
I.T.’s testimony that Tschopp molested them. He also pointed out that there
were “a number of people” living in the household but no one other than the
girls witnessed the alleged molestation. Tr. Vol. III at 78.
[10] The jury found Tschopp guilty of both Level 1 felony child molesting counts,
two Level 4 felony child molesting counts, incest, and criminal confinement.
The jury found Tschopp not guilty of one count on Level 4 felony child
molesting.5 At Tschopp’s sentencing hearing, the trial court noted that Tschopp
was represented “by trial counsel with many years of jury trial experience in
criminal cases. And[,] despite a closing argument of approximately one minute
5
Tschopp was found not guilty of the child molestation charge related to I.T. He was found guilty as to all
charges relating to J.T.
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in length, the Defendant was represented by competent counsel and received
the effective assistance of counsel throughout this trial.” Id. at 122. The trial
court sentenced Tschopp to an aggregate sentence of sixty years in the
Department of Correction. This appeal ensued.
Discussion and Decision
Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel
[11] Tschopp asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to sufficiently
cross-examine the witnesses against him and for failing to provide a sufficient
closing argument.6 As the Indiana Supreme Court has observed, we
review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel under the two
components set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,
104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). First, the defendant must
show that counsel’s performance was deficient. Id. at 687, 104
S.Ct. 2052. This requires a showing that counsel’s representation
fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, id. at 688, 104
S.Ct. 2052, and that the errors were so serious that they resulted
in a denial of the right to counsel guaranteed the defendant by the
Sixth Amendment, id. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Second, the
defendant must show that the deficient performance prejudiced
the defendant. Id. To establish prejudice, a defendant must
show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have
been different. Id. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052. A reasonable
6
Because he raises a record-based claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, Tschopp properly raises the
claim on direct appeal. See Woods v. State, 701 N.E.2d 1208, 1211-12 (Ind. 1998).
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probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in
the outcome. Id.Wentz v. State, 766 N.E.2d 351, 360 (Ind. 2002).
[12] We will not second-guess trial counsel’s strategy and tactics unless they are so
unreasonable that they fall outside objective standards. See, e.g., Benefield v.
State, 945 N.E.2d 791, 797 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011); see also Whitener v. State, 696
N.E.2d 40, 42 (Ind. 1998) (noting the reviewing court “will not speculate as to
what may or may not have been advantageous trial strategy as counsel should
be given deference in choosing a trial strategy which, at the time and under the
circumstances, seems best”). Isolated mistakes, poor strategy, inexperience,
and instances of bad judgment do not necessarily render representation
ineffective. Wentz, 766 N.E.2d at 361. And if a claim of ineffective assistance
of counsel can be disposed of by analyzing the prejudice prong alone, we will
do so. Benefield, 935 N.E.2d at 797 (citing Wentz, 766 N.E.2d at 360).
[13] It is well-settled that the nature and extent of cross-examination is a matter of
strategy delegated to trial counsel. Waldron v. State, 684 N.E.2d 206, 208 (Ind.
Ct. App. 1997) (citing Osborne v. State, 481 N.E.2d 376, 380 (Ind. 1985)), trans.
denied. Similarly, “[t]he crafting and delivery of final argument are matters of
strategy on which counsel is entitled to the presumption of competency.”
Coleman v. State, 694 N.E.2d 269, 275 (Ind. 1998). “Typically, when reviewing
a claim of ineffective assistance, the first step is to examine counsel’s
performance to determine whether it was outside the wide range of
professionally competent assistance.” Waldron, 684 N.E.2d at 208. However,
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here, we need not engage in the first step of the Strickland analysis7 as Tschopp
has clearly failed to establish the second step, i.e., that counsel’s alleged
deficient performance prejudiced his case. Id.[14] To show prejudice, Tschopp must show a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s alleged errors, the result of his trial would have been different.
However, there was sufficient evidence to support Tschopp’s child molesting
and incest convictions,8 even assuming his counsel’s cross-examinations and
closing statement were deficient. “To sustain a conviction for child molesting
or incest, proof of the ‘slightest penetration’ of the female sex organ … is
sufficient,” and penetration may be “inferred from circumstantial evidence.”
Mastin v. State, 966 N.E.2d 197, 202 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (quoting Dinger v.
State, 540 N.E.2d 587, 590 (Ind. 1990)), trans. denied. Moreover, a molested
child’s uncorroborated testimony is sufficient to sustain a conviction for
molesting. Hoglund v. State, 962 N.E.2d 1230, 1238 (Ind. 2012). Here, J.T.
testified in detail about each of eight separate incidents of molestation by
Tschopp, including penetration, and her testimony was corroborated in large
part by I.T.’s testimony. The girls’ testimony was sufficient to support the
7
However, we note that defense counsel’s trial strategy appeared to be to emphasize mistaken identity. In
his response to the State’s motion in limine to limit questions about a possible incident between J.T. and C.J.,
defense counsel stated that there was “an issue of identity,” given the other people living in the house, and he
argued for a “right to present evidence that someone other than the Defendant is responsible for these
allegations.” Tr. Vol. II at 8. A defense strategy of mistaken identity was not below an objective standard of
reasonableness, and defense counsel’s cross-examinations and closing argument were consistent with that
strategy. Therefore, we note, without deciding, that Tschopp’s ineffective assistance claim would apparently
also fail on the first step of the Strickland analysis.
8
We address the sufficiency of the evidence to support the criminal confinement conviction below.
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molestation and incest convictions. Thus, Tschopp has failed to show that the
outcome of his trial would probably have been different if Tschopp’s counsel
had not allegedly performed deficiently in his cross-examinations and closing
statement. Wentz, 766 N.E.2d at 360.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
[15] Tschopp challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction for
criminal confinement. Our standard of review of the sufficiency of the evidence
is well-settled:
When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence needed to
support a criminal conviction, we neither reweigh evidence nor
judge witness credibility. Bailey v. State, 907 N.E.2d 1003, 1005
(Ind. 2009). “We consider only the evidence supporting the
judgment and any reasonable inferences that can be drawn from
such evidence.” Id. We will affirm if there is substantial
evidence of probative value such that a reasonable trier of fact
could have concluded the defendant was guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. Id.Clemons v. State, 996 N.E.2d 1282, 1285 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied.
[16] To support Tschopp’s conviction for criminal confinement, as a Level 5 felony,
the State had to prove: (1) Tschopp; (2) knowingly or intentionally; (3)
confined J.T. and/or I.T. without their consent; (4) and J.T. and/or I.T. were
less than fourteen years old. I.C. § 35-42-3-3(b). Tschopp does not challenge
the fact that J.T. and I.T. were less than fourteen years old. However, he
alleges there was insufficient evidence that he knowingly confined them without
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their consent. “The offense of confinement requires proof of a substantial
interference with a person’s liberty without the person’s consent.” Cunningham
v. State, 870 N.E.2d 552, 553 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (quotation and citation
omitted). And conviction for confinement may be proper where there is
evidence that the confinement was “more extensive than necessary to commit
the main offense.” Kelley v. State, 2 N.E.3d 777, 787 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014).
[17] Tschopp notes that the only evidence of confinement is I.T.’s testimony that,
more than once, Tschopp came into her bedroom to wake up J.T. and closed
their bedroom door by placing a basket or chair in front of it. However, that
evidence that Tschopp barricaded the way out of the bedroom is sufficient
evidence that Tschopp confined I.T. and J.T. That evidence established that
the confinement was more extensive than necessary to commit the crimes of
child molestation and incest. Moreover, “criminal confinement of a child may
be proven by the child’s uncorroborated testimony alone “if the jury finds that
said testimony establishes the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable
doubt.” Hicks v. State, 631 N.E.2d 499, 502 (Ind. Ct. App. 1994), trans. denied.
Clearly, the jury found I.T.’s testimony credible and sufficient to show guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt. We will not reweigh that evidence, as Tschopp
requests. Bailey, 907 N.E.2d at 1005.
Conclusion
[18] Tschopp has failed to show that the outcome of his trial would probably have
been any different if his trial counsel had not allegedly performed deficiently in
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cross-examinations and closing argument. And the State presented sufficient
evidence to support Tshopp’s conviction for criminal confinement as a Class 5
felony.
[19] Affirmed.
Mathias, J., and Bradford, J., concur.
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