Dwayne D. Skinner 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 Sep 24 2019, 9:29 am
court except for the purpose of establishing
CLERK
the defense of res judicata, collateral Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael P. DeArmitt Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Columbus, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Benjamin J. Shoptaw
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Dwayne D. Skinner, September 24, 2019
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
19A-CR-606
v. Appeal from the Bartholomew
Superior Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable James D. Worton,
Appellee-Plaintiff Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
03D01-1803-F4-1518
May, Judge.
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[1] Dwayne D. Skinner appeals following his conviction of Level 5 felony dealing
in methamphetamine. 1 Skinner argues he should serve his sentence on
probation rather than in prison. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] In March 2017, police worked with a confidential informant (“CI”) to gain
information on a person of interest that the police believed was dealing in
methamphetamine. The police used the CI to conduct a controlled buy of
methamphetamine. At the deal, the CI and the person of interest met with
Skinner, who provided the methamphetamine. On March 28, 2018, the State
charged Skinner with Level 4 felony dealing in methamphetamine. 2 At the time
Skinner was charged, he was on probation for a conviction of Level 6 felony
unlawful possession of a syringe.3 On January 14, 2019, Skinner pled guilty to a
lesser charge of Level 5 felony dealing in methamphetamine. As a part of the
plea deal, the State agreed to dismiss their petition to revoke Skinner’s
probation in the possession of a syringe cause. Under the plea agreement,
sentencing was left to the trial court’s discretion. The trial court sentenced
Skinner to five years executed.
1
Ind. Code § 35-48-4-1.1(a) (2017).
2
Ind. Code § 35-48-4-1.1(c) (2017).
3
Ind. Code § 16-42-19-18(a)(1) (2015).
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Discussion and Decision
[3] Skinner argues his sentence is inappropriate in light of his character and the
nature of his offense. Our standard of review on this issue is well settled.
We “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.” Ind. Appellate Rule 7(B).
“Although appellate review of sentences must give due
consideration to the trial court’s sentence because of the special
expertise of the trial bench in making sentencing decisions,
Appellate Rule 7(B) is an authorization to revise sentences when
certain broad conditions are satisfied.” Shouse v. State, 849
N.E.2d 650, 660 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006), trans. denied (citations and
quotation marks omitted). “[W]hether we regard a sentence as
appropriate at the end of the day 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).
In addition to the “due consideration” we are required to give to
the trial court’s sentencing decision, “we understand and
recognize the unique perspective a trial court brings to its
sentencing decisions.” Rutherford v. State, 866 N.E.2d 867, 873
(Ind. Ct. App. 2007).
Couch v. State, 977 N.E.2d 1013, 1017 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012), reh’g denied, trans.
denied. The appellant bears the burden of demonstrating his sentence is
inappropriate. Amalfitano v. State, 956 N.E.2d 208, 212 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011),
trans. denied.
[4] Skinner does not challenge the length of his sentence. Instead he challenges the
trial court’s decision to order his sentence to be executed in the Department of
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Correction (“DOC”). “The place that a sentence is to be served is an
appropriate focus for application of our review and revise authority.” Biddinger
v. State, 868 N.E.2d 407, 414 (Ind. 2007). However, it is “quite difficult for a
defendant to prevail on a claim that the placement of his or her sentence is
inappropriate.” Fonner v. State, 876 N.E.2d 340, 343 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). As
we explained in Fonner:
As a practical matter, trial courts know the feasibility of
alternative placements in particular counties or communities.
For example, a trial court is aware of the availability, costs, and
entrance requirements of community corrections placements in a
specific locale. Additionally, the question under Appellate Rule
7(B) is not whether another sentence is more appropriate; rather,
the question is whether the sentence imposed is inappropriate. A
defendant challenging the placement of a sentence must convince
us that the given placement is itself inappropriate.
Id. at 343-4.
[5] When considering the nature of the offense, the advisory sentence is the starting
point for determining the appropriateness of a sentence. Anglemyer v. State, 868
N.E.2d 482, 494 (Ind. 2007), clarified on reh’g 875 N.E.2d 218 (Ind. 2007). A
Level 5 felony is punishable by a fixed term between one and six years, with the
advisory sentence being three years. Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6(b) (2014). The trial
court sentenced Skinner to five years; thus, he received above the advisory
sentence, but below the maximum. The trial court found nothing extraordinary
regarding the nature of Skinner’s offense. We agree and turn to Skinner’s
character.
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[6] Skinner believes his character warrants him the opportunity to serve his
sentence in a community corrections program or on probation because he no
longer uses methamphetamines, he was baptized, and he was willing to be
admitted into a substance abuse program while he was awaiting sentencing.4
Skinner argues the facts of his case are similar to those in Livingston v. State, 113
N.E.3d 611, 614 (Ind. 2018), and thus we should follow Livingston and order
him to serve his sentence somewhere outside the Department of Correction.
[7] In Livingston, the Indiana Supreme Court decided Livingston’s aggregate thirty-
year sentence for two counts of Class A felony dealing in methamphetamine,5
and one count each of Class C felony possession of methamphetamine,6 Class
D felony possession of cocaine,7 and Class D felony possession of two or more
chemical agents or precursors with the intent to manufacture a controlled
substance8 was inappropriate in light of the nature of her offense and her
character. The Court reduced Livingston’s sentence to the statutory minimum
and ordered the remainder of her time be served in community corrections. In
doing so, the Court acknowledged “unique circumstances” regarding
4
Skinner was denied entrance into the program but entered the Family Recovery Court program with the
ultimate goal of rehabilitation and reunification with his daughters. (Appellant’s Br. at 13.) The trial court
acknowledged Skinner’s participation in the Family Recovery Court.
5
Ind. Code § 35-48-4-1.1(b) (2006).
6
Ind. Code § 35-48-4-6.1(b)(1) (2006).
7
Ind. Code § 35-48-4-6(b) (2006).
8
Ind. Code § 35-48-4-14.5(a) (2013).
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Livingston’s character. Id. The court listed a number of factors that led it to
reduce and adjust Livingston’s sentence, including: Livingston’s commitment to
avoiding any criminal activity after her arrest five years prior to the Livingston
decision, Livingston becoming a productive member of her community,
Livingston’s work assisting others who suffer with addiction, and the
willingness of the Floyd County Community Corrections program to supervise
Livingston. Id.
[8] Despite Skinner’s professed eagerness to seek sobriety and rehabilitation,
Skinner’s history demonstrates probation and rehabilitation programs do not
work for him. Skinner has an extensive criminal history with multiple charges
involving controlled substances dating back to 2003. Skinner has been placed
on probation multiple times and has had several petitions to revoke his
probation filed against him. Additionally, Skinner has had several
opportunities outside of prison to seek rehabilitation but has not been
successfully rehabilitated, and Skinner was on probation when he was charged
with this current offense. Skinner’s character is not remotely similar to
Livingston’s, and therefore we reject Skinner’s assertion that Livingston supports
finding his placement in the DOC inappropriate.
[9] Skinner’s criminal history and the multiple petitions filed to revoke his
probations demonstrate his inability to rehabilitate when placed in less
restrictive supervision. Accordingly, we cannot conclude his sentence in the
DOC is inappropriate. See Fonner, 876 N.E.2d at 344 (placement in the DOC
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not inappropriate when prior, less restrictive efforts at rehabilitation have been
unsuccessful).
Conclusion
[10] Skinner has not carried his burden of persuading us that the amount of time
ordered executed in the DOC is inappropriate based upon both his character
and the nature of the offense he committed. Accordingly, we affirm.
[11] Affirmed.
Najam, J., and Bailey, J., concur.
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