Douglas R. Bartel v. State of Indiana

Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before
Apr 30 2013, 9:16 am
any court except for the purpose of
establishing the defense of res judicata,
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
C. ROBERT RITTMAN GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Grant County Public Defender Attorney General of Indiana
Marion, Indiana
ANGELA N. SANCHEZ
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
DOUGLAS R. BARTEL, )
)
Appellant-Petitioner, )
)
vs. ) No. 27A05-1207-CR-349
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Respondent. )
APPEAL FROM THE GRANT SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Dana J. Kenworthy, Judge Pro Tempore
Cause Nos. 27D02-1201-FD-16 and 27D02-0808-FD-118
The Honorable Warren Haas, Judge
Cause No. 27D03-0903-FB-233
April 30, 2013
MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION
NAJAM, Judge
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Douglas R. Bartel brings this consolidated appeal following his conviction for
operating a motor vehicle as an habitual traffic offender, a Class D felony, in one cause
number and following the revocation of his probation in two other cause numbers. Bartel
raises three issues for our review, and the State raises an issue on cross-appeal. We
discuss the following dispositive issues:
1. Whether Bartel may challenge the revocation of his probation in a
belated direct appeal; and
2. Whether Bartel received ineffective assistance from his trial counsel
during his trial for operating a motor vehicle as an habitual traffic
offender.
We dismiss in part and affirm in part.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On August 12, 2009, Bartel pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, as
a Class D felony, and to possession or sale of precursors, as a Class D felony, in Cause
Number 27D03-0903-FB-233 (“Cause 233”). The trial court sentenced Bartel
accordingly. Bartel’s sentence included an aggregate term of two years suspended to
probation.
In October of 2009, Bartel pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated,
as a Class D felony, in Cause Number 27D02-0808-FD-118 (“Cause 118”). The trial
court sentenced Bartel to two years in the Department of Correction, with one and one-
half years suspended to probation. The trial court ordered this sentence to run
consecutive to Bartel’s sentence in Cause 233.
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On January 9, 2012, Grant County Sheriff’s Deputy Stephen R. Hurd saw Bartel
driving a truck with Rodney Phifer in the passenger seat. Neither Bartel nor Phifer was
wearing a seatbelt. Deputy Hurd approached Bartel after Bartel pulled into a parking lot,
and Bartel immediately said that he had not been driving the truck. Deputy Hurd
discovered that Bartel’s license had been suspended, and he placed Bartel under arrest.
During a subsequent search of the truck, officers discovered marijuana.
On January 11, 2012, the State charged Bartel with operating a motor vehicle as an
habitual traffic violator, a Class D felony, and with possession of marijuana, as a Class D
felony, in Cause Number 27D02-1201-FD-16 (“Cause 16”). The State also charged
Phifer with possession of marijuana in a separate action. Based on the new criminal
allegations against Bartel, the State filed petitions for the revocation of Bartel’s probation
in Cause 233 and Cause 118, which the trial courts held in abeyance.
On March 19, the court held Bartel’s jury trial in Cause 16. Prior to the trial,
Bartel’s counsel had spoken with Phifer on several occasions, and Phifer had informed
Bartel’s counsel that he would appear as a witness. But when Bartel’s counsel called
Phifer during trial, Phifer did not appear. The jury subsequently found Bartel guilty of
operating a motor vehicle as an habitual traffic violator but found him not guilty of
possession of marijuana.
Following the jury’s verdict, Bartel filed a motion to correct error. The trial court
held a hearing on Bartel’s motion, and Phifer appeared at the hearing and testified. In
relevant part, Phifer claimed his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination when
asked about the events on the day of Bartel’s alleged crimes. Phifer further testified that
he would have claimed his Fifth Amendment right had he appeared for Bartel’s trial.
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The trial court denied Bartel’s motion to correct error. Thereafter, the State’s
pending petitions for the revocation of Bartel’s probation in Cause 233 and Cause 118
were granted. In each of the three causes, Bartel filed a belated notice of appeal pursuant
to Indiana Post-Conviction Rule 2, each of which was granted. This consolidated appeal
ensued.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
Issue One: Probation Revocation
We first consider Bartel’s appeal from the revocation of his probation in Cause
233 and Cause 118. On these issues, the State cross-appeals and asserts that Post-
Conviction Rule 2 is an inappropriate vehicle to challenge the revocation of a probation.
The State is correct.
As we have held:
we do not believe the current rendering of the Post-Conviction Rule 2
encompasses probation revocation orders. Accordingly, we must conclude
that Post-Conviction Rule 2 is available for direct appeals of convictions
and sentences only and not for belated appeals of probation revocation
orders. Because this matter is not properly before us due to the lack of a
timely notice of appeal, we decline to consider the appeal.
Dawson v. State, 938 N.E.2d 841, 846 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010), expressly adopted, 943
N.E.2d 1281, 1281-82 (Ind. 2011). Accordingly, Bartel’s attempt to appeal the
revocation of his probation in Cause 233 and Cause 118 is untimely, and we dismiss his
appeal with respect to those issues.
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Issue Two: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Bartel also asserts that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance when he did
not obtain a subpoena to compel Phifer’s appearance during his trial in Cause 16. A
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must satisfy two components. Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). First, the defendant must show deficient performance:
representation that fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, committing errors
so serious that the defendant did not have the “counsel” guaranteed by the Sixth
Amendment. Id. at 687-88. Second, the defendant must show prejudice: a reasonable
probability (i.e., a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome) that,
but for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. at
694.
Bartel cannot demonstrate prejudice on this issue. During the hearing on Bartel’s
motion to correct error, Phifer claimed his Fifth Amendment right against self-
incrimination when asked about the events on the day in question and testified that he
would have claimed his Fifth Amendment right had he appeared at Bartel’s trial. As
such, his testimony would not have mattered even if he had been subpoenaed.
Conclusion
In sum, we dismiss Bartel’s belated appeal from the revocation of his probation in
Cause 233 and Cause 118. We further hold that he did not receive ineffective assistance
from his trial counsel in Cause 16, and we affirm his conviction and sentence in all
respects.
Dismissed in part and affirmed in part.
KIRSCH, J., and VAIDIK, J., concur.
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