James Eskridge v. State of Indiana

Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before
any court except for the purpose of
establishing the defense of res judicata,
collateral estoppel, or the law of the
case.
APPELLANT PRO SE: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
JAMES ESKRIDGE GREGORY F. ZOELLER
New Castle, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
GEORGE P. SHERMAN
Deputy Attorney General
FILED
Indianapolis, Indiana
Feb 25 2013, 9:29 am
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA CLERK
of the supreme court,
court of appeals and
tax court
JAMES ESKRIDGE, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 49A05-1111-PC-629
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Grant W. Hawkins, Judge
The Honorable Christina R. Klineman, Master Commissioner
Cause No. 49G05-9701-CF-15475
February 25, 2013
MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION
BROWN, Judge
James Eskridge, pro se, appeals the post-conviction court’s denial of his petition
for post-conviction relief, which challenged the revocation of his parole.1 Eskridge raises
three issues which we consolidate and restate as whether the court erred in denying his
petition for post-conviction relief. We affirm.
FACTS & PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The relevant facts as discussed in Eskridge’s direct appeal follow:
On January 5, 1997, [R.B.], Brian Mitchell and Eskridge were
inmates in cell block 2-I at the Marion County Jail. Early that morning,
[R.B.] ate breakfast and then climbed in a top bunk bed to sleep. At some
point, [R.B.] woke up and there was a towel around his mouth. [R.B.] saw
Eskridge standing on his right side holding his arms and Mitchell behind
him with his pants down. Mitchell hit [R.B.] on the back and told him to
“Take it like a bitch.” Next, [R.B.] felt a sharp pain in his rectum which
lasted for approximately five minutes. The object that penetrated [R.B.]’s
rectum felt like “skin,” not an inanimate object. [R.B.] also felt punches to
his body. He tried to resist but could not because his arms were being held
down. [R.B.] was unable to scream because of the towel around his face.
When the pain stopped, Mitchell told [R.B.] if he told anyone about the
incident he would kill him. [R.B.] eventually told a corrections officer who
then transported him to the hospital.
When [R.B.] arrived at the hospital, he told the nurse that he had
been assaulted. Dr. Jason Zelenka, the physician who examined [R.B.],
observed bruising around [R.B.]’s left eye and large bruises on his left leg.
The rectal examination performed by Dr. Zelenka revealed no external
trauma, i.e., no scrapes, abrasions or bleeding. Nor was semen detected
during the examination. [R.B.] was withdrawn and quiet throughout the
physical examination.
On January 8, 1997, Detective Steven Summers interviewed [R.B.],
and [R.B.] identified Eskridge and Mitchell in a photo line-up as the
inmates who had sexually assaulted him. Detective Summers took photos
of [R.B.] during the interview, and those photos revealed bruises on
[R.B.]’s left leg, left eye, upper right arm and lower right buttock.
1
Eskridge refers to himself in his brief as “Eskridge-El.” Appellant’s Brief at 2.
2
[R.B.] was then transferred out of cell block 2-I. [R.B.] later
encountered Eskridge in an elevator, and Eskridge asked [R.B.] why he had
“snitched” on him and Mitchell.
Eskridge v. State, No. 49A02-9803-CR-288, slip op. at 2-3 (Ind. Ct. App. October 20,
1998) (footnotes omitted). After a jury trial, Eskridge was convicted of criminal deviate
conduct as a class B felony. Id. at 2. The court sentenced Eskridge to twenty years. Id.
On direct appeal, Eskridge argued that the evidence was insufficient and that the court
abused its discretion when it admitted evidence of a prior incident between Eskridge and
the victim. Id. This court affirmed. Id.
On February 20, 2002, Eskridge filed a petition for post-conviction relief.2 The
post-conviction court denied Eskridge’s petition. On appeal, this court affirmed the post-
conviction court.
On March 11, 2008, Eskridge was released to parole, but he was returned to the
Department of Correction as a violator on July 18, 2008. On August 14, 2008,
Eskridge’s parole was revoked at a revocation hearing. On January 15, 2009, the Indiana
Parole Board (the “Board”) decided to grant Eskridge release to parole, and Eskridge was
released to parole on or about February 24, 2009. Eskridge signed a conditional parole
release agreement dated February 23, 2009, which included the following provisions:
4. OWNING, LEASING, AND OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLES
*****
b) I agree to consult with my supervising officer and receive his
written permission prior to purchasing or leasing a motor
vehicle. Permission to own, lease, or operate a motor vehicle
2
The record does not contain a copy of this petition.
3
is granted with the understanding that I shall comply with all
state laws, local ordinances, and regulations of the Bureau of
Motor Vehicles pertaining to ownership, financial
responsibility, and the operation of motor vehicles.
*****
10 COMMUNICATION AND SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS – I agree
to report to my supervising officer as instructed and to respond to
any and all communications from any authorized employee of the
Department of Correction. I will abide by any special conditions
imposed by the Indiana Parole Board which have been reduced to
writing and included as a condition of my parole.
*****
PAROLE STIPULATIONS FOR SEX OFFENDERS
*****
1. You shall enroll in, actively participate in and successfully
complete an approved sex offender treatment program. You
must maintain steady progress toward all treatment goals and
may not change treatment providers without prior approval of
your parole agent. Prompt payment of any fees is your
responsibility.
*****
5. You must not reside, visit or be within one thousand (1,000)
feet of public parks with playgrounds, pools, rides, and/or
nature trials; schools, day care centers, public swimming
pools, public beaches, theaters, or any other place where
children can reasonably be expected to congregate.
*****
17. You shall not stay overnight with any adult and/or establish
an intimate and/or sexual relationship with any adult without
prior approval by your parole agent and treatment clinician.
You must also report whether the person you are having a
relationship with has children under the age of eighteen (18)
and/or if children under the age of eighteen (18) reside in the
person’s home.
4
Exhibit D.
In late August 2009, Agent Arthur Torrance of the Indianapolis Parole District
filed a report which alleged that Eskridge violated provision 4(b) regarding the use of a
vehicle and provisions 10-1, 10-5, and 10-17.3 In a report dated August 27, 2009, the
Board ordered Eskridge to return immediately and scheduled a parole revocation hearing
within sixty days of August 27, 2009.4 Agent Torrance explained to Eskridge that he had
the right to have a preliminary hearing to “let him know the allegations that he was being
faced with at that time, let him know he had the right to speak on his own behalf . . . .”
Transcript at 17. Initially, Eskridge indicated that he wanted to have a hearing, but after
interacting with Agent Green, Eskridge indicated that he wanted to sign the waiver. On
August 27, 2009, Eskridge signed a waiver of Preliminary Hearing form which stated: “I
plead guilty to the following alleged technical parole violations: Rule #4 Driving
without/suspended license, stipulation #1 failure to attend treatment[,] stipulation #5
being within 1000 feet of a school, stipulation #17 being in a[n] unapproved sexual
relationship and waive my right to a preliminary hearing.” Exhibit Q. This form was
also signed by Agent Torrance as a witness.
On September 23, 2009, Eskridge signed a form titled “Notification of Parole
Violation Hearing” which indicated that his parole violation hearing had been scheduled
for September 29, 2009. Exhibit G. On September 29, 2009, a parole revocation hearing
3
The report is dated August 28, 2009.
4
The form is dated August 27, 2009, and is file stamped “Received” August 31, 2009. Exhibit E.
5
was held. At the beginning of the hearing, a member of the Board asked whether
Eskridge had received a notice of the hearing and whether he was ready to proceed, and
Eskridge answered affirmatively to each question. The Board then read the alleged
violations and referenced the fact that Eskridge had signed the waiver form. Eskridge
stated that he was told “just to sign” the waiver form and that signing the form would
“get [him] out of county jail and back here in front of you all quicker.” Exhibit L. When
a member of the Board questioned Eskridge regarding the fact that he had initialed the
part of the form which stated “I plead guilty to the following alleged technical parole
violations,” Eskridge stated that he did not understand the form. Id. A member of the
board then indicated that he would read the allegations and take Eskridge’s pleas “such as
they would have done on a preliminary hearing.” Id. Eskridge pled not guilty to
violating Rules 4(b), 10-1, and 10-17, pled guilty to Rule 10-5, and testified regarding the
alleged violations. The Board acknowledged the presence of Eskridge’s visitors but told
Eskridge that it does not take public testimony on hearing days. At the end of the
hearing, Eskridge asked the members of the Board whether they had received letters of
recommendation. A member of the Board stated that it did not receive driver’s license
information and that it did not have a letter from Foundry Services. The Board found
Eskridge guilty of violating Rules 4(b), 10-5, and 10-17, not guilty of violating Rule 10-
1, and ordered that Eskridge be assessed the balance of his sentence and scheduled his
next parole appearance for October 2010.
On May 24, 2010, this court authorized Eskridge to file a petition for post-
conviction relief and on September 15, 2010, Eskridge did so. Eskridge alleged that the
6
Board denied him due process by denying him the right to present testimony and
evidence. Eskridge also alleged that the “[p]reliminary hearing was waived with the
misrepresentation by the said parole officer who was in fact filing the violation on the
petitioner.” Appellant’s Appendix at 92. Eskridge also alleged that the “facts supporting
the violation were fabricated in nature, and restrictions did not reasonably relate to
[him].” Id.
On March 9, 2011, the court held an evidentiary hearing. On October 13, 2011,
the court denied Eskridge’s petition. The court’s order states:
Findings of Fact
*****
2. A parole revocation hearing was held on September 29, 2009.
3. [Eskridge] was present at the hearing. [Eskridge] was accompanied
by his mother, brother and two sisters who were present but were not
allowed to testify.
4. [Eskridge] waived his right to a preliminary hearing but later
asserted that he did not wish to plead guilty as indicated by the
waiver.
5. The allegations were reread to Mr. Eskridge at which time Mr.
Eskridge pled guilty to violating Rule 10-5 and not guilty to the
remaining three allegations.
6. Mr. Eskridge informed the Board that he was ready to proceed with
the hearing and willingly answered the Board’s questions.
7. The Board deliberated and unanimously found Eskridge guilty of
violating Rules 4, 10-5, and 10-17 and not guilty of violating Rule
10-1. The Board imposed the balance of his time and set another
parole hearing for October 2010 (Exhibits L, M, N and O).
8. [Eskridge], on May 18, 2010, was granted permission by the Indiana
Supreme Court [sic] to file a successive Petition for Post-Conviction
7
Relief on the sole issue of whether or not the Indiana Parole Board
erroneously revoked his parole.
9. On January 24, 2011, [Eskridge] moved to amend his Petition to
conform with the higher Court’s ruling and made the following
claims for relief which the court summarizes as follows: 1) Denial of
due process rights for failing to allow parolee to present evidence
and testimony at his hearing; 2) Improper waiver of his Initial
Hearing rights; and 3a) The facts supporting the violation of the
“1000 foot” rule were fabricated; and 3b) The “1000 foot” rule is not
reasonably related to the offense for which [Eskridge] was on parole.
10. On March 9, 2011, an Evidentiary Hearing was held. At the hearing,
Exhibits A through Q were admitted as evidence. This included
documentation regarding the signed Parole Release Agreement, the
report and investigation of the Parole Board as to violations and their
findings, as well as letters sent on Mr. Eskridge’s behalf to the
Parole Board.
11. Agent Torrance testified at the Evidentiary Hearing that he
conducted the investigation and filed the parole violations against
Mr. Eskridge. He testified that he advised Mr. Eskridge of his rights
and at first Mr. Eskridge did not want to sign the waiver of his
preliminary hearing. After talking to another Parole Officer, he
signed it. [Tr. 17-20.].[5]
12. Randall Gentry was a member of the Parole Board that ultimately
found [Eskridge] in violation of his parole. He testified at the
Evidentiary Hearing that Mr. Eskridge informed the Board that he
did not understand the waiver form and did not intend to plead guilty
to the Rule violations. He was then allowed to withdraw his former
plea and “enter a new plea of guilty or not guilty”. [Tr. 33]. Mr.
Eskridge at that time pled not guilty to violating Rules 4, 10-1 and
10-17 and guilty to violating Rule 10-5.
13. Exhibit [L], a video of the Parole Board hearing was admitted into
evidence. The court reviewed the tape and finds the following:
Following his plea, Eskridge testified, as to Rule 4, that he
knew he had not paid some tickets for two seat belt violations and a
loud muffler, but he did not know his license had been suspended.
5
Bracketed citations to transcript appear in original.
8
To demonstrate that he did not know of his license suspension, he
sent the Board his BMV records. The records showed his license
was suspended a very short time. The records were not received by
the Board before the hearing.
Testifying as to the violation of Rule 10-5 – which he
admitted at the start of the hearing – he stated that he had originally
been living with his sister in an approved home on Cornelius
Avenue, but at some point a sewer line broke and they were forced
to evacuate while the problem was repaired. Eskridge testified that
he had previously considered entering into a relationship with Nina
Mayes, a friend of his, and had called her to see if he could stay with
her. Eskridge spent time at her residence and advised his Parole
Officer. The Parole Officer later notified Eskridge that there was a
school 900 feet from Mayes’ home and he could not live with her.
Eskridge testified that he moved out.
Regarding Rule 10-17, Eskridge gave testimony that he had
entertained the idea of dating Ms. Mayes, but after reflection and
conversation with Ms. Mayes regarding his obligations as a parolee,
he decided not to pursue a relationship with her.
Eskridge also offered testimony about his involvement in Sex
Offender treatment (related to Rule 10-1). (The Board found in his
favor on this allegation.)
The Board noted that they do not take public testimony on the
day of a hearing, but acknowledged that Mr. Eskridge had family
members present on his behalf.
Conclusions of Law
14. Indiana Codes §11-13-3-8 through §11-13-3-10 codify the
protections afforded a parolee throughout the parole revocation
process. Although not entitled to the full panoply of due process
rights afforded to a defendant in a criminal proceeding, a parolee is
afforded the right to be heard, in person, by a ‘neutral and detached’
Parole Board and to present evidence on his own behalf. See Piper
v. State, 770 N.E.2d 880 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002)[, trans. denied,] and
Harris v. State, 836 N.E.2d 267 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005)[, trans. denied].
Waiver of Preliminary Hearing
9
19.[6] [Eskridge’s] assertion, even if true, that he misunderstood what he
was signing and believed that by signing the waiver he would “get in
front of the Parole Board” faster, is irrelevant, given that at the
hearing [Eskridge] was permitted to withdraw the waiver and any
pleas he had made to Agent Torrance and start over.
20. Once the waiver and pleas were withdrawn, a member of the Parole
Board reread each allegation against him and allowed him to enter
new pleas of guilty or not guilty. He then indicated that he was
prepared to go forward with the hearing.
21. [Eskridge] has not shown how he was prejudiced given that he was
permitted to withdraw his waiver and plea and was afforded a
hearing for which he was prepared. This claim fails.
Denial of Due Process Rights to Present Testimony and Evidence at the
Parole Violation Hearing
22. [Eskridge’s] main claim on this issue is that the court did not receive
and consider letters sent to them by Nina Mayes and his employer as
well as copies of his driving records from the Bureau of Motor
Vehicles.
23. The letter from Ms. Mayes was stamped received on September 28,
2009, the day of the hearing (State’s Exhibit I). The letter from his
employer, Michael Weir, was stamped received on September 17,
2009 (State’s Exhibit J), eleven days before his hearing.
24. Although it is unclear whether the members of the Parole Board read
these letters, it would have been inconsequential to the Board’s
hearing on the violations as both letters spoke only to leniency,
character and employment verification, and not to the violations
themselves. ([Eskridge] did not raise . . . the issue of whether or not
the Parole Board could find him in violation of his release conditions
and yet require that he serve less than the entire remaining sentence.
Therefore, the issues of lenience, character and employment are of
no moment.) As such these claims fail.
25. As to the BMV records, again, these speak more to character than to
the violation alleged. [Eskridge’s] main purpose for producing these
documents was to show the Board that despite being aware of unpaid
6
The court’s order does not contain paragraphs numbered 15-18.
10
tickets he was not aware that his failure to pay for these tickets had
resulted in a license suspension. Unfortunately, the fact that he was
unaware of the suspension is immaterial. The suspension, justified
by BMV rules, is enough to find [Eskridge] in violation of his
parole.
26. Although the BMV records showing that the suspension was so
close in time that he may have been unaware of it could have been
beneficial in mitigation, [Eskridge] was still able to present
evidence, by way of his own testimony, that he was unaware of the
suspension. As such, this claim fails.
The facts supporting the violation were fabricated in nature, and the
intended restrictions did not reasonably relate to [Eskridge]
27. The Court infers from the testimony and argument that [Eskridge’s]
claim here is in relation to the allegation that he violated Rule 10-5;
the “1000 foot rule”.
28. The Court in a Post Conviction Relief Hearing is not in a position to
reweigh the evidence brought before the Parole Board.
29. The Indiana Parole Board has broad authority to impose additional
conditions beyond those standard conditions for a parolee as long as
the conditions are reasonably related to the parolee’s successful
integration into the community and not unduly restrictive of a
fundamental right. I.C. §11-13-3-4; see Harris v. State, 836 N.E.2d
at 273.
30. [Eskridge] was convicted of committing Class B Felony Criminal
Deviate Conduct against a sleeping, defenseless victim. In light of
the particular circumstances of his offense, controls on [Eskridge’s]
living restrictions could be seen as reasonably related to his
successful integration into the community. See Weiss v. Indiana
Parole Board, 838 N.E.2d 1048 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005) (noting that
although Defendant was not convicted of a sex offense, the special
sex offender stipulations were reasonably related to his integration
into the community)[, trans. denied].
31. Even if the court were to agree that this condition was not reasonable
or necessary, the Parole Board found two unrelated violations which
alone are enough to violate the terms of his parole. This claim also
fails.
11
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED by
the Court that the State’s Motion for Summary Disposition is DENIED.
The Court further orders the Petition for Post-Conviction Relief is
hereby DENIED.
Appellant’s Appendix at 98-105 (footnotes omitted).
ISSUE / STANDARD OF REVIEW
The issue is whether the court erred in denying Eskridge’s petition for post-
conviction relief. Before discussing Eskridge’s allegations of error, we note that although
Eskridge is proceeding pro se, such litigants are held to the same standard as trained
counsel and are required to follow procedural rules. Evans v. State, 809 N.E.2d 338, 344
(Ind. Ct. App. 2004), trans. denied. We also note the general standard under which we
review a post-conviction court’s denial of a petition for post-conviction relief. The
petitioner in a post-conviction proceeding bears the burden of establishing grounds for
relief by a preponderance of the evidence. Fisher v. State, 810 N.E.2d 674, 679 (Ind.
2004); Ind. Post-Conviction Rule 1(5). When appealing from the denial of post-
conviction relief, the petitioner stands in the position of one appealing from a negative
judgment. Fisher, 810 N.E.2d at 679. On review, we will not reverse the judgment
unless the evidence as a whole unerringly and unmistakably leads to a conclusion
opposite that reached by the post-conviction court. Id. Further, the post-conviction court
in this case entered findings of fact and conclusions thereon in accordance with Indiana
Post-Conviction Rule 1(6). Id. “A post-conviction court’s findings and judgment will be
reversed only upon a showing of clear error – that which leaves us with a definite and
firm conviction that a mistake has been made.” Id. In this review, we accept findings of
12
fact unless clearly erroneous, but we accord no deference to conclusions of law. Id. The
post-conviction court is the sole judge of the weight of the evidence and the credibility of
witnesses. Id.
ANALYSIS
As a general rule, defendants facing potential parole revocation are entitled to a
number of procedural due process rights, which include: written notice of the parole
violation charges; disclosure of the evidence against the parolee; an opportunity to be
heard in person and to present evidence; the right to confront and cross-examine adverse
witnesses; a “neutral and detached” parole hearing board; and a written statement by the
board of the evidence relied upon and the reasons for revoking parole. Harris v. State,
836 N.E.2d 267, 280 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005) (citing Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471,
489, 92 S. Ct. 2593, 2604 (1972)), trans. denied. Parolees also are entitled to a two-stage
revocation procedure: (1) a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is probable
cause to believe that the parolee has committed acts that would constitute a violation of
parole conditions; and (2) a final revocation hearing prior to the final decision on
revocation to consider whether the facts as determined warrant revocation. Id. “By and
large, these constitutional requirements have been embodied in the Indiana Code.”
Komyatti v. State, 931 N.E.2d 411, 416 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).
Due process is flexible and calls for such procedural protections as the particular
situation demands. Morrissey, 408 U.S. at 481, 92 S. Ct. at 2600. “Where the purpose
and intent of a statutory mandate are satisfied, this court will not reverse for mere
technical procedural errors unless the defendant can show that he was harmed or
13
prejudiced by such errors.” Id. (quoting Kindred v. State, 173 Ind. App. 624, 629, 365
N.E.2d 776, 779 (1977)).
Eskridge appears to raise arguments related to: (A) his waiver of a preliminary
hearing; and (B) whether certain evidence was considered at the parole revocation
hearing.7
A. Waiver
Eskridge appears to argue that the post-conviction court erred in “failing to rule on
the assertion that the preliminary hearing waiver was defective therefore invalid.”
Appellant’s Brief at 8. He argues that agent Torrance was his supervising agent and “also
the lone officer that conducts the interview with the parolee,” and who arrested him and
forced him to sign his rights waiving his preliminary hearing.” Id. at 8-9. Eskridge
appears to argue that he at no time indicated that he was prepared to go forward with the
hearing. He asserts that “[t]he obvious prejudice would be the denial of the parole
context report explaining the violation to the petitioner due to the illegal waiver.” Id. at
10. Without citation to the record other than to the waiver itself, Eskridge argues that the
waiver document was blank at the time that he signed it. He contends that Agent
Torrance signed the waiver of preliminary hearing as a witness in violation of Ind. Code
§ 11-13-3-9(a), and that the charges should have been dismissed pursuant to Ind. Code §
11-13-3-9(b) and (e). Eskridge argues that the agent in charge of the petitioner is not
7
To the extent that Eskridge raises additional issues, he fails to develop a cogent argument and
cite to authority. Consequently, the issues are waived. See Cooper v. State, 854 N.E.2d 831, 834 n.1
(Ind. 2006) (holding that the defendant’s contention was waived because it was “supported neither by
cogent argument nor citation to authority”); Shane v. State, 716 N.E.2d 391, 398 n.3 (Ind. 1999) (holding
that the defendant waived argument on appeal by failing to develop a cogent argument).
14
allowed to be involved in any part of the process of the preliminary hearing. He also
states, without citation to the record, that he was “placed under arrest and taken to a van
in the hot sun to wait for Agent Torrance to reappear and badger the petitioner into
signing the waiver.”8 Id. at 19.
The State argues that neither Ind. Code § 11-13-3-9 nor Morrissey states that the
employee who performed the arrest may not be a witness to a parolee’s waiver of a
preliminary hearing. The State maintains that even assuming there was a deficiency in
Eskridge’s waiver, he has not established that the post-conviction court erred in denying
him relief because Eskridge was permitted to withdraw the waiver at the hearing before
the Board and then pled guilty to violating Rule 10-5.
With respect to a preliminary hearing, the United States Supreme Court has held
that “due process requires that after the arrest, the determination that reasonable ground
exists for revocation of parole should be made by someone not directly involved in the
case.” Morrissey, 408 U.S. at 485, 92 S. Ct. at 2602. The Court also concluded that
“there should be an uninvolved person to make this preliminary evaluation of the basis
for believing the conditions of parole have been violated.” Id. at 486, 92 S. Ct. at 2602.
8
The record reveals the following exchange during the cross-examination of Agent Torrance:
Q . . . Did he initially agree to sign a waiver?
A Initially he did not, initially he said that he wanted to have a hearing and he
wouldn’t sign it. This is when we were in the hallway of the parole office. He
walked out, he was taken out by two other agents into a van, um, I stayed in the
building for a second, I walked back out, by the time I got to the van I was
informed that he now he wanted to waive his rights to a preliminary hearing and
at that time he was uncuffed and he was given the form which he signed and
initialed.
Transcript at 18.
15
Specifically, the Court held that “[i]t will be sufficient . . . in the parole revocation
context, if an evaluation of whether reasonable cause exists to believe that conditions of
parole have been violated is made by someone such as a parole officer other than the one
who has made the report of parole violations or has recommended revocation.” Id. at
486, 92 S. Ct. at 2603.
Ind. Code § 11-13-3-9 provides:
(a) Upon the arrest and confinement of a parolee for an alleged violation
of a condition to remaining on parole, an employee of the
department (other than the employee who reported or investigated
the alleged violation or who recommended revocation) shall hold a
preliminary hearing to determine whether there is probable cause to
believe a violation of a condition has occurred. The hearing shall be
held without unneccessary delay. In connection with the hearing,
the parolee is entitled to:
(1) appear and speak in his own behalf;
(2) call witnesses and present evidence;
(3) confront and cross-examine witnesses, unless the
person conducting the hearing finds that to do so
would subject the witness to a substantial risk of harm;
and
(4) a written statement of the findings of fact and the
evidence relied upon.
(b) If it is determined there is not probable cause to believe the parolee
violated a condition to remaining on parole, the charge shall be
dismissed.
(c) If it is determined from the evidence presented that there is probable
cause to believe the parolee violated a condition to remaining on
parole, confinement of the parolee may be continued pending a
parole revocation hearing.
16
(d) If the alleged violation of parole is the parolee’s conviction of a
crime while on parole, the preliminary hearing required by this
section need not be held.
(e) Unless good cause for the delay is established in the record of the
proceeding, the parole revocation charge shall be dismissed if the
preliminary hearing is not held within ten (10) days after the arrest.
(f) A parolee may waive his right to a preliminary hearing.
We observe that neither Morrissey nor Ind. Code § 11-13-3-9 explicitly prohibits
an employee that filed a report alleging a parole violation from signing a waiver of
preliminary hearing form as a witness. Further, at the post-conviction hearing, Agent
Torrance testified that Eskridge interacted with Agent Green, and Agent Green informed
Agent Torrance that Eskridge was ready to sign the form. Eskridge signed a form that
stated:
WAIVER OF PRELIMINARY HEARING
I have read and understand the purpose of a preliminary hearing as on the
Notice of Preliminary Hearing. I understand that by waiving my right to a
preliminary hearing, I am giving up the right to: appear and speak on my
own behalf, call witnesses and present evidence, confront and cross
examine witnesses brought against me, and to receive a written statement of
the findings of fact and the evidence relied upon at the preliminary hearing.
I am also giving up the right to have the presence and participation of
counsel at the preliminary hearing.
*****
I have read and understand the Notice of Preliminary Hearing and the
Waiver of Preliminary Hearing and the rights described therein. My
signature below verifies my knowledge and understanding and my
voluntary waiver of these rights. I have not been threatened or coerced in
any manner into signing that waiver and I understand that this waiver in no
way affects my rights to a final parole revocation hearing.
17
Exhibit Q. To the extent that Eskridge cites to subsections (b) and (e) of Ind. Code § 11-
13-3-9, based upon the record, we conclude that Eskridge waived the right to have a
preliminary hearing. See Ind. Code § 11-13-3-9(f) (“A parolee may waive his right to a
preliminary hearing.”). Even assuming that Eskridge’s waiver was improper, we cannot
say that reversal is warranted. “Failure to hold a preliminary hearing is not, by itself,
reversible error.” Wilson v. State, 403 N.E.2d 1104, 1105 (Ind. Ct. App. 1980). A
parolee must demonstrate that he was prejudiced by such failure, and the burden of
showing the prejudice falls upon the parolee. See id. The record reveals that Eskridge
received notice of the parole violation hearing, and at the hearing which occurred
approximately a month after the parole violation report, Eskridge indicated that he was
ready to proceed. After a discussion regarding the waiver form, a member of the board
indicated that he would read the allegations and take Eskridge’s pleas “such as they
would have done on a preliminary hearing.” Exhibit L. Eskridge pled guilty to violating
Rule 10-5 and testified regarding the alleged violations. To the extent that Eskridge
argues that “[t]he obvious prejudice would be the denial of the parole context report
explaining the violation to the petitioner due to the illegal waiver,” Appellant’s Brief at
10, we observe that Eskridge does not point to the parole context report and the record
reveals that a member of the Board read the allegations to Eskridge at the revocation
hearing. Further, the conditions that Eskridge allegedly violated were set forth on the
Waiver of Preliminary Hearing form and included on the Notice of Parole Violation
Hearing signed by him. Under the circumstances, we cannot say that the evidence as a
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whole unerringly and unmistakably leads to a conclusion opposite that reached by the
post-conviction court.
B. Evidence at Parole Revocation Hearing
Eskridge argues that he had letters and witnesses present at the revocation hearing
and that “[a]ll of this should have been considered. Obviously it was not.” Appellant’s
Brief at 15. Eskridge argues that the Board denied him a sufficient opportunity to present
a defense to the revocation claims and therefore violated his due process rights.
The State argues that Eskridge waived any claim regarding the exclusion of
witness testimony because he did not identify the exclusion of witness testimony in his
petition for post-conviction relief. The State also argues that Eskridge failed to show any
prejudice from the exclusion of witness testimony. With respect to the documentary
evidence, the State argues that the letter from Nina Mayes and the letter from his
employer were received prior to the hearing before the Board and that it is customary for
each participating member to receive a copy of such documents. The State argues that
the BMV driving record actually corroborated Eskridge’s violation of Rule 4(b) in that it
demonstrated that his license was suspended while he was on parole. The State also
contends that Eskridge was not harmed by his alleged due process violation because he
pled guilty to one violation and tacitly admitted to another.
The record reveals that the letters from Eskridge’s mother, Nina Mayes, and
Foundry Services were stamped as being received prior to the revocation hearing.
Moreover, as observed by the post-conviction court, the letters appear to relate to the
issue of leniency on sentencing, and Eskridge does not appear to argue that the Board
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erred by ordering that he be assessed the balance of his sentence. With respect to
potential witnesses, Eskridge called only Lakisha Eskridge as a witness at the post-
conviction hearing and Eskridge merely asked Lakisha, “you was willing to testify in my
behalf at the hearing but was not able to,” and Lakisha stated, “Yes.” Transcript at 58.
Under the circumstances, we cannot say that the evidence as a whole unerringly and
unmistakably leads to a conclusion opposite that reached by the post-conviction court.
See Jamerson v. State, 182 Ind. App. 99, 102-103, 394 N.E.2d 222, 224 (1979) (holding
that even though the defendant’s alleged injury is potentially of constitutional
proportions, we will not reverse when counsel has failed to suggest any mitigating
circumstances which the constitutional and statutory remedies were designed to advance).
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of
Eskridge’s petition for post-conviction relief.
Affirmed.
BAILEY, J., and VAIDIK, J., concur.
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