Shiloh Jones v. State of Indiana

FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
DEBORAH MARKISOHN GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Marion County Public Defender Agency Attorney General of Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
MICHAEL GENE WORDEN
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
FILED
Oct 29 2012, 8:30 am
IN THE CLERK
of the supreme court,
court of appeals and
tax court
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
SHILOH JONES, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 49A04-1202-CR-74
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Barbara A. Collins, Judge
The Honorable John J. Boyce, Judge Pro Tempore
Cause No. 49F08-1104-FD-26230
October 29, 2012
OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
KIRSCH, Judge
Shiloh Jones (“Jones”) appeals his convictions and sentence for domestic battery1
as a Class D felony, strangulation,2 a Class D felony, criminal confinement3 as a Class D
felony, domestic battery4 as a Class A misdemeanor, battery5 as a Class A misdemeanor,
and interference with reporting a crime6 as a Class A misdemeanor. On appeal, we
address the following issues:
I. Whether Jones’s notice of appeal was timely filed;
II. Whether Jones’s multiple convictions for battery violate Indiana’s
constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy;
III. Whether Jones’s criminal confinement conviction violates Indiana’s
constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy;
IV. Whether the presiding judge had the authority to vacate the sentence
ordered by the judge pro tempore; and
V. Whether the prosecutor committed misconduct by vouching for the
complaining witness’s credibility by assuring jurors during the
closing argument that she was telling the truth.
We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In April 2011, Jones, his girlfriend R.O., and their two children, both of whom
were under two years of age, lived together in a house in Indianapolis. During the
1
See Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1.3.
2
See Ind. Code § 35-42-2-9.
3
See Ind. Code § 35-42-3-3.
4
See Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1.3.
5
See Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1.
6
See Ind. Code §35-45-2-5.
2
afternoon of April 13, 2011, Jones and R.O. got into an argument about housework and
child care responsibilities. A short time later, the verbal altercation became physical;
Jones poured baby formula on R.O.’s face, slapped and bit her face, and choked her. Tr.
at 34. Jones also pushed R.O. down on the couch, sat on her, and told her she couldn’t
leave. Id. R.O. took their one-year-old child into the couple’s bedroom, but Jones “told
[R.O.] to come out of the room[,] . . . grabbed [her] by the hair and snatched [her] out of
the room . . . draggin’ from the floor onto the livin’ room [sic] . . . .” Id. at 36. At
various times thereafter, Jones slapped, pushed, and choked R.O. while the couple’s two
children were in the room. Id. at 37. As the two tussled, Jones threw R.O. down to the
floor and her knee “busted a little bit to where [her] skin had broke.” Id. at 40. At one
point Jones also bit R.O. on the side of her face. Id. at 47. R.O. estimated that the entire
episode lasted “between four and like eight o’clock,” id. at 83, after which Jones took
R.O.’s cell phone and went outside to his vehicle. R.O. looked for the two cordless
phones that were usually in the house, but could not find either of them. Id. 43-44. That
night, Jones slept in the living room, and R.O. slept in the bedroom with the two children.
When Jones left the house around 8:30 the next morning, R.O. called a family
member and later called the police. The State arrested Jones and charged him with
domestic battery as a Class D felony; strangulation, a Class D felony; criminal
confinement as a Class D felony; domestic battery as a Class A misdemeanor; battery as
a Class A misdemeanor; and interference with reporting a crime as a Class A
misdemeanor.
Jones was tried to a jury in the courtroom of the Honorable Barbara A. Collins.
3
On November 14, 2011, Commissioner John J. Boyce was appointed judge pro tempore
and presided over Jones’s trial. Appellant’s App. at 134. During closing argument, the
deputy prosecutor asserted that R.O. had no reason to falsify her testimony and stated,
“[S]he’s still here because it’s the right thing and she was telling you the truth.” Tr. at
159. Jones was convicted on all six counts. On November 28, 2011, Commissioner
Boyce sentenced Jones to two years on each felony count and one year on each
misdemeanor count with all sentences to be served concurrently. Jones’s two-year
sentence was ordered to be served as follows: twelve months at the Department of
Correction (“DOC”), six months on Community Corrections, and six months to be
suspended and served on probation. Tr. 314-16.
Jones’s sentencing was complicated by the trial court’s need to address a probation
violation from a previous conviction. During a December 12, 2011 hearing, the trial
court noted, “[t]here are some things that happened in the sentencing which couldn’t
happen, okay, without at least some more evaluations and that’s what’s going to happen
today, it’s going to be a Community Corrections evaluation and then the sentencing is
going to [be] redone.” 7 Tr. at 370. “I have to take into consideration everything, your
past in your probation case, your presentence investigation and this new evaluation.
They’re going to be looking at your mental health . . . .” Id. at 371. The trial court set a
second sentencing hearing.
On January 24, 2012, Judge Collins conducted a second sentencing hearing, which
7
Although the court reporter’s transcript of proceedings reflects that the hearing was taken on
December 12, 2012, tr. at 368, the CCS correctly reflects the date as December 12, 2011. Appellant’s
App. at 15.
4
resulted in what is referred to in the CCS as “amended sentencing.” Appellant’s App. at
16. Jones was sentenced to 730 days at the DOC on each felony count and 365 days at
the DOC on each misdemeanor count with all sentences to run concurrently. Id. at 16-17,
19-20. Jones now appeals.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Timeliness of Filing Notice of Appeal
As a preliminary matter, we address the State’s contention that Jones’s appeal was
not timely filed. Commissioner Boyce presided over Jones’s jury trial, held on
November 14, 2011, and his sentencing hearing, held on November 28, 2011. The State
contends that because Commissioner Boyce served as a judge pro tempore for the trial
and the sentencing hearing, the sentence imposed on November 28, 2011 constituted a
final appealable order. Appellee’s Br. at 7.8
“A party initiates an appeal by filing a Notice of Appeal with the Clerk . . . within
thirty (30) days after the entry of a Final Judgment is noted in the Chronological Case
Summary. . . .” Ind. Appellate Rule 9(A)(1). The State contends that the thirty days ran
from November 28, 2011 and expired in December 2011. As such, the State argues that
Jones’s notice of appeal, which was filed February 16, 2012, was untimely filed. We
disagree.
A notice of appeal must be filed “with the Clerk . . . within thirty (30) days after
the entry of a Final Judgment is noted in the [CCS].” App. R. 9(A)(1) (emphasis added).
8
The State filed its Appellee’s Brief on August 13, 2012. Thereafter this court granted the State’s
motion to amend the Appellee’s Brief to include a previously omitted page, and the State filed its
Amended Brief of Appellee on August 17, 2012. For ease of reference, we refer to the Amended Brief of
Appellee as Appellee’s Br.
5
Here, the trial court did not issue an “Order of Judgment of Conviction” until January 24,
2012. Appellant’s App. at 21-24. While the CCS reflects that a hearing occurred on
November 28, 2011 for sentencing, on December 5, 2011 for a bond review, and on
January 24, 2012 for sentencing, the CCS reflects that the “Order of Judgment of
Conviction” was entered only on January 24, 2012. Appellant’s App. at 14-15, 21.
Jones’s notice of appeal, which was filed less than thirty days after the entry of final
judgment was noted in the CCS, was timely filed. Id. at 21-24.
II. Battery and Double Jeopardy
Jones contends that his multiple convictions for battery violate Indiana’s
constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy. Specifically, he contends that he
cannot be convicted for domestic battery as a Class D felony (Count I), domestic battery
as a Class A misdemeanor (Count IV), and battery as a Class A misdemeanor (Count V)
because “the evidence presented supports but a single offense of domestic battery.”
Appellant’s Br. at 7. Jones bases his claim on the “actual evidence test” enunciated by
the Indiana Supreme Court in Richardson v. State, 717 N.E.2d 32 (Ind. 1999) and on the
fact that Counts IV and V are each a lesser-included offense of Count I. Appellant’s Br.
at 5-8. Davenport v. State, 734 N.E.2d 622, 624 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000) (greater offense is
the “same” for purposes of double jeopardy as any lesser offense included in it) (citing
Brown v. Ohio, 432 U.S. 161, 168 (1977)), trans. denied (2001). We review whether
multiple convictions violate the prohibition against double jeopardy de novo. Goldsberry
v. State, 821 N.E.2d 447, 458 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
The State fails to address this issue. Relying on its argument that Jones’s appeal
6
was untimely filed, the State offers just one sentence: “Defendant’s double jeopardy
claim, even if correct, would only require this Court to vacate the misdemeanor battery
convictions, . . . but as all counts were ordered to be served concurrently, such would
have no effect on Defendant’s actual sentence.” Appellee’s Br. at 8. This court will not
undertake the burden of developing an argument on behalf of a party on appeal. Hall v.
State, 837 N.E.2d 159, 160 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), trans. denied (2006). Nonetheless, it is
our duty to decide cases correctly. Because this issue was raised by Jones and is properly
before us and because our standard of review is de novo, we address the merits of Jones’s
double jeopardy claim.
The Indiana Constitution’s Double Jeopardy Clause (“the Double Jeopardy
Clause”), found in Article 1, Section 14 of the Indiana Constitution, “was intended to
prevent the State from being able to proceed against a person twice for the same criminal
transgression.” Richardson, 717 N.E.2d at 49. Two or more offenses are the “same
offense” in violation of the Double Jeopardy Clause, if, with respect to either the
statutory elements of the challenged crimes or the actual evidence used to convict, the
essential elements of one challenged offense also establish the essential elements of
another challenged offense. Id.
Under the “actual evidence” test, the evidence presented at trial is examined to
determine whether each challenged offense was established by separate and distinct facts.
Id. at 53. To show that two challenged offenses constitute the “same offense” in a claim
of double jeopardy, a defendant must demonstrate a reasonable possibility that the
evidentiary facts used by the fact-finder to establish the essential elements of one offense
7
may also have been used to establish all of the essential elements of a second challenged
offense. Spivey v. State, 761 N.E.2d 831, 833 (Ind. 2002). To determine what facts were
used, we consider the evidence, charging information, final jury instructions, and
arguments of counsel. Rutherford v. State, 866 N.E.2d 867, 871 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).
The pertinent portions of each charging information and each final instruction to
the jury relating to the battery counts were as follows. As to Count I, domestic battery as
a Class D felony, the State alleged that Jones:
did knowingly in a rude, insolent or angry manner touch [R.O.], another
person, who . . . is or was living as if a spouse of the Defendant, or has a
child in common with the Defendant, and further that said touching
resulted in bodily injury to the other person, specifically red marks and/or
scratches and/or pain; and further, the [D]efendant committed said act in
the physical presence of . . . a child less than sixteen (16) years of age,
knowing that said child was present and might be able to see or hear the
offense.
Appellant’s App. at 28, 108 (emphasis added). As to Count IV, domestic battery as a
Class A misdemeanor, the State alleged that Jones:
did knowingly in a rude, insolent or angry manner touch [R.O.], another
person, who . . . is or was living as if a spouse of the Defendant, or has a
child in common with the Defendant; and further that said touching
resulted in bodily injury to the other person, specifically: red marks and/or
scratches and/or pain.
Id. at 31, 111 (emphasis added). Finally, as to Count V, battery as a Class A
misdemeanor, the State alleged that Jones:
did knowingly in a rude, insolent or angry manner touch [R.O.], another
person, and further that said touching resulted in bodily injury to the other
person, specifically: red marks and/or scratches and/or pain.
Id. at 32, 112 (emphasis added). As the emphasized language reveals, the State provided
8
no details regarding the three batteries, but instead, alleged in general terms that Jones
“did knowingly in a rude, insolent or angry manner touch” R.O., and that “said touching
resulted in bodily injury to the other person, specifically: red marks and/or scratches
and/or pain.” Id. at 28, 31, 32. Here, there is a reasonable possibility that each
challenged battery offense was not established by separate and distinct facts.
In closing argument, the State revealed its understanding of how these three counts
were different. The attorney for the State noted:
I didn’t mention in the D felony battery charge that it must be . . . in the
presence of a child, we talked about it during jury selection, that the State
treats the crime of battery in front of a child differently than it does a
battery without children present, we all agreed that was legal and that was
an appropriate way to treat this charge and that is all, that’s the only reason
that there is any difference between the A misdemeanor battery, which
happened outside the presence of the children in the living room and the
one that happened with the children, you know, in front of the children in
the bedroom so I just ask you to keep that in mind.
Tr. at 159. The State claimed that the difference in proof between these three batteries
was whether the battery occurred in front of the children in the bedroom or outside the
presence of the children in the living room. The State, however, was incorrect in its
assertion. In True v. State, our court addressed what it means for a domestic battery to
occur in the presence of children by stating:
If the jury were to find the battery did not occur in the presence of children
merely because none of the children saw the battery, that would represent a
misunderstanding of what the statute requires. “Presence” is defined as
knowingly being within either the possible sight or hearing of a child. I.C.
§ 35–42–2–1.3(b)(2). And, if the State’s evidence here was to be believed,
G.T. and A.F. unquestionably heard the confrontation between A.T. and
True. In any event, none of the children had to actually sense the battery;
there only needed to be the possibility that they “might” see or hear it. See
Boyd v. State, 889 N.E.2d 321, 325 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008), trans. denied.
9
True v. State, 954 N.E.2d 1105, 1110-11 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). Based on the above
reasoning, we find a violation of the prohibition against double jeopardy because Counts
IV and V are lesser included offenses of Count I and because the State relied on the same
evidence to convict Jones of all three offenses.
When two convictions are found to contravene double jeopardy principles, a
reviewing court may remedy the violation by reducing either conviction to a less serious
form of the same offense if doing so will eliminate the violation. Moala v. State, 969
N.E.2d 1061, 1065 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). If it will not, one of the convictions must be
vacated. Id. “In the interest of efficient judicial administration, the trial court need not
undertake a full sentencing reevaluation, but rather the reviewing court will make this
determination itself, being mindful of the penal consequences that the trial court found
appropriate.” Id. (citing Richardson, 717 N.E.2d at 54). In Richardson, the defendant
was convicted of robbery as a Class C felony and battery as a Class A misdemeanor,
which our Supreme Court found to be a violation of the Indiana Double Jeopardy Clause
under the actual evidence test. Richardson, 717 N.E.2d at 54. Because both convictions
could not stand, the court in Richardson vacated the conviction with the less-severe penal
consequence and left the robbery conviction standing. Id. at 55.
Jones was convicted in violation of Article 1, section 14, of Class D felony
domestic battery, Class A misdemeanor domestic battery, and Class A misdemeanor
battery. The two Class A misdemeanor battery convictions have the less-severe penal
consequences. Accordingly, we vacate both the convictions and sentence for the Class A
10
misdemeanor domestic battery (Count IV) and for the Class A misdemeanor battery
(Count V), and leave standing the conviction and sentence for Class D felony domestic
battery (Count I).
III. Criminal Confinement and Double Jeopardy
Jones next contends that his conviction for criminal confinement violates the
prohibition against double jeopardy set forth in Indiana Constitution, Article 1, Section
14. Jones again bases his claim on the “actual evidence test” enunciated by the Indiana
Supreme Court in Richardson, and the State again fails to make an argument as to why
Jones’s conviction for criminal confinement does not constitute double jeopardy.9 We
review the claim of double jeopardy de novo. Goldsberry, 821 N.E.2d at 458.
To support his argument, Jones cites to Cunningham v. State, 870 N.E.2d 552, 553
(Ind. Ct. App. 2007), a case in which our court reviewed the sufficiency of the evidence
to support a conviction for criminal confinement. Noting that the offense of confinement
requires proof of a substantial interference with a person’s liberty without the person’s
consent, our court also made clear that “in order to prove confinement beyond the main
crime charged, there must be something more than the act necessary to effectuate the
crime . . . .” Cunningham, 870 N.E.2d at 553. Jones maintains that the State’s evidence
established the essential elements of felony domestic battery and strangulation, but that
there was no confinement of R.O. greater than that required to effectuate the crimes.
Stated differently, Jones contends that the evidence used to convict Jones of battery and
9
The State’s entire argument regarding this issue is: “Defendant’s double jeopardy claim, even if
correct, would only require this Court to vacate . . . possibly the criminal confinement conviction, but as
all counts were ordered to be served concurrently such would have no effect on Defendant’s actual
sentence.” Appellee’s Br. at 8.
11
strangulation was the same evidence used to convict him of criminal confinement.
Appellant’s Br. at 9. We disagree.
The conflict between Jones and R.O. began with a verbal altercation on the
afternoon of April 13, 2011. The exchange escalated and became violent. The entire
episode lasted four hours and occurred in the presence of the couple’s children, who were
under the age of sixteen. R.O. testified that Jones poured formula on her face, slapped
her face, and bit her on the side of her face. Id. at 34-35, 47. This evidence supported
Jones’s conviction for Class D felony domestic battery. See Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1.3.
R.O. also testified that Jones choked her; “I couldn’t breathe I was gaspin’ for air and I
kept askin’ him to stop.” Tr. at 34. This evidence supported Jones’s conviction for Class
D felony strangulation. Ind. Code § 35-42-2-9.
The State charged that Jones “did knowingly confine R.O., another person,
without said person’s consent.” Appellant’s App. at 30. In addition to Jones choking,
slapping, and biting R.O., there was also evidence that Jones criminally confined R.O.
R.O. testified that Jones pushed her onto the couch, sat on top of her, and told her that she
“couldn’t get up,” and “couldn’t leave.” Tr. at 34. Additionally, through his actions,
Jones kept R.O. in the home until he left the next morning, at which time R.O. called her
family and then the police.
The actual evidence to convict Jones of criminal confinement was different from
the evidence required to convict him of domestic battery and strangulation. Jones’s
conviction for criminal confinement did not violate the prohibition against double
jeopardy
12
IV. Sentencing
Jones contends that Judge Collins did not have the authority to vacate the sentence
previously imposed by Commissioner Boyce. Commissioner Boyce, acting as judge pro
tempore, sentenced Jones on November 28, 2011, to two years on each felony count and
one year on each misdemeanor count with all sentences to be served concurrently. Tr. at
314-16. Of that time, the trial court ordered Jones to serve 365 days in the DOC, 180
days in Community Correction, and 180 days on probation. Id. Both parties agree that
Commissioner Boyce, by acting as judge pro tempore at the criminal trial, had the
authority to conduct the sentencing hearing and impose a sentence. Appellant’s Br. at 12-
14; Appellee’s Br. at 9. See Long v. State, 962 N.E.2d 671, 673 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012)
(citing Ind. Code § 33-23-5-9(b)) (magistrate presiding at criminal trial may enter final
order, conduct sentencing hearing, and impose sentence), trans. denied.
During a hearing held on December 12, 2011, the trial court noted:10
COURT: Okay Mr. Jones, here’s the story. There are some things that
occurred that, as to your sentencing, that can’t happen[]
without some more evaluations . . . . [a]nd that’s what’s going
to happen today, it’s going to be Community Corrections
evaluation and then the sentencing is going to be redone.
Meanwhile, you’ll be in jail. . . . I have no idea which way
this is going to go. Do you understand that?
MR. JONES: Okay.
COURT: I have to take into consideration everything, your past in your
probation case, your presentence investigation and this new
evaluation. They’re going to be looking at your mental health
and I take it that he was evaluated for competency and
10
It is unclear which judge presided over this hearing. The transcript of the hearing reflects that
the hearing took place before Judge Collins, tr. at 368, however, the CCS, which is the official record of
the court, indicates that Commissioner Boyce presided. Appellant’s App. at 15.
13
insanity and they decided he was competent etcetera?
PUBLIC DEFENDER: Correct but it did mention some mental health
issues.
Tr. at 370-71. Thereafter, the trial judge asked Jones questions about his mental health
and the treatment he received for his mental health. Id. at 371-75.
During a sentencing hearing held on January 24, 2012, Judge Collins heard
testimony from R.O., Jones, and Jones’s sister on topics covering Jones’s mental health
and corresponding treatment, his involvement in the life of his fourteen-year-old
daughter, his job prospects, and the possibility of living with his sister in the event the
trial court allowed him to serve time in Community Corrections. Id. at 185-202. The
trial court also explored information from Marion County Community Corrections, which
was provided in the form of a memorandum dated January 20, 2012. Id. at 198.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Collins stated:
I don’t have any choice, I’ve read everything in here, I am sending him to
DOC. And then he will have a period of time probably on the
probation/Community Corrections. So that’s why I’m trying to figure out
where is the, all of the credit going to go, on the conviction that I’m
sentencing him to DOC or what. Let me know.
Id. at 208-09. Noting the problematic situation of having to consider Jones’s sentence
under this cause number as well as his sentence for a probation violation on a previous
conviction, the trial court stated:
730 day DOC [sic], and I very rarely do it but I am really struck by the
combination of these two cases. He did know that he had a significant
mental health, mental illness and didn’t follow through. That’s typical and
we usually work with that but it didn’t get here for me to deal with that in a
sufficient time and I apologize, I would have liked to have done more. I
don’t know if that would have figured, would have straightened it out but to
14
me it’s not punishment it’s purely incapacitation. So 730 days DOC, 730
days executed, how much credit?
Id. at 209. For time served plus credit time, Jones received 572 days of credit, which was
credited against his most restrictive placement, i.e., the executed time in DOC. Id. The
remainder of the sentencing hearing addressed the sentence imposed for Jones having
violated his probation.
Jones did not object during the December 12, 2011 hearing when the trial judge
told him “the sentencing is going to be redone,” tr. at 370, nor did he object at the
January 24, 2012 hearing, during which Judge Collins entered an amended sentence.
Recognizing that his failure to object waives his challenge to Judge Collins’s authority on
appeal, see Floyd v. State, 650 N.E.2d 28, 32 (Ind. 1994), Jones attempts to avoid waiver
by arguing that the sentencing error was fundamental in nature. See Beasley v. State, 267
Ind. 396, 404, 370 N.E.2d 360, 364 (1977) (although failure to object at trial normally
waives error on appeal, such is not the case when error is fundamental). “Fundamental
error is error such that, if not rectified, would be a denial of fundamental due process.”
Ware v. State, 816 N.E.2d 1167, 1179 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). An improper sentence
constitutes fundamental error and cannot be ignored on review. Id. While we may
correct sentencing error by the trial court on appeal even though the issue was not raised
below, id., here we find no such error.
While Judge Collins had to resentence Jones because necessary evaluations had
not been completed prior to Commissioner Boyce’s November 28, 2011 hearing, the
amended sentence did not increase Jones’s original sentence of 730 days. The one
15
change was that Jones would have to serve his entire sentence executed at the DOC,
instead of having some of his sentence on Community Corrections and some on
probation. This change, however, does not constitute fundamental error. The grant of
probation is a favor and not a right. Beeler v. State, 959 N.E.2d 828, 829 (Ind. Ct. App.
2011), trans. denied. As with probation, placement in a community corrections program
“is a ‘matter of grace’ and a ‘conditional liberty that is a favor, not a right.’” Brown v.
State, 947 N.E.2d 486, 489 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011) (quoting Million v. State, 646 N.E.2d
998, 1001–02 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995)), trans. denied. Therefore, Judge Collins’s amended
sentencing, which changed only placement in Community Corrections and probation, did
not affect Jones’s substantial rights or in any manner deprive Jones of due process. We
find that the amended sentence imposed by Judge Collins did not constitute fundamental
error.
V. Prosecutorial Misconduct
Finally, Jones contends that the deputy prosecutor engaged in prosecutorial
misconduct during closing argument of the guilt phase of the jury trial by impermissibly
vouching for R.O.’s credibility. Jones concedes that he did not object to the prosecutor’s
remarks but contends that the prosecutor’s comments constituted fundamental error,
which justifies a new trial. Appellant’s Br. at 16-20. The State fails to address Jones’s
fundamental error argument, but instead argues that Jones’s “prosecutorial misconduct
claim is unavailable for appellate review because [he] failed to properly preserve the
issue by objecting, requesting an admonishment, and moving for a mistrial.” Appellee’s
Br. at 7 (citing Delarosa v. State, 938 N.E.2d 690, 696 (Ind. 2010); Cooper v. State, 854
16
N.E.2d 831, 835 (Ind. 2006)).
During closing argument, the deputy prosecutor made the following statement:
You’ve heard no evidence that [R.O.] had any reason to make this up about
Shiloh Jones; in fact she had every reason to do the opposite. Coming and
being a witness for the State, giving these statements to the police, coming
down doing depositions, setting [sic] outside the courtroom knowing what’s
going on in here, it’s not fun, it’s not pleasant, it’s not exciting, it’s
difficult, it’s scary[,] period. But she’s here, right there, she’s still here
because it’s the right thing and she was telling you the truth.
Tr. at 158-59. In Cain v. State, 955 N.E.2d 714, 721 (Ind. 2011), our Supreme Court
noted:
When a prosecutor is alleged to have made an improper argument at either
the guilt or penalty phase of a trial, the defendant should request an
admonishment from the trial court. Cooper, 854 N.E.2d at 835. If the
defendant believes the admonishment to be insufficient, he should move for
a mistrial. Id. When the claim of prosecutorial misconduct has been
properly preserved through this procedure, we examine it in two steps.
“[W]e determine (1) whether the prosecutor engaged in misconduct, and if
so, (2) whether the misconduct, under all of the circumstances, placed the
defendant in a position of grave peril to which he or she would not have
been subjected.” Id.
Because Jones did not object, request an admonishment, or move for a mistrial, he seeks
relief on the basis that the prosecutor’s comments constituted fundamental error.
In some instances, prosecutorial misconduct may amount to fundamental error.
Cowan v. State, 783 N.E.2d 1270, 1277 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), trans. denied. For such
misconduct to rise to the level of fundamental error, however, it must be so prejudicial to
the rights of the defendant as to have made a fair trial impossible. Id. In determining
whether an alleged error rendered a judicial proceeding unfair, this court must consider
whether the resulting harm or potential for harm is substantial. Id. A review of the
17
totality of the circumstances and a determination whether the error had a substantial
influence upon the outcome are required. Id.Assuming without deciding that it was error for the prosecutor to make statements
about R.O.’s credibility, we address whether Jones was denied fundamental due process.
Identity was not the issue at trial; instead, the issue before the jury was whether Jones had
committed the charged offenses. The main witness for the State was the victim, R.O.
The jury heard her testimony regarding the events that happened on the day in question.
They also heard from two police officers who investigated the crimes and took
photographs of R.O. to reflect her injuries.
The defense offered no witnesses but, instead, questioned R.O.’s credibility.
Defense counsel asked R.O., “[Y]ou understood that you were to tell everyone, that you
were to speak the truth and the whole truth?” Appellant’s App. at 76. Additionally,
defense counsel highlighted the inconsistencies in R.O.’s version of the events on the day
in question. Tr. at 76-81.
During closing argument, the State maintained that R.O. was telling the truth. In
rebuttal, the defense counsel during closing argument again raised the issue of R.O.’s
credibility.
What we’re dealing with is a picture versus a thousand words. . . . Mr.
Schmadeke [prosecutor] would have you gloss over all the details so that
you’re not able to focus on the fact that what we talked about earlier is the
change in the details is why you can’t rely on the testimony of [R.O]. So
let’s talk about the thousand words, the testimony of [R.O].
Tr. at 164-65. Defense counsel went on to explain the various inconsistencies in R.O.’s
testimony—how she changed her story over time, adding injuries not previously
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mentioned. Id. at 165-68. Defense counsel also suggested that the photograph exhibits
did not reveal the injuries that R.O. claimed she had sustained.
[The State] was talking about pictures again, we’re talking about testimony
versus pictures. [The State’s witness] testified that if there are injuries she
takes pictures of them. She also testified in certain situations she’ll take
pictures of people claiming that there’s (inaudible), claiming that there’s
injuries, she’ll take pictures, that’s what she’s trained to do, that’s what
she’s suppose to do. But we don’t have pictures of [R.O.’s] back where she
was allegedly slammed into the wall ten times. That’s not something you
just forget to tell the officer and they forget to take pictures. She mentioned
that she was bitten in the face; she mentioned that she was choked. If she
had been slammed into the wall ten times that officer is trained to take
pictures of those (inaudible). Pictures, it all comes back to that. Testimony
you understand can change. It is about the details because over time people
add, subtract, lies begat lies, you have to change your story, you have to try
to remember things, you add things, you subtract things, truth is easy to tell
. . . . That’s not a picture of someone who’s been strangled three times,
that’s not somebody who’s been beaten about the face four times, that’s not
a picture of someone who’s been dragged by her hair around the apartment,
that’s a picture of someone who’s fine.
Id. at 168-69.
Jones’s theory at trial was that R.O.’s story was inconsistent and could not be
believed. During closing argument, the State asserted that R.O. was telling the truth. In
rebuttal, defense counsel again asserted that R.O.’s story was inconsistent. Here, where
R.O.’s credibility was at issue and both sides had their say on the matter, we cannot say
that the statements made by the State placed Jones in a position of grave peril to which he
should not have been subjected. Furthermore, because the statements did not deny Jones
a fair trial, we find no fundamental error.
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Conclusion
On the basis of double jeopardy, we reverse Jones’s convictions for Count IV,
Class A misdemeanor domestic battery, and Count V, Class A misdemeanor battery, and
we affirm Jones’s conviction and sentence for Count I, Class D felony domestic battery.
In all other respects, we affirm the trial court’s decision. Therefore, we affirm in part,
reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
NAJAM, J., and MAY, J., concur.
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