FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
SUSAN K. CARPENTER STEVE CARTER
Public Defender of Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
J. MICHAEL SAUER NICOLE M. SCHUSTER
Deputy Public Defender Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
PATRICK L. FITZGERALD, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 28A01-0306-CR-199
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee. )
APPEAL FROM THE GREENE SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable J. David Holt, Judge
Cause No. 28D01-0205-FB-335
April 6, 2004
OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
SULLIVAN, Judge
Following a jury trial, Patrick Fitzgerald was found guilty of Sexual Misconduct With
a Minor, a Class B felony.
See footnote He presents three issues for our
review, all of which are related to sentencing:
I. Whether the trial court erred in its assessment of aggravating and mitigating factors;
II. Whether the sentence is inappropriate; and
III. Whether some imposed conditions of probation are unconstitutional.
We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.
Fitzgerald had known A.V. for her entire life. He was a friend
of her father. Over the years, A.V. would accompany her father when
he would visit Fitzgerald and other friends at Fitzgeralds place of employment and
at the volunteer fire department where Fitzgerald was the Assistant Chief. During
the summer of 2000, A.V., who was fourteen years old and a freshman
in high school, moved into her fathers home on a full-time basis.See footnote
Over time, Fitzgerald and A.V. began to talk frequently and a romantic relationship
started in September of 2000. Over the next year, the relationship became
sexual and A.V. and Fitzgerald would have sex on a weekly basis.
Because A.V.s father was a truck driver who left for work between 3
and 5 a.m., A.V. and Fitzgerald were able to hide their relationship.See footnote
Nonetheless, A.V.s father became suspicious of A.V. and Fitzgerald and confronted them.
They both denied that there was any sort of relationship between them.
In September or October of 2001, A.V. became pregnant. She told only
Fitzgerald, and she did not seek medical care. It was not until
April 2002, when a school guidance counselor asked A.V. if she was pregnant,
that she informed anyone other than Fitzgerald of her pregnancy. At that
time, she sought medical care and delivered a baby girl on June 12,
2002. As a consequence, Fitzgerald was charged with the present offense and
was convicted.
The trial court sentenced Fitzgerald to ten years in the Department of Correction,
and suspended three years of the sentence on the grounds that Fitzgerald commit
no violation of law and that he be placed on supervised probation until
April 3, 2013. In entering its sentencing order, the trial court identified
several aggravating and mitigating circumstances and determined that they balanced, making the presumptive
sentence appropriate. The trial court also stated that any sentence less than
ten years would depreciate the serious of the crime.
I
Aggravating and Mitigating Factors
Fitzgerald contends that the trial court erred in relying upon two aggravating circumstances
in sentencing. Specifically, Fitzgerald challenges the following findings:
1. There is a risk that this offense may be repeated.
Defendant has made clear repeatedly that he disagreed with the law, and
that he has no regret in his actions. The Defendant has stated
repeatedly that he knew the crime was wrong, but he continued to repeat
it.
* * *
5. The victim now has an infant for whom she is
responsible. The Defendants actions have caused her to incur child care obligations
that may have impeded opportunities or goals that young women may pursue.
Appendix at 164-65.
Fitzgerald further contends that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to
find the statutory mitigating circumstance that this offense was the result of circumstances
unlikely to recur. See Ind. Code § 35-38-1-7.1(c)(2) (Burns Code Ed. Supp.
2003).
Sentencing decisions lie within the discretion of the trial court. Jackson v.
State, 728 N.E.2d 147, 154 (Ind. 2000). When a trial court imposes
a presumptive sentence, we presume that the trial court considered the proper factors
in making the sentencing determination. Id. However, when a court identifies aggravating
or mitigating circumstances, it is obligated to include a statement of its reasons
for selecting the sentence imposed. Id. The statement of reasons must
contain three elements: (1) identification of all significant aggravating and mitigating circumstances; (2)
the specific facts and reasons that lead the court to find the existence
of each such circumstance; and (3) reflection of an evaluation and balancing of
the mitigating and aggravating circumstances in fixing the sentence. Id. The
trial court is responsible for determining the appropriate weight to give aggravating and
mitigating circumstances. Powell v. State, 751 N.E.2d 311, 315 (Ind. Ct. App.
2001).
A trial court is not obligated to find a circumstance to be mitigating
simply because it is offered by a defendant as a mitigating circumstance.
Highbaugh v. State, 773 N.E.2d 247, 252 (Ind. 2002). Additionally, a trial
court is not obligated to weigh or credit the mitigating factor the same
as the defendant requests. Id. Upon appeal, a defendant must show
that the proffered mitigating circumstance is both significant and clearly supported by the
record. Id.
Fitzgeralds claim regarding the aggravator that Fitzgeralds actions caused A.V. to incur child
care obligations that may have impeded opportunities or goals that young women may
pursue is persuasive. In its oral sentencing statement, the trial court stated,
I dont know what goals she may have set for herself, but for
what occurred here I dont know what her plans might have been.
I dont know how much easier if at all it might have been,
but now she has to think not only of herself but a very
small child. For someone of such tender age the Court can only
conclude that that is a factor that I have to consider an aggravation.
Tr. at 325-26. A.V. testified that her goal was to
become a firefighter and that she planned to accomplish that goal by attending
school at V.U.
See footnote In her victim impact statement included in the pre-sentence
investigation report, she denied having any adverse effects due to the offense committed
by Fitzgerald.
The State argues that the trial court was entitled to not give much
credit to A.V.s statement because of her age and the belief that she
may not understand the true costs and rewards of having a child.
While it may be true that A.V. has not fully experienced the difficulties
that are inherent with raising a child, there is no indication from the
evidence that having a child has negatively impacted A.V.s ability to pursue her
goals. Further, A.V.s testimony indicates that she will be able to accomplish
her goals. Consequently, the aggravating circumstance that the offense may have impeded
A.V.s ability to pursue her goals is not supported by the evidence.
Turning to the other aggravating circumstance challenged, that there is a risk that
Fitzgerald would repeat the offense, we begin by noting the trial courts reasoning
for why it believed that the offense could recur. That is that
Fitzgerald repeatedly made clear that he disagreed with the law, that he had
no regret for his actions, and that he knew the crime was wrong
but continued to repeat it. In our review of the record, we
have not located any statements in which Fitzgerald made clear . . .
that he disagreed with the law. Rather, Fitzgeralds statements indicate at best
that he had a complete disregard for the law which he violated, given
that he knew his actions were wrong but continued to engage in sexual
intercourse with a minor.See footnote
To the extent, however, that the trial court was fearful that the instant
offense would likely recur with A.V. it was erroneous because as noted by
Fitzgerald, at the time of sentencing, she was over the age of 16
and no longer the subject of the provisions of the sexual misconduct statute.See footnote
Be that as it may, the trial court found three additional aggravating circumstances.
The court noted that the offense was not an isolated incident but
was continual over the course of a year. In addition the court
noted that Firzgerald did not provide or facilitate any pre-natal care for A.V.
until seven months into the pregnancy and that while on bond, Fitzgerald had
violated a no contact order.
As a mitigating circumstance, Fitzgerald has offered his view that the crime was
the result of unusual circumstances and was, therefore, unlikely to recur. This is
but a refinement of the argument that the court erred in concluding that
the events were likely to recur. The court was not required to
find that circumstance as a mitigating factor.
Even were we to agree that two of the five stated aggravators were
inappropriate for consideration, the court was entitled to balance the remaining three aggravating
circumstances against the two conceded mitigators, i.e. the lack of a criminal record
and Fitzgeralds service as a volunteer firefighter. In this light, reversal of
the presumptive sentence is not required.
The posture of the case does not suggest that the trial court, if
disregarding the two questionable aggravators, would have imposed less than the presumptive sentence.
To the contrary, the court specifically stated that to impose less
than the presumptive sentence would depreciate the seriousness of the offense committed.
We therefore conclude that the courts consideration and balancing of aggravating and mitigating
circumstances does not dictate reversal of the presumptive sentence.
II
Inappropriate Sentence
In a somewhat related argument, Fitzgerald also asserts that his sentence is inappropriate
in light of his character and the nature of his offense. To
support his claim that the sentence is inappropriate, he relies upon his view
that the offense was unlikely to recur because of the unusual circumstances out
of which it arose. As stated above, the court was not required
to regard this as a proper mitigating circumstance in this case.
Fitzgerald also relies upon the fact that at the time he was sentenced,
he was a forty-one year old man with no criminal record. Additionally,
he requests that we apply minimal weight to the aggravating circumstance that he
violated a no contact order by visiting A.V. and his child while out
on bail.
A sentence which is authorized by statute will not be revised unless it
is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character
of the offender. Kien v. State, 782 N.E.2d 398, 416 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2003), trans. denied. When considering the appropriateness of the sentence, courts
should initially focus upon the presumptive sentence. Id. Trial courts may
then consider deviating from the presumptive sentence based upon a balancing of the
factors which must be considered pursuant to I.C. § 35-38-1-7.1(a) together with any
discretionary aggravating and mitigating factors to be found. Id.
In this case, the trial court sentenced Fitzgerald to the presumptive term established
by our legislature. After reviewing the relevant aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the
trial court concluded that the presumptive sentence was appropriate. We agree.
It is true that Fitzgeralds lack of criminal history is due considerable mitigating
weight. See Cloum v. State, 779 N.E.2d 84, 91 (Ind. Ct. App.
2002) (stating that age is highly relevant in determining weight to be given
to lack of criminal history). However, there were at least three valid
aggravating factors to be balanced against Fitzgeralds lack of criminal history and and
his service as a firefighter. Given that fact, and that Fitzgeralds character
shows a disregard for the law by his long continuance of a
sexual relationship which he knew was illegal and violating a no contact order
when released on bail, we cannot conclude that a sentence equal to the
presumptive is inappropriate.
III
Conditions of Probation
Fitzgerald also challenges several conditions which were imposed for his probation. Specifically,
he challenges the following provision from the Order of Probation, You shall waive
your right against unreasonable searches by the Probation Officer or anyone acting on
behalf of the Probation Officer for the purpose of insuring compliance with your
conditions of probation. Appendix at 156 (emphasis supplied). Fitzgerald asserts that
he cannot constitutionally be compelled to waive his right against unreasonable searches.
A trial court has broad discretion to impose conditions of probation which will
aid in the furtherance of the goals of assuring that the probation serves
as a period of genuine rehabilitation and that the community is not harmed
by a probationer being at large. Carswell v. State, 721 N.E.2d 1255,
1258 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999). These conditions may impinge upon the probationers
exercise of an otherwise constitutionally protected right. Purdy v. State, 708 N.E.2d
20, 22 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999). However, probationers are entitled to some
limited protection of their privacy interests. Id. at 23. A probationers
home is protected by the Fourth Amendments requirement that a search be reasonable.
Griffin v. Wisconsin, 483 U.S. 868, 873 (1987); Carswell, 721 N.E.2d at
1260; Purdy, 708 N.E.2d at 23. Similarly, our state constitutional analysis is
based upon the reasonableness of the official behavior in conducting a warrantless search.
Purdy, 708 N.E.2d at 23. When a defendant contends that a
probation condition is unduly intrusive on a constitutional right, the following factors must
be balanced: (1) the purpose sought to be served by probation; (2) the
extent to which constitutional rights enjoyed by law abiding citizens should be afforded
to probationers; and (3) the legitimate needs of law enforcement. Carswell, 721
N.E.2d at 1258. Moreover, to determine the validity of a search condition,
the court must establish whether the condition as written is so broad as
to be facially invalid. Bonner v. State, 776 N.E.2d 1244, 1247 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied. If the condition is not facially invalid,
then we must determine whether the imposition of the search condition is reasonably
related to the defendants rehabilitation and the protection of the public. Id.
at 1247-48.
To support his argument that the condition is overbroad, Fitzgerald relies upon
several cases in which this court and the United States Supreme Court have
conclusively stated that the search of a probationers home must be conducted in
compliance with the reasonableness requirement of the Fourth Amendment. The difference between
the probation condition in those cases and the probation condition at issue here
is that the present condition would have Fitzgerald waive his right to unreasonable
searches, whereas the probation conditions in those other cases made no mention of
whether the searches must be reasonable or unreasonable. In each case, the
court held that a reasonableness requirement was inherently included within the provision, even
though not explicitly contained. See, e.g., Carswell, 721 N.E.2d at 1262.
In essence, the State has asked that we apply similar logic to the
provision at issue in this case and determine that the condition survives because
reasonableness is inherent in the test of the probation condition. Appellees Brief
at 11. To support this argument, the State relies upon the language
in the provision which states that a search may be conducted by the
Probation Officer or anyone acting on behalf of the Probation Office for the
purpose of insuring compliance with your conditions of probation. App. at 156.
In effect, the State is asserting that any search conducted by a
Probation Department for purposes of probation compliance is automatically cloaked with reasonableness.
Such is not the case.
We hold that at a minimum, there must be a reasonable suspicion that
the conditions of probation are being violated in order for a probation search
to be reasonable. In this regard, a general or routine sweep for
probation compliance checks, as was the case in Bonner and in Purdy, supra,
will not suffice.
As a result, we cannot conclude, as we did in Bonner, Carswell, and
Purdy, that the provision is valid due to the inherent reasonableness requirement.
Rather, this provision is invalid because it explicitly attempts to allow Probation Officers
to perform unreasonable searches, even though it has repeatedly been stated that probationers
enjoy a constitutionally protected right against such. Consequently, the trial court is
ordered to revise the probation condition to reflect that any such search must
be reasonable in light of this discussion.
From the Special Probation Conditions for Adult Sex Offenders, Fitzgerald asserts error in
the following provisions:
5. You shall not possess or view any pornographic or sexually explicit materials,
including but not limited to: videos, television programs, DVDs, CDs, magazines, books, Internet
web sites, games, sexual devices or aids, or any material which depicts partial
or complete nudity or sexually explicit language or any other materials related to
illegal or deviant interests or behaviors . . . .
* * *
14. You shall not be present at parks, schools, playgrounds, day care,
or _____________ (other specific locations where children are known to congregate in your
community). App. at 157-59.
In challenging condition 5, Fitzgerald argues that the terms pornographic or sexually explicit
materials and deviant interests or behaviors are unconstitutionally vague. In doing so
he presupposes that a violation of the condition does not occur unless the
possession or viewing of pornographic or sexually explicit materials or any material depicting
partial or complete nudity or sexually explicit language is related to illegal or
deviant interests or behaviors. We will consider Fitzgeralds contention in this context.
See footnote
To support his claim, he relies upon this courts decision in
Smith v.
State, 779 N.E.2d 111 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied. In Smith,
this court determined that the probation condition restricting possession of pornographic or sexually
explicit materials was unreasonably vague. Id. at 118. In reaching that
conclusion, this court noted that a probationer has a due process right to
conditions of supervised release that are sufficiently clear to inform him of what
conduct will result in his being returned to prison. To resolve the
vagueness problem with the condition, this court remanded with instructions that the trial
court set out the prohibitions against pornographic or sexually explicit materials more specifically.
Id.
In this case, the conditions of probation were not as patently overbroad as
in Smith. The prohibition in Smith was against possession or viewing of any
pornographic or sexually explicit material. Here, the prohibition was noted to include
such things as videos, magazines, or any material which depicts partial or complete
nudity or sexually explicit language. By including the restriction prohibiting the possession
or viewing of any material which depicts partial or complete nudity, or
sexually explicit language, the State argues that it is clear what types of
materials are restricted.
See footnote We disagree.
The purported specificity in this case, if less inclusive at all than the
blanket prohibition against pornographic or sexually explicit materials, is only slightly so. See footnote
We hold that the attempt at specificity does not save the probation
condition from the attack as overbroad. In this regard we allude to
the remand observations made by the court in
Smith. For example, the
prohibition may validly forbid possession of child pornography and obscene matter. 779
N.E.2d at 118.
With reference to the phrase deviant interests or behaviors, we have not held
that it is a safe harbour from being successfully attacked as unconstitutionally vague.
There is nothing included in the condition which indicates what is meant
by the phrase deviant interests or behaviors. Furthermore, the noun deviance is
defined as the quality or state of departing from established norms, esp. in
social customs. Blacks Law Dictionary 462 (7th ed. 1999). We conclude
that more specificity is required to inform Fitzgerald what is considered appropriate social
norms and what may be considered a deviation from those norms.
See footnote Therefore,
we remand to the trial court with instructions to set out any prohibition
against materials related to deviant interests and behaviors with more specificity.
Finally, Fitzgerald contends that the condition prohibiting him from being present at parks
and schools goes beyond what is reasonably necessary to protect the public or
rehabilitate him. He asserts that there is no evidence which indicates that
he ever went to a park or school to seek a sexual encounter
and further, that it is not clear if the prohibition applies to all
parks and schools, or only those where children are known to congregate.
Sexual predators prey upon those to whom they have access.
See Carswell,
721 N.E.2d at 1259 (noting that child molesters molest children to whom they
have access). Conditions of probation which reduce the potential for access to
potential victims are reasonable. Id. Fitzgerald became sexually involved with a
fourteen-year-old girl to whom he had access. She hung out at both
the fire station and garage where he worked. She accompanied her father
when he would go out to dinner with Fitzgerald. Restricting Fitzgeralds access
to locations where other potential victims are present will further his rehabilitation and
also protect those whom he may harm.
See footnote
We turn now to Fitzgeralds question about whether the prohibition on his presence
at parks and schools applies to all locations or just those where children
are known to congregate. This argument is related to his final contention,
that the condition is void for vagueness because it fails to provide any
ascertainable standard for him to know where he may be permitted to go.
As stated above, the condition is that Fitzgerald shall not be present at
parks, schools, playgrounds, day care centers, or ___________ (other specific locations where
children are known to congregate in your community). App. at 159.
This condition was part of a generic form in which the trial court
marked the conditions of probation that would apply to Fitzgerald. As noted
by the blank line in the condition, the form had some additional spaces
where the trial court could write in additional conditions or expand certain restrictions.
Here, the trial court made no additional restrictions or notations on the
form. Accordingly, there are no such additional restrictions as conditions.
As argued by Fitzgerald, this court has determined that phrases similar to other
specific locations where children are known to congregate in your community have been
found to be unconstitutionally vague. In
Carswell, this court determined that the
use of the phrase area where children congregate did not provide the defendant
with a predictable standard for identifying forbidden places. 721 N.E.2d at 1260.
However, in that case there appears to have been no mention of
the specific types of places, such as schoolyards and playgrounds, in the conditions
of probation and this court remanded for the trial court to reconsider the
condition in light of the discussion. Id. That same concern is
not present here as the condition specifically restricts Fitzgerald from certain types of
locations.
Nonetheless, that does not settle the dilemma of whether the phrase limiting access
to specific locations where children are known to congregate applies to the entire
condition. The phrase, as written, is not a separate restriction upon going
to specific places where children are known to congregate. It only guides
the trial court in adding additional specific locations to which Fitzgerald may not
go.
Be that as it may, one may rely upon common sense to conclude
that the phrase implicitly applies to all the conditions because children are known
to congregate at parks, schools, playgrounds, and day care centers. For the
most part this is true. However, it is quite possible and likely
that children and teenagers do not congregate at all parks.
See footnote Given that
the condition does not specifically include a restriction on any location where children
are known to congregate, and that the restriction may be read to prohibit
Fitzgerald from every park, even those where children do not congregate, we remand
to the trial court to reconsider and clarify this condition, especially the use
of the parenthetical notation.
Conclusion
Based upon the foregoing, we conclude that the trial court erred in considering
as an aggravating circumstance that Fitzgeralds actions may have impeded A.V.s ability to
pursue the goals and opportunities which young women may pursue because it was
not supported by the evidence. However, because Fitzgerald received a sentence equal
to the presumptive with three years suspended and there were several aggravating factors
to balance against the mitigating factors, we cannot conclude that the sentence was
inappropriate. Because of errors present in several of the conditions of probation
assigned to Fitzgerald, we remand to the trial court to review and revise
those conditions as necessary.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed in part and reversed in
part and remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this decision.
ROBB, J., concurs.
HOFFMAN, Sr.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part with opinion.
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
PATRICK L. FITZGERALD, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 28A01-0306-CR-199
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
)
HOFFMAN, Senior Judge, concurring in result in part and dissenting in part
I concur with the majoritys conclusion that the trial courts imposition of the
presumptive sentence was appropriate. I further concur with the result reached by
the majority as it pertains to the trial courts consideration and balancing of
aggravating and mitigating circumstances. I do not agree, however, that the trial
court erred in determining that the limitation on the victims future is a
valid aggravator. The trial court could have utilized its discretion to determine
that the victim did not understand the impact that Fitzgeralds behavior was going
to have upon her future. A trial court should be able to
use its discretion to evaluate this impact from the viewpoint of a mature
individual.
I respectfully dissent to the majoritys interpretation of Griffin v. Wisconsin, 483 U.S.
868, 107 S.Ct. 3164 (1987). In Griffin, where the United States Supreme
Court emphasized that searches of a probationers home must be made on reasonable
grounds, it was doing so in reference to the use of the confiscated
evidence in the subsequent conviction of the parolee on a separate criminal charge.
I do not believe that Griffin applies in this case where the
search condition is designed to insure compliance with conditions of probation, not to
serve as the vehicle by which a separate criminal charge will be made.
In order to avail himself of the privilege of serving his time on
probation rather than in prison, a probationer agrees to waive a number of
rights that a law-abiding citizen may enjoy. For example, when a probationer
agrees to be subjected to random blood tests, he is waiving a privacy
right. The waiver of the right to be free from unreasonable searches
is no more onerous than the aforementioned waiver. I believe that the
majority is unreasonably tying the hands of the trial court and the probation
department as they attempt to administer the important sentencing alternative of probation.
I also respectfully dissent to the majoritys determination that probation provision #5 is
overbroad. The provision gives Fitzgerald guidance pertaining to the type of media
that might depict the prohibited pornographic or sexually explicit content, including material which
depicts partial and complete nudity or sexually explicit language or any other materials
related to illegal or deviant interests or behaviors. . . . The
goal of this provision is to prevent Fitzgerald from becoming so sexually aroused
that he will repeat the deviate behaviors he engaged in with the victim.
With this in mind, it is clear to me that the materials
prohibited because they depict partial and complete nudity are not the Indianapolis Star,
swimsuit or underwear advertisements, or the Sears catalog, but are materials that are
intended to titillate and arouse by revealing those portions of a females body
that are normally covered. In addition, I believe that the phrase illegal
or deviant interests or behaviors is not overbroad. These interests and behaviors
are defined in Indiana statutes and are understood by any reasonable person.
I further respectfully dissent to the majoritys conclusion that probation provision #14 is
overbroad. The provision states that Fitzgerald may not be present at parks,
schools, playgrounds, or day care centers and then provides a blank for the
inclusion of other specific locations where children are known to congregate in
your community. (emphasis supplied). For the blank to include other specific
locations where children are known to congregate in your community, there must have
already been such locations listed. These locations where children are known to
congregate are the aforementioned parks, schools, playgrounds, and day care centers. The
provision is not overbroad.
The majority notes that Fitzgerald has suggested that state parks may be parks
where children are not known to congregate. In lieu of living in
confinement provided by a prison, Fitzgerald will be allowed at some point to
live in society. In living outside the confines of the prison,
Fitzgerald will have to exercise some caution. I do not believe that
the State is required to conduct a statewide survey of parks to assist
Fitzgerald in his newfound freedom.
I would affirm the trial court in all respects.
Footnote:
Ind. Code § 35-42-4-9 (Burns Code Ed. Supp. 2003).
Footnote: A.V.s parents were divorced. Before she moved into her fathers home
during the summer of 2000, she had lived with her mother. After
moving in with her father, A.V. saw Fitzgerald on a more frequent basis,
[a]bout every other day. Transcript at 154.
Footnote: Fitzgerald lived just a few blocks from A.V.s home, and she would
stop by his home on her way to school.
Footnote: We presume that A.V. was referring to Vincennes University which is in
the county adjoining Greene County.
Footnote: In response to the question of whether Fitzgerald would admit that the
relationship was wrong, Fitzgerald stated, It might have been a mistake. I
know I shouldnt have done it, but I didnt mean to fall in
love with her. Tr. at 228. Later, during cross-examination, Fitzgerald testified,
And if falling in love with somebody and loving somebody is a crime
then I guess Im guilty, but I cant change that. Tr. at
243. These statements accurately characterize the statements made by Fitzgerald about his
relationship with A.V. and his regard for the law, or lack thereof.
Footnote: Fitzgerald directs our attention to the fact that A.V. is no longer
a minor for purpose of the sexual misconduct statute. Therefore, he correctly
notes that he could not commit the crime again with her. Further,
he alleges that there is no indication that he would engage in such
activity with other minors. While it is true that there has been
no other incidents involving other minors of which the trial court was aware,
the trial court evidently was concerned that it could occur again because Fitzgerald
admittedly had no control over himself during the relationship. Were the factual
circumstances to present themselves in a new setting, we cannot say that as
a matter of law the trial courts concern was totally without justification.
Footnote: An alternative reading of the probation condition could result in conduct prohibitions
even more sweeping than the prohibition contemplated by Fitzgerald. The words related
to illegal or deviant interests or behaviors could reasonably be read to refer
only to possession of material which depicts partial or complete nudity or sexually
explicit language and not to possession of pornographic or sexually explicit materials.
That such construction could be deemed not unreasonable derives from the use of
the disjunctive or between the prohibition covering pornographic or sexually explicit materials and
the prohibition against any material which depicts partial or complete nudity or sexually
explicit language. However, as stated, we consider the interpretation placed upon the
probation condition by Fitzgeralds argument.
Footnote: In his reply brief, Fitzgerald asserts, with a degree of merit, that
the condition is overbroad because it is not narrowly tailored to the goals
of protecting the public and promoting his rehabilitation, it encompasses newspapers and magazines
which advertise swimwear or underwear, and it includes materials which do not fall
within the definition of obscene matter.
Footnote: In one regard the purported specificity is even more inclusive than the
generalized terms pornographic or sexually explicit material. Material depicting partial nudity may
be a far cry from being pornographic or sexually explicit.
Footnote: Article 49 of Title 35 of the Indiana Code (Burns Code Ed.
Supp. 2003) provides definitions related to obscenity and pornography. It does not
define deviant interests or behaviors.
Footnote: We are not persuaded by Fitzgeralds argument that there is a difference
between his contact with A.V. at the garage, fire station, and his home
and the lack of contact with her at parks or her school.
In placing this condition upon Fitzgerald, the focus is upon the fact that
individuals similar to A.V. will be there, not that he has previously committed
a crime at those particular types of places.
Footnote: In his brief, Fitzgerald offers state parks as an example.