FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
JOHN PINNOW STEVE CARTER
Special Assistant to the Attorney General of Indiana
State Public Defender
Greenwood, Indiana CHRISTOPHER C.T. STEPHEN
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
JEFFREY J. ATKINSON, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 24A01-0402-CR-49
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT
The Honorable J. Steven Cox, Judge
Cause No. 24C01-0306-CM-300
July 2, 2004
OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
BAKER, Judge
Appellant-defendant Jeffrey J. Atkinson appeals his convictions for Resisting Law Enforcement,
See footnote a class
A misdemeanor, and Possession of Paraphernalia,See footnote a class A misdemeanor. Specifically, Atkinson
maintains that the convictions cannot stand because the record is silent as to
whether he waived his right to be represented by counsel at the trial.
In the alternative, he argues that the evidence was insufficient to support
either conviction.
Concluding that the record does not support a conclusion
that Atkinson waived his right to be represented by counsel at trial, we
are compelled to reverse and remand. Additionally, in reviewing the evidence presented
at trial, we further conclude that Atkinson may not be retried on either
offense because the evidence failed to show that he committed the offenses that
the State had actually charged. Thus, we reverse the judgment of the trial
court and order that Atkinson be discharged.
FACTS
On May 30, 2003, the Indiana State Police received a telephone call from
Nioka Rowe in Franklin County that implicated Atkinson in the theft of a
golf cart. Upon checking Atkinsons criminal history, the police officers became aware
that he was wanted on two felony warrants in Ohio. At some
point, the officers stopped a van, and one of the occupants stated that
Atkinson fled from the vehicle on foot when the police had begun to
follow them. While a search for Atkinson was initiated, it was eventually abandoned
when the police were unable to locate him.
Later that afternoon, an individual contacted the Franklin County Sheriffs Department and reported
that Atkinson was in a Buick automobile and was getting ready to leave.
Upon receiving a description of the vehicle, the Buick was stopped and
a search of the trunk revealed that Atkinson was hiding inside. Atkinson admitted
his identity along with his knowledge of the outstanding warrants. When Trooper
Gill was searching Atkinson, he found a package of cigarette rolling papers in
one of Atkinsons pockets. Atkinson then admitted to Trooper Gill that he
used the papers to smoke a little marijuana. Tr. p. 7.
As a result of the incident, Atkinson was charged with the above offenses.
With regard to the resisting law enforcement charge, the State alleged that
Atkinson:
unlawfully, knowingly, or intentionally forcibly resist[ed], obstruct[ed], or interfere[d] with the authorized service
or execution of a civil or criminal process or order of a court,
to wit: fled and hid from Indiana law enforcement officers who were
attempting to serve two outstanding felony warrants from Butler County, Ohio.
Appellants App. p. 5 (emphasis added).
Additionally, the charging information as to the possession of paraphernalia offense provided as
follows:
Atkinson did on or about May 30, 2003, at said County of Franklin
and State of Indiana, did then and there unlawfully, knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly
possess a raw material, instrument, device, or other object that is to be
used primarily for testing the strength, effectiveness, or purity [of] a controlled substance.
Appellants App. p. 6 (emphasis added).
At the initial hearing conducted on June 6, 2003, Atkinson told the court
that he desired to plead guilty. However, the State responded that it
was not prepared to offer a plea agreement at that time. Thus,
a preliminary plea of not guilty was entered on Atkinsons behalf.
Counsel was not appointed for Atkinson, and a bench trial commenced on December
17, 2003, at which time he proceeded pro se. The trial court
did not discuss with Atkinson the right to counsel and whether he desired
to waive that right. During the course of the trial, Atkinson attempted
to cross-examine the States sole witness, and he did not call any witnesses
of his own. Atkinson also admitted to the trial court that he
did not have time to prepare for trial. In the end, Atkinson
was found guilty as charged, and he now appeals.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Waiver of Right to Counsel
In addressing Atkinsons argument that his convictions must be reversed because he did
not waive his right to be represented by counsel, we initially observe that
a criminal defendant is guaranteed the right to representation by counsel by the
United States and Indiana constitutions. U.S. Const. Amend. VI, XIV; Ind. Const.
Art. I § 13. The right to counsel can only be relinquished
by a knowing, voluntary and intelligent waiver of the right. Dowell v.
State, 557 N.E.2d 1063, 1065-66 (Ind. Ct. App. 1990), trans. denied. Additionally,
a defendant who asserts his right to self-representation should be warned of the
dangers and pitfalls of self-representation. Poynter v. State, 749 N.E.2d 1122, 1127
(Ind. 2001). The record must establish that the defendant was made aware
of the nature, extent and importance of the right to counsel and the
consequences of waiving that right. Von Donk v. State, 676 N.E.2d 349,
351 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997).
In this case, Atkinson argues, and the State concedes, that he was not
given the proper warnings with respect to waiving his right to counsel.
While Atkinson was questioned about waiving his rights, the trial court only specifically
enumerated his right to cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and have witnesses subpoenaed.
Although Atkinson may have waived these particular rights, there was no indication that
the right to counsel was included in this waiver. Moreover, the record
is devoid of any advisement or discussion by the trial court regarding the
pitfalls of self-representation. Tr. p. 11. As a result, we must
conclude that Atkinson did not waive his right to counsel. Therefore, his
convictions may not stand.
II. Sufficiency of the Evidence
A. Standard of Review
Although we reverse, our discussion of this case must continue, inasmuch as Atkinson
further contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions, an issue
that must be resolved in order to determine whether he can be retried.
Where the evidence presented at trial is insufficient as a matter of
law to sustain the conviction, the defendant may not be retried on those
charges. Carpenter v. State, 786 N.E.2d 696, 705 (Ind. 2003).
In addressing Atkinsons challenges, we note that this court examines the evidence most
favorable to the judgment and all of the reasonable inferences to be drawn
therefrom. Winn v. State, 748 N.E.2d 352, 357 (Ind. 2001). We
will not reweigh the evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses. Id.
Rather, this court determines whether there was substantial evidence of probative value
supporting each element of the offense from which a reasonable factfinder could have
found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Fry v. State, 748
N.E.2d 369, 373 (Ind. 2001). Evidence is insufficient to convict only when
no rational factfinder could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bradford v. State, 675 N.E.2d 296, 298 (Ind. 1996).
B. Resisting Charge
Atkinson contends that the evidence failed to establish that he committed this offense.
Specifically, Atkinson argues that the conviction must be set aside because the
evidence failed to establish that Atkinson forcibly resisted law enforcement officers as was
charged in the information.
Indiana Code section 35-44-3-3(a)(2), the statute under which Atkinson was charged, provides that
a person who knowingly or intentionally: forcibly resists, obstructs, or interferes with the
authorized service or execution of a civil or criminal process or order of
a court . . . commits resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor.
In construing this statute our supreme court has observed that an individual
forcibly resists law enforcement when strong, powerful, violent means are used to evade
a law enforcement officials rightful exercise of his or her duties. . .
. It seems clear that the legislature intended the word force to
mean something more than mere action. Spangler v. State, 607 N.E.2d
720, 724-25 (Ind. 1993). In Spangler, it was determined that there was
no evidence establishing that the defendant committed any forcible action within the meaning
of the statute when he refused to accept service of process from a
sheriffs deputy and simply walked away from the scene. Id. at 724.
Thus, Spanglers conviction for this offense was reversed. Id. at 725.
See also Ajabu v. State, 704 N.E.2d 494, 496 (Ind. Ct. App.
1998) (concluding that where the defendant refused a police officers order to release
a flag and twisted and turned as he held onto the flag but
did not make threatening or violent actions toward the officer, the evidence was
insufficient to support the conviction for forcibly resisting law enforcement).
In this case, Atkinson acknowledged to the officers at the time of
his arrest that he had an outstanding warrant from Ohio. The evidence
showed that he fled from the officers and hid in the woods for
most of the day in order to avoid capture. Tr. p. 5.
Atkinson also fled the area when he saw Trooper Gill and was
also found hiding inside the trunk of a vehicle after it had been
stopped by the police officers. Tr. p. 7-8.
Under these circumstances, it is apparent to us that the record fails
to disclose any evidence from which a reasonable trier of fact could conclude
beyond a reasonable doubt that Atkinson acted forcibly, as defined by our supreme
court in Spangler. The evidence merely demonstrated that Atkinson resisted by running
into the woods and secreting himself in the trunk of a vehicle.
To be sure, the record does not reveal any evidence that Atkinson made
any threatening or violent actions toward the police. That said, the facts
presented at trial were insufficient to establish Atkinsons guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
with respect to the resisting law enforcement charge. As a result, because
the evidence was insufficient, Atkinson cannot be retried on this charge.
See footnote
See Carpenter, 786 N.E.2d at 705.
C. Possession of Paraphernalia
Atkinson also challenges the sufficiency of the
evidence with regard to this offense. In particular, Atkinson claims that the
evidence was insufficient to show that he intended to use the cigarette rolling
papers to test the strength, effectiveness or purity of a controlled substance, as
the State had alleged in the charging information. Appellants Br. p. 8.
To establish that a defendant is guilty of this offense, the State must
demonstrate the following in accordance with Indiana Code section 35-48-4-8.3(c):
(c) A person who recklessly possesses a raw material, an instrument, a device,
or other object that is to be used primarily for:
introducing into the persons body a controlled substance;
testing the strength, effectiveness, or purity of a controlled substance; or
enhancing the effect of a controlled substance; in violation of this chapter commits
reckless possession of paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor.
(Emphasis added).
In this case, Atkinson asserts that the State erroneously charged him under subsection
two of the statute and further contends that there was no evidence presented
as to how the cigarette rolling papers that were found in his pockets
could be used to test the strength, effectiveness or purity of marijuana.
In considering this argument, it is apparent that the State may, indeed, have
proved the offense under subsection one of the statute in light of Atkinsons
admission that he used the papers to smoke marijuana, yet it failed to
prove the offense that was actually charged. To be sure, our review
of the record reveals that there was no evidence establishing that Atkinson possessed
the cigarette papers to test the strength or effectiveness of the drug.
By way of analogy, in Harrison v. State, the evidence showed that the
police seized a pipe with residue in it, along with cigarette wrapping papers
and two scales from the defendant. 469 N.E.2d 22, 25 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1984). On appeal, we noted that although the State had the
beginnings of a charge under the section of the statute regarding the possession
of paraphernalia used to introduce a controlled substance into the body, it actually
charged the defendant with possession as enhancing the effect of a controlled substance
under another subsection of the statute. Id. As a result, we
reversed the defendants conviction because the State failed to produce any evidence on
the element of enhancement that was charged under that particular section of the
statute. Id. at 26-27.
We note that just as in Harrison, the State had the beginnings of
a possession offense under subsection (c)(1) of the statute when Trooper Gill seized
the rolling papers from Atkinson, who then admitted that he used them to
smoke marijuana, i.e., introducing the substance into his body. However, because Atkinson
was actually charged under subsection (c)(2) of the statute and the State presented
no evidence as to how Atkinson could use the rolling papers to test
the strength, effectiveness, or purity of the marijuana, we must conclude that Atkinsons
conviction for this offense may not stand. Therefore, Atkinson may not be
retried for possession of paraphernalia as well as the resisting law enforcement charge,
and he must be discharged.
Reversed and remanded with instructions that Atkinson be discharged.
FRIEDLANDER, J., and BAILEY, J., concur.
Footnote:
Ind. Code 35-44-3-3.
Footnote: Ind. Code § 35-48-4-8.3(c).
Footnote: While we conclude that the evidence was insufficient to support
the conviction pursuant to Indiana Code section 35-44-3-3(a)(2), the section of the statute
under which Atkinson was charged, we note that the State may very well
have presented sufficient evidence to convict Atkinson under subsection (a)(3) of the statute
which provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally . . . flees
from a law enforcement officer after the officer has, by visible or audible
means, identified himself and order the person to stop . . . commits
resisting law enforcement.. . . However, the State did not charge Atkinson
under this subsection.