FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
KATHERINE C. LIELL STEVE CARTER
STACY R. ULIANA Attorney General of Indiana
Liell & McNeil Indianapolis, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
CYNTHIA L. PLOUGHE
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
JASON TRAYLOR, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 63A04-0309-CR-466
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE PIKE CIRCUIT COURT
The Honorable Lee F. Baker, Judge
Cause No. 63C01-0303-FA-00117
November 10, 2004
OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
ROBB, Judge
Jason Traylor was found guilty by a jury and convicted of dealing (manufacturing)
in methamphetamine over three grams, a Class A felony, possession of methamphetamine over
three grams, a Class C felony, and visiting a common nuisance, a Class
B misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced him to forty years for the
Class A felony conviction, six years for the Class C felony conviction, and
180 days for the Class B misdemeanor, sentences to be served concurrently.
Traylor appeals his convictions and sentences. We affirm in part and remand.
Issues
Traylor raises six issues for our review, which we expand and restate as
the following:
1. Whether the trial court properly admitted evidence of the items found on the
Erlingers property;
2. Whether Traylor was denied his right to present a defense;
3. Whether the State presented sufficient evidence to support Traylors convictions;
4. Whether the trial court properly sentenced Traylor ;
5. Whether the trial court properly imposed a drug fee against Traylor;
6. Whether the trial court properly applied Traylors bond to satisfy his fines, costs,
and fees imposed; and
7. Whether the trial court properly revoked Traylors bond.
Facts and Procedural History
In the early morning of March 2, 2003, Pike County Sheriffs Deputy Brad
Jenkins received an anonymous tip concerning a strong odor of ether near Camps
curve in Velpen, Indiana. Deputy Jenkins drove to the area and noticed
a strong odor of ether and a slight odor of anhydrous ammonia coming
from the direction of a mobile home owned by Paul and Ginnie Erlinger.
Based on his training and experience, Deputy Jenkins knew that ether and
anhydrous ammonia are two chemicals commonly used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
Deputy Jenkins called for assistance. Indiana State Police Troopers Bill Gadberry, Tim
Weisenberger, and Matt Haywood, along with Petersburg Police Department Sergeant Chad McClellan, responded
to Deputy Jenkinss call for assistance. Once they arrived, Deputy Jenkins and
Trooper Gadberry approached the front door of the Erlingers residence, and the other
officers proceeded to the back door of the residence. As they were
doing so, Ginnie Erlinger came to the front door and asked who was
there. As Trooper Gadberry identified himself, one of the officers at the
back door of the residence advised Deputy Jenkins that he saw an HCl
generator
See footnote
sitting on a gas grill by the back door.
Deputy Jenkins proceeded to the back door of the mobile home and saw
the HCl generator. He also detected an odor of anhydrous ammonia coming
from an outbuilding behind the mobile home. The officers arrested everyone present
at the residence that evening, which included Traylor, Ginnie and Paul Erlinger, and
Crystal Freeman. The officers subsequently obtained a search warrant for the Erlingers
property.
The State charged Traylor with dealing (manufacturing) in methamphetamine over three grams, possession
of methamphetamine over three grams, possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture
methamphetamine, possession of two or more chemical agents or precursors with the intent
to manufacture methamphetamine, illegal storage of anhydrous ammonia, and visiting a common nuisance.
Traylor moved to suppress all evidence against him, alleging that the search
was unconstitutional under both the Federal and Indiana Constitutions. After a hearing,
the trial court denied Traylors motion.
Traylor was subsequently found guilty by a jury and convicted of dealing (manufacturing)
in methamphetamine over three grams as a Class A felony, possession of methamphetamine
over three grams as a Class C felony, and visiting a common nuisance
as a Class B misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced him to forty
years for the Class A felony conviction, six years for the Class C
felony conviction, and 180 days for the Class B misdemeanor conviction, all sentences
to be served concurrently. Additionally, the trial court imposed a $10,000 fine
and required Traylor to pay a $1,000 drug fee. This appeal ensued.
Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
Discussion and Decision
I. Admission of Evidence
Traylor initially contends the trial court erred in admitting all evidence against him
because the officers warrantless entry into the Erlingers backyard and residence violated both
the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 11
of the Indiana Constitution. We disagree.
A. Standard of Review
The admission or exclusion of evidence is a matter within the trial courts
discretion, and we will reverse only upon an abuse of that discretion.
Greenboam v. State, 766 N.E.2d 1247, 1250 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied.
An abuse of that discretion occurs if a trial courts decision is
clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before the
court. Joyner v. State, 678 N.E.2d 386, 390 (Ind. 1997).
B. Warrantless Entry
In analyzing this issue under the Fourth Amendment, we look to whether a
person has a constitutionally-protected reasonable expectation of privacy. Bennett v. State, 787
N.E.2d 938, 944 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), trans. denied (quoting Shultz v. State,
742 N.E.2d 961, 964 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001), trans. denied). When police
officers come onto private property to conduct an investigation or for some other
legitimate purpose, and they restrict their movements to places visitors could be expected
to go, such as walkways, driveways, or porches, observations made from such vantage
points are not protected under the Fourth Amendment. Id.
Despite the fact that the text of Article I, Section 11 is nearly
identical to the Fourth Amendment, Indiana courts interpret and apply it independently from
Fourth Amendment jurisprudence. Winebrenner v. State, 790 N.E.2d 1037, 1041 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2003). In deciding whether a warrantless search and seizure violates Article
I, Section 11, we must determine whether, under the totality of the circumstances,
the warrantless search was reasonable. Scott v. State, 775 N.E.2d 1207, 1211
(Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied.
In VanWinkle v. State, 764 N.E.2d 258 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied,
an officer received three phone calls reporting a strong odor of ether emanating
from a residents mobile home. On the day of the third call,
another officer investigated the report by driving by the residents mobile home.
At that time, the officer noticed a strong odor of ether emanating from
the mobile home. The officer suspected the resident was manufacturing methamphetamine inside
the mobile home and contacted other officers to assist him in his investigation.
Concerned about safety (due to the volatile chemicals used in the manufacturing
of methamphetamine) and the potential destruction of evidence (since methamphetamine labs can be
moved relatively quickly), officers decided to perform a knock and talk procedure.
Two officers approached the front door of the mobile home and three officers
went to the rear door of the residence. The rear door consisted
of a rough, wood-framed windbreak and entry area that was built onto the
mobile home. Id. at 260-61.
On the front porch, officers observed a propane tank with an altered valve,
which they believed contained anhydrous ammonia. They knocked on the front door
and identified themselves. At that time, the resident attempted to run out
the rear door of the trailer, but he was stopped and handcuffed by
the officers at the rear door. While handcuffing the resident, an officer
observed through the open rear door a jar with a liquid substance in
it. After determining that other individuals were in the residence, officers entered
to conduct a protective sweep. They eventually obtained a search warrant and
searched the mobile home. Id. at 261-63.
The resident moved to suppress all evidence against him, alleging that the entry
onto his property violated the Fourth Amendment and Indiana Constitution Article I, Section
11. We disagreed and upheld the officers entry onto his property under
both the Fourth Amendment and Article I, Section 11 because the officers were
there for a legitimate reason: to conduct an investigation. Id. at
264. Additionally, the officers, in approaching the residences front and rear doors,
stayed in places where visitors to the mobile home would be expected to
go. Id.
The facts in the case at hand are identical to the facts in
VanWinkle. Deputy Jenkins received from dispatch a report by an anonymous caller
of a strong odor of ether in the vicinity of the Erlingers mobile
home. After driving by the area and noticing not only a strong
odor of ether but also a slight odor of anhydrous ammonia, Deputy Jenkins
called for assistance and waited for other officers to arrive. Deputy Jenkins
and the other officers decided to perform a knock and talk procedure due
to their concern for others safety and for the potential destruction of evidence.
The officers approached both the front and rear doors of the residence.
While at the rear door, officers observed in open view the HCl
generator. At that point, the officers arrested everyone at the Erlingers residence
and obtained a search warrant.
Similar to the officers in VanWinkle, the officers in this case entered onto
the Erlingers property for a legitimate reason: to conduct an investigation of
the odor of ether and anhydrous ammonia emanating from their residence. In
approaching the mobile homes front and rear doors, the officers stayed in places
where visitors would be expected to go. Therefore, the officers entry onto
the Erlingers property and subsequent search and seizure of items found on the
property did not violate either the Fourth Amendment or Article I, Section 11.
See footnote
II. Right to Present Defense
At trial, the State called Ginnie Erlinger as a witness to testify about
her husband, Paul, and Traylors methamphetamine manufacturing partnership. During cross-examination, the following
colloquy occurred:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And, as [the State] brought out, you had charges brought against you
in this matter, is that correct?
[GINNIE]: Yes.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And they were the same charges as brought against Mr. Traylor, is
that correct?
[GINNIE]: Yes.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Except, I believe, you were charged, one difference was you were charged
with maintaining a common nuisance?
[GINNIE]: Correct.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Instead of visiting, is that correct?
[GINNIE]: Yes.
* * *
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And uh, whats happened to the Class A felony charge against you?
[GINNIE]: I think it was dropped, like at my first hearing that I had.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay. State dropped that one?
[GINNIE]: Right.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Did you receive any promises at all from the State for your
testimony in this case?
[GINNIE]: No I didnt.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Did you, did you or your husband, did your husband in your
presence, receive any offers from the State to testify?
[STATE]: Your Honor, Im going to object. I mean he can get into
thatwith Mr. Erlinger.
[TRIAL COURT]: Sustained. Sustained.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Well youre related to Mr., your, your Mr. Erlingers husband, wife, is
that correct?
[GINNIE]: Yes.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay. Youre concerned about his situation, correct?
[GINNIE]: Correct.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Uh, its your testimony you made no, no deals with the prosecution?
[GINNIE]: No I didnt.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: For your testimony, nothing?
[GINNIE]: Nothing.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Never talked about it?
[GINNIE]: Never talked about it.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Youre just doing this on your own?
[GINNIE]: I, they didnt take away my Class A felony for me to sit
up here.
* * *
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Alright. (Pause). In your presence, do you know of anyone
who was offered a deal to testify in order to take Mr. Traylor
down, in your presence?
[STATE]: Your Honor, I object. Again I . . .
[TRIAL COURT]: Sustained. Its hearsay.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Were, did you attend a, a uh, interrogation at the Indiana State
Police Post, with, you and your husband?
[STATE]: Your Honor, if [defense counsel] wants to go here, Im going to insist
we play [the videotaped statements of the interrogation]. I just . .
.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Well, thats . . .
[STATE]: . . . want to make sure he understands that.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I understand that.
[STATE]: All of them.
[GINNIE]: I can answer it.
[TRIAL COURT]: You can answer the question. Theres not been an objection.
[GINNIE]: Yes.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay. And you personally went to one at the In, Indiana
State Police Post at Jasper too, is that correct?
[GINNIE]: Yes.
Tr. at 441-46.
Subsequently, the court recessed for lunch. During the recess, the trial court
discussed with the parties the potential admission of the videotaped statements made by
Paul and Ginnie Erlinger. These videotapes had previously been the subject of
a motion in limine because they were unfairly prejudicial to Traylors case.
The State argued to the trial court that the tapes should be played
for the jury because Traylor opened the door to their admission during his
cross-examination of Ginnie. Traylor countered that he did not believe he opened
the door to their admission, but even if he did, the tapes were
unfairly prejudicial and should be excluded under Indiana Rule of Evidence 403.
Ultimately, the trial court decided not to admit the videotapes due to their
prejudicial nature but ruled that the State could ask Ginnie what statements she
made to the police during the interview.
Traylor now contends the trial court denied him his right to present a
defense when it refused to allow him to expose Ginnies alleged bias.
More specifically, Traylor argues that because he was threatened with admission of the
videotaped statements made by Paul and Ginnie Erlinger, the trial court limited his
cross-examination because he was unable to ask Ginnie whether she had an implicit
deal with the State that she would be treated favorably by the State
in exchange for her testimony against Traylor. We disagree.
The trial court did not limit Traylors questioning, but instead advised Traylor that
his questioning could open the door to the admission of the videotapes.
Traylor chose not to continue his questioning for fear that the videotapes would
be played for the jury. Thus, the trial court did not limit
Traylors questioning; instead, Traylor made a strategic decision not to inquire further about
Ginnies alleged bias for fear that he might open the door to admission
of the videotapes. For this reason, Traylor was not denied his right
to present a defense.
III. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Traylor argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to sustain his
convictions for dealing (manufacturing) in methamphetamine and for visiting a common nuisance.
We disagree.
A. Standard of Review
In reviewing sufficiency of the evidence claims, we do not reweigh the
evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses. Williams v. State, 798 N.E.2d
457, 459 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). Instead, we review the evidence and
reasonable inferences supporting the conviction to determine whether substantial evidence of probative value
exists to support the judgment. Id.
B. Dealing (Manufacturing) in Methamphetamine
During the execution of a search warrant at the Erlingers residence, the police
found a large glass jar, or reaction vessel, that was used to convert
ephedrine into methamphetamine base. At the time of the search, ephedrine was
reacting with the other chemicals in the vessel to form methamphetamine base, but
the process had not yet been completed. The States forensic scientist found
that the product in the reaction vessel weighed 23.72 grams. Traylor argues
that the State presented insufficient evidence to show that he manufactured over three
grams of methamphetamine because the State only presented evidence of the weight of
the entire product found in the vessel, not the weight of the actual
methamphetamine that was manufactured. Thus, he argues that, at best, the State
presented sufficient evidence to convict him only of attempt to manufacture methamphetamine, a
crime for which he was not charged.
See footnote
Indiana Code section 35-48-4-1 provides that a person is guilty of dealing in
a narcotic drug as a Class A felony if he knowingly or intentionally
manufactures at least three grams of methamphetamine. Indiana Code section 35-48-1-18(1) defines
manufacture as
the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion, or processing of a controlled substance, either
directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of natural origin, independently by means
of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis .
. . .
In
Bush v. State, 772 N.E.2d 1020 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied,
the police executed a search warrant at the defendants residence and found many
items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, including a can of denatured alcohol,
a coffee grinder with white residue in it, empty iodine and hydrogen peroxide
containers, bottles of mini-thins that contained pseudoephedrine, and a turkey baster. Additionally,
the police found two jars of liquid, both of which contained ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine. An expert for the State testified that the lab was an
in process lab, meaning the process of making methamphetamine had begun, but it
had not yet been completed. The police did not find any methamphetamine
in its final form. Id. at 1022.
Nevertheless, we held the State presented sufficient evidence that the defendant was manufacturing
methamphetamine because the defendant was producing, preparing, and processing methamphetamine, all of which
were encompassed by in the statutory definition of manufacture. Id. at 1023.
Furthermore, we held Indiana Code section 35-48-1-18(1) does not require that the
process be completed or that there actually be a final product before the
statute applies. Id.
We refer to a plant that makes widgets as a widget manufacturing plant
because it is engaged in the process of making them. A person
visiting a plant that contains the necessary parts and instructions for making widgets
could reasonably conclude that he is visiting a plant that manufactures widgets, even
if he never actually sees a completed widget. Likewise, a reasonable juror
in this case could certainly conclude that [the defendant] manufactured methamphetamine based upon
the circumstantial evidence of its production. In fact, there was no other
reasonable explanation for the evidence found at the house other than that he
was in the process of making methamphetamine.
Id.
Likewise, the State presented sufficient evidence in this case that Traylor was involved
in the manufacture of methamphetamine. During the execution of the search warrant
at the Erlingers residence, the police found the following items commonly used in
the manufacture of methamphetamine: camp fuel, anhydrous ammonia, an HCl generator, sulfuric
acid, salt, ether, electronic scales, and pseudoephedrine. Indiana State Police Sergeant James
Dotson testified at trial that the reaction vessel that was found during the
search was a batch of meth cooking right there. Tr. at 586.
Thus, the process of making methamphetamine had begun, but it had not
yet been completed.
Furthermore, Sergeant Dotson testified that once the methamphetamine is finished cooking in the
reaction vessel, the product left in the vessel is then converted into its
final form: crystallized methamphetamine. Because the State showed that Traylor was
producing, preparing, and processing methamphetamine, and the product in the reaction vessel weighed
well over three grams, the State presented sufficient evidence that Traylor was involved
in the manufacture of at least three grams of methamphetamine.
C. Visiting a Common Nuisance
Indiana Code section 35-48-4-13(a) states that [a] person who knowingly or intentionally visits
a building, structure, vehicle, or other place that is used by any person
to unlawfully use a controlled substance commits visiting a common nuisance, a Class
B misdemeanor. To convict a defendant of visiting a common nuisance, the
State must prove that the defendant knew the building, structure, vehicle, or other
place that he visited was used for the unlawful use of a controlled
substance. Hale v. State, 785 N.E.2d 641, 643 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003)
(quoting Bass v. State, 512 N.E.2d 460, 463 (Ind. Ct. App. 1987), rehg
granted in part, 517 N.E.2d 1238 (1988), trans. denied). Additionally, the State
must prove that the building, structure, vehicle or place the defendant visited was
used multiple times for the unlawful use of a controlled substance. Id.
The term common nuisance necessarily requires proof of a continuous or recurrent
violation. Id.
Traylor contends the State failed to prove that the Erlingers residence was a
common nuisance. More specifically, Traylor argues that the State failed to show
that the Erlingers residence was used multiple times for the unlawful use of
methamphetamine. However, during the execution of the search warrant, police found a
briefcase in the garage, which contained a baggie of methamphetamine and a glass
pipe used for the consumption of methamphetamine. Additionally, police found glass pipes,
some with burnt residue, in other parts of the residence. Thus, it
was reasonable for the jury to infer from the evidence the State presented
that the Erlingers residence was used more than once for the consumption of
methamphetamine. See Frye v. State, 757 N.E.2d 684, 691 (Ind. Ct. App.
2001), trans. denied, cert. denied, 535 U.S. 1103 (2002) (holding evidence sufficient to
support finding that house was a common nuisance where police found large quantity
of drugs and drug paraphernalia lying around house, which suggested house was being
used to unlawfully consume controlled substances).
IV. Proper Sentences
Traylor contends his sentences were improper for the following reasons: (1) the
trial court relied on improper aggravating circumstances in imposing enhanced sentences; (2) Traylors
enhanced sentences and fine of $10,000 were inappropriate in light of his character
and the nature of his offense; and (3) the recent United States Supreme
Court case, Blakely v. Washington, ___ U.S. ___, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d
403 (2004), controls the outcome of this case. Because we find Traylors
third contention to be dispositive, we need not address the first two contentions.
A. Apprendi/Blakely Caselaw
In 2000, the United States Supreme Court decided Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530
U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). In Apprendi, the
defendant, a Caucasian, shot several bullets into the home of an African-American family
who had just moved into an all-white neighborhood in New Jersey. After
being arrested, the defendant admitted that he had shot at the familys home
because they were African-American. Id. at 469. After pleading guilty to,
inter alia, second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, the trial
court enhanced the defendants sentence when it found by a preponderance of the
evidence that the defendants crime was motivated by racial bias. Id. at
470-71. In reversing the trial courts enhancement of the defendants sentence, the
Supreme Court held, Other than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact
that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must
be submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.
at 490.
Recently, the United States Supreme Court decided Blakely to clarify what constitutes the
prescribed statutory maximum sentence. In Blakely, the defendant was initially charged with
first-degree kidnapping. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the defendant pled guilty to
second-degree kidnapping involving domestic violence and use of a firearm. Under Washingtons
sentencing statutes, the offense of second-degree kidnapping with a firearm carried a standard
range of forty-nine to fifty-three months. Blakely, 124 S.Ct. at 2534-35.
However, the trial court could enhance a sentence above the standard range if
it found certain aggravating factors, including that the defendant had acted with deliberate
cruelty. Finding that the defendant acted with deliberate cruelty, the trial court
sentenced the defendant to ninety months. Id. at 2535.
The Supreme Court, in invalidating the defendants sentence because it did not comply
with the Sixth Amendments right to a trial by jury, held the prescribed
statutory maximum for Apprendi purposes is the maximum sentence a judge may impose
solely on the basis of the facts reflected in the jury verdict or
admitted by the defendant. In other words, the relevant statutory maximum is
not the maximum sentence a judge may impose after finding additional facts, but
the maximum he may impose without any additional findings.
Id. at 2537 (emphasis in original).
B. Applicability of Apprendi/Blakely
Traylor was convicted of dealing (manufacturing) in methamphetamine over three grams, a Class
A felony, and possession of methamphetamine over three grams, a Class C felony.
Indiana Code section 35-50-2-4 states, A person who commits a Class A
felony shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of thirty (30) years, with
not more than twenty (20) years added for aggravating circumstances or not more
than ten (10) years subtracted for mitigating circumstances . . . .
Indiana Code section 35-50-2-6 provides, A person who commits a Class C felony
shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of four (4) years, with not
more than four (4) years added for aggravating circumstances or not more than
two (2) years subtracted for mitigating circumstances.
As stated above, the prescribed statutory maximum for Apprendi purposes was defined as
the following:
the maximum sentence a judge may impose solely on the basis of the
facts reflected in the jury verdict or admitted by the defendant. In
other words, the relevant statutory maximum is not the maximum sentence a judge
may impose after finding additional facts, but the maximum he may impose without
any additional findings.
Blakely, 124 S.Ct. at 2537 (emphasis in original). Under Indiana law, after
a jury returns a guilty verdict, the trial court can only impose the
presumptive sentence, as outlined in the statute, without finding any additional facts.
Therefore, the presumptive sentence for an offense is the prescribed statutory maximum for
Apprendi/Blakely purposes. For Traylors Class A felony conviction, the presumptive sentence was
thirty years. See Ind. Code § 35-50-2-4. For his Class C
felony conviction, the presumptive sentence was four years. See Ind. Code §
35-50-2-6.
Traylor was sentenced to an enhanced term of forty years for the Class
A felony conviction and an enhanced term of six years for the Class
C felony conviction. In enhancing Traylors sentences, the trial court found the
following aggravating circumstances: (1) there is a great risk that Traylor will
commit another crime; (2) the particularized nature and circumstances of the crime committed;
(3) Traylors prior criminal history; (4) Traylors character; and (5) Traylor is in
need of correctional and rehabilitative treatment that can best be provided by commitment
to a penal facility.
Under Apprendi, [o]ther than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that
increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be
submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Apprendi, 530
U.S. at 490 (emphasis added). Because the aggravating circumstances upon which the
trial court enhanced Traylors sentences were not submitted to a jury and proved
beyond a reasonable doubt, under Apprendi, only Traylors prior criminal convictions could be
used by the trial court to enhance Traylors sentences in this case.
Traylor contends, however, that it was improper for the trial court to enhance
his sentences based on his prior criminal history. We agree. Traylors
prior criminal history consists of one misdemeanor conviction in 1998 for battery.
The trial court noted that it found this to be an aggravating factor
of minimal weight. Appellants Appendix at 494. A misdemeanor battery conviction
nearly five years before the instant offenses, standing alone, is insufficient to enhance
Traylors sentences. See, e.g., Newsome v. State, 797 N.E.2d 293, 300 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2003), trans. denied (stating that a criminal history that consisted of
three fairly recent misdemeanor convictions, two of which were for battery, would not
be sufficient, standing alone, to enhance a defendants sentence); Westmoreland v. State, 787
N.E.2d 1005, 1010 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003) (concluding that a criminal history comprised
of misdemeanors that are unrelated to the present offense are not significant aggravators
in the context of a sentencing hearing for criminal deviate conduct.); Watson v.
State, 784 N.E.2d 515, 523 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003) (holding a criminal history
comprised of two, nonviolent misdemeanors that are unrelated to the present offense are
not significant aggravators in the context of a sentencing hearing for battery.).
Therefore, we vacate Traylors sentences for his Class A felony conviction and his
Class C felony conviction, and we remand this cause to the trial court
for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
See footnote
V. Drug Fee
Traylor contends, and the State concedes, that the trial court erred in failing
to assess Traylors ability to pay the $1,000 drug fee imposed upon him.
Indiana Code section 33-19-6-9 states in pertinent part:
(a) This section applies to criminal actions.
(b) The court shall assess a drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction, and correction fee
of at least two hundred dollars ($200) and not more than one thousand
dollars ($1,000) against a person convicted of an offense under [Indiana Code article]
35-48-4.
(c) In determining the amount of the drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction, and correction
fee assessed against a person under subsection (b),
a court shall consider the
person's ability to pay the fee.
(Emphasis added). In the case at hand, the trial court ordered Traylor
to pay a $1,000 drug fee without first determining Traylors ability to pay
the fee. Thus, we remand this cause to the trial court to
determine Traylors ability to pay the fee.
VI. Bond
On March 5, 2003, an initial hearing was held in the case at
hand and the trial court set bond in the amount of $50,000.
The trial court allowed Traylor to post a ten percent deposit, which he
did the next day. On March 7, 2003, the State requested that
Traylors bond be revoked because Traylor was arrested for committing criminal confinement and
battery against his ex-girlfriend, Becky Schepers, while out on bond. The trial
court granted the States motion and issued an arrest warrant for Traylor, setting
the bond at $30,000.
On March 13, 2003, Traylor posted bond in the amount of $25,000, which
was added to the $5,000 deposit on his original bond. After the
trial court convicted Traylor in this cause, it withheld Traylors $30,000 bond to
satisfy his fines, costs, and fees imposed by the trial court, with the
remainder being held for the criminal charges that were still pending. Traylor
contends the trial court erred in withholding his cash bond. We agree.
Indiana Code section 35-33-8-3.2 provides in pertinent part as follows:
(a) A court may admit a defendant to bail and impose any of
the following conditions to assure the defendant's appearance at any stage of the
legal proceedings, or, upon a showing of clear and convincing evidence that the
defendant poses a risk of physical danger to another person or the community,
to assure the public's physical safety:
(1) Require the defendant to:
(A) execute a bail bond with sufficient solvent sureties;
(B) deposit cash or securities in an amount equal to the bail;
* * *
(2) Require the defendant to execute a bail bond by depositing cash or
securities with the clerk of the court in an amount not less than
ten percent (10%) of the bail. If the defendant is convicted, the
court may retain all or a part of the cash or securities to
pay fines, costs, fees, and restitution, if ordered by the court. A
portion of the deposit, not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the monetary
value of the deposit or fifty dollars ($50), whichever is the lesser amount,
may be retained as an administrative fee. The clerk shall also retain
from the deposit under this subdivision the following:
(A) Fines, costs, fees, and restitution as ordered by the court.
(B) Publicly paid costs of representation that shall be disposed of in accordance
with subsection (b).
In Goffinet v. State, 775 N.E.2d 1227 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied,
we held the trial court abused its discretion in retaining a cash bond
posted by the defendants father, where the father posted the entire amount of
bond in cash, because Indiana Code Section 35-33-8-3.2 does not authorize the trial
court to order any money retained from a bond remittance for any purpose
unless the bond was a 10% cash or securities deposit governed by Indiana
Code Section 35-33-8-3.2(a)(2). Id. at 1233-34. Thus, both parties in this
case agree that if the bond that the trial court withheld included only
the ten percent deposit on Traylors original bond of $50,000, under Indiana Code
section 35-33-8-3.2(2)(A), the trial court would be entitled to withhold Traylors deposit to
cover the fines, costs, and fees imposed by the trial court. However,
if Traylor paid the entire amount of his bond in cash, he is
entitled to a remittance of his cash bond.
Traylor contends he originally posted a ten percent deposit of his $50,000 bond
on March 6, 2003. However, on March 7, 2003, Traylor contends the
trial court revoked his bond and imposed a higher bond of $30,000.
As a result, Traylor posted an additional $25,000 that, along with the original
$5,000 he had deposited, covered his cash bond of $30,000. Traylor thus
claims that because he posted cash equal to the amount of the bond,
Indiana Code section 35-33-8-3.2(2)(A) is not applicable, and he is entitled to a
return of his cash bond.
The State counters that the additional $25,000 that Traylor posted on March 7,
2003, was not for his increased bond for the instant offense, but instead
represented the amount of bond posted on his new offenses of criminal confinement
and battery on his ex-girlfriend. Therefore, the State argues that the trial
court rightfully withheld the ten percent deposit Traylor posted on his original $50,000
bond because it fell under Indiana Code section 35-33-8-3.2(2)(A), and the trial court
properly withheld the remaining $25,000 because it was the bond for charges that
were still pending against Traylor at the time of his conviction and sentencing
in the instant case.
We agree with Traylor. The Chronological Case Summary contains the following entry
for March 7, 2003: Comes now Boyd Toler, Prosecuting Attorney and requests
bond be revoked, defendant committed battery while on bond, and an arrest warrant
be issued. Court grants same and directs the Clerk of Pike Circuit
Court to issue an arrest warrant with bond to be set at $30,000
cash only. Appellants Appendix at 3 (emphasis added). The arrest warrant
the trial court issued had Bond Revocation written in the upper left-hand corner
and stated that Traylor was to answer for the offenses brought against him
in the instant case. The offenses of criminal confinement and battery were
not mentioned on the arrest warrant. Most notably, however, the State noted
in its motion for permanent bond revocation, filed on March 18, 2003, that
Mr. Traylors initial bond was revoked, and bond was reset in amount [sic]
of $30,000 cash. Appellants Appendix at 44. For these reasons, we
agree with Traylor that he posted the entire amount of bail in cash
and is therefore entitled to a remittance of his $30,000 cash bond.
VII. Bond Revocation
Traylor finally contends his bond was improperly revoked without a hearing. Indiana
Code section 35-33-8-5(a) provides in relevant part: Upon a showing of good
cause, the state or the defendant may be granted an alteration or revocation
of bail by application to the court before which the proceeding is pending.
When the State requests that bond be revoked, due process requires that
the trial court hold a hearing on the request. Vacendak v. State,
261 Ind. 317, 302 N.E.2d 779, 780 (1973). However, our supreme court
also stated,
[W]e do not mean to imply that the trial judge cannot in the
exercise of his sound discretion order the immediate arrest of a defendant upon
information that would indicate he should not be permitted to remain at large
on a posted bond. For instance, a court should never be in
the position of being unable to prevent a defendant from leaving the jurisdiction
while he was on bond awaiting trial. Our holding today is that
a defendant is entitled to a hearing on the increase of his bond.
Due process has been served if this hearing occurs within a reasonable
time after his arrest on order of the trial court.
Id. at 781.
On April 7, 2003, the State filed a motion for permanent revocation of
Traylors bond, alleging that Traylor made death threats against the deputy prosecutor and
his family. Without a hearing, the trial court granted the States motion
and issued an arrest warrant for Traylor. The next day, Traylor filed
an objection to the bond revocation because the trial court did not hold
a hearing before making its decision. The trial court set an evidentiary
hearing on the matter for April 10, 2003, but Traylor requested a continuance
for more time to prepare. On April 30, 2003, the trial court
affirmed its bond revocation but nevertheless released Traylor on his posted $30,000 cash
bond.
The trial court did not err in revoking Traylors bond without a hearing
on April 7, 2003. Under Vacendak, the trial court was permitted to
order the immediate arrest of Traylor, and due process required only that a
hearing be held within a reasonable amount of time after the trial court
ordered Traylors arrest, not prior to the arrest order. Because the trial
court set a hearing on the bond revocation just three days after it
ordered Traylors arrest, the hearing was held within a reasonable amount of time
after the trial court ordered Traylors arrest. Therefore, the trial court did
not violate Traylors due process rights in revoking his bond before holding a
hearing on that matter.
Conclusion
The trial court did not err in admitting evidence of items found at
the Erlingers property, and Traylor was not denied his right to present a
defense. Furthermore, the State presented sufficient evidence to sustain Traylors convictions.
The trial court did not err in revoking Traylors bond prior to a
hearing. However, because Blakely controls the outcome of this case, and because
the trial court erred in failing to assess Traylors ability to pay the
$1,000 drug fee imposed and in withholding Traylors cash bond, we remand this
cause to the trial court for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Affirmed in part and remanded.
SHARPNACK, J., and DARDEN, J., concur.
Footnote:
Hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas is a common component used to manufacture methamphetamine.
One can purchase HCl gas, but usually methamphetamine manufacturers create HCl gas
in homemade HCl generators by mixing acid and salt together in the generator
to produce HCl gas. Deputy Jenkins testified that the HCl generator found
in this case consisted of a two-liter plastic pop bottle with a plastic
tube coming out of a hole in the bottle cap. Tr. at
362-64.
Footnote: Because we hold the officers entry onto the Erlingers property and observation
of the HCl generator at the rear of the residence did not violate
either the Fourth Amendment or Article I, Section 11, we need not address
whether Traylor had standing to challenge the entry onto the Erlingers property.
Footnote: We note that the items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine were
all found on the Erlingers property. Traylor does not raise the issue
of whether he constructively possessed the items that were used against him to
show he manufactured methamphetamine. Therefore, we need not address it.
Footnote: We note that in
Carson v. State, 813 N.E.2d 1187 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2004), a panel of this court held a trial court did not
err, under Apprendi/Blakely, in enhancing a defendants sentence, based on the following aggravating
circumstances: prior criminal history; a need for corrective or rehabilitative treatment best
provided by commitment to a penal facility; and the strong likelihood that the
defendant would commit another crime. Id. at 1189. After stating that
prior criminal convictions are exempt from the requirement of jury findings under Apprendi,
the panel held the other two aggravating circumstances are simply derivative of that
extensive history of convictions and thus would seem also not to implicate the
Blakely analysis. Id. at 1189. Because we hold Traylors one misdemeanor
criminal conviction five years ago is not a proper aggravator to enhance his
sentence, any circumstances that may or may not derive from his prior criminal
history also are not proper aggravators to enhance Traylors sentences.