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ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
MICHAEL R. BURROW JEFFREY A. MODISETT
JEFFREY S. NEEL Attorney General of Indiana
WOLF & BURROW
Greenfield, Indiana ROSEMARY L. BOREK
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
DONALD GUFFEY, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 33A04-9801-CR-25
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee- Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE HENRY CIRCUIT COURT
The Honorable John L. Kellam, Judge
Cause No. 33C01-9704-CF-015
January 26, 1999
ROBB, Judge
Case Summary
Appellant-Defendant, Donald Guffey ("Guffey"), appeals his convictions for
Robbery,See footnote
1
a class B felony, and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery,See footnote
2
a class B felony, and the
jury's finding that he is an habitual offender. We affirm.
Issues
Guffey raises four issues for our review which we restate as:
I. Whether his convictions for aiding in the commission of robbery and
conspiracy to commit robbery are barred by the Indiana Constitutional
protection against double jeopardy;
II. Whether conspiracy to commit robbery is a lesser included offense of
aiding in the commission of robbery;
III. Whether there was sufficient evidence to support his conspiracy
conviction; and,
IV. Whether his sentence was manifestly unreasonable.
Facts and Procedural History
The facts most favorable to the verdict show that on April 15, 1997, Guffey, Joe
Curnatt, and Donald Lee ("Lee") discussed robbing a local Speedway gas station. Guffey
and Lee later discussed when the robbery would occur, where to put the money, and the use
of Guffey's gun. They decided that Lee would commit the robbery while Guffey would be
the lookout. Other details were worked out later that evening. While Guffey waited across
the street from the gas station, Lee carried out the robbery as planned.
Guffey was charged with aiding in the commission of robbery and conspiracy to
commit robbery. A jury found Guffey guilty on both counts.
Discussion and Decision
I.
Guffey argues that his convictions for aiding in the commission of robbery and
conspiracy to commit robbery violate his right against double jeopardy. He contends that the
Indiana ConstitutionSee footnote
3
provides greater protection in this area than does the U.S. Constitution.
Guffey seems to concede that his convictions do not violate the double jeopardy
clause of the federal constitution, but argues that we should follow Derado v. State, 622
N.E.2d 181 (Ind. 1993) and adopt a test that looks beyond the statutory elements of the
offenses to the charging informations. This court has recently addressed this identical
argument. In Moore v. State, 691 N.E.2d 1232 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998), we held that "the better
alternative is to remain consistent with federal double jeopardy analysis and utilize the
Blockburger [v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 52 S.Ct. 180 (1932)] 'same elements' test." For
the reasons stated in Moore, we conclude that double jeopardy analysis is the same under
both the federal and state constitutions.
Here, Guffey admits that aiding in the commission robbery and conspiracy to commit
robbery each contain an element that the other does not.See footnote
4
Thus, we conclude that Guffey's
convictions do not violate the protection against double jeopardy provided by the Indiana
Constitution.See footnote
5
II.
Guffey contends that conspiracy to commit robbery is a lesser included offense to
aiding in the commission of robbery, and his convictions for both cannot stand. He argues
that it is impossible to be convicted of the latter without being convicted of the former.
Indiana Code Section 35-38-6-1 provides: "Whenever: (1) a defendant is charged
with an offense and an included offense in separate counts; and (2) the defendant is found
guilty of both counts; judgment and sentence may not be entered against the defendant for
the included offense."
'Included offense' means an offense that: (1) is established by proof of the
same material elements or less than all the material elements required to
establish the commission of the offense charged; (2) consists of an attempt to
commit the offense charged or an offense otherwise included therein; or (3)
differs from the offense charged only in the respect that a less serious harm or
risk of harm to the same person, property, or public interest, or a lesser kind
of culpability, is required to establish its commission.
Ind. Code § 35-41-1-16.
Again, Guffey concedes that each offense of which he was convicted is established
by proof of an element not found in the other. Nevertheless, he asserts that proof of the
actual commission of a crime is always proof of an overt act in furtherance (of the criminal
agreement). As the State points out, however, one can conceivably aid in the commission
of a crime without having previously agreed to do so. Conspiracy to commit a crime is not
an included offense of aiding, inducing or causing the same crime. See Chinn v. State, 511
N.E.2d 1000, 1003 (Ind. 1987); Stonebraker v. State, 505 N.E.2d 55, 57 (Ind. 1987).
III.
Guffey next argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for
conspiracy to commit robbery. He asserts that there was no proof of the existence of an
agreement.
When reviewing a claim of insufficient evidence, we neither reweigh the evidence nor
judge the credibility of witnesses. Rickey v. State, 661 N.E.2d 18, 24 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996),
trans. denied. We look only to the evidence of probative value and the reasonable inferences
to be drawn therefrom which support the judgment. Id. When there is substantial evidence
of probative value to support the conviction, the judgment will not be disturbed. Id.
In order to meet its burden on the conspiracy, the State had to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that "with intent to commit [robbery, Guffey] agree[d] with another person
to commit [robbery]" and "that either [Guffey] or the person with whom he agreed performed
an overt act in furtherance of the agreement." Ind. Code § 35-41-5-2; see Ind. Code § 35-42-
5-1. The State is not required to prove the existence of a formal express agreement. Wright
v. State, 690 N.E.2d 1098, 1107 (Ind. 1997). Circumstantial evidence is sufficient to prove
the necessary agreement. Lott v. State, 690 N.E.2d 204, 208 (Ind. 1997).
The evidence shows that Guffey and Lee planned the robbery together, including the
details of where to put the money, the gun to be used, the timing of the crime, and what each
of them would do. The evidence was sufficient to prove the existence of an agreement to
support Guffey's conviction for conspiracy to commit robbery.
IV.
Guffey argues that the sentence imposed by the trial court was manifestly
unreasonable. He was sentenced to concurrent terms of fifteen years for his convictions for
aiding in the commission of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Guffey's sentence
was enhanced by twenty years upon his being found to be an habitual offender. Guffey
contends that the trial court erred in considering his drug and alcohol abuse as only a minor
mitigating factor.
Sentencing decisions rest within the sound discretion of the trial court and are
reversed only for an abuse of discretion. Blanche v. State, 690 N.E.2d 709, 714 (Ind. 1998).
We do not revise a sentence authorized by statute except where the sentence is manifestly
unreasonable in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the offender. Id.; Ind.
Appellate Rule 17(B).
The sentencing judge has the discretion to increase or decrease the sentence based on
aggravating and mitigating factors, and the use of mitigating factors is not mandatory.
Hunter v. State, 676 N.E.2d 14, 17 (Ind. 1996). It is primarily the trial court's responsibility
to determine the weight to be given the aggravating or mitigating circumstances. Ross v.
State, 676 N.E.2d 339, 347 (Ind. 1996). However, in imposing an enhanced sentence, the
trial court must identify all significant mitigating and aggravating circumstances. Hunter,
676 N.E.2d at 17. A single proper aggravator may suffice to sustain an enhanced sentence.
Hollins v. State, 679 N.E.2d 1305, 1308 (Ind. 1997).
The trial court made findings regarding mitigating and aggravating circumstances.
It found that Guffey had a "continuous and consistent pattern of criminal offenses and
convictions." (R. 639). The trial court found that Guffey's criminal history as well as the
nature and circumstance of the offense were aggravating factors. The court also found that
even though the use of alcohol mitigated the amount of planning involved in the crime,
alcohol was a slight aggravating factor. Other aggravating factors were found as well. We
conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in weighing the mitigating and
aggravating factors and properly enhanced Guffey's sentences.
Affirmed.
STATON, J. concurs.
KIRSCH, J. concurs and concurs in result as to Part I.
Footnote:
1Ind. Code §§ 35-42-5-1, 35-41-2-4.
Footnote:
2Ind. Code §§ 35-42-5-1, 35-41-5-2.
Footnote:
3Ind. Const. art. I, § 14.
Footnote:
4Aiding in the commission of robbery requires proof that the offense was actually committed, while
conspiracy to commit robbery requires proof of an agreement to commit robbery and an overt act in furtherance
of the agreement.
Footnote:
5 Nevertheless, we are troubled by one aspect of the double jeopardy analysis presented by this case.
In order to convict Guffey of aiding in the commission of robbery as a class B felony, the State must have
proven that he "knowingly or intentionally aid[ed], induce[d], or cause[d] another person," Ind. Code § 35-41-
2-4, to "knowingly or intentionally take[] property from another person . . . while armed with a deadly weapon
. . . ." Ind. Code § 35-42-5-1. Next, in order to convict Guffey of conspiracy to commit robbery as a class B
felony, the State must have proven that he "with intent to commit [robbery], agree[d] with another person to
commit [robbery]," and that either [Guffey] or the person with whom he agreed performed an overt act in
furtherance of the agreement." Ind. Code § 35-41-5-2.
Our supreme court has determined that "we look only to the statutory elements of the offenses, not to
the charging information, the jury instructions outlining the elements of the crime, or the underlying proof
needed to establish the elements." Games v. State, 684 N.E.2d 466, 477 (Ind. 1997), modified on reh'g, 690
N.E.2d 211 (Ind. 1997). Yet Games cannot always be "limited to a strict comparison of specific statutory
terms used to define the elements of each crime." Moore v. State, 698 N.E.2d 1203, 1205 (Ind. Ct. App.
1998), trans. denied; see Goudy v. State, 689 N.E.2d 686, 698 (Ind. 1997) (holding that attempted carjacking
was a lesser-included offense of attempted robbery where the property taken was a motor vehicle, but "[i]f a
person was convicted of Carjacking for the taking of a motor vehicle and of Robbery for the taking of some
other property, then ordinarily no "included offense" problems would arise.")
Our concern arises in the context of convictions for conspiracy to commit a crime and aiding a person
to commit that crime. While each charge contains an element the other does not, see supra note 4, each must
be committed by two or more persons and any overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy by one person could,
in most instances, be considered to aid the other person to commit the crime. The overt act could be for a
purpose other than to aid or induce another person, cf. Goudy, or the overt act could even be commission of
the offense itself. However, we believe we are prevented from looking beyond the form of the statutory
elements to the substance of those elements.
Our supreme court, in Haak v. State, 695 N.E.2d 944 (Ind. 1998), considered a defendant's convictions
for murder and conspiracy to commit murder. In Haak, shortly before trial, the State amended the charging
information to delete one of eight overt acts Haak allegedly had taken in furtherance of the conspiracy. Id. at
951. The deleted portion alleged that Haak had committed the substantive offense as an overt act. The court
stated that
[e]ven if we accepted the premise . . . that Haak was or should have been tried on an
information alleging [the] murder as an overt act - there would be no error because the inquiry
in determining whether two offenses are the "same" for federal double jeopardy purposes
focuses on the statutes defining the crimes, not the charging instrument.
Id. at 952. The court concluded that "[m]urder and conspiracy to commit murder are separate offenses under
this analysis." Id. The conclusion in Haak, that even if the overt act alleged is the same act required for
conviction of the offense, appears to contradict cases holding the contrary. See Morgan v. State, 675 N.E.2d
1067 (Ind. 1996). In any event, Haak precludes this court from looking beyond the surface of the statutes
themselves. Because we agree that the Indiana constitution does not mandate a different analysis, we find no
error.
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