Bixler v. State

471 N.E.2d 1093, 1984 Ind. LEXIS 1067
Indiana Supreme Court·Decided December 17, 1984·No. 982 S 365·Published·Cited by 49 cases

Opinion

PIVARNIK, Justice.

Defendant-Appellant Raymond Eugene Bixler was found guilty by a jury in the Benton Circuit Court of murder. He subsequently was sentenced by the trial judge to a term of fifty years imprisonment. Defendant now directly appeals and raises the following twelve issues for our consideration:

1. alleged juror misconduct;
2. denial of Defendant's motion to strike certain testimony;
3. denial of Defendant's motion for change of venue from the county;
4. denial of Defendant's motion for change of venue from the judge;
5. certain final instructions;
6. alleged prosecutorial misconduct;
7. denial of motion to let Defendant to bail;
8. jury view of exhibits during deliberations;
9. denial of motion for new trial based on threatening phone calls to Defendant's family;
10. sufficiency of the evidence;
11. cumulative effect of all errors; and
12. alleged improper sentencing.

Defendant Raymond Bixler lived with his mother, Mrs. Reva Pollock, and her husband, on her three-acre tract of land situated in rural Benton County. In 1979, the Lank family purchased ten acres which bordered the Pollack's property. The Lanks did not live full time on their property but used it primarily for weekend family get togethers and hunting. Some of their family activities included target practice, drinking beer and playing music. Late in April, 1981, the Lanks purchased an eighty-acre tract situated on another side of the Pollack property, access to which was gained by a thirty-foot wide lane between the properties along the east boundary of the Pollack property and the west boundary of the Lanks' ten-acre tract. Conflict arose between Defendant's family and the Lanks as to the ownership of the access lane used by the Lanks. Defendant and his mother opposed the use of said lane by the Lanks. A land survey made in December, 1980, prior to the Lanks' purchase of the eighty-acre tract, showed the lane was almost entirely on the Lanks' property. Defendant and his mother, however, persisted in efforts to obstruct the lane by placing boulders and an old pickup truck across it. The Lanks rented out the tillable area of the- eighty-acre tract to a farmer who grew hay on it and Defendant allowed the farmer to pass through the lane to harvest the hay. In July, 1981, the Lanks had a bulldozer brought out to clear some of the eighty acre tract to create more tillable area. They took down the fence which blocked part of the lane to get the bulldozer back to the tract. Defendant became increasingly irritated and exclaimed on several occasions that if the Lanks used the bulldozer to move his pickup truck off the access lane, he would shoot the person doing it. Negotiations were in progress between attorneys for both parties at *1098 tempting to settle the issue in some manner. On Sunday, July 12, 1981, young Ronald Lank was operating the bulldozer on the back eighty acres. He started down the disputed lane along the Pollack property and positioned the bulldozer to push the pickup off the lane. Ronald was packing a .357 Magnum handgun in a holster fastened around his waist. He pushed the pickup truck back about fifteen feet. Defendant, who had been sitting at a nearby picnic table, ran inside the house, grabbed his shotgun, came outside and shot Ronald Lank thereby killing him.

I

Defendant now argues that there was juror misconduct which entitled him to a new trial on two grounds. Defendant first contends the jury used improper methods in deliberating and arriving at a verdict. Secondly, Defendant contends that some of the jurors concealed personal relationships that contributed to their partisanship during his trial.

Defendant submitted affidavits from some of the jurors which detail discussions had in the jury room and some tests conducted by them concerning the .857 Magnum pistol found in the vice-tim's possession after his death. The trial court held a fact-finding hearing on July 2, 1983, on this subject and denied any relief to Defendant. We find the trial court acted properly in this regard. A verdict of a jury may not be impeached by the affidavits or testimony of those who returned it. Bean v. State, (1984) Ind., 460 N.E.2d 936, reh. denied. Juror affidavits or testimony may not be used to demonstrate improprieties in the method by which the jury reaches its verdict. Brown v. State, (1983) Ind., 457 N.E.2d 179. The issue of juror misconduct is a matter within the trial court's discretion and there is no showing here that the trial judge abused his discretion in finding as he did. Smith v. State, (1982) Ind., 432 N.E.2d 1363.

Defendant also attempts to show that certain members of the jury were biased because one was a distant relative, by marriage, of the victim's wife, and another juror had a prior attorney-client relationship with the prosecuting attorney. The trial court properly held a fact-finding hearing to inquire into these charges against the jurors. See Stevens v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 396, 354 N.E.2d 727, on rehearing 265 Ind. 396, 357 N.E.2d 245. The facts thereby produced showed that juror McGrath had been a co-defendant in a civil action in which the prosecutor, Attorney Bill Weist, was acting as assistant counsel to lead counsel Doug Elwood and the attorney of the other defendant in the action. McGrath stated that Weist had virtually no role in the legal representation. McGrath also said he considered Attorney Tom McConnell to be his attorney and that Weist appeared only to assist Elwood and took very little part in the case. We do not doubt that Weist's participation was very limited since the matter was settled out of court before it ever went to trial. Weist never entered into any agreement of employment with McGrath and never billed him. Weist testified that he thought little of the case since he never really considered McGrath as his client in the cause.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Bixler v. State, 471 N.E.2d 1093, 1984 Ind. LEXIS 1067 (Ind. 1984).

471 N.E.2d 1093 (Bixler v. State) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Chelsea L. Crossland v. State of Indiana
Indiana Supreme Court, 2025
Bruce K. Pond v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
Indiana Court of Appeals, 2018
Spaulding v. Harris
914 N.E.2d 820 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2009)
Myers v. State
887 N.E.2d 170 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2008)
McKinney v. State
873 N.E.2d 630 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2007)
Dowell v. State
865 N.E.2d 1059 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2007)
Vaughn v. Daniels Co.(West Virginia), Inc.
777 N.E.2d 1110 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2002)
Hall v. State
760 N.E.2d 688 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2002)
Johansen v. State
675 N.E.2d 1132 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1997)
Meisberger v. State
640 N.E.2d 716 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1994)
Fugate v. State
608 N.E.2d 1370 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1993)
Miller v. State
575 N.E.2d 272 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1991)
Everroad v. State
570 N.E.2d 38 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1991)
Wells v. State
568 N.E.2d 558 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1991)
Corbin v. State
563 N.E.2d 86 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1990)
Chapman v. State
556 N.E.2d 927 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1990)
Phillips v. State
550 N.E.2d 1290 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1990)