Cite as 2019 Ark. App. 362 Digitally signed by Elizabeth Perry ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS Date: 2022.07.25 11:21:22 DIVISION IV -05'00' No. CR-18-1049 Adobe Acrobat version: 2022.001.20169 Opinion Delivered: September 11, 2019 BRANDON MICHAEL CLARK
APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE BENTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT V. [NOS. 04CR-17-1369 & 04CR-16- 2161] STATE OF ARKANSAS
APPELLEE HONORABLE BRAD KARREN, JUDGE
AFFIRMED
RITA W. GRUBER, Chief Judge
Appellant Brandon Michael Clark appeals from an order revoking his probationary
sentences and sentencing him to an aggregate of twenty years’ imprisonment, followed by
two years’ suspended imposition of sentence. On appeal, he argues that the evidence is
insufficient to support the revocation and that the sentences imposed by the circuit court
were so unduly harsh that the sentences constituted an abuse of discretion. We affirm.
On April 25, 2017, appellant entered a negotiated guilty plea to aggravated assault
on a family member and first-degree terroristic threatening in case No. 2016-2161, both
Class D felonies. The victim of the offenses was appellant’s mother, Linda Kellems.
Appellant was sentenced to four years’ probation for each offense, and numerous other
charges were nolle prossed. He was ordered to pay court costs and fines, as well as abide by the conditions of probation. In addition, a no-contact order with his mother was modified
to a no-violence order.
The State filed a petition to revoke his probation on May 3, 2018, alleging that
appellant committed the offense of aggravated assault of a family member on July 18, 2017.
On May 3, 2018, appellant entered a negotiated plea of guilty to second-degree domestic
battery and aggravated assault of a family member in case No. 2017-1369, Class D and C
felonies respectively. He was sentenced to six years’ probation for each offense. In addition,
appellant entered a negotiated guilty plea in the revocation case, and the court extended his
probation by two years for both offenses in case No. 2016-2161. The sentencing order
entered May 9, 2018, included a condition that appellant have no contact with Linda
Kellems.
On July 31, 2018, the State filed a petition to revoke appellant’s probation in cases
Nos. 2016-2161 and 2017-1369, alleging that he violated the conditions of his probation.
Specifically the State alleged that appellant (1) failed to report to his supervising officer after
being released from incarceration; (2) left the state without permission of his supervising
officer; (3) failed to pay fines, fees, and costs as ordered by the court; (4) failed to report
changes of residence to his supervising officer; (5) committed the offense of third-degree
domestic battery on or about July 29, 2018; (6) violated the no-contact order on or about
July 30, 2018; and (7) consumed alcoholic beverages on or about July 29, 2018.
A revocation hearing took place on September 11, 2018. Matthew Jenkins,
appellant’s probation officer, testified that appellant failed to report after being released from
incarceration, traveled outside the state without permission, failed to report his change of
2 address, violated the no-contact order, and consumed alcoholic beverages. Bella Vista police
officer Cole Byers testified that he reported to an incident at Linda Kellems’s home on July
29, 2018, where appellant was present and appeared to be intoxicated. The State also
introduced surveillance videos from Kellems’s neighbor, which showed appellant at
Kellems’s home on July 29.
Appellant testified at the hearing and admitted that he failed to report to his probation
officer after his release from incarceration, failed to report his change of residence, and
consumed alcohol. While he also admitted traveling across the state line, not paying fines
and fees, and violating the no-contact order, he claimed that the violations were excusable.
He explained that his probation officer told him he could travel across the state line for
work, gas, and groceries, that he was going to assist his mother, and that the 120-day grace
period for paying the fines had yet to expire.
Following the hearing, the court found that the State had met its burden of proof on
all counts except the failure to pay fines. In addition, the court granted the State’s motion
to dismiss count five—the third-degree domestic-battery allegation. The sentencing order
entered on September 18, 2018, reflects that appellant was sentenced to ten years’
imprisonment for second-degree domestic battery and six years’ imprisonment for
aggravated assault on a family member in case No. 2017-1369, as well as four years’
imprisonment to be followed by two years’ SIS for aggravated assault of a family member
and six years’ SIS for first-degree terroristic threatening in case No. 2016-2161. Appellant
filed a timely notice of appeal on October 3, 2018.
3 I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
To revoke probation, the State must prove the violation of at least one condition of
the probation by a preponderance of the evidence. Jones v. State, 355 Ark. 630, 144 S.W.3d
254 (2004). A circuit court may revoke probation if it finds, by a preponderance of the
evidence, that the defendant inexcusably failed to comply with a single condition of his or
her probation. See Ark. Code Ann. § 16-93-308(d) (Supp. 2017). On appellate review, the
circuit court’s findings will be upheld unless they are clearly against the preponderance of
the evidence. Young v. State, 2018 Ark. App. 517, at 2–3, 563 S.W.3d 599, 600–01.
In his first point on appeal, appellant contends that “the trial court erred in entering
a finding of true to counts 1, 2, 4, and 7 of the petition for revocation of suspension or
probation.” Specifically, he contends that that there was insufficient evidence that he was
provided with explicit written conditions of his probation and that any violation of the no-
contact order was excusable.
Appellant argues that because the sentencing order introduced by the State did not
contain any written conditions other than to have no contact with Ms. Kellems, there was
insufficient evidence that conditions were imposed, and thus the circuit court could not
revoke on the basis of those conditions. This court has held, specifically with regard to
revocation proceedings, that an argument that the State failed to introduce a copy of the
terms and conditions of a suspended or probationary sentence is a procedural objection that
must be raised before the circuit court. Myers v. State, 2014 Ark. App. 720, at 3, 451 S.W.3d
588, 590. Appellant did not raise this objection below, and thus it is not preserved for appeal.
Additionally, appellant admitted violating several of his rules of probation.
4 However, appellant contends that violating the condition not to leave the state by
driving over the state line to purchase groceries and gas for his business and violating the
no-contact order were excusable violations. We need not reach the merits of appellant’s
arguments challenging the sufficiency of the evidence regarding these violations because he
has failed to challenge the other bases for the revocation: failing to report to his probation
officer upon release from incarceration, failing to report changes of residence, and
consuming alcohol. When the circuit court bases its decision based on multiple independent
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
Cite as 2019 Ark. App. 362 Digitally signed by Elizabeth Perry ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS Date: 2022.07.25 11:21:22 DIVISION IV -05'00' No. CR-18-1049 Adobe Acrobat version: 2022.001.20169 Opinion Delivered: September 11, 2019 BRANDON MICHAEL CLARK
APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE BENTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT V. [NOS. 04CR-17-1369 & 04CR-16- 2161] STATE OF ARKANSAS
APPELLEE HONORABLE BRAD KARREN, JUDGE
AFFIRMED
RITA W. GRUBER, Chief Judge
Appellant Brandon Michael Clark appeals from an order revoking his probationary
sentences and sentencing him to an aggregate of twenty years’ imprisonment, followed by
two years’ suspended imposition of sentence. On appeal, he argues that the evidence is
insufficient to support the revocation and that the sentences imposed by the circuit court
were so unduly harsh that the sentences constituted an abuse of discretion. We affirm.
On April 25, 2017, appellant entered a negotiated guilty plea to aggravated assault
on a family member and first-degree terroristic threatening in case No. 2016-2161, both
Class D felonies. The victim of the offenses was appellant’s mother, Linda Kellems.
Appellant was sentenced to four years’ probation for each offense, and numerous other
charges were nolle prossed. He was ordered to pay court costs and fines, as well as abide by the conditions of probation. In addition, a no-contact order with his mother was modified
to a no-violence order.
The State filed a petition to revoke his probation on May 3, 2018, alleging that
appellant committed the offense of aggravated assault of a family member on July 18, 2017.
On May 3, 2018, appellant entered a negotiated plea of guilty to second-degree domestic
battery and aggravated assault of a family member in case No. 2017-1369, Class D and C
felonies respectively. He was sentenced to six years’ probation for each offense. In addition,
appellant entered a negotiated guilty plea in the revocation case, and the court extended his
probation by two years for both offenses in case No. 2016-2161. The sentencing order
entered May 9, 2018, included a condition that appellant have no contact with Linda
Kellems.
On July 31, 2018, the State filed a petition to revoke appellant’s probation in cases
Nos. 2016-2161 and 2017-1369, alleging that he violated the conditions of his probation.
Specifically the State alleged that appellant (1) failed to report to his supervising officer after
being released from incarceration; (2) left the state without permission of his supervising
officer; (3) failed to pay fines, fees, and costs as ordered by the court; (4) failed to report
changes of residence to his supervising officer; (5) committed the offense of third-degree
domestic battery on or about July 29, 2018; (6) violated the no-contact order on or about
July 30, 2018; and (7) consumed alcoholic beverages on or about July 29, 2018.
A revocation hearing took place on September 11, 2018. Matthew Jenkins,
appellant’s probation officer, testified that appellant failed to report after being released from
incarceration, traveled outside the state without permission, failed to report his change of
2 address, violated the no-contact order, and consumed alcoholic beverages. Bella Vista police
officer Cole Byers testified that he reported to an incident at Linda Kellems’s home on July
29, 2018, where appellant was present and appeared to be intoxicated. The State also
introduced surveillance videos from Kellems’s neighbor, which showed appellant at
Kellems’s home on July 29.
Appellant testified at the hearing and admitted that he failed to report to his probation
officer after his release from incarceration, failed to report his change of residence, and
consumed alcohol. While he also admitted traveling across the state line, not paying fines
and fees, and violating the no-contact order, he claimed that the violations were excusable.
He explained that his probation officer told him he could travel across the state line for
work, gas, and groceries, that he was going to assist his mother, and that the 120-day grace
period for paying the fines had yet to expire.
Following the hearing, the court found that the State had met its burden of proof on
all counts except the failure to pay fines. In addition, the court granted the State’s motion
to dismiss count five—the third-degree domestic-battery allegation. The sentencing order
entered on September 18, 2018, reflects that appellant was sentenced to ten years’
imprisonment for second-degree domestic battery and six years’ imprisonment for
aggravated assault on a family member in case No. 2017-1369, as well as four years’
imprisonment to be followed by two years’ SIS for aggravated assault of a family member
and six years’ SIS for first-degree terroristic threatening in case No. 2016-2161. Appellant
filed a timely notice of appeal on October 3, 2018.
3 I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
To revoke probation, the State must prove the violation of at least one condition of
the probation by a preponderance of the evidence. Jones v. State, 355 Ark. 630, 144 S.W.3d
254 (2004). A circuit court may revoke probation if it finds, by a preponderance of the
evidence, that the defendant inexcusably failed to comply with a single condition of his or
her probation. See Ark. Code Ann. § 16-93-308(d) (Supp. 2017). On appellate review, the
circuit court’s findings will be upheld unless they are clearly against the preponderance of
the evidence. Young v. State, 2018 Ark. App. 517, at 2–3, 563 S.W.3d 599, 600–01.
In his first point on appeal, appellant contends that “the trial court erred in entering
a finding of true to counts 1, 2, 4, and 7 of the petition for revocation of suspension or
probation.” Specifically, he contends that that there was insufficient evidence that he was
provided with explicit written conditions of his probation and that any violation of the no-
contact order was excusable.
Appellant argues that because the sentencing order introduced by the State did not
contain any written conditions other than to have no contact with Ms. Kellems, there was
insufficient evidence that conditions were imposed, and thus the circuit court could not
revoke on the basis of those conditions. This court has held, specifically with regard to
revocation proceedings, that an argument that the State failed to introduce a copy of the
terms and conditions of a suspended or probationary sentence is a procedural objection that
must be raised before the circuit court. Myers v. State, 2014 Ark. App. 720, at 3, 451 S.W.3d
588, 590. Appellant did not raise this objection below, and thus it is not preserved for appeal.
Additionally, appellant admitted violating several of his rules of probation.
4 However, appellant contends that violating the condition not to leave the state by
driving over the state line to purchase groceries and gas for his business and violating the
no-contact order were excusable violations. We need not reach the merits of appellant’s
arguments challenging the sufficiency of the evidence regarding these violations because he
has failed to challenge the other bases for the revocation: failing to report to his probation
officer upon release from incarceration, failing to report changes of residence, and
consuming alcohol. When the circuit court bases its decision based on multiple independent
grounds, and the appellant fails to attack any independent, alternative bases, the appellate
court will affirm. Williams v. State, 2016 Ark. App. 601, at 5, 509 S.W.3d 677, 680.
Even considering appellant’s argument, we find no merit. Appellant admitted
violating the no-contact order but argues that his violation was excusable because his mother
was in need of help. At an April 23, 2018 hearing, appellant changed his plea and entered a
negotiated guilty plea in case No. 2017-1369. The following colloquy took place:
THE COURT: Mr. Clark, you have not shown this court any confidence that you’re not going to follow this court’s orders not [to] contact your mother. You’ve done so repeatedly, in violation of this court’s order, and I have very little confidence you’re going to be able to do that.
That being said, the State is agreeing to allow you to remain out and just hope among hope that you will follow this court’s order. I want to make it perfectly clear to you that if you do anything to violate this court’s order I will vacate your release status and you will sit in jail. Do you understand?
[APPELLANT]: I do, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Do you believe me when I tell you that?
[APPELLANT]: I do.
THE COURT: Do you have confidence that I will do that?
5 [APPELLANT]: I do, Your Honor.
Appellant again acknowledged at the May 3, 2018 sentencing hearing in cases Nos. 2016-
2161 and 2017-1369 that he understood he was to have no contact with his mother. The
circuit court’s finding that appellant willfully violated the no-contact order is not clearly
against the preponderance of the evidence.
II. Sentence
For his second point on appeal, appellant argues that the circuit court abused its
discretion by sentencing him to twenty years’ imprisonment followed by eight years’ SIS.
Although appellant recognizes that the sentences imposed were within the statutory range,
he contends that the total sentence is unduly harsh and constitutes an abuse of discretion
because the circuit court ordered the maximum sentences to run consecutively.
Sentencing in Arkansas is entirely a matter of statute, and no sentence shall be
imposed other than as prescribed by statute. Lenard v. State, 2014 Ark. 478, at 3, 522 S.W.3d
118, 120. When the sentence given is within the maximum prescribed by law, the sentence
is not illegal because the court has the authority to impose it. Richie v. State, 2009 Ark. 602,
at 5, 357 S.W.3d 909, 912. This court has held that the circuit court has discretion to set
punishment within the statutory range of punishment provided for a particular crime.
Whitmore v. State, 2018 Ark. App. 44, at 5, 539 S.W.3d 596, 599. Moreover, our supreme
court has held that it will not reduce a sentence, even if it considers it unduly harsh, if it falls
within the legislative limits of the General Assembly. Brown v. State, 2010 Ark. 420, at 16,
378 S.W.3d 66, 75. If a sentence is within the limits set by the legislature, the appellate
court is not at liberty to reduce it. Williams v. State, 320 Ark. 498, 898 S.W.2d 38 (1995).
6 It is apparent from the record that the judgment and sentence entered against
appellant is lawful. When the circuit court revokes a defendant’s probation, it may enter a
judgment of conviction and may impose any sentence on the defendant that might have
been imposed originally for the offense of which he or she was found guilty. Ark. Code
Ann. § 16-93-308(g)(1)(A) (Supp. 2017). Appellant was placed on probation for four
offenses: (1) Class C felony of second-degree domestic battery; (2) two counts of Class D
felony aggravated assault on a family member; and (3) Class D felony terroristic threatening.
See Ark. Code Ann. § 5-26-304; Ark. Code Ann. § 5-26-306(A)(3) (Repl. 2013); Ark.
Code Ann. § 5-13-301 (Supp. 2017). A Class C felony carries a maximum sentence of ten
years’ imprisonment, and a Class D felony carries a maximum sentence of six years’
imprisonment. See Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-401(a)(4)−(5) (Repl. 2013)
Appellant was sentenced to the following: (1) ten years’ imprisonment for second-
degree domestic battery; (2) six years’ imprisonment for one count of aggravated assault on
a family member; (3) four years’ imprisonment followed by two years’ SIS for one count of
aggravated assault on a family member; and (4) six years’ SIS for first-degree terroristic
threatening. The court ordered the sentences to run consecutively, except the six years’ SIS
for first-degree terroristic threatening, which was to run concurrent to the second-degree
battery sentence. The sentences imposed by the circuit court were within the statutory range
prescribed by law.
Further, the decision to sentence a defendant to concurrent or consecutive sentences
for multiple convictions is governed by Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-403(a) (Repl. 2013). It is
well settled that it is within the discretion of the circuit court to decide whether a defendant’s
7 sentences run concurrently or consecutively, and the appellant bears the heavy burden to
establish that the circuit court abused or failed to exercise that discretion. Throneberry v. State,
2009 Ark. 507, at 7, 342 S.W.3d 269, 272.
Here, the circuit court had been repeatedly lenient with appellant and warned him
of the potential consequences of violating the no-contact order. However, in spite of
acknowledging his understanding to the circuit court as mentioned above, appellant
continued to violate the no-contact order. The circuit court’s exercise of discretion is
evidenced by its comments to appellant at sentencing:
Hopefully, your reign of terror on your mother will be done and maybe she can pass on peacefully these last few years without you there. That’s the hope of this court. In violating the no-contact order, you did so at her risk for your own selfish benefits. It’s done.
Based on the above principles, the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in
imposing sentences that fell within the statutory range and ordering them to run
consecutively. Therefore, we affirm.
Affirmed.
SWITZER and WHITEAKER, JJ., agree.
Scholl Law Firm, P.L.L.C., by: Scott A. Scholl, for appellant.
Leslie Rutledge, Att’y Gen., by: Rebecca Kane, Ass’t Att’y Gen., for appellee.