Brock v. State

558 N.E.2d 872, 1990 Ind. App. LEXIS 1086, 1990 WL 121925
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 20, 1990
DocketNo. 38A02-8903-CR-103
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 558 N.E.2d 872 (Brock v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brock v. State, 558 N.E.2d 872, 1990 Ind. App. LEXIS 1086, 1990 WL 121925 (Ind. Ct. App. 1990).

Opinion

SULLIVAN, Judge.

Christopher Berry Brock (Brock) appeals his conviction and sentence for Driving While License Suspended, a class A misdemeanor, and Possession of Marijuana, a class D felony.

We affirm in part and reverse in part.

On April 28, 1988, Brock was charged by information with possession of marijuana and driving while his license was suspended. Trial by jury resulted in Brock's conviction on both counts.

Brock was sentenced to one (1) year at the Jay County Jail on the driving while suspended charge and "three (8) years at the Indiana Department of Corrections" on the possession charge. Record at 84. Two years of the marijuana sentence were suspended, with the balance to be served at the Jay County Jail. Both terms were to be served consecutively. Brock was ordered to reimburse the Jay County Jail $10.00 per day for room and board. He was also ordered to pay $800.00 to the County Weed Eradication Fund. Brock was placed on probation for three (8) years following his incarceration. One of those years was to be served under home detention.

Brock's appeal presents the following issues:

[874]*874(1) Whether it was error to allow the jury, during deliberations, to view exhibits containing marijuana.
(2) Whether the following aspects of sentencing are erroneous:
(a) Whether an enhanced sentence is supported by the record and reasons stated therein?
(b) Whether Brock was improperly confined in the Jay County Jail?
(c) Whether it was error to impose home detention upon Brock's release from jail?
(d) Whether the order imposing house arrest is facially invalid?
(e) Whether the court could properly order that Brock have no visitors during the period of his home detention?
(£) Whether the effect of certain conditions of probation constitutes eruel and unusual punishment?
(g) Whether the $10.00 per day room and board fee was improper?
(h) Whether the trial court erred in ordering Brock to pay $300.00 to the marijuana eradication fund?
(i) Whether the length of the term of probation is in error?

I.

During deliberations, the jury requested that it be allowed to review exhibits containing marijuana. Over objection of defense counsel, the request was granted. Brock alleges that this allowed undue emphasis to be placed on these exhibits relative to other evidence.

In fact, the jury was allowed to review all the evidence. The record reveals that a request was made to review the marijuana and counsel for defense was given the opportunity to object. He did so, first, on the basis that the jury should be allowed to see all the evidence. He then objected to the jury reviewing any evidence because it had already been seen.

The court overruled counsel's objection and returned the jury to the courtroom:

"JUROR: We're here to look at the items of evidence. Do we do that in the Jury box?
THE COURT: No. Eh, I just want to note for the record that the jury has been returned to the courtroom. You may be seated. This is the evidence table. This is all the evidence that's admitted. You may review it.
JUROR: Can we also review these?
THE COURT: Yes. Yes, you can review all the evidence." Record at 258.

Our Supreme Court has held that the practice of allowing jury review of evidence is "clearly provided for." Long v. State (1981) Ind., 422 N.E.2d 284, 287. There is no error where, as here, "all the exhibits were reviewed in open court with both parties present and no undue emphasis was placed upon any particular exhibit." Id.

IL.

As noted, Brock attacks his sentence upon numerous grounds:

(A) Whether Brock's sentence is adequately supported by the record.

One who commits a class A misdemeanor may receive a sentence of up to one year. I.C. 35-50-8-2 (Burns Code Ed.1985). The presumptive sentence for a class D felony is two years and up to two years may be added for aggravating circumstances. IC. 35-50-2-7(a). - Brock received the maximum sentence upon his class A misdemean- or conviction and three years upon the class D felony charge. In addition, the terms were required to be served consecutively.

When a trial court imposes an increased or consecutive sentence, the record must reflect sufficient reasons therefor. The statement by the trial court must contain three elements: (1) identification of all significant mitigating and aggravating circumstances, (2) specific facts and reasons which lead the court to find the existence of each cireumstance, and (8) articulation demonstrating the balancing of significant mitigating and aggravating circumstances. Coates v. State (1989) Ind., 534 N.E.2d 1087; Hammons v. State (1986) Ind., 493 N.E.2d 1250. Brock argues that the trial [875]*875court did not adequately comply with this requirement.

The trial court found as a mitigating factor the hardship that would be placed upon Brock's family if he were given long-term imprisonment. However the court listed numerous aggravating factors, including (1) prior convictions of a similar nature, (2) the failure to undergo counseling or do something meaningful about his "habit", (8) the large quantity of marijuana involved in the present case, (4) the failure of defendant to respond to less severe penalties, (5) the belief that the imposition of a reduced sentence would depreciate the seriousness of the offense, (6) defendant's threat to a police officer after the trial, and (7) defendant's lack of remorse.

The record sufficiently supports the imposition of enhanced and consecutive sentences. See e.g., Stewart v. State (1988) Ind., 531 N.E.2d 1146, 1150; Dumbsky v. State (1987) Ind., 508 N.E.2d 1274, 1278; Roland v. State (1986) Ind., 501 N.E.2d 1034, 1040-41; White v. State (1986) Ind., 495 N.E.2d 725, 729.

(B) Confinement in Jay County Jail.

Next, appellant asserts he was improperly confined in the Jay County Jail. Brock was sentenced to one year at the Jay County Jail on the driving while suspended charge, a misdemeanor. He also received "three years at the Indiana Department of Correction on the possession of marijuana charge." Record at 8345. The court ordered execution of one year on the possession charge, stating "I'll allow that to be served at the Jay County Jail," consecutive to the sentence for driving while suspended. Record at 345.

The order on sentencing, however, directed the clerk to "issue commitment papers to the Sheriff of Jay County for two (2) years with good time, and credit for time served with work release." Record at 84.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
558 N.E.2d 872, 1990 Ind. App. LEXIS 1086, 1990 WL 121925, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brock-v-state-indctapp-1990.