Cynthia Bell v. State of Indiana

59 N.E.3d 959, 2016 Ind. LEXIS 672
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 29, 2016
Docket49S02-1609-CR-511
StatusPublished
Cited by28 cases

This text of 59 N.E.3d 959 (Cynthia Bell v. State of Indiana) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cynthia Bell v. State of Indiana, 59 N.E.3d 959, 2016 Ind. LEXIS 672 (Ind. 2016).

Opinions

DAVID, Justice.

Indiana Code § 35-38-2-2.3(a)(6) allows a trial court to order a defendant to pay restitution to a victim as a condition of probation, but the defendant’s ability to pay must be considered before the order to pay restitution is entered. In the present case, we find that the trial court abused its discretion because the evidence before the court was insufficient to conclude defendant had the ability to pay. As such, the ordered restitution is vacated.

Facts and Procedural History

On August 4, 2014, Cynthia Bell arrived at the home of Falencia Kirkland at 4:30 a.m. and began banging on the .windows and doors of Kirkland’s apartment. When Kirkland looked out of the window of her home, she saw Bell beating and banging on her rental car, a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Kirkland called the police, but Bell left before they arrived. However, Bell quickly returned and continued to cause damage to Kirkland’s property. Bell threw a brick through a window of Kirkland’s residence and damaged Kirkland’s 2007 Kia Spoilage, which Kirkland owned. Kirkland called the police two more times to report Bell’s actions.

Bell was subsequently charged with Class B misdemeanor criminal mischief.1 The case proceeded to a bench trial, and Bell was found guilty as charged. Bell was sentenced to 180 days, with 178 days suspended. After sentencing, the trial court held a separate hearing to determine the amount of restitution Bell owed. At the hearing, Kirkland testified about the costs that she incurred from repairing the damage done to her two vehicles and estimates for the repairs were admitted into evidence.

Bell then testified as to her ability to pay. Bell explained that she had' not worked in over twenty years and supports herself on monthly disability checks (SSI). Her monthly checks are $730.00. She uses that money to pay her rent, light bill, phone bill, dog expenses, food, and her own expenses. She has no money left over at the end of the month, and she also relies on food pantries. Bell has no money in the bank and no other assets. Neither the State nor the trial court asked Bell any further questions about her financial situation. The Court ultimately concluded that Bell owed $932.30 in restitution and had the ability to pay in weekly installments of $20.00 or monthly installments of approximately $80.00. The payment of restitution was ordered as a condition of Bell’s probation.

Bell appealed the ordered restitution, arguing that it exceeds what she can or will be able to pay, which is the standard set out in Indiana Code § 35-38-2-2.3(a)(6). Bell argued that she presented evidence that she had no extra money at the end of each month, and the State did not rebut this evidence. (Id.) Thus, Bell [962]*962argued the .ordered restitution was. an abuse of discretion.

A majority of the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court, concluding that, based upon the record, it was not an abuse of discretion to determine that Bell could pay $20.00 per week or $80.00 per month in restitution. Bell v. State, No. 49A02-1504-CR-000234, 2016 WL 390262 (Ind.Ct. App. February 2, 2016). Judge Crone dissented with a separate opinion asserting that nothing in the trial court record demonstrated that Bell, an indigent defendant, had the ability to pay $20.00 per week in restitution, specifically noting that the State failed to develop the record as to Bell’s actual expenses. Id., Slip Op. at *9. Judge Crone favored reversing the trial court’s restitution order. Id.

This Court now grants transfer, thereby vacating the opinion of the Court of Appeals. Ind. Appellate Rule 58(A).

Standard of Review

A trial court’s determinations in setting probation are set aside only where the trial court has abused its discretion. Kays v. State, 963 N.E.2d 507, 509 (Ind.2012). “An order of restitution lies within this discretion and will likewise be reversed only for abuse of discretion,” .Id.

Discussion

Before addressing whether the trial court abused its discretion in ordering restitution, we note as a threshold matter that Bell has not waived her ability to challenge the restitution order due to her failure to object to the order at the time it was entered. “[A]n order of restitution is as much a part of a criminal sentence as a fine or other penalty.” Miller v. State, 502 N.E.2d 92, 95 (Ind.1986); “[T]his Court and the Court of Appeals review many claims of sentencing error (improper consideration of an aggravating circumstance, failure to consider a proper mitigating circumstance, inaccurate weighing of aggravating and mitigating circumstances, etc.) without insisting that the claim first be presented to the trial judge.” Kincaid v. State, 837 N.E.2d 1008, 1010 (Ind.2005). Although there have been eases in which appeals on restitution were waived due to the failure to make an objection at trial, “the vast weight of the recent case law in this state indicates that appellate courts will review a trial court’s restitution order even when the defendant did not object based on the rationale that a restitution order is part of the sentence, and it is the duty of the appellate courts to bring illegal sentences into compliance.” Rich v. State, 890 N.E.2d 44, 48 (Ind.Ct.App.2008) (internal quotations and citations omitted). Thus, we choose to address the merits of Bell’s argument that the trial court abused its discretion by setting an order of restitution for an indigent defendant as a condition of probation.2

After review of our .restitution statute, precedent, and the record in this case, we conclude that the trial court was permitted to order restitution as a condition of probation, despite Bell having been found indigent for other purposes. However, the record does not reflect that Bell was actually able to pay restitution. Because an order of restitution as a condition of probation requires the trial court to determine that the defendant can or will be able to pay, we hold that the trial court abused its discretion.

The Trial Court Abused Its Discretion by Failing to Consider Defendant’s Actual Ability to Pay.

Under Indiana Code § 35-38-2-2.3(a)(6),

[963]*963As a condition of probation, the court may require a person to ... [m]ake restitution or reparation to the victim of the crime for damage or injury that .was .sustained by the victim. When restitution or reparation is a condition of probation, the court shall fix the amount, which may not exceed an amount the person can or will be able to pay, and shall fix the manner of performance.

Bell argues that in some circumstances, a defendant who has been found indigent for other purposes should also be found indigent as to their ability to.pay restitution. Bell asserts that she demonstrated that she has no disposable income left at the end of each month and this was not rebutted with any evidence demonstrating she had' resources that could be reallocated in order to pay for restitution. Thus, it was an abuse of discretion under the restitution statute to order Bell to pay any amount of restitution as a condition of probation.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
59 N.E.3d 959, 2016 Ind. LEXIS 672, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cynthia-bell-v-state-of-indiana-ind-2016.