Devin M. Reith v. State of Indiana (mem.dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 11, 2019
• Docket: 18A-CR-2440
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED this Memorandum Decision shall not be Mar 11 2019, 8:47 am regarded as precedent or cited before any court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals the defense of res judicata, collateral and Tax Court

estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE John M. Haecker Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Auburn, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana Ian McLean Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Devin M. Reith, March 11, 2019 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 18A-CR-2440 v. Appeal from the DeKalb Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Monte L. Brown, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 17D02-1702-F5-14

Tavitas, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 1 of 13 Case Summary [1] Devin M. Reith appeals the trial court’s revocation of his probation and the

imposition of his previously-suspended sentence. We affirm.

Issues [2] Reith raises a single issue on appeal, which we restate as follows:

I. Whether the trial court abused its discretion when it revoked Reith’s probation.

II. Whether the trial court erred when it imposed Reith’s previously-suspended sentence.

Facts [3] On February 22, 2017, Reith struck Evan Rehl in the head with a shovel and

caused Rehl to suffer a deep laceration on the left side of his head. The incident

occurred in DeKalb County. On February 22, 2017, the State charged Reith

with battery, a Level 5 felony. On July 31, 2017, Reith pleaded guilty to one

count of battery, a Level 5 felony. The plea agreement provided the following

“additional, specific” terms: “As a term of probation, [Reith] must get

counseling and apply for Recovery Works.” 1 Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 31.

1 According to the Family and Social Services Administration’s website:

Recovery Works focuses on pre-incarceration diversion services and post-incarceration re-entry services, which not only hopes to divert low-level offenders from incarceration to community services, but to reduce recidivism by 20%, as well. Promoting recovery through community support and treatment/intervention is critical in reducing the

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 2 of 13 [4] At Reith’s guilty plea hearing, the trial court asked defense counsel, “[J]ust so

I’m clear, what counseling is contemplated as a possibility?” Defense counsel

responded, “[P]robation will probably look into that Judge, but, they, they may

contemplate, um, an anger management class and/or, um, some substance

abuse stuff. You know, that’s, that’s how we always end up in these sort of

situations.” Tr. Vol. II p. 12. The trial court then asked Reith, “[Do] you

understand that [ ]?” Id. Reith responded, “Yes.” Id. The trial court accepted

the plea agreement.

[5] At Reith’s sentencing hearing on August 28, 2017, counsel for the State argued

that the attack on Rehl was “somewhat fueled if not largely fueled by a

substance abuse issue[.]” Id. at 20. Defense counsel stated,

. . . [Reith]’s had some subst-some substance abuse, uh, issues. Um, and substance abuse played a big part in what was going on this evening . . . . I think . . . the State may have hit the nail right on the head in that, uh, . . . it’s time to get a handle of things, it’s time to deal with the substance abuse, and [Reith] has his first child, uh, coming due in November and, uh, maybe that will also be, uh, a motivation for some maturity, um, into take, uh, this substance abuse, uh, counseling, maybe some, some of the other counseling as recommended seriously.

number of persons with mental health and addiction disorders that are entering our criminal justice system.

https://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/2940.htm (last visited Feb. 26, 2019).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 3 of 13 Id. at 21. The trial court sentenced Reith to five years in the Department of

Correction, ordered 248 days to be executed in the Department of Correction,

and suspended four years and 117 days to probation. The court gave Reith 186

actual days of accrued credit time and deemed the executed portion of Reith’s

sentence already served at sentencing. In releasing Reith to probation, the trial

court stated: “. . .[T]here are formal rules of probation, it will include Recovery

Works, that sort of thing. Um, Devin, again, I, I just can’t stress enough the

importance of towing [sic] the line. You’re at the end of the line. Okay?” Id. at

25.

[6] The Rules of Probation entered as to Reith included the following: “You shall

not possess, use, sell, distribute, or have in your control any controlled

substances or synthetic drugs without a prescription”; and “[y]ou shall undergo

an assessment for possible program placement, if assessment is deemed

necessary by the staff with the DeKalb County Courts. You shall satisfactorily

complete any program indicated by [the] assessment.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II

pp. 95-96. Reith signed the written rules of probation that outlined the

conditions of his probation on August 28, 2017. The rules of probation stated,

in part: “You shall undergo assessment for possible program placement, if

assessment is deemed necessary . . . .[y]ou shall satisfactorily complete any

program indicated by assessment.” Id. at 96.

[7] On September 5, 2017, the trial court entered its order and judgment for felony

sentencing, which included the following provisions:

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 4 of 13 *****

8. For the conviction of the criminal offense of Battery, a Level 5 Felony, the Court sentences [Reith] to 5 years of incarceration at the Indiana Department of Correction[ ] or the DeKalb County Jail 248 days to be served as an executed sentence followed by 4 years and 117 days of suspended sentence upon his compliance with the Rules, Terms and Conditions of Probation, to be supervised by the DeKalb County Probation Department.

*****

11. Written Rules of Probation have been reviewed with [Reith] in open Court, he has signed them promising that he will obey them, he has been given a copy of' them, and he is Ordered to comply with them. Said Rules are incorporated herein and made a part of this Order by reference thereto. Said Rules, which include a requirement that [Reith] successfully complete the Recovery Works Program, are incorporated herein and made a part of this Order by reference thereto.

Id. at 100-01. Reith subsequently underwent an assessment, which yielded

recommendations that Reith should complete anger management classes and a

substance abuse program administered by the Northeastern Center.

[8] On April 25, 2018, Reith tested positive for amphetamine and

methamphetamine. On May 24, 2018, the State filed a petition to revoke

Reith’s probation due to the failed drug tests and his failure to participate in the

Northeastern Center’s substance abuse program.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 5 of 13 [9] The trial court conducted a hearing on the petition to revoke Reith’s probation

on September 10, 2018. Johanna Scott of the DeKalb Probation Department

testified that, as part of his probation, Reith “was ordered to complete an Anger

Management Program and then follow through with Northeastern Center”; and

that, although Reith completed the anger management program, he failed to

complete substance abuse counseling with the Northeastern Center. Tr. Vol. II

p. 40. Under direct examination of probation officer Scott, the following

exchange occurred:

Q. Uh, Ms. Scott, as part of his probation, was [Reith] ordered to complete the program at the Northeastern Center?

A. Yes, he was ordered to complete an Anger Management Program and then follow through with Northeastern Center.

Q. All right. Did he complete the rest of program [sic] that you required?

A. No sir.

Q. All right. And did he go to some of those classes?

A. Yeah, actually he, so according to the reports from Northeastern Center, he completed, he was scheduled to complete four (4) anger management groups and then he attended all four (4) of those. He was also scheduled to complete twenty five (25) substance abuse groups in which he attended eleven (11), no-showed on eight (8), and cancelled six (6).

Q. All right. And-

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 6 of 13 THE COURT: Which program was that?

THE WITNESS: That’s for the substance abuse group, through the Northeastern Center.

THE COURT: Okay.

Q. And um, what is, what is, when was the last time he was actually participating in that program? Can you tell from the report?

A. The, as far as I can see, the reports state that he has not returned to services since his last group on January 3rd, 2018. He did contact his counselor on April 25th and discussed that he would return to group on May 2nd and he has not done that.

Q. All right. Um, so as far as you can tell, the last contact, actual appointment he went to, the group that he was supposed to was January?

A. That’s correct.

Q. Okay. And he said he was gonna (sic) restart in May and he just didn’t do it?

Q. Since then, do you know if he’s had any contact with Northeastern Center?

A. Um, according to these reports, no.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 7 of 13 Id. at 40-41. Scott also testified that Reith was not a good candidate to continue

on probation.

[10] In closing remarks to the trial court, defense counsel acknowledged that Reith

“did not successfully complete all of the Northeastern Center [substance abuse

counseling], but he did complete a substantial portion of that and wants to

continue that.” Id. at 51. Reith also addressed the trial court and stated: “I’m

willing to go through with, with the Northeastern Center, uh, complete the rest

of my, my classes that I need to attend.” Id. At the close of the evidence, the

trial court stated:

Um, Devin, while . . . I say this at every probation violation hearing. While I don’t specifically remember telling you thing [sic], it’s part of my mantra, it’s part of what I say, it’s part of what I do at every sentencing hearing. Um, before you sign those rules of probation, read them over, make certain you understand them and then if you have any questions, don’t sign them until you’ve got those questions answered either by the probation officer or by your lawyer. And the reason I say that is because, as I continue on to tell people, um, those are rules that you must abide by and if you fail to do that, there is a price to pay and I don’t want you to have to pay that price, that’s why I want you to read ‘em (sic) and understand ‘em (sic) because as I say, I’m going to hold your feet to the fire and that’s what I’m going to do. Probation Department is, uh, unwilling to, um, work with you any further. They think they’ve gone as far as they can do considering your willingness and your, um, commitment to the use and, um, clearly you have violated, uh, the two (2) allegations made in the Petition in that, uh, you failed to fully participate in the NEC programs and you failed, um, a chemical test by testing positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine[.]

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 8 of 13 Id. at 54. The trial court then revoked Reith’s probation and ordered him to

serve the balance of his previously-suspended sentence. Reith now appeals.

Analysis [11] Reith argues that the trial court abused its discretion when it revoked his

suspended sentence and ordered him to serve the remainder of his previously-

suspended sentence. Probation serves as an “alternative[ ] to commitment to

the Department of Correction[,]” and is “[granted] at the sole discretion of the

trial court.” Cox v. State, 706 N.E.2d 547, 549 (Ind. 1999), reh’g denied. “Once a

trial court has exercised its grace by ordering probation rather than

incarceration, the judge should have considerable leeway in deciding how to

proceed.” Prewitt v. State, 878 N.E.2d 184, 188 (Ind. 2007).

[12] A trial court determines the conditions of probation and may revoke probation

if the conditions are violated. Id.; see also Ind. Code § 35-38-2-3(a). Violation of

a single condition of probation is sufficient to revoke probation. Gosha v. State,

873 N.E.2d 660, 663 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). Upon determining that a

probationer has violated a condition of probation, the trial court may “[o]rder

execution of all or part of the sentence that was suspended at the time of initial

sentencing.” I.C. § 35-38-2-3(h)(3).

[13] When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a probation

revocation, we consider only the evidence most favorable to the judgment

without reweighing the evidence or judging witnesses’ credibility. Figures v.

State, 920 N.E.2d 267, 272 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). A probation revocation

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 9 of 13 hearing is civil in nature, and the State’s burden is to prove the alleged

violations by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. “If there is substantial

evidence of probative value to support the trial court’s conclusion that a

defendant has violated any terms of probation, we will affirm its decision to

revoke probation.” Id. Our Supreme Court has held that “a trial court’s

sentencing decisions for probation violations are reviewable using the abuse of

discretion standard.” Prewitt, 878 N.E.2d at 188. An abuse of discretion occurs

where the decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and

circumstances before the court. Id.

[14] Reith was found to have violated his probation by failing to comply with the

rules of probation by satisfactorily completing substance abuse counseling with

the Northeastern Center. 2 Reith does not appeal the revocation based upon his

use of amphetamine and methamphetamine. Revocation based on one

violation is sufficient. See Gosha, 873 N.E.2d at 663. Nevertheless, we will

address Reith’s argument regarding the trial court’s other basis for revoking his

probation.

[15] Reith contends that “[o]ther than the anger management program which Reith

was ordered to complete and did complete, it is not clear which additional

program he was ordered to complete.” Appellant’s Br. p. 7. We cannot agree.

2 The State did not allege that Reith failed to meet his Recovery Works obligation.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 10 of 13 [16] When the trial court places a person on probation, the court must specify on the

record the conditions of the probation and give the person a written statement

specifying his conditions of probation. I.C. §§ 35-38-2-1; -2.3. “Thus, the law

generally requires that if a person is placed on probation, the trial court must

provide the defendant a written statement containing the terms and conditions

of probation at the sentencing hearing.” Gil v. State, 988 N.E.2d 1231, 1234

(Ind. Ct. App. 2013). However, we have previously held that the trial court’s

failure to provide written probation terms may be harmless error if the

defendant has been orally advised of the conditions and acknowledges that he

understands them. Id.

[17] We initially note that, during the trial court’s hearing on the State’s petition to

revoke Reith’s probation, Reith did not assert that the trial court failed to advise

him of an explicit condition of probation. It is well settled that a party may not

present an argument or issue to an appellate court unless the party raised the

same argument or issue before the trial court. See Craig v. State, 883 N.E.2d

218, 220 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). Therefore, Reith has waived his claim.

[18] Waiver notwithstanding, Reith’s claim fails on the merits. Reith’s signed plea

agreement provided, “[ ]As a term of probation, [Reith] must get counseling . . .

.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 31. The trial court also advised Reith that, as a

term of his probation, he was required to undergo an assessment for services

and satisfactorily complete any programs that were recommended as a result of

the assessment. See Gil, 988 N.E.2d at 1234. Additionally, Reith signed written

rules of probation, which stated: “You shall undergo assessment for possible

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 11 of 13 program placement, if assessment is deemed necessary . . . .[y]ou shall

satisfactorily complete any program indicated by [the] assessment.”

Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 96.

[19] Probation officer Scott testified that Reith was referred for anger management

as well as substance abuse programming. Although Reith completed anger

management classes, he failed to complete substance abuse treatment through

the Northeastern Center and also tested positive for methamphetamine and

amphetamine. The State, thus, proved two probation violations. See Gosha,

873 N.E.2d at 663 (holding that proof of a single violation is sufficient to permit

a trial court to revoke probation). The trial court properly revoked Reith’s

[20] As for the trial court’s imposition of Reith’s previously-imposed sentence, it is

well-settled that, upon determining that a probationer has violated a condition

of probation, the trial court may “[o]rder execution of all or part of the sentence

that was suspended at the time of initial sentencing.” I.C. § 35-38-2-3(h)(3); see

Knecht v. State, 85 N.E.3d 829, 840 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017) (finding the trial court

did not abuse its discretion in ordering probationer to serve his previously-

suspended sentence after the trial court revoked the probationer’s probation).

[21] In light of the foregoing, the trial court’s revocation of Reith’s probation and

imposition of Reith’s previously-suspended sentence is not clearly against the

logic and effect of the circumstances before the court.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 12 of 13 Conclusion [22] The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it revoked Reith’s probation

and imposed his previously-suspended sentence. We affirm.

[23] Affirmed.

[24] Baker, J., and May, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2440 | March 11, 2019 Page 13 of 13