MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED regarded as precedent or cited before any Oct 31 2017, 12:00 pm court except for the purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral CLERK Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Scott L. Barnhart Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Brooke Smith Attorney General of Indiana Keffer Barnhart, LLP Jodi Kathryn Stein Indianapolis, Indiana Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Devlin C. Decker, October 31, 2017 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 84A01-1702-CR-332 v. Appeal from the Vigo Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable John Roach, Judge Appellee-Plaintiff. Trial Court Cause No. 84D01-1401-MR-53
Riley, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 1 of 20 STATEMENT OF THE CASE [1] Appellant-Defendant, Devlin C. Decker (Decker), appeals his convictions for
murder, a felony, Ind. Code § 35-42-1-1(1) (2013); and aggravated battery, a
Class B felony, I.C. § 35-42-2-1.5 (2013).
[2] We affirm in part and reverse in part.
ISSUES [3] Decker raises three issues on appeal, which we restate as follows:
(1) Whether Decker’s convictions for murder and aggravated battery violate
the Indiana Constitution’s prohibition against double jeopardy;
(2) Whether Decker should have been granted a mistrial in light of
prosecutorial misconduct; and
(3) Whether the State presented sufficient evidence to support Decker’s
conviction for murder.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY [4] On New Year’s Eve 2013, Pamela Jones (Jones) and her boyfriend, Decker,
decided to host a small party at Jones’ home in Terre Haute, Vigo County,
Indiana. At the time, Decker had been living with Jones for several months,
and the two were expecting a child together. Around 5:00 p.m., Jones and
Decker drove to the home of Decker’s uncle, Phillip Evans (Evans), to pick up
Evans and his roommate, Joshua Thomas (Thomas), for the party. En route
back to Jones’ house, they stopped at a gas station so that Evans could
withdraw money from an ATM. When he returned to the vehicle, Evans Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 2 of 20 accused Thomas of using Evans’ bank card to steal money from Evans’
account. Thomas denied doing so, but Evans remained angry.
[5] The group returned to Jones’ house, and for the next several hours, they drank
liquor and beer and became heavily intoxicated. At some point in the evening,
Thomas began flirting with Jones. When Jones informed Decker about
Thomas’ unwelcome advances and indicated that she no longer wanted him at
the party, Decker “got mad,” which ultimately led to Decker and Thomas
engaging in a verbal and physical altercation in the living room. (Tr. Vol. III, p.
78). Because Jones’ young child was asleep in the house, she ordered the two
men “to take it outside.” (Tr. Vol. III, p. 79). Evans followed Decker and
Thomas outside, indicating to Jones that he would break up the brawl.
[6] Jones’ next-door neighbors, Eric (Eric) and Diana (Diana) Goucher, were
watching television when they heard a commotion coming from Jones’ front
porch. From their window, Eric and Diana had a direct view of Jones’ porch.
According to Eric, one male, later identified as Decker, punched and kicked
another male, later identified as Thomas, as Thomas pleaded with Decker to
stop. While a third man, later identified as Evans, stood there watching,
Decker punched Thomas in the face, knocking Thomas to the ground. Decker
continued to punch and kick Thomas, eventually kicking Thomas off the porch
onto the concrete a few feet below. Thomas brought himself up to his hands
and knees and attempted to stand, at which point Decker picked up a solid
wood table, weighing approximately forty to fifty pounds, from the porch and
“smashed it over” Thomas’ head and shoulders. (Tr. Vol. III, p. 41). Decker
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 3 of 20 then turned and walked back in the house. Thomas stood and also attempted
to return to the house, but Evans snatched him up and pinned him against the
wall of the house. After looking around as if to check whether anybody was
watching, Evans punched Thomas. Thomas went limp, so Evans spun him
around and dropped him off the porch. Decker emerged from the house, and as
Evans repeatedly kicked Thomas in the torso, Decker stomped on Thomas’
face. This kicking and stomping lasted for at least thirty seconds, until Decker
and Evans looked up and realized that Eric and Diana were observing the entire
matter through their window. It was obvious to Eric that, by this point,
Thomas was unconscious, and according to both Eric and Diana, Thomas
never fought back in any manner or otherwise defended himself. Diana had
called 911 as soon as they saw Decker pick up the wood table.
[7] Once Decker and Evans noticed Eric and Diana watching, Decker “just
smacked [Thomas] on his face and said hey, come on, come on get up, get up.”
(Tr. Vol. III, p. 60). When Thomas did not move, Decker and Evans attempted
to drag Thomas toward Jones’ vehicle, but Evans quickly decided against this
and returned to the house. Despite his effort, Decker was unable to drag
Thomas without assistance. At that time, which was shortly before 8:00 p.m.,
Jones’ cousin, Courtney Dailey (Dailey), and her boyfriend, Camron Wormser
(Wormser), drove up to the house. Jones came out to greet them, and, ignoring
the fact that Thomas was lying on the ground unconscious, she escorted Dailey
inside and laughingly informed Dailey that Decker “had gotten into it with
some guy.” (Tr. Vol. III, p. 126). Decker approached Wormser and, after
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 4 of 20 explaining that Thomas was “knocked out and needed a ride home,” asked
Wormser for assistance in getting Thomas into Jones’ vehicle. (Tr. Vol. III, p.
157). Wormser noticed that Thomas was not moving, and “it sounded like [he]
was snoring.” (Tr. Vol. III, p. 155). Nevertheless, he helped Decker drag
Thomas’ body across the yard. Again, Decker “started kicking [Thomas] in the
head” and stated, “[T]his is how we carry bitch newbys [sic] like you . . . out of
the hood.” (Tr. Vol. III, pp. 158, 168). Wormser warned Decker to stop or he
would not assist.
[8] Before Decker and Wormser could drag Thomas all the way to Jones’ vehicle,
officers with the Terre Haute Police Department arrived. Decker immediately
ran into the house and, “panicking,” told Jones that the police were there and
that he was going to be taken to jail because “he had stabbed [Thomas].” (Tr.
Vol. III, p. 94). Decker quickly changed his blood-stained shirt and fled out the
back door. Later, when Evans came into the house, he also informed Jones and
Dailey that he had stabbed Thomas. Hours later, Decker appeared at the home
of Kenneth Carter (Carter), who was Decker’s friend and Jones’ stepbrother,
and stated “[t]hat he thought he’d killed somebody” and that, after punching
and kicking and hitting Thomas with a table, both he and Evans had stabbed
him. (Tr. Vol. VI, p. 92).
[9] The first officers on the scene observed that Thomas was unresponsive, and he
had “agonal respirations,” which is typical end-of-life breathing when the body
is not getting sufficient oxygen. (Tr. Vol. III, p. 217). The officers administered
CPR, and when they lifted his shirt to apply defibrillator pads, they observed a
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 5 of 20 laceration on his chest. Medics arrived and took over treatment and
transported Thomas to the hospital. Within minutes of arriving at the hospital,
Thomas was pronounced dead. During their subsequent investigation, officers
discovered a bloody knife on the ground near the porch; testing confirmed the
blood came from Thomas.
[10] An autopsy revealed that Thomas had sustained a number of abrasions to his
head and torso, as well as three stab wounds: one near his right armpit, which
did not enter the chest cavity; one to his lower neck/upper back, which missed
the spinal column; and one to his lower left chest, which punctured the
diaphragm, liver, and heart. Absent extenuating circumstances, the stab
wounds to the right armpit and lower neck/upper back were not life
threatening. The third stab wound to the lower left chest, however, was fatal as
it perforated the heart and caused the chest cavity to fill with blood, which
resulted in one of Thomas’ lungs collapsing. During the autopsy, the forensic
pathologist also collected vitreous fluid (i.e., fluid from inside the eyeball) for a
toxicology screen. At the time of his death, Thomas had a blood alcohol
concentration of .457, which is “almost six times th[e] level” that the State of
Indiana recognizes as being intoxicated for the purposes of operating a vehicle.
(Tr. Vol. IV, p. 195). In such an intoxicated state, Thomas would have been
unable to defend himself. In fact, he likely would have been “approaching [a]
comatose state.” (Tr. Vol. IV, p. 196).
[11] On January 8, 2014, the State filed an Information, charging Decker with one
Count of murder, a felony, I.C. § 35-42-1-1(1) (2013); and one Count of
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 6 of 20 aggravated battery, a Class B felony, I.C. § 35-42-2-1.5 (2013). On October 3
through October 6, 2016, the trial court conducted a jury trial. At the close of
the evidence, the jury rendered guilty verdicts on both Counts. Accordingly,
the trial court entered a judgment of conviction for murder, a felony; and
aggravated battery, a Class B felony. On January 12, 2017, the trial court held
a sentencing hearing. For the murder conviction, the trial court ordered a sixty-
year sentence, fully executed in the Indiana Department of Correction. As to
the aggravated battery conviction, the trial court sentenced Decker to an
executed term of fifteen years. The trial court ordered the sentences to run
concurrently, for an aggregate term of sixty years.
[12] Decker now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION I. Double Jeopardy
[13] Decker claims that his convictions for murder and aggravated battery violate
Indiana’s prohibition against double jeopardy. Article 1, Section 14 of the
Indiana Constitution provides that “[n]o person shall be put in jeopardy twice
for the same offense.” “[T]wo or more offenses are the same offense in
violation of [this provision] if, with respect to either the statutory elements of
the challenged crimes or the actual evidence used to obtain convictions, the
essential elements of one challenged offense also establish the essential elements
of another challenged offense.” Garrett v. State, 992 N.E.2d 710, 719 (Ind. 2013)
(citing Richardson v. State, 717 N.E.2d 32, 49-50 (Ind. 1999)).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 7 of 20 [14] Here, Decker argues that both convictions were supported by the same actual
evidence. “The actual evidence test prohibits multiple convictions if there is ‘a
reasonable possibility that the evidentiary facts used by the fact-finder to
establish the essential elements of one offense may also have been used to
establish the essential elements of a second challenged offense.’” Davis v. State,
770 N.E.2d 319, 324 (Ind. 2002) (quoting Richardson, 717 N.E.2d at 53).
However, there is no double jeopardy violation if “the evidentiary facts
establishing the essential elements of one offense also establish only one or even
several, but not all, of the essential elements of a second offense.” Garrett, 992
N.E.2d at 719 (quoting Spivey v. State, 761 N.E.2d 831, 833 (Ind. 2002)). A
“reasonable possibility” that a jury relied on the same facts for two convictions
“requires substantially more than a logical possibility.” Id. (quoting Lee v. State,
892 N.E.2d 1231, 1236 (Ind. 2008)). Indiana’s Double Jeopardy Clause allows
for “convictions for multiple offenses committed in a protracted criminal
episode” so long as “the case is prosecuted in a manner that insures that
multiple guilty verdicts are not based on the same evidentiary facts.” Id. at 720
(quoting Richardson, 717 N.E.2d at 53 n.46). We must consider whether the
jury “may have latched on to exactly the same facts for both convictions.” Id.
(quoting Lee, 892 N.E.2d at 1236). Thus, “[w]e evaluate the evidence from the
jury’s perspective and may consider the charging information, jury instructions,
and arguments of counsel.” Id. (citing Lee, 892 N.E.2d at 1234).
[15] Decker was convicted of murder and aggravated battery. For the former, the
State was required to prove that Decker “knowingly or intentionally kill[ed]”
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 8 of 20 Thomas. I.C. § 35-42-1-1(1). As for the latter, the State was obligated to prove
that Decker “knowingly or intentionally inflict[ed] injury on [Thomas] that
create[d] a substantial risk of death.” I.C. § 35-42-2-1.5. Theoretically, there is
evidence in the record to independently support each charge. However, Decker
insists that the State, by generically charging the crimes and by failing to
“delineate which facts were related to each [C]ount” during arguments,
impelled the jury to utilize the same evidence for both crimes. (Appellant’s Br.
p. 12). We agree.
[16] The charging Information alleges that Decker committed the crimes of murder
and aggravated battery by simply setting forth the statutory elements of the
crimes without any reference to the factual basis for each. During the State’s
opening and closing arguments, the State heavily emphasized that Decker’s
involvement in the fight—from punching and stomping on Thomas’ head to
slamming a wooden table down on Thomas’ head to stabbing Thomas—
ultimately led to Thomas’ death, notwithstanding whether it was Decker or
Evans who delivered the fatal stab. Throughout its arguments, the State
repeatedly reiterated the facts of the case without ever specifically outlining
which evidence supported each charge.
[17] Although the State’s closing argument spanned more than twenty pages of the
transcript, the following excerpts particularly illustrate how the State combined
the evidentiary facts as being supportive of both murder and aggravated battery:
We know the injuries to . . . Thomas. We know that there was [sic] three (3) stab wounds. You heard [the forensic pathologist]
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 9 of 20 testify about the stab wound which was in fact fatal. We know that the blunt force trauma as well and we know that Thomas was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Regional Hospital. . . . [W]e know the criminal acts in this, in this case or charge, are in fact Murder. That on or about December 31st 2013, . . . Decker knowingly killed . . . Thomas. Aggravated battery, on or about December 31st 2013, . . . Decker knowingly inflicted injury on . . . Thomas which created substantial risk of death. . . . Now let[’]s look in this case of what shows [Decker] committed the act of Murder and committed the act of Aggravated Battery. . . . The evidence showed that Decker was and I will claim the first aggressor. Okay. There is [sic] no injuries whatsoever on . . . Decker observed by anybody. Decker hit Thomas with his fist. Decker knocked Thomas off the porch. He hit him in the head with a 2 x 4 table. He stomped him in the head. He stabbed Thomas. The testimony from two (2) separate individuals. [Jones] said that . . . Decker told her that he had stabbed Thomas once. That night he went over to [Carter’s] and said that he had stabbed . . . Thomas and even made the stabbing motion. Decker moved the body. The evidence showed in this case that . . . Decker participated in the events leading to the death of . . . Thomas. We know . . . Thomas passed away. We have evidence of that [from the forensic pathologist]. Under these circumstances the law does not require the State to put forth or show who delivered the fatal blow. When you have two (2) individuals such as . . . Decker and . . . Evans, when they are both participating together, they’re both equally criminally responsible for the outcome. There is no evidence in this case whatsoever that there were [sic] anybody outside with . . . Thomas beside . . . Decker and . . . Evans. No evidence whatsoever. . . . Wormser came later when they were trying to drag him out to the vehicle. But there was nobody else present. This is accompli[ce] liability. . . . There’s no doubt, there’s no doubt that Decker punche[d] Thomas. There’s no doubt that Decker hit Thomas over the head with the table. There’s no doubt that Decker kicked Thomas. There’s no doubt that Decker kicked Thomas in the head. There’s no doubt that he stomped Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 10 of 20 him in the head with his shoes. There’s no doubt that Decker tried to move the body. There’s no doubt that Decker participated in the events which le[d] to Thomas’ death. And under these circumstances, that is Murder. That is Aggravated Battery. Mere participation in an illegal act is sufficient to sustain a conviction for the criminal act charged. Mere participation. That’s what accompli[ce] liability is. . . . Thomas was knowingly killed. The facts show it. The evidence shows it. And that . . . Decker was actively involved in that and committed the act of Murder himself. **** Aggravated Battery. On or about December 31st 2013, [Decker] did knowingly. We’re looking at the same element of knowingly. The same facts apply in this case. Inflict injury. We seen [sic] the injury to . . . Thomas from the blunt force[] trauma to the stab wounds to the kicking in the head. Inflict injury that creates a substantial risk of death. Well we know in this case that he did in fact die. **** Decker not only was the first aggressor. He hit Thomas with his fist. He hit him with a 2 x 4 table. He hit Thomas in the head. He stomped Thomas in the head. He tried to remove the body. Decker cannot dispute that he was involved. There is no doubt that Decker participated in the events that evening. That’s all that’s needed for murder ladies and gentlemen under the accompli[ce] liability statute. Under the instruction that you get, participation in the events leading to the death. Aiding, inducing or causing is sufficient. Who delivered the final blow? We have two (2) people acting in concert to deliver the fatal blow. Our law as determined that under those circumstances that both individuals are in fact guilty of the same. Two (2) participants act together are equally and criminally responsible under the law. Accompli[ce] liability. Two (2) or more persons knowingly combine to commit a crime. They’re each guilty of the acts of the (inaudible). Any one who joins with another, either in part are liable as they did (inaudible—coughing). That is accompli[ce] liability. You’re responsible, you choose to act with Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 11 of 20 another individual and that result, in the result that we have here, you are guilty just as if you had delivered the fatal blow. The evidence proved that Decker cannot deny his involvement in . . . Thomas’ death and that’s murder. In other words it does not matter whether Decker delivered the fatal blow. If he aided, induced or caused . . . Evans to murder . . . Thomas. He is just as guilty. But, but, you don’t have to look just at the theory of accompli[ce] liability. Decker stabbed . . . Thomas. **** Actions speak louder than words. [Decker] repeatedly hit Thomas . . . in the head and the upper torso with his hands. He hit him over the head with the wooden table all while Thomas was begging and pleading for him to stop. Decker returned and started stomping on Thomas again. Drags Thomas’ body across the yard and tries to put it in the car to get rid of it. Decker spits on him while he lay there dying. Decker then takes off running. . . . If you read the instruction that you get on murder, is knowingly or intentionally. I have showed [sic] you the facts that go with knowingly. I will also say that the State has set forth facts which showed that he intended to kill him. Not only knowingly killed him but intended to kill him. State doesn’t have to prove intent. Simply knowingly. Knowingly or intentionally. Thomas never fought back at any time. Targeted Thomas’ head. Hit him over the head with a table. Left him and came back out. Stomped him. Stabbed him with a knife. He intended to kill him. Spit on him. No medical assist. What are they are going to do? They were going to, according to him, take him out of the hood. Actions infer guilt. **** On December 31st 2013 . . . Decker killed . . . Thomas. On that same date on December 31st 2013 . . . Decker knowingly inflicted injury on . . . Thomas that created a substantial risk of death.
(Tr. Vol. VI, pp. 150-51, 158-60, 184-85, 188-89, 192).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 12 of 20 [18] Thereafter, the trial court instructed the jury, in part, on an accomplice liability
theory for murder, stating:
Aiding, inducing or causing Murder is defined by [s]tatute as follows: A person who, knowingly or intentionally aids, induces, or causes another person to commit an offense commits that offense. A person may be convicted of aiding, inducing or causing Murder even if the other person has not been prosecuted for Murder, has not been convicted of Murder or has been acquitted of Murder. Before you may convict [Decker] of aiding, inducing or causing Murder, the State must have proved each of the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt: l. [Decker]; 2. Knowingly or intentionally; 3. Aided, induced or caused; 4. . . . Evans to commit the offense of Murder, defined as knowingly or intentionally killing . . . Thomas; 5. By participating in the hitting, kicking, striking and/or stabbing of . . . Thomas. If the State failed to prove each of these elements beyond a reasonable doubt, you must find [Decker] not guilty of aiding, inducing, or causing Murder, a felony, charged in Count [I].
(Tr. Vol. VI, pp. 197-98) (emphasis added).
[19] When the jury returned a guilty verdict for murder, it is reasonably possible that
it did so by relying on the accomplice liability instruction. As the State and the
jury instructions both highlighted, a conviction for murder did not require
Decker to deliver the fatal stab wound; rather, Decker’s participation with
Evans throughout the attack—by hitting, stomping, kicking, slamming with a
table, and stabbing—was sufficient. Thus, the facts that could have
independently supported an aggravated battery conviction were likely also
relied on by the jury in convicting Decker of murder. See Davis, 770 N.E.2d at
323-24 (Ind. 2002) (vacating an aggravated battery conviction on double Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 13 of 20 jeopardy grounds where, despite evidence that the victim had been choked and
struck in the head, the charging information cited a knife cutting as the basis for
both the aggravated battery and attempted murder charges). As such, the two
convictions cannot stand. We therefore vacate Decker’s conviction for
aggravated battery as a Class B felony.
II. Prosecutorial Misconduct
Decker claims that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial
following a statement by the State that purportedly amounted to misconduct.
To preserve a claim of prosecutorial misconduct for appeal, “the defendant
must—at the time the alleged misconduct occurs—request an admonishment to
the jury, and if further relief is desired, move for a mistrial.” Jerden v. State, 37
N.E.3d 494, 498 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). Failure to do so results in a waiver. Id.
In reviewing a claim of prosecutorial misconduct that was properly raised at the
trial court level, we must determine “(1) whether misconduct occurred, and, if
so, (2) ‘whether the misconduct under all of the circumstances, placed the
defendant in a position of grave peril to which he or she would not have been
subjected otherwise.’” Id. (quoting Ryan v. State, 9 N.E.3d 663, 667 (Ind.
2014)). Where a claim of prosecutorial misconduct has not been properly
preserved, the general rule is that the claim is waived. Id. Nevertheless, a
defendant may still prevail by establishing “not only the grounds for
prosecutorial misconduct but also that the prosecutorial misconduct constituted
fundamental error.” Id.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 14 of 20 [20] During its rebuttal closing argument, the State addressed some of the
discrepancies in witness testimony by stating:
I think it’s important ladies and gentlemen that you look at the physical evidence in this case and[] the testimony that you heard. The physical evidence fits the testimony. What occurred that night fits with the testimony that you heard. Now if everything was exactly alike, the first thing the defense would be up here saying is the State got with all of the witnesses and got them all to say the exactly the same thing.
(Tr. Vol. VI, pp. 189-90). Decker’s attorney objected at that point, arguing that
it was an “improper comment on my role as an attorney and an insult to me”
for the State to suggest that defense counsel would “accus[e] them of having all
their witnesses all together.” (Tr. Vol. VI, p. 190). The trial court sustained the
objection, and Decker’s attorney requested both an admonishment to the jury
and a mistrial. The trial court denied the motion for a mistrial and admonished
the jury “to disregard the statement of the State that uh, that [Decker’s attorney]
would be arguing that they [somehow] had all of their witnesses uh, get
together and testify as the same thing. If, if the, if all the facts were the same.”
(Tr. Vol. VI, p. 191). Defense counsel thanked the trial court for the
admonishment and the State proceeded with its closing statement.
[21] It is well established that a prosecuting attorney has a “duty to present a
persuasive final argument.” Jerden, 37 N.E.3d at 498. Thus, placing a
defendant in grave peril, by itself, is not misconduct.” Id. Rather, “‘[w]hether a
prosecutor’s argument constitutes misconduct is measured by reference to case
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 15 of 20 law and the Rules of Professional Conduct. The gravity of peril is measured by
the probable persuasive effect of the misconduct on the jury’s decision rather than
the degree of impropriety of the conduct.’” Id. (quoting Ryan, 9 N.E.3d at 667).
[22] Decker contends that the State’s argument amounted to misconduct because the
prosecutor essentially personally vouched for the witnesses’ credibility.
Moreover, he claims that the statement subjected him to grave peril “by
attacking [his] right to counsel and highlighting the disparate roles of
prosecuting and defense attorneys. The State intimated that the jury did not
need to be particularly concerned with any discrepancies in the evidence or
witness accounts because defense counsel would attack the evidence
regardless.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 15). However, Decker acknowledges that,
upon his counsel’s request, the trial court issued an admonishment to the jury,
and an adequate “admonishment is presumed to cure any error that may have
occurred.” Emerson v. State, 952 N.E.2d 832, 840 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011), trans.
denied. Thus, Decker now insists that the trial court’s admonishment was
inadequate to remedy the State’s conduct. Specifically, Decker argues that
[r]ather than addressing trial counsel’s concern associated with vouching or reasserting to the jury that Decker has a constitutional right to counsel and to present a defense, [the trial court] curtly and only addressed the State’s characterization of a possible defense. Accordingly[,] [t]he trial court’s admonishment was inadequate and did not squarely address the issue raised by trial counsel or advise the jury that the State through its prosecutor cannot personally vouch for a witness or witnesses.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 16 of 20 (Appellant’s Br. p. 16). Decker contends that the trial court should have
granted a mistrial. We disagree.
[23] Where an admonishment is insufficient to cure the error, the defendant “must
request a mistrial.” Thomas v. State, 9 N.E.3d 737, 742 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014).
Decker moved for a mistrial in conjunction with his objection and request for
admonishment based on purported misconduct. Once the admonishment was
administered, Decker’s attorney thanked the trial court and sought no further
relief from any perceived inadequacy in the admonishment. Thus, as the State
points out, Decker has waived his right to challenge the adequacy of the
admonishment on appeal. See Etienne v. State, 716 N.E.2d 457, 461 (Ind. 1999).
[24] Waiver notwithstanding, we find no merit in Decker’s claim that the
admonishment was inadequate. The trial court did exactly as Decker requested
and instructed the jury to entirely disregard the State’s assertion that Decker’s
counsel would have accused the witnesses of conferring if all of their
testimonies had completely aligned. Furthermore, while Decker’s counsel
noted that he felt personally insulted by the State’s assumption, nowhere in his
objection did he mention the “concern associated with vouching or . . . a
constitutional right to counsel and to present a defense” that he now claims.
(Appellant’s Br. p. 16). Additionally, based on the overwhelming evidence of
Decker’s guilt, we cannot say that the State’s statement placed Decker in a
position of grave peril to which he would not otherwise have been subjected.
Accordingly, we find that the trial court’s admonishment cured any error from
the alleged misconduct by the State, and Decker was not entitled to a mistrial.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 17 of 20 III. Sufficiency of the Evidence
[25] Decker claims that the State presented insufficient evidence to sustain his
murder conviction. Our court adheres to a well-settled standard of review for
claims concerning the sufficiency of evidence. Namely, we do not reweigh
evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses, “and we respect the jury’s
exclusive province to weigh conflicting evidence.” Roberts v. State, 894 N.E.2d
1018, 1029 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008), trans. denied. We will consider only the
probative evidence and any reasonably-derived inferences in support of the
verdict. Id. “If the probative evidence and reasonable inferences drawn
therefrom could have allowed a reasonable trier of fact to find the defendant
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, we must affirm the conviction.” Id.
[26] “A person who . . . knowingly or intentionally kills another human being[] . . .
commits murder, a felony.” I.C. § 35-42-1-1(1). In this case, Decker argues
only that the State presented insufficient evidence of his intent to kill Thomas.
Decker points out that the evidence established that Thomas was stabbed three
times, with only one of the stab wounds proving to be fatal. Thus, although
both Decker and Evans admitted to stabbing Thomas, he contends that “there is
no evidence indicating which stab wounds are attributable to Decker or whether
he was responsible for one or two.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 18). He generically
adds that “the evidence is devoid of any evidence that Decker or Evans
intended to kill Thomas or deliberately used a knife in a manner likely to cause
death or serious injury.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 18). “[W]hile the evidence
demonstrates that Thomas was fatally stabbed, the State failed to provide little,
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 18 of 20 if any, evidence concerning the nature and circumstances of how and when he
was stabbed.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 18). Again, we disagree.
[27] We first note that “the requirement of a ‘specific intent to kill’ applies only in
attempted murder cases, and not in murder cases where ‘the defendant may be
convicted upon a showing of either an intentional or knowing killing.’” Garrett
v. State, 714 N.E.2d 618, 622 (Ind. 1999). A knowing killing requires a showing
that “the defendant ‘was aware of a high probability that someone’s death
would result from his actions. Because knowledge is the mental state of the
actor, the trier of fact must resort to reasonable inferences of its existence.’”
Leonard v. State, 73 N.E.3d 155, 160 (Ind. 2017) (quoting Young v. State, 761
N.E.2d 387, 389 (Ind. 2002)). Moreover, “[a] knowing killing may be inferred
from the use of a deadly weapon in a way likely to cause death.’” Id. (quoting
Young, 761 N.E.2d at 389).
[28] We find a record replete with evidence that Decker was aware of a high
probability that Thomas’ death would result from his actions. Decker repeatedly
punched, kicked, and stomped on the head of a man who was already in a near-
comatose state due to alcohol. Despite the victim’s repeated pleas for Decker to
stop the attack, Decker slammed a forty-to-fifty-pound solid wood table down
on Thomas’ head. Even when Thomas was clearly unconscious, Decker
continued to kick and stomp his head and torso. Decker and his co-defendant
stabbed Thomas three times, and while only one proved to be fatal, the other
two wounds were targeted to areas of obvious vital importance—i.e., the chest
and spine. Decker unsuccessfully attempted to drag Thomas’ body to a vehicle
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 19 of 20 to remove it from Jones’ yard, but when the police arrived, he changed his
blood-stained shirt and fled. He subsequently admitted to multiple people that
he had stabbed Thomas and thought that he might have killed him. Upon
learning that Thomas had, in fact, succumbed to his injuries, Decker conceded,
“[M]an I fucked up.” (Tr. Vol. VI, p. 92). Therefore, we find that the State
presented sufficient evidence of Decker’s culpability to support his murder
conviction.
CONCLUSION [29] Based on the foregoing, we conclude that Decker’s convictions for murder and
aggravated battery run afoul of Indiana’s double jeopardy prohibition;
therefore, we vacate his conviction for Class B felony aggravated battery.
However, we affirm Decker’s conviction for murder based on our conclusions
that any perceived misconduct by the State was cured by the trial court’s
admonishment with no need for a mistrial, and the State presented sufficient
evidence that Decker knowingly or intentionally killed Thomas.
[30] Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
[31] Robb, J. & Pyle, J. concur
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1702-CR-332 | October 31, 2017 Page 20 of 20