MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED regarded as precedent or cited before any Aug 12 2020, 9:23 am
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK Indiana Supreme Court the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals and Tax Court estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Angelus T. Kocoshis Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Muncie, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana Tina L. Mann Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Eddie Vance, III, August 12, 2020 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 20A-CR-221 v. Appeal from the Delaware Circuit Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Kimberly S. Appellee-Plaintiff. Dowling, Judge Trial Court Cause No. 18C02-1803-F5-35
Tavitas, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 1 of 15 Case Summary [1] Eddie Vance III appeals his conviction for Count II, battery resulting in serious
bodily injury, a Level 5 felony, and his aggregate ten-year sentence for two
counts of battery resulting in serious bodily injury, Level 5 felonies. We affirm.
Issues [2] Vance presents two issues for our review, which we revise and restate as
follows:
I. Whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain Vance’s conviction.
II. Whether the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing Vance.
Facts [3] On February 12, 2018, Jarod Upchurch went to the home of his friend and co-
worker, Lyndon Rumfelt. While at Rumfelt’s home, the men consumed “a lot”
of beer and apple pie moonshine. Tr. Vol. II p. 137. Sometime after 1:00 a.m.
on February 13, 2018, Upchurch left Rumfelt’s home. 1 Upchurch and Rumfelt
agreed that Upchurch would call Rumfelt and let him know when Upchurch
made it home.
1 At trial, Upchurch conceded that, due to his intoxication level, he “shouldn’t have been driving.” Tr. Vol. II p. 149.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 2 of 15 [4] On the way home, Upchurch decided he wanted to have another drink and
stopped at Gene’s Bar (“Gene’s”). Upchurch called Rumfelt and advised
Rumfelt that he decided to stop at Gene’s for a drink. Rumfelt woke his wife,
Michelle Rumfelt (“Michelle”), and Michelle drove Rumfelt to Gene’s to pick
up Upchurch because Rumfelt wanted to ensure Upchurch made it home
safely. Once at Gene’s, Michelle remained inside the vehicle while Rumfelt
went inside to retrieve Upchurch.
[5] Rumfelt located Upchurch inside the bar. Vance and others, including Andre
Anthony, were sitting at the bar inside Gene’s, and some sort of disagreement
ensued. 2 Security camera footage from inside Gene’s shows that the
disagreement continued as Rumfelt and Upchurch moved toward the exit with
Anthony and Vance following behind. Once the men arrived at the exit, 3 a
physical altercation began. Before Vance moved outside to the parking lot,
Vance removed his jacket.
[6] The end of the battery was captured on Gene’s outside security camera. The
video shows Vance hitting Rumfelt while Rumfelt was on the ground. The
video also shows Upchurch being pushed out of the door from Gene’s and into
2 Several witnesses relayed varying accounts of how the argument ensued and, namely, whether Rumfelt and Upchurch or Vance and Anthony were the first aggressors. It is clear from the security camera footage inside Gene’s, which does not have audio, that Vance, Rumfelt, and Upchurch were engaged in a conversation before the disagreement began. Regardless, because Vance only raises issues as to Upchurch’s injuries, and not the battery itself, we will not detail the witnesses’ inconsistencies here. 3 There is a short hallway or breezeway separating the entry door to the bar area and the door that exits to the parking lot of Gene’s.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 3 of 15 the parking lot. Vance subsequently kicked Upchurch twice and at least once
on the head. 4 The video depicts Vance going back inside the bar, retrieving his
beer mug, exiting Gene’s, and smashing the beer mug over Rumfelt’s head.
Finally, the video footage reveals Vance pulling out his phone and taking a
video of Rumfelt and Upchurch. Michelle, who witnessed the battery from her
vehicle and was without her cell phone, drove to a nearby restaurant and asked
an unidentified individual to call 911. Michelle then returned immediately to
Gene’s.
[7] Officer Jeremy Gibson, with the Muncie Police Department, was dispatched to
Gene’s at approximately 2:33 a.m. Officer Gibson arrived to find Rumfelt and
Upchurch lying on the ground outside Gene’s. According to Officer Gibson,
both men were disoriented and had abrasions and blood on their faces and,
accordingly, Officer Gibson called for an ambulance. Officer Gibson also took
photographs of Rumfelt’s and Upchurch’s injuries once they arrived at the
hospital.
[8] On August 19, 2019, the State filed an amended charging information, charging
Vance with two counts of battery causing serious bodily injury, Level 5
felonies. 5 Count I related to Vance’s battery of Rumfelt, and Count II related to
Vance’s battery of Upchurch.
4 Andre Anthony was also arrested in connection with the events at Gene’s. 5 The initial charging information, filed on March 22, 2018, charged Vance with the injuries to both Rumfelt and Upchurch under the same charging information. The State amended the charging information on March
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 4 of 15 [9] At trial, witnesses testified to the foregoing facts. Upchurch testified that he
recalled ordering a beer at Gene’s and that his next memory was lying on the
sidewalk in front of Gene’s. When asked whether Upchurch experienced pain
when he woke up, Upchurch answered affirmatively. When asked whether the
pain was “[e]xtreme,” Upchurch answered the pain was “[m]oderate.” Id. at
142. Upchurch testified that he suffered a concussion, had abrasions on his
skin, and was in pain for approximately one week. Upchurch also testified that
he continues to experience short term memory loss and a permanent “popping”
in his jaw while eating. 6 Id. at 143.
[10] Upchurch’s and Rumfelt’s medical records were admitted into evidence.
Upchurch’s medical records noted a “laceration and direct blow” on the “scalp,
face[, and] mouth.” Conf. Ex. Vol. I p. 27. The medical records stated that the
reported degree of pain was “moderate,” bleeding was “minimal,” and the
“exacerbating factor is movement.” Id. Upchurch’s medical records also
indicated that Upchurch sustained a “head injury,” and Upchurch was
prescribed pain medication. Id. at 32. Officer Gibson’s photographs of Rumfelt
and Upchurch were admitted as exhibits at trial. Finally, the video taken by
Vance on his cell phone of Rumfelt and Upchurch after the incident was
28, 2018, charging Vance with two separate counts for each victim before amending the final charging information again in August 2019. 6 Although Vance only challenges Upchurch’s injuries in the context of the sufficiency of the evidence, Rumfelt also testified regarding his significant and ongoing injuries as a result of Vance’s battery.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 5 of 15 admitted into evidence; the video refers to Rumfelt and Upchurch as being put
to “sleep.” State’s Ex. 18.
[11] After the State concluded its case-in-chief, Vance moved for a directed verdict
on Count II, which the trial court denied. Vance, who is a black man, testified
in his defense that the men called Vance a racial slur and that Vance felt as if he
had to defend himself against Rumfelt and Upchurch during their physical
altercation. The jury found Vance guilty of both counts.
[12] On December 30, 2019, the trial court held a sentencing hearing. The trial
court found as aggravating factors: (1) Vance’s criminal history; 7 (2) prior
unsuccessful attempts of rehabilitation; (3) the particularly heinous and
disturbing facts of the case; and (4) the impact the crime had on the victims and
their families. The trial court found one mitigating factor, namely, that Vance
has family support which should assist in his rehabilitation. After weighing the
aggravators and mitigators, the trial court sentenced Vance to six years on
Count I, the battery to Rumfelt, and four years on Count II, the battery to
Upchurch, to run consecutively, for an aggregate sentence of ten years at the
7 Vance’s pre-sentence investigation report (“PSI”) indicates Vance’s prior convictions for: possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor; illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage, a Class C misdemeanor; carrying a handgun without a license, a Class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor; driving while suspended, a Class A misdemeanor; resisting law enforcement, a Class D felony; battery resulting in bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor; resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor; operating a vehicle while intoxicated, endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor; dealing in cocaine, a Class B felony; and possession of cocaine, a Class C felony.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 6 of 15 Indiana Department of Correction (“DOC”). Vance now appeals his
conviction for Count II and his aggregate sentence.
Analysis I. Insufficiency of Evidence
[13] Vance argues the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for Count II,
which pertained to the battery of Upchurch. When a challenge to the
sufficiency of the evidence is raised, “[w]e neither reweigh evidence nor judge
witness credibility.” Gibson v. State, 51 N.E.3d 204, 210 (Ind. 2016) (citing
Bieghler v. State, 481 N.E.2d 78, 84 (Ind. 1985), cert. denied), cert. denied. Instead,
“we ‘consider only that evidence most favorable to the judgment together with
all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom.’” Id. (quoting Bieghler, 481 N.E.2d
at 84). “We will affirm the judgment if it is supported by ‘substantial evidence
of probative value even if there is some conflict in that evidence.’” Id.; see also
McCallister v. State, 91 N.E.3d 554, 558 (Ind. 2018) (holding that, even though
there was conflicting evidence, it was “beside the point” because that argument
“misapprehend[s] our limited role as a reviewing court”). “We will affirm the
conviction unless no reasonable fact-finder could find the elements of the crime
proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” Love v. State, 73 N.E.3d 693, 696 (Ind.
2017) (citing Drane v. State, 867 N.E.2d 144, 146 (Ind. 2007)).
[14] Vance argues that the evidence presented fails to “meet[] the definition of
serious bodily injury.” Appellant’s Br. p. 12. Pursuant to Indiana Code Section
35-42-2-1(c)(1), a person who “knowingly or intentionally . . . touches another
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 7 of 15 person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner; . . .” commits battery, a Class B
misdemeanor. The offense is a Level 5 felony if the offense “results in serious
bodily injury to another person.” Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1(g)(1). Indiana Code
Section 35-31.5-2-292 provides:
“Serious bodily injury” means bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes:
(1) serious permanent disfigurement;
(2) unconsciousness;
(3) extreme pain;
(4) permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ; or
(5) loss of a fetus.
[15] Vance argues that: (1) Upchurch testified he was only in moderate, not extreme,
pain; (2) Upchurch’s popping in his jaw is not a permanent disfigurement; and
(3) none of the injuries on Upchurch’s medical record indicate a permanent
disfigurement. As to Upchurch’s loss of consciousness, Vance argues that, on
cross-examination, Upchurch was unable to recall whether he lost
consciousness and that, therefore, it appears Upchurch “black[ed] out” instead.
Appellant’s Br. p. 11.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 8 of 15 [16] At trial, Upchurch testified that, after ordering a beer, his “next good memory
would be the police waking [him] up on the sidewalk.” Tr. Vol. II p. 141.
Upchurch elaborated: “Not really waking me up but I remember the police on
the sidewalk out in front of Gene’s.” Id. Upchurch testified that he was
“dazed” and “confused” when he woke up and that he did not recall what
happened. Id. at 142. On direct examination, Upchurch answered
affirmatively when asked if he lost consciousness. On cross-examination, when
asked how Upchurch was certain he lost consciousness if he does not recall
most of the events of the night, Upchurch responded: “I’m assuming that’s why
I don’t remember.” Id. at 144.
[17] The security video demonstrates both Rumfelt and Upchurch lying still on the
ground for several moments after the battery. Finally, the jury saw the video
Vance took of Rumfelt and Upchurch immediately after the attack, wherein
Vance is heard saying he put the men to “sleep.” State’s Ex. 18. From this
evidence, the jury could have reasonably concluded that Upchurch lost
consciousness. Upchurch’s loss of consciousness is sufficient to support a
finding of serious bodily injury.
[18] Vance’s argument regarding the sufficiency of the evidence is nothing more
than a request for us to reweigh the evidence, which we cannot do. See Gibson,
51 N.E.3d at 210. Accordingly, the evidence is sufficient to support Vance’s
battery conviction as to Upchurch.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 9 of 15 II. Abuse of Discretion in Sentencing
[19] Vance next argues the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing him by
failing to consider a number of mitigating factors, including: (1) Vance’s five
minor children for whom incarceration could create a hardship; (2) Vance was
found to be in a low category to reoffend according to his PSI; and (3) there was
evidence that Rumfelt and Upchurch provoked Vance when they used a racial
slur. Sentencing decisions rest within the sound discretion of the trial court.
Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482, 490 (Ind. 2007), clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d
218 (Ind. 2007). So long as the sentence is within the statutory range, the
sentence is subject to review only for an abuse of discretion. Id. An abuse of
discretion will be found where the decision is clearly against the logic and effect
of the facts and circumstances before the court or the reasonable, probable, and
actual deductions to be drawn therefrom. Id.
[20] A trial court may abuse its discretion in a number of ways, including: (1) failing
to enter a sentencing statement at all; (2) entering a sentencing statement that
includes aggravating and mitigating factors that are unsupported by the record;
(3) entering a sentencing statement that omits reasons that are clearly supported
by the record; or (4) entering a sentencing statement that includes reasons that
are improper as a matter of law. Id. at 490-91. A trial court is not obligated to
accept a defendant’s claim as to what constitutes a mitigating factor. Rascoe v.
State, 736 N.E.2d 246, 249 (Ind. 2000). A trial court has discretion to
determine whether the factors are mitigating and is not required to explain why
the trial court rejects the defendant’s proffered mitigating factors. Haddock v.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 10 of 15 State, 800 N.E.2d 242, 245 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). A claim that the trial court
failed to find a mitigating factor requires the defendant to establish that the
mitigating evidence is both significant and clearly supported by the record.
Anglemyer, 868 N.E.2d at 493.
[21] First, as to Vance’s children, Vance presented no evidence at the sentencing
hearing that Vance’s incarceration would render a hardship to the children.
Vance testified that none of his children lived with him and, although Vance
indicated he was close with his children, Vance presented no evidence
regarding how Vance’s incarceration might impact his children. See Gray v.
State, 790 N.E.2d 174, 178 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003) (finding the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in failing to attach significant weight to the fact that Gray
had a child because the record revealed the child lived with the child’s mother
and “Gray spent his money on gambling, not on care for his daughter. . . .”).
Accordingly, we cannot find the trial court abused its discretion by declining to
find this factor as a mitigator.
[22] Second, Vance argues that his low risk to reoffend should have been considered
as a mitigating factor. As an initial point, as the State points out in its brief, the
trial court considered information found in the PSI, including Vance’s low risk
to re-offend. The trial court stated that it “consider[ed] the pre-sentence
investigation report together with the evidence as presented and final comments
of counsel” in reaching Vance’s sentence. Tr. Vol. III p. 235. Vance, however,
fails to advance an argument that this factor is significant and, therefore, that
the trial court has abused its discretion. See Anglemyer, 868 N.E.2d at 493.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 11 of 15 Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in failing to give Vance’s
low risk to reoffend mitigating weight.
[23] Finally, we address Vance’s argument that he was “severely provoked.”
Appellant’s Br. p. 13. First, we note that even if Rumfelt and Upchurch did
provoke Vance, Vance conceded at sentencing that his reaction “crossed the
line.” Tr. Vol. III p. 224. The evidence presented, including the security
camera footage and Vance’s cell phone video, depicted Vance’s protracted
beating of the two men. The video shows the men having a conversation before
the physical altercation began; Vance following Rumfelt into the parking lot;
and then Vance punching and beating Rumfelt. Once Rumfelt was on the
ground, Vance continued to brutally beat Rumfelt before returning with a mug
of beer, which Vance smashed on top of Rumfelt’s head. At some point during
the altercation, Upchurch was pushed out into the parking lot. Vance then
proceeded to kick Upchurch twice while Upchurch laid on the ground. In light
of this evidence, we cannot find that even if Vance was provoked, this factor is
“significant” enough to warrant consideration as a mitigating factor. See
Anglemyer, 868 N.E.2d at 493. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in sentencing Vance.
Conclusion
[24] The evidence was sufficient to convict Vance of Count II, and the trial court did
not abuse its discretion in sentencing Vance on both counts. We affirm.
[25] Affirmed.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 12 of 15 Mathias, J., concurs.
Riley, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with opinion.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 13 of 15 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Eddie Vance, III, Court of Appeals Case No. 20A-CR-221 Appellant-Defendant,
v.
State of Indiana, Appellee-Plaintiff.
Riley, Judge concurring in part and dissenting in part
[26] I concur with the majority’s conclusion that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in sentencing Vance for battery resulting in serious bodily injury to
Rumfelt. However, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s conclusion that
the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Vance inflicted serious bodily
injury on Upchurch sufficient to sustain his conviction for Count II. ‘Serious
bodily injury’ is defined in relevant part as bodily injury that causes serious
permanent disfigurement, unconsciousness, extreme pain, or permanent or
protracted loss or impairment of the function of a member or organ. See I.C. §
35-31.5-2-292(1)-(4). In an apparent recognition that the State’s evidence of
serious disfigurement, extreme pain, or permanent or protracted loss or
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 14 of 15 impairment is lacking, the majority centers its analysis on whether the State
proved that Vance rendered Upchurch unconscious. To support its conclusion
that the State made its case, the majority relies on Upchurch’s equivocal
testimony that the police woke him up but did not really wake him up and his
affirmative response when asked if he had lost consciousness, which he clarified
on cross-examination was an assumption on his part.
[27] We do not reweigh the evidence as part of our review. However, it is not
reweighing to conclude that evidence to support an element of the offense did
not exist. Upchurch’s equivocation negated the probative value of his
testimony, and he admitted that he had no personal knowledge that he had lost
consciousness. The State did not present any expert medical testimony
indicating that Upchurch lost consciousness. Therefore, there was no evidence
in the record which could have supported a reasonable conclusion that Vance
rendered Upchurch unconscious. For these reasons, I respectfully dissent.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-221 | August 12, 2020 Page 15 of 15