Gary Gentner v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 3, 2017
• Docket: 79A02-1609-CR-2120
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED regarded as precedent or cited before any Mar 03 2017, 6:29 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 Bruce W. Graham Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Graham Law Firm P.C. Attorney General of Indiana Lafayette, Indiana Ellen H. Meilaender Supervising Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Gary Gentner, March 3, 2017 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 79A02-1609-CR-2120 v. Appeal from the Tippecanoe Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Steven P. Meyer, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 79D02-1511-F5-63

Bailey, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1609-CR-2120 | March 3, 2017 Page 1 of 10 Case Summary [1] Gary Gentner (“Gentner”) was convicted after a jury trial of Operating a Motor

Vehicle while Privileges Are Forfeited for Life, a Level 5 felony, 1 and Resisting

Law Enforcement, as a Class A misdemeanor.2 The trial court sentenced

Gentner to an aggregate term of imprisonment of six years. He now appeals.

[2] We affirm.

Issues [3] Gentner raises two issues for our review. We restate these as:

I. Whether the trial court abused its discretion when it proceeded with trial and sentencing with Gentner in absentia; and

II. Whether the sentence imposed was inappropriate under Appellate Rule 7(B).

Facts and Procedural History [4] In 2005, Gentner was convicted of Operating a Vehicle as a Habitual Traffic

Violator, as a result of which his driving privileges were forfeited for life in the

State of Indiana. (App’x Vol. 2 at 105.)

1 Ind. Code § 9-30-10-17. 2 I.C. § 35-44.1-3-1(a)(3).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1609-CR-2120 | March 3, 2017 Page 2 of 10 [5] On the night of November 22, 2015, Officer Austin Schutter (“Officer

Schutter”), of the Lafayette Police Department, observed in operation on a road

a silver Buick with North Dakota plates that he knew to be registered to

Gentner. Officer Schutter was en route to a dispatched call, and reported

information concerning the vehicle to police dispatch; he then proceeded on to

the other call.

[6] Police dispatch notified Officer Alexander Feistel (“Officer Feistel”) of

Gentner’s vehicle and where it was being operated. Officer Feistel proceeded to

the location, observed the vehicle in operation, and ran the North Dakota

license plate through a Bureau of Motor Vehicles (“BMV”) database. The

database records indicated that the license plate belonged to a Chevrolet

Suburban, not the silver Buick to which the plate had been affixed. Officer

Feistel also obtained the BMV record for Gentner. Officer Feistel then initiated

a traffic stop.

[7] The silver Buick stopped and, before Officer Feistel could exit his own vehicle,

Gentner had opened the driver’s door of the Buick, gotten out of the car, and

stood looking squarely at Officer Feistel’s police car. Having seen Gentner’s

BMV photograph, Officer Feistel immediately recognized Gentner, and,

quickly getting out of the police car, Office Feistel instructed Gentner to sit back

down in the Buick.

[8] Rather than comply with this instruction, Gentner instead began to flee Officer

Feistel on foot. Officer Feistel pursued Gentner through the neighborhood in

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1609-CR-2120 | March 3, 2017 Page 3 of 10 which the traffic stop had been initiated until Gentner proceeded down an alley.

Eventually, Gentner encountered a fence. Officer Feistel caught up and,

concerned for his safety and seeking to end the pursuit, tackled Gentner to the

ground, handcuffed him, and placed him under arrest.

[9] On November 23, 2015, the State charged Gentner with Operating a Motor

Vehicle while Privileges Are Forfeited for Life and Resisting Law Enforcement.

Gentner was subsequently released on bond.

[10] On March 10, 2016, a pretrial conference was conducted, during which the trial

court announced a trial date of May 31, 2016, and a final pretrial conference

date of May 13, 2016. On April 7, 2016, the trial court rescheduled the jury

trial to June 1, but left the pretrial conference scheduled for May 13. Gentner’s

counsel left a voicemail for Gentner in advance of the pretrial conference, but

Gentner did not appear for the conference. The trial court then revoked

Gentner’s bond and issued a warrant for Gentner’s arrest.

[11] Gentner’s counsel again left a message for Gentner notifying him of the trial

date. On June 1, 2016, a trial was conducted; Gentner did not appear for the

trial. Gentner’s counsel moved for a continuance, which the trial court denied.

Gentner was tried in absentia, and the jury found him guilty as charged. On

July 22, 2016, a sentencing hearing was conducted, again with Gentner in

absentia. The court entered judgments of conviction against Gentner and

sentenced him to an aggregate sentence of six years: a six-year term of

imprisonment for Operating a Motor Vehicle while Privileges Are Forfeited for

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1609-CR-2120 | March 3, 2017 Page 4 of 10 Life, and a one-year term of imprisonment for Resisting Law Enforcement,

with the sentences run concurrently.

[12] On August 3, 2016, police apprehended Gentner. On August 18, 2016,

Gentner appeared in front of the trial court and requested appellate counsel.

[13] This appeal ensued.

Discussion and Decision Trial In Absentia [14] In this appeal, Gentner first argues that the trial court abused its discretion

when it conducted his trial in absentia. The United States Constitution and the

Indiana Constitution both afford defendants in a criminal proceeding the right

to be present at all stages of the trial. U.S. Const. amend. VI; Ind. Const. art. 1,

§ 13. If a defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives that right, however trial

may occur in absentia. Jackson v. State, 868 N.E.2d 494, 498 (Ind. 2007). As the

Indiana Supreme Court has stated:

When a defendant fails to appear for trial and fails to notify the trial court or provide it with an explanation of his absence, the trial court may conclude that defendant’s absence is knowing and voluntary and proceed with trial when there is evidence that the defendant knew of his scheduled trial date.

Id. (quoting Freeman v. State, 541 N.E.2d 533, 535 (Ind. 1989)).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1609-CR-2120 | March 3, 2017 Page 5 of 10 [15] “The best evidence that a defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his or

her right to be present at trial is ‘the defendant’s presence in court on the day

the matter is set for trial.’” Lampkins v. State, 682 N.E.2d 1268, 1273 (Ind.

1997). Thus, when a defendant knows of the trial date but fails to appear, the

trial court may presume that the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived

the right to be present at the trial. Brown v. State, 839 N.E.2d 225, 227 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2005), trans. denied. However, “waiver can also be implied when a

defendant is voluntarily absent from the trial.” Hagenmeyer v. State, 683 N.E.2d

629, 630 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997) (citing James v. State, 613 N.E.2d 15, 24 (Ind.

1993)). Further, “a defendant who has been tried in absentia ‘must be afforded

an opportunity to explain his absence and thereby rebut the initial presumption

of waiver.’” Brown, 839 N.E.2d at 227. Upon appellate review, we look to the

entire record to determine whether waiver of the right to be present at trial was

voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. Id. at 228.

[16] Here, Gentner, who had posted bond, attended a pretrial conference on March

4, 2016. During that conference, a final pretrial conference was set for May 13,

2016, and a jury trial was set for May 31, 2016. Gentner was ordered at the

March 4, 2016 conference to appear in person at both the May 13, 2016

conference and the May 31, 2016 trial.

[17] On April 7, 2016, the trial court issued an order rescheduling the May 31, 2016

trial by postponing it for one day—to June 1, 2016. The order reiterated the

court’s instruction for Gentner to appear in person at both the May 13, 2016

pretrial conference, which had not been rescheduled, and the trial.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1609-CR-2120 | March 3, 2017 Page 6 of 10 [18] Gentner failed to appear at the May 13, 2016 conference, and the trial court

issued a warrant for Gentner’s arrest. The court also reaffirmed the June 1,

2016 trial date. Counsel for Gentner filed an affidavit with the court averring

that he had attempted to contact Gentner by phone and was unable to leave a

voicemail message, but left a message with “a close associate” of Gentner and

was unable to confirm whether that message had been passed along. (App’x

Vol. 2 at 33.)

[19] Ultimately, Gentner did not appear at trial, which was conducted in his

absence. Gentner was eventually apprehended on August 3, 2016, and Gentner

appeared in court on August 18, 2016. The trial court reviewed the sentencing

order with Gentner at that time. Gentner requested appointment of appellate

counsel, but the record is silent as to whether Gentner provided any explanation

for his absence. There are no additional filings reflected on the trial court’s

docket that suggest any supplemental information concerning Gentner’s

absence was provided. On appeal, Gentner acknowledges that the record is

silent on that point and offers no explanation for his absence.

[20] Simply put, Gentner failed to attend a pretrial conference that he had been

directed to attend, and evaded apprehension from that point until his arrest in

August 2016—a period of time lasting more than two months. The record

discloses that Gentner was afforded a hearing after his arrest, but he apparently

provided no explanation for his absence. The day of trial, Gentner’s trial

counsel requested a continuance, but was unable to offer any grounds other

than Gentner’s absence. Gentner has an extensive history of interaction with

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1609-CR-2120 | March 3, 2017 Page 7 of 10 police and the courts in California, Washington, North Dakota, and Indiana.

Thus, even without a precise explanation from Gentner for his absence, the

record, viewed in its entirety, supports a conclusion that Gentner’s absence

from trial was voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. We accordingly find no

abuse of discretion in the trial court’s denial of the motion to continue to the

trial and to conduct the trial with Gentner in absentia.

Inappropriateness [21] Gentner’s other contention on appeal is that his sentence was inappropriate and

requires revision under Appellate Rule 7(B). The authority granted to this

Court by Article 7, § 6 of the Indiana Constitution permitting appellate review

and revision of criminal sentences is implemented through Appellate Rule 7(B),

which provides: “The Court may revise a sentence authorized by statute if, after

due consideration of the trial court’s decision, the Court finds that the sentence

is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the

offender.” Under this rule, and as interpreted by case law, appellate courts may

revise a sentence after due consideration of the trial court’s decision, if the

sentence is found to be inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the

character of the offender. Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1222-25 (Ind.

2008); Serino v. State, 798 N.E.2d 852, 856-57 (Ind. 2003). The principal role of

such review is to attempt to leaven the outliers. Cardwell, 895 N.E.2d at 1225.

[22] Here, Gentner was convicted of one count each of a Level 5 felony and a Class

A misdemeanor. For Operating a Motor Vehicle while Privileges Are Forfeited

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1609-CR-2120 | March 3, 2017 Page 8 of 10 for Life, a Level 5 felony, Gentner faced a sentencing range of one to six years

imprisonment, with an advisory sentence of three years. I.C. § 35-50-2-6(b).

For Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor, Gentner faced a

sentence of up to one year of imprisonment. I.C. § 35-50-3-2. The trial court

sentenced Gentner to the maximum terms of imprisonment for each, and ran

the sentences concurrent with one another, yielding an aggregate term of

imprisonment of six years.

[23] Looking to the nature of Gentner’s offenses, we observe nothing particularly

remarkable about the nature of his offense of Operating a Motor Vehicle while

Privileges are Forfeited for Life. As to his offense of Resisting Law

Enforcement, Gentner caused Officer Feistel to engage in an extended foot-

chase down the middle of a public road and through several yards, leaving three

passengers in the vehicle and potentially subjecting Officer Feistel to danger

from one of the vehicle’s occupants. Moreover, Gentner’s conduct suggests

that he intended to flee as soon as the traffic stop occurred, as Gentner had

gotten out of his car before Officer Feistel had an opportunity to open the door

to his police car.

[24] With respect to his character, our review of the presentence investigation report

discloses that Gentner has a long history of criminal activity in California,

Washington, Indiana, and North Dakota. Gentner’s criminal history began in

1989 and continued unabated into 2016. The vast majority of his convictions

arose from substance- and vehicle-related offenses. These gradually escalated

from misdemeanor- to felony-level offenses. By 2005, Gentner’s driving

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1609-CR-2120 | March 3, 2017 Page 9 of 10 privileges had been forfeited for life, but he continued to drive even after that

point, accruing multiple convictions in North Dakota, Washington, and

Indiana for driving and substance-related offenses. Gentner was arrested on

February 7, 2016—during the pendency of the charges in this case—for

Operating a Motor Vehicle while Privileges Are Forfeited for Life in Carroll

County. Gentner has a history of failing to appear for court dates, and has

previously been held in contempt of court for such conduct. Gentner has also

had his probation revoked on several occasions.

[25] Simply put, Gentner’s extensive criminal history and continued commission of

motor vehicle offenses, together with his failure to benefit from prior

opportunities for rehabilitation, speak ill of his character, and do nothing to

lighten the gravity of the offenses here. Gentner has not persuaded us that his

sentence in this case was inappropriate.

Conclusion [26] The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it tried Gentner in absentia.

Gentner’s sentence is not inappropriate.

[27] Affirmed.

Najam, J., and May, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1609-CR-2120 | March 3, 2017 Page 10 of 10