Harry Truman Smith v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 20, 2019
• Docket: 18A-CR-2493
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED this Memorandum Decision shall not be May 20 2019, 9:18 am regarded as precedent or cited before any 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 Christopher Sturgeon Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Clark County Public Defender Officer Attorney General of Indiana Jeffersonville, Indiana Tyler G. Banks Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Harry Truman Smith, May 20, 2019 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 18A-CR-2493 v. Appeal from the Clark Circuit Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Andrew Adams, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 10C01-1510-F1-3

Brown, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2493 | May 20, 2019 Page 1 of 10 [1] Harry Truman Smith appeals his sentence for two counts of child molesting.

Smith raises three issues which we revise and restate as whether his sentence is

inappropriate in light of the nature of the offenses and his character. We

reverse and remand.

Facts and Procedural History

[2] “[A] couple [of] days” prior to October 7, 2015, Smith, born on November 2,

1948, wrestled with E.B., who was the daughter of his niece and seven years

old, and he fondled her vagina with the intent to arouse or satisfy sexual

desires. Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 9. On October 7, 2015, Smith

again fondled E.B.’s vagina with the intent to arouse or satisfy sexual desires.

[3] On October 8, 2015, the State charged Smith with one count of child molesting

as a level 1 felony and one count of child molesting as a level 4 felony. On

August 10, 2016, two competency evaluation reports were submitted to the

court. The first report, dated June 16, 2016, and signed by Dr. Mary L.

Bouldin, indicates that Smith stated he had received a seventh grade education

and that his ex-wife taught him how to read and write, that he “was in rehab for

over a year after a severe motor vehicle accident with a traumatic brain injury,

after he was in a coma for 21 days,”and that he was able to read and write

before the accident but could not read and write currently. Id. at 45. The report

also states that “[d]ue to [Smith’s] significant memory deficits he does not

appear competent to stand trial or is . . . likely to be rendered competent.” Id. at

47. The second report, dated July 5, 2016, and signed by Dr. Asad Ismail,

indicates that Smith “at this point is not competent to stand trial” and, “because Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2493 | May 20, 2019 Page 2 of 10 of cognitive impairment and traumatic brain injury, he would not be able to

defend himself or cooperate.” Id. at 49. Following a competency hearing, the

court found Smith temporarily unable to stand trial and sent Smith to the

Logansport State Hospital for confinement for further evaluation and treatment.

A comprehension to stand trial report, signed by licensed psychologist Robert

E. Connell, indicates that Smith was prescribed Prozac for mood stability

beginning on February 24, 2017, and was referred to legal education and other

therapeutic programming.

[4] In April 2017, a letter from the Indiana Family and Social Services

Administration addressed to the court states that Smith had “attained the ability

to understand the proceedings and assist in the preparation of his defense,” and

he was transported to the Clark County Jail. Id. at 67. On August 10, 2017, he

filed a Notice of Intent to Interpose an Insanity Defense, and following a status

conference on September 7, 2017, the court appointed Drs. Bouldin and Ismail to

examine and evaluate Smith. On December 6, 2017, Dr. Bouldin filed an

evaluation, which indicates in part that:

Although technically [Smith] does not appear to meet the insanity defense, his dementia diagnosis does appear mitigating in the ongoing legal proceedings against him. In particular, it would be relevant as to whether he had been charged with previous crimes of a similar nature prior to his development of dementia or the dementia may have led to impairment in judgement [sic] and impulse control that played a role in the current proceedings.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2493 | May 20, 2019 Page 3 of 10 Id. at 98. On February 16, 2018, Dr. Ismail filed an evaluation, which indicates

that, in his opinion, “considering his traumatic brain injury and dementia,

[Smith] is not competent to stand trial. His dementia is definitely [a]ffecting his

insight and also his ability to understand the ongoing legal proceedings against

him.” Id. at 143.

[5] On April 30, 2018, the parties filed a plea agreement, which states that Smith

agreed to enter a plea of guilty to “Count 1: Am. Child Molest Level 4 fel.” and

“Count 2: Child Molest Level 4 fel.” pursuant to “I.C. 35-42-4-3(b).” Id. at 162.

The plea agreement also states “Blind plea sentence to court.” Id. At a July 12,

2018 hearing, Smith pled guilty to two counts of child molesting as level 4

felonies, and the court advised him of his rights and took testimony regarding

the agreement. Smith stated he was treated for “[b]rain injury” and answered

affirmatively that he had “been treated for any mental illness or now suffered

from any mental or emotional disability.” Transcript Volume II at 19. He

stated “Well, I’m going to try” when asked if he understood the process that

was being undertaken, and the court indicated that, at any time Smith had a

question, he could ask his attorney or ask the court after he consulted with his

attorney. Id. The court asked whether Smith understood what aggravating and

mitigating circumstances were and, when Smith indicated that he did not, it

provided definitions. When the court asked if Smith had an opportunity to

discuss the plea agreement with his lawyer, Smith stated first that he had not

and then indicated “Oh, yeah, yeah” after his attorney stated “We just talked

about it here.” Id. at 22. After the court established a factual basis for the

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2493 | May 20, 2019 Page 4 of 10 charges, the State “move[d] to admit the Probable Cause Affidavit based on the

factual basis,” the court asked if there was any objection and Smith’s counsel

stated, “[n]o objection,” and the court admitted the probable cause affidavit “in

support of the factual basis.” Id. at 25.

[6] At sentencing, the court discussed the presentence investigation report (the

“PSI”), which states in part that the Probation Department recommended

“Count I[,] Level 4 Felony: 8 years, 2 suspended[;] Count II[,] Level 4 Felony;

8 years, 2 suspended[;] Concurrent.” Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 161.

Smith answered affirmatively when his counsel asked him if he wanted to

apologize to his niece and her daughter. When the court asked for argument,

Smith’s counsel stated in part that Smith’s “mental faculties have failed and

that, at one point, he was deemed to be incompetent and sent to the State

Mental Health Hospital,” which “certainly, played a major part, . . . in the

crime”; that, “[t]hough it wasn’t enough to raise to the level of insanity or

something like that, it was evident that [Smith] was incompetent for a period of

time”; and that “working with him, he’s, you see that . . . he can’t read, his

mental education, he’s not very well equipped to deal with the declining fact

he’s in his age.” Transcript Volume II at 34. The Court found “that [E.B.] is

under twelve (12) years old” as an aggravating factor and that Smith “has no

history of delinquent or criminal activity and has led a law biding [sic] life for a

substantial period for [sic] the commission of the crime” to be mitigating

factors. Id. at 35. It sentenced Smith to eight years to the Indiana Department

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2493 | May 20, 2019 Page 5 of 10 of Correction with two years suspended to strict terms of probation on each

count, and ordered the sentences to run consecutively. Id.

[7] Smith filed a motion to correct errors. Following a hearing, the court denied

the motion.

Discussion

[8] The issue is whether Smith’s sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of

the offense and his character. 1 Ind. Appellate Rule 7(B) provides that we “may

revise a sentence authorized by statute if, after due consideration of the trial

court’s decision, [we find] that the sentence is inappropriate in light of the

nature of the offense and the character of the offender.” Under this rule, the

burden is on the defendant to persuade the appellate court that his or her

sentence is inappropriate. Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080 (Ind. 2006).

The Indiana Supreme Court has observed that our criminal justice system has

not always “adequately and properly respond[ed] to and treat[ed] those with

mental health issues.” Wampler v. State, 67 N.E.3d 633, 634 (Ind. 2017).

[9] With respect to the nature of the offense, Smith argues, “[without] minimizing

the wrongfulness of the behavior,” that the offenses for which he was convicted

are “not the worst of these types of offenses” as defined statutorily. Appellant’s

1 To the extent that Smith argues the trial court abused its discretion by accepting his plea of guilty, we note that a conviction based upon a guilty plea “may not be challenged by motion to correct errors and direct appeal” and that “[t]he proper avenue for challenging one’s conviction pursuant to a guilty plea is through filing a petition for post-conviction relief and presenting evidence at a post-conviction proceeding.” Hayes v. State, 906 N.E.2d 819, 821 n.1 (Ind. 2009) (quoting Tumulty v. State, 666 N.E.2d 394, 395-396 (Ind. 1996)).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2493 | May 20, 2019 Page 6 of 10 Brief at 17-18. He contrasts Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(a), which provides that a

“person who, with a child under fourteen (14) years of age, knowingly or

intentionally performs or submits to sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct

(as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5) commits child molesting, a Level 3 felony,” 2

with Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(b), under which he was convicted of two counts of

level 4 felonies and received enhanced sentences of eight years for each. 3 In his

reply brief, he contends that the offenses for which he was convicted resulted in

no physical injury and were committed against the same child “over a short

period of time.” Appellant’s Reply Brief at 4. With respect to his character,

Smith argues that the sentence was inappropriate given that he “was sixty nine

years old, only had a seventh grade education, had suffered a traumatic brain

injury, had dementia, and had no prior [criminal] record.” Appellant’s Brief at

at 4. The State responds that Smith “showed no genuine remorse for molesting

his 7-year-old niece,” acknowledges that Smith has serious cognitive and

functioning issues, and contends that Smith did not prove “that his cognitive

2 Ind. Code § 35-31.5-2-221.5 provides that “[o]ther sexual conduct” means an act involving: “(1) a sex organ of one (1) person and the mouth or anus of another person; or (2) the penetration of the sex organ or anus of a person by an object.” Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5 provides that a person who commits a level 3 felony after June 30, 2014, “shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of between three (3) and sixteen (16) years, with the advisory sentence being nine (9) years.” 3 Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(b) provides in relevant part that a “person who, with a child under fourteen (14) years of age, performs or submits to any fondling or touching, of either the child or the older person, with intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the older person, commits child molesting, a Level 4 felony.” Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5.5 provides that a “person who commits a Level 4 felony shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of between two (2) and twelve (12) years, with the advisory sentence being six (6) years.”

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2493 | May 20, 2019 Page 7 of 10 problems had any influence on his decision to coerce [a] seven-year-old family

member to submit to child molesting.” Appellee’s Brief at 12.

[10] Our review of the nature of the offenses reveals that Smith fondled the daughter

of his niece twice, a couple of days apart. Our review of the character of the

offender reveals that Smith pled guilty, and that the plea agreement provided

for a “Blind plea sentence.” Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 162. The PSI

indicates that Smith has no prior criminal history and that his overall risk

assessment score using the Indiana risk assessment system places him in the low

risk to reoffend category. At sentencing, the court found that Smith had no

history of delinquent or criminal activity and had led a law-abiding life for a

substantial period before the commission of the offenses. After due

consideration, we conclude that Smith’s sentence is inappropriate and that the

sentences of eight years with two years suspended for each count should be

served concurrently. See Wampler, 67 N.E.3d at 634-635 (noting that Wampler

was initially found incompetent to stand trial, received treatment, and was later

found competent, and revising his aggregate sentence).

[11] For the foregoing reasons, we reverse Smith’s sentence and remand this case to the trial

court for entry of an amended sentencing order and any other necessary documents.

[12] Reversed and remanded.

Mathias, J., concurs.

May, J., dissents with opinion.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2493 | May 20, 2019 Page 8 of 10 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Harry Truman Smith, May 20, 2019 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 18A-CR-2493 v. Appeal from the Clark Circuit Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Andrew Adams, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 10C01-1510-F1-3

May, Judge, dissenting.

[13] I respectfully dissent because I would not reduce Smith’s sentence for two

counts of Level 4 felony child molesting from sixteen years to eight years.

[14] At sentencing, the victim’s mother, who is Smith’s niece and had been his

caretaker until these molestations occurred, testified:

[H]e has no remorse for what he chose to do to my seven (7) year old daughter. When we were in Court the last time, I heard him say to his attorney that it wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t only him. He was blaming my child for these acts, that she was involved,

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2493 | May 20, 2019 Page 9 of 10 when she is not old enough to even have knowledge of what something like that was. And also, he told her if she did not do what adults told her to do, that the devil would get her. That was what kept her afraid. He told her that, if she broke promises that she would have to go to the devil. We are still, today, trying to get her to understand that that’s not true. She has nightmares. Anytime she sees someone that looks like him, she’ll have a nightmare that night. I loved you, Truman, but she did not, you had no right to violate that trust that I’ve given you my entire life.

(Tr. Vol. II at 31.)

[15] While the record demonstrates Smith has dementia and cognitive deficits from

traumatic brain injury, there is no suggestion that these memory or processing

issues were responsible for Smith being unable to appreciate the heinous

wrongfulness of his touching his seven-year-old great-niece’s vagina on multiple

occasions. Were there such evidence, I would question whether Smith should

have been advised to plead guilty, but I would not question that society should

be protected from Smith for at least sixteen years.

[16] As I find nothing inappropriate about Smith’s sentence, I respectfully dissent.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2493 | May 20, 2019 Page 10 of 10