Oct 31 2013, 5:31 am Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before any court except for the purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
TIMOTHY J. BURNS GREGORY F. ZOELLER Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
KATHERINE MODESITT COOPER Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
JAMES TINZLEY, ) ) Appellant-Defendant, ) ) vs. ) No. 49A02-1303-CR-267 ) STATE OF INDIANA, ) ) Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT The Honorable Stanley E. Kroh, Judge Pro Tempore Cause No. 49G16-1211-CM-76679
October 31, 2013
MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION
BRADFORD, Judge CASE SUMMARY
On November 1, 2012, Appellant-Defendant James Tinzley entered a Hardee’s
restaurant where his ex-girlfriend Sheree Washington was working. As Washington exited
the restaurant’s restroom, Tinzley forced her back into the restroom where he grabbed her by
the hair and punched her in the chest and rib area, causing her pain. Tinzley then fled the
restaurant. When Washington exited the restroom, she was holding the upper part of her
chest and looked as if she had been crying. Washington reported that Tinzley had beaten her
while in the restroom. Tinzley was charged with and convicted of Class A misdemeanor
battery. On appeal, Tinzley contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his
conviction for Class A misdemeanor battery. We affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On the morning of November 1, 2012, Washington was working at a Hardee’s
restaurant in Indianapolis. As Washington exited the restaurant’s restroom, she saw Tinzley.
Tinzley approached Washington and forced her back into the restroom. While in the
restroom, Tinzley accused Washington of slashing one of the tires on his vehicle. Tinzley
grabbed Washington by the hair and punched her in her chest and rib area, causing
Washington pain. Tinzley then fled the restaurant.
A few minutes later, Washington emerged from the restroom. Donald Woodbury,
who had witnessed Tinzley force Washington into the restroom, noticed that Washington was
holding the upper part of her chest and was whimpering and crying as if in pain. Woodbury
observed that Washington’s eyes were blurry and that she seemed to have trouble focusing.
2 Woodbury notified police after Washington told him that Tinzley had “just got finished
beating her inside the restroom.” Tr. p. 26.
On November 15, 2012, the State charged Tinzley with one count of Class A
misdemeanor domestic battery and one count of Class A misdemeanor battery. Following a
bench trial, Tinzley was found guilty of Class A misdemeanor battery. Tinzley was found
not guilty of Class A misdemeanor domestic battery. The trial court imposed a sentence of
365 days with credit for time served and the remainder suspended. The trial court ordered
that Tinzley serve the suspended portion of his sentence on probation. The trial court
instructed Tinzley to complete twenty-six weeks of domestic violence counseling in addition
to all standard conditions of probation. The trial court also instructed Tinzley to have no
contact with Washington.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
Tinzley contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction for Class A
misdemeanor battery.
When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, appellate courts must consider only the probative evidence and reasonable inferences supporting the verdict. It is the fact-finder’s role, not that of appellate courts, to assess witness credibility and weigh the evidence to determine whether it is sufficient to support a conviction. To preserve this structure, when appellate courts are confronted with conflicting evidence, they must consider it most favorably to the trial court’s ruling. Appellate courts affirm the conviction unless no reasonable fact-finder could find the elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It is therefore not necessary that the evidence overcome every reasonable hypothesis of innocence. The evidence is sufficient if an inference may reasonably be drawn from it to support the verdict.
3 Drane v. State, 867 N.E.2d 144, 146-47 (Ind. 2007) (citations, emphasis, and quotations
omitted). “In essence, we assess only whether the verdict could be reached based on
reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the evidence presented.” Baker v. State, 968
N.E.2d 227, 229 (Ind. 2012) (emphasis in original). Upon review, appellate courts do not
reweigh the evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses. Stewart v. State, 768 N.E.2d
433, 435 (Ind. 2002).
Indiana Code section 35-42-2-1(a) provides that “[a] person who knowingly or
intentionally touches another person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner commits battery.”
The offense is a Class A misdemeanor if it results in bodily injury to any other person. Ind.
Code § 35-42-2-1(a)(1)(A). Any degree of physical pain may constitute bodily injury. See
Bailey v. State, 979 N.E.2d 133, 142 (Ind. 2012). In challenging the sufficiency of the
evidence to sustain his conviction for Class A misdemeanor battery, Tinzley argues that
Washington’s testimony is not believable because Washington is the complaining witness
and her testimony is not corroborated by any other evidence in the record.
It is well-established that “[a] conviction can be sustained on only the uncorroborated
testimony of a single witness, even when that witness is the victim.” Id. at 135 (citing Ferrell
v. State, 565 N.E.2d 1070, 1072-73 (Ind. 1991)). However, under the rule of incredible
dubiosity, a defendant’s conviction may be reversed if the sole witness presents inherently
improbable testimony. West v. State, 907 N.E.2d 176, 177 (Ind. Ct. Ap. 2009). The
“incredible dubiosity” test is a difficult standard to meet, one that requires great ambiguity
and inconsistency in the evidence. Edwards v. State, 753 N.E.2d 618, 622 (Ind. 2001). “For
4 testimony to be so inherently incredible that it is disregarded based on a finding of ‘incredible
dubiosity,’ the witness must present testimony that is inherently contradictory, wholly
equivocal or the result of coercion, and there must also be a complete lack of circumstantial
evidence of the defendant’s guilt.” Clay v. State, 755 N.E.2d 187, 189 (Ind. 2001). Thus,
before a court can interfere with the fact-finder’s authority to judge witness credibility and
evaluate evidence, the court must be presented with testimony which “‘runs counter to the
human experience,’” and is “so convoluted and/or contrary to human experience that no
reasonable person could believe it.” Edwards, 753 N.E.2d at 622 (quoting Campbell v. State,
732 N.E.2d 197, 207 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000)). Washington’s testimony does not meet this
standard.
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Oct 31 2013, 5:31 am Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before any court except for the purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
TIMOTHY J. BURNS GREGORY F. ZOELLER Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
KATHERINE MODESITT COOPER Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
JAMES TINZLEY, ) ) Appellant-Defendant, ) ) vs. ) No. 49A02-1303-CR-267 ) STATE OF INDIANA, ) ) Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT The Honorable Stanley E. Kroh, Judge Pro Tempore Cause No. 49G16-1211-CM-76679
October 31, 2013
MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION
BRADFORD, Judge CASE SUMMARY
On November 1, 2012, Appellant-Defendant James Tinzley entered a Hardee’s
restaurant where his ex-girlfriend Sheree Washington was working. As Washington exited
the restaurant’s restroom, Tinzley forced her back into the restroom where he grabbed her by
the hair and punched her in the chest and rib area, causing her pain. Tinzley then fled the
restaurant. When Washington exited the restroom, she was holding the upper part of her
chest and looked as if she had been crying. Washington reported that Tinzley had beaten her
while in the restroom. Tinzley was charged with and convicted of Class A misdemeanor
battery. On appeal, Tinzley contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his
conviction for Class A misdemeanor battery. We affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On the morning of November 1, 2012, Washington was working at a Hardee’s
restaurant in Indianapolis. As Washington exited the restaurant’s restroom, she saw Tinzley.
Tinzley approached Washington and forced her back into the restroom. While in the
restroom, Tinzley accused Washington of slashing one of the tires on his vehicle. Tinzley
grabbed Washington by the hair and punched her in her chest and rib area, causing
Washington pain. Tinzley then fled the restaurant.
A few minutes later, Washington emerged from the restroom. Donald Woodbury,
who had witnessed Tinzley force Washington into the restroom, noticed that Washington was
holding the upper part of her chest and was whimpering and crying as if in pain. Woodbury
observed that Washington’s eyes were blurry and that she seemed to have trouble focusing.
2 Woodbury notified police after Washington told him that Tinzley had “just got finished
beating her inside the restroom.” Tr. p. 26.
On November 15, 2012, the State charged Tinzley with one count of Class A
misdemeanor domestic battery and one count of Class A misdemeanor battery. Following a
bench trial, Tinzley was found guilty of Class A misdemeanor battery. Tinzley was found
not guilty of Class A misdemeanor domestic battery. The trial court imposed a sentence of
365 days with credit for time served and the remainder suspended. The trial court ordered
that Tinzley serve the suspended portion of his sentence on probation. The trial court
instructed Tinzley to complete twenty-six weeks of domestic violence counseling in addition
to all standard conditions of probation. The trial court also instructed Tinzley to have no
contact with Washington.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
Tinzley contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction for Class A
misdemeanor battery.
When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, appellate courts must consider only the probative evidence and reasonable inferences supporting the verdict. It is the fact-finder’s role, not that of appellate courts, to assess witness credibility and weigh the evidence to determine whether it is sufficient to support a conviction. To preserve this structure, when appellate courts are confronted with conflicting evidence, they must consider it most favorably to the trial court’s ruling. Appellate courts affirm the conviction unless no reasonable fact-finder could find the elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It is therefore not necessary that the evidence overcome every reasonable hypothesis of innocence. The evidence is sufficient if an inference may reasonably be drawn from it to support the verdict.
3 Drane v. State, 867 N.E.2d 144, 146-47 (Ind. 2007) (citations, emphasis, and quotations
omitted). “In essence, we assess only whether the verdict could be reached based on
reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the evidence presented.” Baker v. State, 968
N.E.2d 227, 229 (Ind. 2012) (emphasis in original). Upon review, appellate courts do not
reweigh the evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses. Stewart v. State, 768 N.E.2d
433, 435 (Ind. 2002).
Indiana Code section 35-42-2-1(a) provides that “[a] person who knowingly or
intentionally touches another person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner commits battery.”
The offense is a Class A misdemeanor if it results in bodily injury to any other person. Ind.
Code § 35-42-2-1(a)(1)(A). Any degree of physical pain may constitute bodily injury. See
Bailey v. State, 979 N.E.2d 133, 142 (Ind. 2012). In challenging the sufficiency of the
evidence to sustain his conviction for Class A misdemeanor battery, Tinzley argues that
Washington’s testimony is not believable because Washington is the complaining witness
and her testimony is not corroborated by any other evidence in the record.
It is well-established that “[a] conviction can be sustained on only the uncorroborated
testimony of a single witness, even when that witness is the victim.” Id. at 135 (citing Ferrell
v. State, 565 N.E.2d 1070, 1072-73 (Ind. 1991)). However, under the rule of incredible
dubiosity, a defendant’s conviction may be reversed if the sole witness presents inherently
improbable testimony. West v. State, 907 N.E.2d 176, 177 (Ind. Ct. Ap. 2009). The
“incredible dubiosity” test is a difficult standard to meet, one that requires great ambiguity
and inconsistency in the evidence. Edwards v. State, 753 N.E.2d 618, 622 (Ind. 2001). “For
4 testimony to be so inherently incredible that it is disregarded based on a finding of ‘incredible
dubiosity,’ the witness must present testimony that is inherently contradictory, wholly
equivocal or the result of coercion, and there must also be a complete lack of circumstantial
evidence of the defendant’s guilt.” Clay v. State, 755 N.E.2d 187, 189 (Ind. 2001). Thus,
before a court can interfere with the fact-finder’s authority to judge witness credibility and
evaluate evidence, the court must be presented with testimony which “‘runs counter to the
human experience,’” and is “so convoluted and/or contrary to human experience that no
reasonable person could believe it.” Edwards, 753 N.E.2d at 622 (quoting Campbell v. State,
732 N.E.2d 197, 207 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000)). Washington’s testimony does not meet this
standard.
Washington testified at trial that after forcing her into the restroom, Tinzley grabbed
her by the hair and punched her in the chest and rib area, causing her pain. Washington’s
testimony was corroborated, in part, by Woodbury who testified that he saw Tinzley place
Washington “in like a headlock” and force her into the restroom. Tr. p. 30. A few minutes
later, Woodbury saw Tinzley exit the restroom and flee the restaurant. When Washington
emerged from the restroom, Woodbury observed that she was holding her upper chest as if
she were in pain. Woodbury also observed that Washington was whimpering and that her
eyes looked as if she had been crying. This testimony is sufficient to establish that Tinzley
committed Class A misdemeanor battery.
Moreover, contrary to Tinzley’s claim on appeal, Washington’s testimony was not
incredulously dubious. Washington’s testimony did not run counter to the human experience.
5 See Edwards, 753 N.E.2d at 622. It was not so convoluted that no reasonable person could
believe it, inherently contradictory, or wholly equivocal. See id.; Clay, 755 N.E.2d at 189. In
addition, nothing the record suggests that Washington’s testimony was the result of coercion.
See Clay, 755 N.E.2d at 189. To the contrary, Washington’s testimony was consistent and
unequivocal. Tinzley’s claim on appeal effectively amounts to an invitation to reweigh the
evidence, which we will not do. Stewart, 768 N.E.2d 433 at 435.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
BAILEY, J., and MAY, J., concur.