Jason C. Amonett v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 11, 2017
• Docket: 18A04-1609-CR-2126
• 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 court except for the purpose of establishing May 11 2017, 5:44 am

the defense of res judicata, collateral CLERK Indiana Supreme Court estoppel, or the law of the case. Court of Appeals and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Alan K. Wilson Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Muncie, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana

Caryn N. Szyper Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Jason C. Amonett, May 11, 2017 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 18A04-1609-CR-2126 v. Appeal from the Delaware Circuit Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Linda Ralu Wolf, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 18C03-1205-FA-9

Barnes, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A04-1609-CR-2126 | May 11, 2017 Page 1 of 10 Case Summary [1] Jason Amonett appeals his convictions and sentence for Class A felony dealing

in a schedule II controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a youth program

center, Class C felony possession of a controlled substance, and Class A

misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia. We affirm.

Issues [2] Amonett raises three issues, which we restate as:

I. whether the trial court properly admitted evidence of marijuana and oxycodone found during a search of Amonett’s house;

II. whether the trial court properly admitted Amonett’s statement to police; and

III. whether the forty-year sentence is inappropriate.

Facts [3] On May 1, 2012, Officer Michael Nickens with the Muncie Police Department

arranged for a confidential informant to participate in a controlled drug buy at

Amonett’s residence. The confidential informant was given buy money, which

had been photographed, and was fitted with audio/video recording equipment.

At Amonett’s residence, the confidential informant used buy money to

purchase morphine. The next day, the same confidential informant again

participated in a controlled drug buy at Amonett’s residence. The confidential

informant again used buy money to purchase morphine.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A04-1609-CR-2126 | May 11, 2017 Page 2 of 10 [4] Two hours after the last controlled buy, the police executed a search warrant for

Amonett’s residence. Amonett and Sarah Lipscomb were taken into custody.

Money from the second controlled buy was recovered from the residence along

with significant amounts of morphine, some marijuana, four oxycodone pills,

and paraphernalia. Amonett waived his Miranda rights and was interviewed by

officers. Amonett admitted that he had been dealing pills out of his residence

since December 2011 and that he could be making $30,000 per month if he and

Lipscomb were not also using the pills.

[5] The State charged Amonett with: Count I, Class A felony dealing in a schedule

II controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a youth program center for

Amonett’s actions on May 1; Count II, Class A felony dealing in a schedule II

controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a youth program center for Amonett’s

actions on May 2; Count III, Class C felony possession of a controlled

substance (Opana); Count IV, Class C felony possession of a controlled

substance (morphine); and Count V, Class A misdemeanor possession of

paraphernalia. The State later moved to dismiss Count III, which the trial court

granted. At Amonett’s jury trial, the trial court admitted both the marijuana

and the oxycodone that were found in Amonett’s house even though he was not

charged with possession of either substance. The trial court also admitted the

recording of Amonett’s statement to the officers. The jury was unable to reach

a verdict on Count I but found Amonett guilty as charged of Counts II, IV, and

V. The trial court sentenced Amonett to forty years for Count II, six years for

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A04-1609-CR-2126 | May 11, 2017 Page 3 of 10 Count IV, and one year for Count V to be served concurrently for an aggregate

sentence of forty years. Amonett now appeals.

Analysis I. Admission of Marijuana and Oxycodone

[6] Amonett argues that the trial court erred by admitting the marijuana and

oxycodone that were found in his residence. Amonett points out that none of

his charges related to the marijuana or oxycodone, and he argues that the

admission of the evidence violated Indiana Evidence Rule 404(b).

[7] Amonett, however, failed to object on the grounds of Evidence Rule 404(b).

When the items were offered as evidence, Amonett’s only objection was that

the marijuana and oxycodone were “irrelevant to this proceeding.” Tr. Vol. I

p. 242. Where a defendant fails to object to the introduction of evidence, makes

only a general objection, or objects only on other grounds, he waives the claim.

Moore v. State, 669 N.E.2d 733, 742 (Ind. 1996).

[8] Waiver notwithstanding, the trial court has broad discretion to rule on the

admissibility of evidence. Guilmette v. State, 14 N.E.3d 38, 40 (Ind. 2014). We

review its rulings for abuse of that discretion. Id. We will reverse only when

admission is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances

and the error affects a party’s substantial rights. Id.; Ind. Trial Rule 61. The

improper admission of evidence is harmless if there is substantial independent

evidence of guilt. Davis v. State, 907 N.E.2d 1043, 1056 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A04-1609-CR-2126 | May 11, 2017 Page 4 of 10 [9] Here, even if the trial court abused its discretion by admitting the marijuana and

oxycodone found at Amonett’s residence during the search, any error was

harmless. During an audio/video recorded controlled buy, Amonett sold

morphine to a confidential informant. When Amonett’s residence was

searched pursuant to the search warrant, police found substantial amounts of

morphine and the money from the second controlled buy. The evidence

regarding Amonett’s dealing of morphine was overwhelming. Because there

was substantial independent evidence of Amonett’s guilt, any error in the

admission of the marijuana and oxycodone was harmless.

II. Amonett’s Statement to Police

[10] Next, Amonett argues that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting the

statement that he made to police. We review the trial court’s rulings on the

admissibility of evidence for abuse of discretion. Guilmette, 14 N.E.3d at 40.

We will reverse only when admission is clearly against the logic and effect of

the facts and circumstances and the error affects a party’s substantial rights. Id.;

T.R. 61. The improper admission of evidence is harmless if there is substantial

independent evidence of guilt. Davis, 907 N.E.2d at 1056.

[11] According to Amonett, the statement contained evidence of prior dealing

activity rather than evidence of the May 1st or May 2nd allegations, and the

statement was inadmissible under Indiana Evidence Rule 404(b). Amonett

argues that the evidence was “extraordinarily prejudicial and could hardly have

helped but turn the jurors’ attitudes against” him. Appellant’s Br. p. 10. Prior

to trial, Amonett filed a motion to suppress the statement pursuant to Indiana Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A04-1609-CR-2126 | May 11, 2017 Page 5 of 10 Evidence Rule 404(b), which the trial court denied. At the trial, Amonett

objected to the admission of the statement “for the reasons stated” in the

motion to suppress, but the trial court overruled the objection. Tr. Vol. II p. 12.

[12] The State argues, in part, that the statement was “related to an ongoing drug

dealing operation that was the subject of the instant investigation and not prior

unrelated conduct.” Appellee’s Br. p. 21. The State contends that the

statement was “inextricably intertwined with the crimes charged.” Id. at 22.

The State had alleged that Amonett was dealing morphine from his residence

on May 1st and May 2nd. In the statement to police, Amonett admitted that he

had been dealing morphine out of his residence since December 2011 and that

he could be making $30,000 per month if he and Lipscomb were not also using

the pills. Rule 404(b) does not bar evidence of uncharged criminal acts that are

“intrinsic” to the charged offense. Kyle v. State, 54 N.E.3d 439, 444 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2016). “Intrinsic” means “those offenses occurring at the same time and

under the same circumstances as the crimes charged.” Id. “Evidence of such

conduct is admissible because it does not concern ‘other’ crimes, wrongs, or

acts, and it is not offered for the purpose of creating an inference as to the

accused’s character or propensity.” Id. Evidence of Amonett dealing morphine

from his residence was part of the charged crime. The evidence did not concern

Amonett’s “other” wrongdoings and was not offered as evidence of his

character or propensity to commit the crime. We conclude that the trial court

did not abuse its discretion by admitting the statement.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A04-1609-CR-2126 | May 11, 2017 Page 6 of 10 [13] Moreover, even if the trial court abused its discretion by admitting the

statement, we conclude that any error was harmless. For the same reasons we

discussed regarding the admission of the marijuana and oxycodone, the

evidence regarding Amonett’s dealing of morphine was overwhelming.

Because there was substantial independent evidence of Amonett’s guilt, any

error in the admission of the statement was harmless.

III. Inappropriate Sentence

[14] Amonett argues that his forty-year sentence is inappropriate under Indiana

Appellate Rule 7(B). 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

offenses and the character of the offender. When considering whether a

sentence is inappropriate, we need not be “extremely” deferential to a trial

court’s sentencing decision. Rutherford v. State, 866 N.E.2d 867, 873 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2007). Still, we must give due consideration to that decision. Id. We also

understand and recognize the unique perspective a trial court brings to its

sentencing decisions. Id. 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).

[15] The principal role of Rule 7(B) review “should be to attempt to leaven the

outliers, and identify some guiding principles for trial courts and those charged

with improvement of the sentencing statutes, but not to achieve a perceived

‘correct’ result in each case.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1225 (Ind. Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A04-1609-CR-2126 | May 11, 2017 Page 7 of 10 2008). We “should focus on the forest—the aggregate sentence—rather than

the trees—consecutive or concurrent, number of counts, or length of the

sentence on any individual count.” Id. When reviewing the appropriateness of

a sentence under Rule 7(B), we may consider all aspects of the penal

consequences imposed by the trial court in sentencing the defendant, including

whether a portion of the sentence was suspended. Davidson v. State, 926 N.E.2d

1023, 1025 (Ind. 2010).

[16] Amonett makes no specific argument regarding the nature of his offenses or his

character. Rather, the focus of Amonett’s argument is that, if he had been

sentenced under the revised criminal code, which went into effect on July 1,

2014, his maximum sentence would have been two and one-half years. Under

the criminal code in effect at the time of the offense, the maximum sentence for

Amonett’s offense was fifty years with an advisory sentence of thirty years. See

Ind. Code § 35-50-2-4. Amonett concedes that the doctrine of amelioration

does not apply here, but he requests that we revise his sentence to twenty years.

We have previously rejected this argument. See Marley v. State, 17 N.E.3d 335,

340 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014) (declining to take into consideration the lesser

penalties of the new criminal code in addressing the appropriateness of the

defendant’s sentence), trans. denied; Schaadt v. State, 30 N.E.3d 1, 4 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2015) (declining to reduce the defendant’s forty-year sentence based on a

consideration of the lesser penalties of the new criminal code), trans. denied.

Rather, we must review Amonett’s sentence based solely on the nature of the

offense and the character of the offender.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A04-1609-CR-2126 | May 11, 2017 Page 8 of 10 [17] The nature of the offense is that Amonett sold morphine to a confidential

informant from his residence. When police searched the residence, they found

more than one hundred and fifty morphine pills and paraphernalia. Amonett

admitted that he had been selling morphine out of his residence since December

2011 and that he could have been making $30,000 per month if he and

Lipscomb had not been using the pills too.

[18] As for the character of the offender, at the time of the offense, Amonett was

thirty-eight years old. He had accumulated a significant criminal history,

including a 1994 conviction for minor consumption of alcohol, a 1994

conviction for Class A misdemeanor conversion, a 1995 conviction for driving

while suspended, a 1996 conviction for driving while suspended, a 1997

conviction for visiting a common nuisance, a 1997 conviction for criminal

conversion, a 1998 conviction for driving while suspended, a 2000 conviction

for Class D felony receiving stolen property, 2001 convictions for two counts of

Class D felony theft, a 2003 conviction for driving while suspended, 2005

convictions for Class C felony forgery, Class D felony resisting law

enforcement, and Class D felony receiving stolen property, a 2015 conviction

for Class D felony theft, and a 2015 conviction for criminal conversion.

[19] The trial court acknowledged that Amonett was remorseful, had strong family

support, and suffered from significant health conditions. However, the trial

court also noted that Amonett had not taken advantage of substance abuse

treatment offered to him and that prior attempts at rehabilitation had been

unsuccessful. Given Amonett’s significant criminal history and the ongoing

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A04-1609-CR-2126 | May 11, 2017 Page 9 of 10 morphine dealing operation that he was running out of his residence, we cannot

say that the forty-year sentence imposed by the trial court is inappropriate.

Conclusion [20] Any error in the admission of the marijuana, oxycodone, or Amonett’s

statement to police was harmless. The forty-year sentence imposed by the trial

court is not inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character

of the offender. We affirm.

[21] Affirmed.

Kirsch, J., and Robb, J., concur.

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