Joshua D Clark v. State of Indiana

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: April 25, 2023
• Docket: 22A-CR-02421
• Status: Published

Opinion

FILED Apr 25 2023, 9:45 am

CLERK Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Zachary J. Stock Theordore E. Rokita Zachary J. Stock, Attorney at Law, P.C. Attorney General of Indiana Carmel, Indiana Ellen H. Meilaender Supervising Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Joshua D. Clark, April 25, 2023 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 22A-CR-2421 v. Appeal from the Hendricks Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Rhett M. Stuard, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 32D02-2105-F4-27

Opinion by Judge Tavitas Judges Vaidik and Foley concur.

Tavitas, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 1 of 11 Case Summary [1] Joshua Clark appeals his conviction for child solicitation, a Level 4 felony.

Clark argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his request for

a jury instruction on the defense of entrapment. We disagree and, accordingly,

affirm.

Issue [2] Clark raises one issue on appeal, which we restate as whether the trial court

abused its discretion by denying Clark’s request for a jury instruction on the

defense of entrapment.

Facts [3] Predator Catchers, Inc. (“PCI”) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by Eric

Schmutte. PCI’s mission is to “expos[e] men and women that are looking to

engage in sexual activity with minors.” Tr. Vol. II p. 132. To expose, or

“catch,” child predators, PCI uses images from adult volunteers to create decoy

online profiles and pose as minors online. PCI then posts online videos of PCI

confronting individuals who solicit sex from the decoy profiles. PCI’s efforts

have led to over three hundred “catches” and approximately ten convictions.

[4] On March 28, 2021, Clark, a thirty-six-year-old police officer with the Portland

Police Department, messaged a PCI decoy profile named “Mackenzie,” 1

1 The photos for “Mackenzie’s” profile were supplied by an adult PCI volunteer.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 2 of 11 which was operated by Schmutte on Skout, a social app. Over the next several

weeks, Clark and “Mackenzie” communicated over text and several other

social apps, including Kik and Snapchat.

[5] In a text message sent on April 15, 2021, “Mackenzie” informed Clark that she

was age fourteen. 2 Clark responded, “If I don’t know[,] I can’t say anything . . .

So delete that message.” Ex. Vol. IV p. 47. Clark then texted “Mackenzie,”

“Your [sic] 18 right[.]” Id. On several other occasions, “Mackenzie” informed

Clark that she was age fourteen, and Clark instructed her to delete the message

and say she was age eighteen.

[6] Over the course of their communications, Clark sent the following messages to

“Mackenzie”: “What do you wanna do to me[?]”; “I want all of you”; “Damn I

wanna eat you”; “[L]et’s meet [and] see if we like each other[.] [W]ho knows[,]

maybe just get a hotel room”; “Sit on me”; “Make you c*m all over me”; “I’m

trying to get with you”; and “Have to see you naked before I know you[’re] the

best lol.” Id. at 60-61, 66, 81, 144, 146, 149, 164. When “Mackenzie” told

Clark she was “[a]bout to shower,” Clark responded, “I wanna see.” Id. at 128.

Clark also changed the settings for their Snapchat communications so that

messages would disappear immediately after being viewed; 3 referred to

2 It is unclear if “Mackenzie” also informed Clark of her age at an earlier time. 3 The ability to make photographs and message disappear after being viewed is an inherent feature of the Snapchat app.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 3 of 11 Mackenzie as “hun” and “baby”; and requested that “Mackenzie” send photos

of herself, including “a[n] old pic,” multiple times. Id. at 36, 60, 66.

[7] Clark and “Mackenzie” arranged to meet at an Olive Garden in Avon on May

13, 2021. Clark texted “Mackenzie,” “Better not be cops waiting on me lol.”

Id. at 110. When Clark arrived, Schmutte and several PCI volunteers

confronted Clark and livestreamed the encounter on Facebook. Schmutte and

the volunteers stated several times that Clark was free to leave, however, Clark

chose to speak with them for several minutes in the Olive Garden parking lot.

[8] One of the livestream’s viewers was Avon Police Department Detective Jacob

Boggess, who viewed the livestream on his personal Facebook feed. Detective

Boggess testified that he treated the livestream like “a tip” and began his own

investigation into Clark’s communications with “Mackenzie.” Tr. Vol. II pp.

246-47. Detective Boggess contacted Schmutte, who provided his cell phone

along with photos and videos of Clark’s communications with “Mackenzie.”

Detective Boggess verified that Clark’s phone number was the one that texted

“Mackenzie” and that Clark drove to the Avon Olive Garden on May 13.

Detective Boggess also learned that Clark had researched online “the criminal

code for child solicitation” and whether Clark had “a warrant or reports to that

effect.” Tr. Vol. III p. 8.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 4 of 11 [9] On May 25, 2021, the State charged Clark with child solicitation, a Level 4

felony. 4 The trial court held a jury trial in July 2022.

[10] Schmutte testified that PCI’s decoy profiles never initiate communication with

other individuals online and are never the first to propose a meeting. Schmutte

also testified to the following regarding PCI’s relationship with law

enforcement: PCI is not affiliated with any police department and does not

receive any training, advice, or assistance from law enforcement. PCI does not

notify law enforcement until after PCI “catches” a person who has solicited sex

from a decoy profile. PCI does not operate in jurisdictions where “the

prosecutor in that county does not want us doing it there.” Tr. Vol. II p. 138.

PCI receives all of its funding from private donations.

[11] Detective Boggess testified regarding his investigation into Clark. He further

testified that PCI was “a civilian group” and not “related [to] law enforcement

in any way . . . .” and that he did not assist PCI in “catching” Clark. Id. at 245.

[12] At the conclusion of the presentation of evidence, Clark requested a jury

instruction on the defense of entrapment. The trial court found that there was

insufficient evidence that PCI and Schmutte were agents of law enforcement

and denied the requested jury instruction.

4 The State also charged Clark with one count of attempted child solicitation, a Level 5 felony. The State moved to dismiss this charge on June 8, 2022, and the trial court granted the motion the following day.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 5 of 11 [13] The jury found Clark guilty of child solicitation, a Level 4 felony. The trial

court entered judgment of conviction and sentenced Clark to six years in the

Department of Correction. Clark now appeals.

Discussion and Decision [14] Clark argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his request for

a jury instruction on the defense of entrapment. Specifically, Clark argues that

Schmutte and PCI were “apparent agent[s]” of law enforcement. 5 Appellant’s

Br. p. 7. We disagree.

[15] We review a trial court’s refusal to give a requested jury instruction for an abuse

of discretion. Hernandez v. State, 45 N.E.3d 373, 376 (Ind. 2015). We consider:

“‘(1) whether the instruction correctly states the law; (2) whether there is

evidence in the record to support the giving of the instruction; and (3) whether

the substance of the tendered instruction is covered by other instructions which

are given.’” Id. (quoting Guyton v. State, 771 N.E.2d 1141, 1144 (Ind. 2002)).

“A trial court may refuse a jury instruction only when ‘[n]one of the facts’ in

the record would support the legal theory offered in the instruction. Humphrey

v. Tuck, 151 N.E.3d 1203, 1207 (Ind. 2020) (quoting Sims v. Huntington, 271 Ind.

368, 373, 393 N.E.2d 135, 139 (1979)).

5 Clark does not argue that any other type of agency relationship existed.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 6 of 11 [16] The defense of entrapment is defined by Indiana Code Section 35-41-3-9(a),

which provides:

It is a defense that:

(1) the prohibited conduct of the person was the product of a law enforcement officer, or his agent, using persuasion or other means likely to cause the person to engage in the conduct; and

(2) the person was not predisposed to commit the offense.

(Emphasis added).

[17] An agency relationship may be actual, implied, or apparent. See Menard, Inc. v.

Dage-MTI, Inc., 726 N.E.2d 1206, 1210-11 (Ind. 2000). As relevant here,

apparent agency does not depend on the principal’s express or implied

authorization for the agent to act on the principal’s behalf; rather, apparent

agency exists when “a principal’s manifestations induce a third party to

reasonably believe there is a principal-agent relationship.” Arrendale v. Am.

Imaging & MRI, LLC, 183 N.E3d 1064, 1068 (Ind. 2022); see also Pepkowski v. Life

of Ind. Ins. Co., 535 N.E.2d 1164, 1167 (Ind. 1989) (“It is essential that there be

some form of communication, direct or indirect, by the principal, which instills

a reasonable belief in the mind of the third party.”). “[T]he placing of the agent

in a position to perform acts or make representations which appear reasonable

to a third person is a sufficient manifestation to endow the agent with apparent

authority.” Gallant Ins. Co. v. Isaac, 751 N.E.2d 672, 677 (Ind. 2001). Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 7 of 11 [18] Clark directs us to no caselaw holding that our entrapment statute encompasses

apparent agents of law enforcement. We need not decide that issue, however,

because we find that there are no facts in the record that would support an

apparent agency relationship between Schmutte or PCI and law enforcement.

[19] PCI is a private, civilian organization separate and apart from law enforcement.

PCI receives no training, advice, or assistance from law enforcement, and

receives all of its funding from private donations. PCI also does not notify law

enforcement until after they “catch” someone, and here, Detective Boggess

discovered PCI’s allegations against Clark by viewing the livestreamed

encounter on his own personal Facebook feed and only contacted Schmutte

after PCI livestreamed the encounter. Further, Detective Boggess treated the

livestream merely as “a tip” from which he launched his own, independent

investigation into Clark. Tr. Vol. II p. 246-47. Clark also concedes that there

was no “cooperation” between Schmutte or PCI and law enforcement. Reply

p. 4.

[20] Clark argues that “[b]y not doing anything to stop Schmutte and actively

accepting his ‘help,’ the State of Indiana has placed him in a position to perform

acts that appear to any reasonable person to endow him with the power of the

[S]tate.” Appellant’s Br. p. 9. Similarly, in Clark’s Reply Brief, Clark makes

the reference that “Batman is not the apparent agent of Commissioner Gordon

simply because the Commissioner puts up the Bat Signal. Batman is an

apparent agent because everyone knows Commissioner Gordon reaps the

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 8 of 11 rewards for Batman’s efforts.” Reply p. 6. We disagree.6 First, law

enforcement lit no “Bat-signal” calling Schmutte and PCI to action. Rather, as

we have explained, law enforcement did not become involved until after PCI

livestreamed its encounter with Clark. Moreover, law enforcement agencies

routinely rely on the general public for tips, evidence, and other information,

and the mere collection of that information says nothing about whether the

State has authorized an individual to act on its behalf. In addition, such an

interpretation of our entrapment statute would seem to convert civilians into

law enforcement agents only after the civilian’s efforts have been completed. Cf.

Drake v. Maid-Rite Co., 681 N.E.2d 734, 738 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997) (holding that

franchisee lacked apparent authority in selling restaurant when purchaser

“offer[ed] no evidence of any communication or contact, direct or indirect,

between herself and [franchisor] prior to purchasing the restaurant from

[franchisee]”).

[21] Clark also relies on the fact that PCI does not operate in jurisdictions where law

enforcement agencies do not wish them to operate. PCI’s strategic decisions,

however, are at most manifestations by PCI but are not manifestations by law

enforcement and, therefore, cannot support a finding of apparent agency. See

Pepkowski, 535 N.E.2d at 1167 (“Statements or manifestations made by the

6 Nor is it clear that Batman is an agent of Commissioner Gordon. See Joshuah Lisk, Note, Is Batman A State Actor?, 64 Case W. Res. L. Rev. 1419, 1440 (Spring 2014) (concluding, in the context of the Fourth Amendment, “[t]he government’s lack of knowledge and acquiesce[nce] to Batman’s actions is sufficient to create a separation between private conduct and official state action.”).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 9 of 11 agent are not sufficient to create an apparent agency relationship.”). Law

enforcement’s discouragement of PCI operating in certain jurisdictions,

meanwhile, manifests the opposite of an agency relationship. In short, the

record simply contains no manifestations from Detective Boggess or any other

law enforcement authority that suggests Schmutte or PCI were acting as agents

of law enforcement.

[22] Even if an apparent agency relationship existed, however, Clark fails to

demonstrate that he was not predisposed to commit the offense. 7 We have

explained that the critical question regarding predisposition “‘is whether

criminal intent [was] deliberately implanted in the mind of an innocent

person[.]’” Ferge v. State, 764 N.E.2d 268, 271 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002) (quoting

Kats v. State, 559 N.E.2d 348, 353 (Ind. Ct. App. 1990)) (internal quotation

marks omitted). That is not the case here.

[23] “Mackenzie” informed Clark on several occasions that she was age fourteen,

and Clark repeatedly instructed her to delete the message and say that she was

age eighteen. Clark attempted to conceal his communications with

“Mackenzie” by arranging for their Snapchat messages to disappear

immediately after being viewed. Clark also repeatedly asked for pictures of

“Mackenzie,” including “a[n] old pic” of her, and, after Clark and

7 Clark’s argument on this issue consists of three sentences and is devoid of any citation to caselaw or other authority. See Ind. App. R. 46(A)(8)(a) (requiring that each argument be supported be “cogent reasoning” and “citations to the authorities, statutes, and the Appendix or parts of the Record on Appeal relied on.”).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 10 of 11 “Mackenzie” arranged to meet at the Olive Garden, Clark texted, “Better not

be cops waiting on me lol.” Ex. Vol. IV pp. 60, 110. Clark’s conduct suggests

that he knew his communications with “Mackenzie” were illegal, yet he

continued to engage with and solicit her.

[24] We find that the evidence does not indicate that: 1) Schmutte or PCI were

apparent agents of law enforcement; and 2) Clark was not predisposed to

commit child solicitation. Accordingly, the record contains no evidence to

support a jury instruction on the defense of entrapment, and the trial court did

not abuse its discretion.

Conclusion [25] The trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying Clark’s request for a jury

instruction on the defense of entrapment. Accordingly, we affirm.

[26] Affirmed.

Vaidik, J., and Foley, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-CR-2421 | April 25, 2023 Page 11 of 11