Karen Bush v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 30, 2017
• Docket: 49A02-1611-CR-2512
• 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 30 2017, 9:01 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 Timothy J. Burns Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana

Matthew B. MacKenzie Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Karen Bush, March 30, 2017 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 49A02-1611-CR-2512 v. Appeal from the Marion Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable David Hooper, Appellee-Plaintiff. Magistrate Trial Court Cause No. 49G08-1606-CM-022454

Brown, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2512 | March 30, 2017 Page 1 of 9 [1] Karen Bush appeals her conviction for battery as a class A misdemeanor. Bush

raises one issue which we revise and restate as whether the evidence is sufficient

to sustain her conviction. We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

[2] The facts favorable to the conviction are that, on June 10, 2016, Pamela

Trammell and Bush had a physical altercation in Indianapolis outside of the

house where Bush resided. At some point, Trammell’s cousin Michelle Clifton

arrived, and someone called the police. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police

Officer Brett Lorah arrived at the scene, separated everyone, and told them to

stay separated.

[3] Approximately two hours later, Bush, Bush’s cousin Stephon Jake, and several

other individuals walked near where Trammell and Clifton were located.

Clifton and Jake argued, and Bush approached and sprayed Clifton in the eyes

with mace three times, and the mace struck other individuals in the area as

well. Clifton was not holding any weapon when Bush sprayed her with mace.

Clifton called the police and rinsed her eyes. Officer Lorah responded to the

scene and could smell mace in the air.

[4] On June 11, 2016, the State charged Bush with battery resulting in bodily injury

as a class A misdemeanor. At Bush’s bench trial, the court heard testimony

from Clifton, Trammell, Officer Lorah, Jake, and Bush. Clifton testified that

she had her car keys in her hand at the time Bush sprayed her with mace.

Trammell testified that at some point Clifton had some keys but did not have

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2512 | March 30, 2017 Page 2 of 9 anything in her hand at the time of the altercation. Officer Lorah testified that

Clifton told him that she had been in an argument with Jake and that Bush

came by and maced her and others in the crowd. He testified that Bush told

him that Clifton had pulled a knife on Jake and that “then she went down there

and sprayed mace in self-defense more or less.” Transcript at 27. Officer Lorah

went back to ask further questions of Clifton to see if there was a knife involved,

and Clifton told him there was no knife. She was holding a purse at the time,

opened the purse and showed the officer, and told him that he could search her

purse. Officer Lorah testified he searched Clifton’s purse and there was no

weapon in it.

[5] Jake testified that she and Clifton started to argue, Clifton “came toward and I

pushed to get her away from me,” Clifton pulled out a straight razor and was

trying to cut her with it, and “that’s when [Bush] maced her with the mace

because she had the razor in her hands.” Id. at 34-35. On cross-examination,

Jake indicated that she told an officer that Clifton had a knife. Bush testified

that, approximately two hours after the first altercation, she received a call from

a person who stated “come down here and get your grand-daughter and your

cousin” and “[t]hey getting ready to fight, ole’ girl got a knife.” Id. at 39. Bush

testified that, when she arrived at the corner, there were “like fifty something

people,” Clifton had a knife in her hand, and Bush told Jake to come with her.

Id. at 40. Bush testified, “while we going up the street, [Clifton] started coming

at us with the knife,” “I sprayed the mace to keep anything from happening,” “I

sprayed the mace at [Clifton] with the knife,” and “if anybody else got maced it

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2512 | March 30, 2017 Page 3 of 9 wasn’t attempt and nobody get mad.” Id. at 41. Bush testified Clifton had a

little silver knife and a purse with her, and that, after she maced Clifton, she

went up the street and Clifton followed her halfway up the street, “still chasing

[her] with the knife.” Id. at 42.

[6] The State called Officer Lorah again for rebuttal, and Officer Lorah testified

that Jake told him that she had been arguing with Clifton, it began to escalate

and she pushed Clifton, and that is when Bush arrived. Officer Lorah testified

“[t]hat was the initial incident, her story had changed a couple of times but the

part with the knife – she said that after she had pushed Ms. Clifton, Ms. Clifton

had pulled out a knife. She didn’t do anything with the knife other than hold

it.” Id. at 46. He indicated that Jake did not tell him anything about Clifton

running after or lunging at anybody with a knife. He further testified that Bush

told him she received a phone call saying that Jake and Clifton were about to

fight, that Bush went down to the intersection and saw Clifton with a knife, that

Bush sprayed Clifton with the mace, and that Bush did not report that Clifton

had followed her. When asked whether Bush and Jake reported that a knife

was involved, Officer Lorah responded affirmatively, and when asked “[t]hat

was the consistent story between [Bush] and Ms. Jake, correct,” he replied: “At

first with Ms. Jake’s statement there was no knife involved. That’s why I was

saying inconsistent. Then when I had talked to her again, she had said that

after – even though we separated the witnesses, Ms. Bush was yelling across the

street telling her about the knife if you want me to be exact about that.” Id. at

47. The court asked if Jake used the word “knife and not razor,” and Officer

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2512 | March 30, 2017 Page 4 of 9 Lorah replied affirmatively, and the court asked if the word razor was ever used

that day, and Officer Lorah answered “No, Your Honor.” Id. at 48.

[7] Following closing arguments, the court found “I have my doubts that there was

a knife. I have my doubts that there was even a razor. I find Bush used forced

[sic] to try and calm an escalating situation and there was yelling, and there was

[sic] words exchanged. But there was nothing that . . . would have the law

allow her to mace anyone even if the situation was escalating.” Id. at 53. The

court found Bush guilty as charged and sentenced her to one year with 359 days

suspended. 1

Discussion

[8] The issue is whether the evidence is sufficient to support Bush’s conviction for

battery and negate her claim of self-defense. Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1 governs the

offense of battery and, at the time of the offense, provided that “a person who

knowingly or intentionally: (1) touches another person in a rude, insolent, or

angry manner . . . commits battery, a Class B misdemeanor.” Ind. Code § 35-

42-2-1 (subsequently amended by Pub. L. No. 65-2016, § 33 (eff. Jul. 1, 2016)).

The offense is a class A misdemeanor if it results in bodily injury to any other

person. Id. The State alleged that Bush “did knowingly touch Michelle Clifton

in a rude, insolent, or angry manner, to-wit: she sprayed her with mace,

1 The sentencing order indicates the number of actual days Bush was confined was three days and also that she had earned credit days of three days.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2512 | March 30, 2017 Page 5 of 9 resulting in bodily injury to the other person, specifically pain.” Appellant’s

Appendix at 14.

[9] Bush argues that her use of mace was necessary to protect herself and Jake from

the harm that could have been caused by Clifton’s attack and that she defended

herself and others in self-defense. She states that, when she arrived, Clifton was

already in the crowd escalating the situation; she observed a knife in Clifton’s

hand; Clifton kept coming towards her with a knife; and she believed she had

no choice but to spray the mace at Clifton to protect herself and others. She

further notes Jake’s testimony that Clifton was holding a razor and argues

“[r]egardless of what [Clifton] was holding whether a knife, a razor or a house

key, if a person was holding something looked like a weapon and threatened

with the weapon, a reasonable person under the circumstances would have

done something to protect himself/herself from the harm that the weapon

might have caused.” Appellant’s Brief at 11.

[10] The State argues “Jake testified that while Clifton was engaged in conversation

with Jake—and not even speaking with [Bush]—Clifton was pushed by Jake”

and Bush “then approached Clifton and sprayed mace in her face causing

pain.” Appellee’s Brief at 8. It asserts that no evidence was introduced that

Clifton threatened, lunged at, struck, or otherwise attacked Bush, and thus it is

not possible that Clifton placed Bush in fear of bodily harm. It further contends

that Bush had no reason to fear that Jake or anyone else was in imminent

danger of bodily harm from Clifton, Clifton had not threatened Jake and in fact

according to Jake’s testimony had just been pushed by Jake, and Bush

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2512 | March 30, 2017 Page 6 of 9 “approached and maced Clifton as her conversation with Jake continued,

which was an unwarranted, excessive use of force that took place when [Bush]

had no reasonable fear of death or bodily harm to herself or others.” Id. The

State contends the trier of fact is entitled to determine which version of the

incident to credit and Bush’s argument is a request to reweigh the evidence and

reassess the credibility of the witnesses.

[11] “A person is justified in using reasonable force against any other person to

protect the person or a third person from what the person reasonably believes to

be the imminent use of unlawful force.” Ind. Code § 35-41-3-2(c). A valid

claim of self-defense is legal justification for an otherwise criminal act. Wilson v.

State, 770 N.E.2d 799, 800 (Ind. 2002). In order to prevail on a self-defense

claim, a defendant must demonstrate she was in a place she had a right to be;

did not provoke, instigate, or participate willingly in the violence; and had a

reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm. Id. The amount of force a

person may use to protect herself depends on the urgency of the situation.

Harmon v. State, 849 N.E.2d 726, 730-731 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). When a person

uses more force than is reasonably necessary under the circumstances, the right

of self-defense is extinguished. Id. at 731.

[12] When a claim of self-defense is raised and finds support in the evidence, the

State has the burden of negating at least one of the necessary elements. Wilson,

770 N.E.2d at 800. If a defendant is convicted despite his claim of self-defense,

we will reverse only if no reasonable person could say that self-defense was

negated by the State beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. at 800-801. A mutual

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2512 | March 30, 2017 Page 7 of 9 combatant, whether or not the initial aggressor, must declare an armistice

before he or she may claim self-defense. Id. at 801; see Ind. Code § 35-41-3-2(g)

(providing “a person is not justified in using force if . . . the person has entered

into combat with another person or is the initial aggressor unless the person

withdraws from the encounter and communicates to the other person the intent

to do so and the other person nevertheless continues or threatens to continue

unlawful action”). The standard of review for a challenge to the sufficiency of

the evidence to rebut a claim of self-defense is the same as the standard for any

sufficiency of the evidence claim. Wilson, 770 N.E.2d at 801. We neither

reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of witnesses. Id. If there is

sufficient evidence of probative value to support the conclusion of the trier of

fact, then the verdict will not be disturbed. Id.

[13] The trial court heard testimony from Clifton, Trammell, Officer Lorah, Jake,

and Bush. We are mindful that the trier of fact is entitled to determine which

version of the incident to credit. Barton v. State, 490 N.E.2d 317, 318 (Ind.

1986), reh’g denied; Scott v. State, 867 N.E.2d 690, 695 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) trans.

denied. The court as the trier of fact was able to consider the extent to which the

testimony of each witness was consistent or inconsistent with the testimony of

the other witnesses and was able to assess the demeanor and credibility of the

witnesses and weigh their testimony. The court also heard arguments by the

prosecutor and defense counsel regarding the testimony related to Bush’s claim

of self-defense. We will not reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of

witnesses. See Wilson, 770 N.E.2d at 801.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2512 | March 30, 2017 Page 8 of 9 [14] Based upon the evidence, the court as the trier of fact could infer that Bush

participated willingly in the violence, that she did not have a reasonable fear of

great bodily harm, or that the amount of force she used was unreasonable under

the circumstances. We conclude based upon the record that the State presented

evidence of a probative nature from which a reasonable trier of fact could have

determined beyond a reasonable doubt that Bush did not validly act in self-

defense and that she was guilty of battery as a class A misdemeanor. See

Rodriguez v. State, 714 N.E.2d 667, 670-671 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999) (noting that the

defendant’s version of events differed from other testimony, declining to

reweigh the evidence, and holding that sufficient evidence existed to rebut the

defendant’s claim of self-defense), trans. denied.

Conclusion

[15] For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Bush’s conviction for battery as a class A

misdemeanor.

[16] Affirmed.

May, J., and Pyle, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2512 | March 30, 2017 Page 9 of 9