MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be Nov 13 2015, 9:00 am 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 Bruce W. Graham Gregory F. Zoeller Graham Law Firm, P.C. Attorney General of Indiana Lafayette, Indiana Larry D. Allen Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Keywon Dortch, November 13, 2015 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 79A02-1504-CR-250 v. Appeal from the Tippecanoe Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Steven P. Meyer, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 79D02-1308-FC-47
Brown, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 1 of 7 [1] Keywon Dortch appeals his sentence for forgery as a class C felony and
resisting law enforcement as a level 6 felony. Dortch raises one issue which we
revise and restate as whether his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature
of the offenses and the character of the offender. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] On April 8, 2013, Dortch along with two other individuals, made and presented
counterfeit United States currency at, among other locations, a Tippecanoe
County McDonald’s restaurant, in an attempt to gain value for the fake
currency. On August 15, 2013, the State charged Dortch with Count I,
conspiracy to commit forgery as a class C felony; Count II, forgery as a class C
felony; Count III, forgery as a class C felony; and Count IV, counterfeiting as a
class D felony, in Cause No. 79D02-1308-FC-47 (“Cause No. 47”).
[3] On October 21, 2014, while out on bond on Cause No. 47, Dortch fled from
law enforcement officers who were attempting to serve an outstanding arrest
warrant on him for failure to appear in court. While fleeing, Dortch caused one
of the officers to lose his balance and fall backwards into a brick wall, which
caused scrapes and abrasions on the officer’s hands. Dortch was charged with
resisting law enforcement as a level 6 felony under Cause No. 79D05-1410-F6-
110 (“Cause No. 110”) along with false informing as a class B misdemeanor.
[4] On February 6, 2015, Dortch and the State entered into a plea agreement in
which Dortch agreed to plead guilty to forgery as a class C felony under Count
II and resisting law enforcement as a level 6 felony under Count V, which was
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 2 of 7 added that same day to the charging information filed under Cause No. 47, and
in exchange the State agreed to dismiss the other charges under Cause No. 47
as well the remaining charge under Cause No. 110, and a charge under Cause
No. 79D06-1310-CM-1639. The court accepted the plea agreement and took
Dortch’s pleas of guilty and the plea agreement under advisement until
sentencing.
[5] On March 27, 2015, the court held a sentencing hearing. At sentencing, the
trial court stated, as to Dortch’s actions during the pendency of Cause No. 47,
which culminated in his arrest for resisting law enforcement, that Dortch failed
to “show to the Court that you are not going to go out [and] commit crimes any
further. But you didn’t do any of that here, so that’s the overriding concern I
have in this particular case. And will probably be the reason for the sentence I
will be imposing.” Transcript at 52. The trial court found Dortch’s criminal
history as a juvenile, which it characterized as “a bit of a violent history with
assault type charges,” and that Dortch was “arrested on charges while out on
bond on his case and you ran” and “stayed hidden for eight months,” as
aggravating circumstances. Id. at 52, 53. The court found Dortch’s guilty plea,
his “lesser role” in the forgery offense, and his work history as mitigators. Id. at
54. It did not find that imprisonment would be a hardship on his children and
stated that “these children were conceived . . . while you’re out on bond” and
that Dortch had not “indicated necessarily a pattern of supporting these
children.” Id. The court also stated, as to Dortch’s “youthful age” and his high
school education, that he should “know what’s right and wrong and [] should
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 3 of 7 have had the will to step up and say I’m not doing this,” and the court did not
find his age and education to be mitigating circumstances. Id. The court
further found that Dortch was entitled to “some credit” for his work history as a
mitigating circumstance and concluded that “the mitigators and the aggravators
balance each other out.” Id. The trial court sentenced Dortch to four years on
Count II and one year on Count V to be served consecutively for an aggregate
sentence of five years. The trial court ordered that Dortch serve two years of his
sentence in the Department of Correction (“DOC”) and two years in the
Tippecanoe County Community Corrections program, with one year
suspended to probation. The court dismissed the remaining charges pursuant to
the plea agreement.
Discussion
[6] The issue is whether Dortch’s sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of
the offenses and the character of the offender.1 Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B)
provides that this court “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
1 To the extent Dortch suggests that the trial court failed to identify aggravating and mitigating circumstances, we observe that the trial court specifically found Dortch’s prior criminal history as an aggravator, his plea of guilty, expression of remorse, lesser role in the crime, leading a law-abiding life for a substantial period of time, and his work history as mitigators, and that the aggravator and mitigators “balance each other out.” Transcript at 55. Dortch’s argument is, in essence, a request for this court to reweigh the aggravator and mitigators, which we may not do. See Anglemeyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482, 491 (Ind. 2007) (holding that the relative weight or value assignable to reasons properly found or those which should have been found is not subject to review for abuse of discretion), clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 218 (Ind. 2007).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 4 of 7 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).
[7] Regarding the nature of the offenses, Dortch argues that he had minimal
involvement in passing the counterfeit bills and asserts that the court made “no
comment” as to the offense of resisting law enforcement. Appellant’s Brief at 8.
As to the character of the offender, Dortch argues that he had no adult arrests
or adjudications, and concedes that his juvenile adjudications constitute an
aggravating circumstance but not “a substantial aggravating circumstance.” Id.
at 9.
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MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be Nov 13 2015, 9:00 am 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 Bruce W. Graham Gregory F. Zoeller Graham Law Firm, P.C. Attorney General of Indiana Lafayette, Indiana Larry D. Allen Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Keywon Dortch, November 13, 2015 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 79A02-1504-CR-250 v. Appeal from the Tippecanoe Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Steven P. Meyer, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 79D02-1308-FC-47
Brown, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 1 of 7 [1] Keywon Dortch appeals his sentence for forgery as a class C felony and
resisting law enforcement as a level 6 felony. Dortch raises one issue which we
revise and restate as whether his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature
of the offenses and the character of the offender. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] On April 8, 2013, Dortch along with two other individuals, made and presented
counterfeit United States currency at, among other locations, a Tippecanoe
County McDonald’s restaurant, in an attempt to gain value for the fake
currency. On August 15, 2013, the State charged Dortch with Count I,
conspiracy to commit forgery as a class C felony; Count II, forgery as a class C
felony; Count III, forgery as a class C felony; and Count IV, counterfeiting as a
class D felony, in Cause No. 79D02-1308-FC-47 (“Cause No. 47”).
[3] On October 21, 2014, while out on bond on Cause No. 47, Dortch fled from
law enforcement officers who were attempting to serve an outstanding arrest
warrant on him for failure to appear in court. While fleeing, Dortch caused one
of the officers to lose his balance and fall backwards into a brick wall, which
caused scrapes and abrasions on the officer’s hands. Dortch was charged with
resisting law enforcement as a level 6 felony under Cause No. 79D05-1410-F6-
110 (“Cause No. 110”) along with false informing as a class B misdemeanor.
[4] On February 6, 2015, Dortch and the State entered into a plea agreement in
which Dortch agreed to plead guilty to forgery as a class C felony under Count
II and resisting law enforcement as a level 6 felony under Count V, which was
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 2 of 7 added that same day to the charging information filed under Cause No. 47, and
in exchange the State agreed to dismiss the other charges under Cause No. 47
as well the remaining charge under Cause No. 110, and a charge under Cause
No. 79D06-1310-CM-1639. The court accepted the plea agreement and took
Dortch’s pleas of guilty and the plea agreement under advisement until
sentencing.
[5] On March 27, 2015, the court held a sentencing hearing. At sentencing, the
trial court stated, as to Dortch’s actions during the pendency of Cause No. 47,
which culminated in his arrest for resisting law enforcement, that Dortch failed
to “show to the Court that you are not going to go out [and] commit crimes any
further. But you didn’t do any of that here, so that’s the overriding concern I
have in this particular case. And will probably be the reason for the sentence I
will be imposing.” Transcript at 52. The trial court found Dortch’s criminal
history as a juvenile, which it characterized as “a bit of a violent history with
assault type charges,” and that Dortch was “arrested on charges while out on
bond on his case and you ran” and “stayed hidden for eight months,” as
aggravating circumstances. Id. at 52, 53. The court found Dortch’s guilty plea,
his “lesser role” in the forgery offense, and his work history as mitigators. Id. at
54. It did not find that imprisonment would be a hardship on his children and
stated that “these children were conceived . . . while you’re out on bond” and
that Dortch had not “indicated necessarily a pattern of supporting these
children.” Id. The court also stated, as to Dortch’s “youthful age” and his high
school education, that he should “know what’s right and wrong and [] should
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 3 of 7 have had the will to step up and say I’m not doing this,” and the court did not
find his age and education to be mitigating circumstances. Id. The court
further found that Dortch was entitled to “some credit” for his work history as a
mitigating circumstance and concluded that “the mitigators and the aggravators
balance each other out.” Id. The trial court sentenced Dortch to four years on
Count II and one year on Count V to be served consecutively for an aggregate
sentence of five years. The trial court ordered that Dortch serve two years of his
sentence in the Department of Correction (“DOC”) and two years in the
Tippecanoe County Community Corrections program, with one year
suspended to probation. The court dismissed the remaining charges pursuant to
the plea agreement.
Discussion
[6] The issue is whether Dortch’s sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of
the offenses and the character of the offender.1 Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B)
provides that this court “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
1 To the extent Dortch suggests that the trial court failed to identify aggravating and mitigating circumstances, we observe that the trial court specifically found Dortch’s prior criminal history as an aggravator, his plea of guilty, expression of remorse, lesser role in the crime, leading a law-abiding life for a substantial period of time, and his work history as mitigators, and that the aggravator and mitigators “balance each other out.” Transcript at 55. Dortch’s argument is, in essence, a request for this court to reweigh the aggravator and mitigators, which we may not do. See Anglemeyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482, 491 (Ind. 2007) (holding that the relative weight or value assignable to reasons properly found or those which should have been found is not subject to review for abuse of discretion), clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 218 (Ind. 2007).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 4 of 7 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).
[7] Regarding the nature of the offenses, Dortch argues that he had minimal
involvement in passing the counterfeit bills and asserts that the court made “no
comment” as to the offense of resisting law enforcement. Appellant’s Brief at 8.
As to the character of the offender, Dortch argues that he had no adult arrests
or adjudications, and concedes that his juvenile adjudications constitute an
aggravating circumstance but not “a substantial aggravating circumstance.” Id.
at 9. He acknowledges that he “failed to appear for a hearing, and was out on a
warrant at the time of the second arrest,” but points out that he graduated from
high school, had an extensive and ongoing work history, has two young
children for whom his sentence “works a hardship,” and pled guilty to the
offenses. Id. at 9, 10.
[8] Our review of the nature of the offenses reveals that on April 8, 2013, Dortch,
along with two other individuals, made counterfeit United States currency and
presented it at several locations in an effort to obtain value for the fake
currency. Dortch acknowledged at the guilty plea hearing that when he
presented the currency at McDonald’s he was aware the currency was fake. He
acknowledged at the sentencing hearing that he attempted to pass the fake
currency at other local businesses. While Dortch was out on bond, on October
21, 2014, he knowingly fled from uniformed law enforcement officers who were
attempting to serve outstanding arrest warrants for his failure to appear in court.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 5 of 7 During his flight, Dortch caused an officer to lose his balance and fall
backwards into a brick wall, resulting in scrapes and abrasions on the Officer’s
hands.
[9] Our review of the character of the offender reveals that, pursuant to a plea
agreement, Dortch pled guilty to two charges and the State dismissed Dortch’s
remaining charges. According to the presentence investigation report (“PSI”),
Dortch’s juvenile history includes adjudications as a delinquent child in
Tippecanoe County for disorderly conduct in 2004 and again for disorderly
conduct in 2005. He was also adjudicated a delinquent child in Iowa in 2007
for disorderly conduct, assault causing bodily injury, and assault. The PSI
further shows that while his case was pending, Dortch was charged with
operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license in October 2013, and
for resisting law enforcement and false informing in October 2014, and that
these charges were dismissed in exchange for his pleas of guilty to Counts II
and V. The court also noted that Dortch’s children were conceived while he
was out on bond and that he had not indicated a pattern of supporting the
children. Also, while Dortch was free on bond and was wanted on a warrant
under Cause No. 47, he traveled out of state to Wisconsin. At sentencing, the
court characterized Dortch’s actions which led to his arrest for resisting law
enforcement during the pendency of Cause No. 47 as “disregard[]” for his
“obligation[] to show up here at this Court,” demonstrating that Dortch lacked
respect for the law. Transcript at 51.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 6 of 7 [10] After due consideration, we conclude that Dortch has not sustained his burden
of establishing that his five-year sentence with two years to be served in the
DOC, two years to be served in the Tippecanoe County Community
Corrections program, and one year suspended to probation is inappropriate in
light of the nature of the offenses and his character.
Conclusion
[11] For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Dortch’s aggregate sentence of five years
for forgery as a class C felony and resisting law enforcement as a level 6 felony.
[12] Affirmed.
Riley, J., and Altice, J., concur.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A02-1504-CR-250 | November 13, 2015 Page 7 of 7