Kyle E. Marvel v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: October 8, 2015
• Docket: 84A01-1503-CR-116
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be Oct 08 2015, 9:25 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 Cara Schaefer Wieneke Gregory F. Zoeller Wieneke Law Office, LLC Attorney General of Indiana Plainfield, Indiana Christina D. Pace Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Kyle E. Marvel, October 8, 2015 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 84A01-1503-CR-116 v. Appeal from the Vigo Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable David R. Bolk, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause Nos. 84D03-1208-FC-2583 84D03-1012-FB-4037

Pyle, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1503-CR-116 | October 8, 2015 Page 1 of 10 Statement of the Case [1] Kyle E. Marvel (“Marvel”) appeals from the revocation of his probation in two

separate cause numbers. Marvel pled guilty to Class C felony battery1 in one

cause (“battery cause”) and to Class B felony burglary2 in another cause

(“burglary cause”), and his plea agreement set forth the sentence to be imposed

in both causes. The trial court sentenced him, pursuant to his plea agreement,

to consecutive sentences of five years with two years executed on work release

and three years suspended to formal probation in the battery cause and to six

years with all six years suspended and four years on informal probation in the

burglary cause.

[2] While on probation, Marvel committed another crime and possessed a shotgun

in violation of the terms of his probation. In a consolidated hearing, the trial

court: (1) revoked Marvel’s probation in the battery cause and ordered him to

serve all of his previously suspended three-year sentence; (2) revoked Marvel’s

probation in the burglary cause and ordered him to serve three years of his

previously suspended six-year sentence and to serve the remaining three years

1 IND. CODE § 35-42-2-1. We note that, effective July 1, 2014, a new version of this battery statute was enacted and that Class C felony battery is now a Level 5 felony. Because Marvel committed this crime in 2012, we will refer to the statute in effect at that time. 2 I.C. § 35-43-2-1. A new version of this burglary statute was enacted on July 1, 2014, and Class B felony burglary is now a Level 4 felony. Because Marvel committed this crime in 2010, we will refer to the statute in effect at that time.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1503-CR-116 | October 8, 2015 Page 2 of 10 on formal probation; and (3) ordered him to serve the executed portions of

these previously suspended sentences consecutively.

[3] In this consolidated appeal, Marvel does not challenge the revocation of his

probation or the trial court’s decision that he serve some of his previously

suspended sentences in both causes. Instead, he contends that this case should

be remanded because the trial court (1) erroneously believed that it was required

to order him to serve the executed portion of his two revoked sentences

consecutively; and (2) the trial court had authority to sentence him to

concurrent sentences. Because Marvel’s original sentencing order provided that

he serve the two sentences consecutively, we conclude that the trial court did

not abuse its discretion when it revoked Marvel’s probation and ordered the

executed portion of his two previously suspended sentences to be served

consecutively.

[4] We affirm.

Issue Whether the trial court abused its discretion by ordering Marvel to serve the executed portion of his two previously suspended sentences consecutively.

Facts [5] In December 2010, the State charged Marvel with Class B felony burglary and

Class D felony theft in Cause 84D03-1012-FB-4037 (“Cause 4037”). In

November 2011, Marvel tendered a plea of guilty to the Class B felony burglary

charge under an “Adult Mental Health Deferral Agreement” (“mental health Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1503-CR-116 | October 8, 2015 Page 3 of 10 deferral agreement”). (App. 114). Under this agreement, the trial court

deferred entry of Marvel’s judgment of conviction contingent upon his

successful participation in a mental health program.

[6] However, prior to completing the mental health program, Marvel violated the

terms of the mental health deferral agreement when he committed a new

offense of battery in August 2012. Thereafter, the State filed a motion to revoke

Marvel’s mental health deferral agreement and to enter judgment of conviction

in Cause 4037. The State also charged Marvel with Class C felony battery

resulting in bodily injury in Cause 84D03-1208-FC-2583 (“Cause 2583”).

[7] In February 2013, Marvel entered into a written plea agreement and pled guilty

as charged in Cause 2583. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Marvel also

admitted that he had violated the mental health deferral agreement in Cause

4037. Additionally, he agreed to accept the State’s sentencing

recommendations set forth in the plea agreement, which called for Marvel to be

sentenced as follows: (1) in Cause 2583, to a sentence of five years with two

years executed on work release and three years suspended to formal probation;

(2) in Cause 4037, to a sentence of six years with all six years suspended and

four years on informal probation; and (3) the sentences in Cause 2583 and

Cause 4037 were to be “served consecutively as required by law.” (App. 31).

Thereafter, the trial court entered judgments of conviction in both causes and

sentenced Marvel as set forth in the plea agreement.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1503-CR-116 | October 8, 2015 Page 4 of 10 [8] On January 5, 2015, the State filed a notice of probation violation, alleging that

Marvel had violated his probation in both causes by: (1) committing the

misdemeanor offense of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia in Illinois in

August 2014; (2) committing the offenses of Level 4 felony unlawful possession

of a firearm by a serious violent felon and Level 6 felony dealing in a sawed-off

shotgun in Indiana on December 11, 2014; (3) possessing a firearm in violation

of probation rules; and (4) consuming alcohol in violation of probation rules.

[9] On January 25, 2015, the trial court held a consolidated hearing on Marvel’s

probation revocation in Cause 2583 and Cause 4037. During the hearing, the

State admitted, without objection, a copy of the criminal complaint, guilty plea,

and judgment of conditional discharge from Marvel’s Illinois offense. The State

also presented testimony from Marvel’s probation officer, who testified that,

during a probation meeting, Marvel admitted to her that he had a shotgun.

Marvel told the probation officer that the police had found the shotgun when

the officers went to his grandparents’ house on a domestic disturbance call.3

The State also presented testimony from one of the responding police officers,

who testified that the gun found in the house was a sawed-off twelve-gauge

shotgun.

[10] The trial court determined that Marvel had violated his probation in both

causes by committing a subsequent criminal offense in Illinois and by

3 Marvel’s grandparents had called police to report a fight between Marvel and his girlfriend.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1503-CR-116 | October 8, 2015 Page 5 of 10 possessing a firearm while on probation. For Cause 2583, the trial court

ordered Marvel to serve the balance of his previously suspended three-year

sentence in the Department of Correction (“DOC”). For Cause 4037, the trial

court ordered him to serve three years of his previous six-year suspended

sentence in the DOC and to serve the remaining three years on formal

probation. The trial court ordered that the executed time of the previously

suspended sentences be served consecutively and informed Marvel that he

would, therefore, be required to serve a total of six years in the DOC. Marvel

now appeals.

Decision [11] Marvel argues that the trial court erred by ordering him to serve the executed

portion of his two previously suspended sentences consecutively.

[12] “Probation is a matter of grace left to trial court discretion, not a right to which

a criminal defendant is entitled.” Prewitt v. State, 878 N.E.2d 184, 188 (Ind.

2007). The trial court determines the conditions of probation and may revoke

probation if the conditions are violated. Id.; see also IND. CODE § 35-38-2-3(a).

Upon determining that a probationer has violated a condition of probation, the

trial court “may impose one (1) or more of the following sanctions:”

(1) Continue the person on probation, with or without modifying or enlarging the conditions.

(2) Extend the person’s probationary period for not more than one (1) year beyond the original probationary period.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1503-CR-116 | October 8, 2015 Page 6 of 10 (3) Order execution of all or part of the sentence that was suspended at the time of initial sentencing.

I.C. § 35-38-2-3(h). “Once a trial court has exercised its grace by ordering

probation rather than incarceration, the judge should have considerable leeway

in deciding how to proceed.” Prewitt, 878 N.E.2d at 188. “If this discretion

were not given to trial courts and sentences were scrutinized too severely on

appeal, trial judges might be less inclined to order probation to future

defendants.” Id. As a result, we review a trial court’s sentencing decision from

a probation revocation for an abuse of discretion. Id. (citing Sanders v. State, 825

N.E.2d 952, 956 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), trans. denied). An abuse of discretion

occurs where the decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and

circumstances. Id.

[13] Marvel does not challenge the revocation of his probation. Nor does he

challenge the trial court’s decision that he serve all or part of his previously

suspended sentences in both causes. Instead, Marvel contends that this case

should be remanded because the trial court “erroneously believed” that it was

required to order him to serve the executed portion of his two revoked sentences

consecutively. (Marvel’s Br. 3). Marvel’s argument seemingly stems from the

trial court’s sentencing orders for both causes, in which the trial court stated

that the sentences for Cause 2583 and Cause 4037 “shall be served

consecutively as required by law, for a total sentence of six (6) years followed

by three (3) years of formal probation.” (App. 62,181). Marvel acknowledges

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1503-CR-116 | October 8, 2015 Page 7 of 10 that, under INDIANA CODE § 35-50-1-2(d)(1),4 the trial court was required, in its

original sentencing hearing, to order his sentences in Cause 2583 and Cause

4037 to be served consecutively.5 He contends, however, that in this probation

revocation proceeding, the trial court had discretion to order him to serve his

executed portion of his two revoked sentences concurrently, rather than

consecutively. Specifically, Marvel asserts that INDIANA CODE § 35-38-2-3—

the statute pertaining to sanctions that a trial court may impose upon finding

that a defendant has violated a condition of probation—should be read to grant

a trial court the authority to order concurrent sentences upon a probation

revocation. He reasons that if INDIANA CODE § 35-38-2-3 provides a trial court

with “discretion to do nothing at all about the [probation] violation, then it also

has the discretion to run any executed time it does impose concurrent with

other sentences.” (Marvel’s Br. 3).

4 At the time of Marvel’s original sentencing, INDIANA CODE § 35-50-1-2(d)(1) provided:

If, after being arrested for one (1) crime, a person commits another crime: (1) before the date the person is discharged from probation, parole, or a term of imprisonment for the first crime; or (2) while the person is released: (A) upon the person’s own recognizance; or (B) on bond; the terms of imprisonment for the crimes shall be served consecutively, regardless of the order in which the crimes are tried and sentences are imposed. (Emphasis added). This consecutive sentencing provision can be currently found at INDIANA CODE § 35-50-1-2(e)(1). 5 Although not mentioned by Marvel, his plea agreement also called for his sentences to be served consecutively.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1503-CR-116 | October 8, 2015 Page 8 of 10 [14] First, we do not agree with Marvel’s assertion that INDIANA CODE § 35-38-2-3

should be read to include authority for a trial court to impose concurrent

sentencing. Such a reading is incompatible with the plain language of this

statute, and we will not interpret it beyond its plain language. See Pierce v. State,

29 N.E.3d 1258, 1265 (Ind. 2015) (“When the statutory language is clear and

unambiguous, we give effect to its plain and ordinary meaning.”).

[15] Nor do we agree with Marvel’s contention that the trial court could make a

change to the original sentencing order in a probation revocation hearing and

order him to serve the executed portion of his two revoked sentences

concurrently, rather than consecutively. Such argument is based on the

incorrect supposition that a trial court has discretion to sentence—or in this

case, impose concurrent sentences—at a probation revocation proceeding. A

trial court, however, does not “sentence” a defendant in a probation revocation

proceeding. As our Indiana Supreme Court has explained:

[T]he action taken by a trial court in a probation revocation proceeding is not a “sentencing.” The court is merely determining whether there has been a violation of probation and, if so, the extent to which the court’s conditional suspension of the original sentence should be modified and/or whether additional conditions or terms of probation are appropriate.

[16] Jones v. State, 885 N.E.2d 1286, 1289 (Ind. 2008). In other words, a trial court’s

sentence determination in a probation revocation proceeding is a reinstatement

of an already imposed sentence, which cannot be collaterally attacked. See

Berry v. State, 904 N.E.2d 365, 366 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) (citing Stephens v. State,

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1503-CR-116 | October 8, 2015 Page 9 of 10 818 N.E.2d 936, 939 (Ind. 2004) (observing that a defendant cannot collaterally

attack a sentence on appeal from a probation revocation)).

[17] At the time of Marvel’s original sentencing hearing, the trial court was

required—under both INDIANA CODE § 35-50-1-2(d)(1) and the terms of

Marvel’s plea agreement—to order his sentences under Cause 2583 and Cause

4037 to be served consecutively. Here, in this probation revocation proceeding,

the trial court was merely required to determine whether there was a violation

of Marvel’s probation and the extent to which the suspended portion of his

original sentences would be served. See id. The trial court did so, determining

that Marvel had violated his probation and ordering him to serve the balance of

his previously suspended sentence in Cause 2583 and to serve three years of the

six years previously suspended in Cause 4037. Accordingly, the trial court did

not abuse its discretion by ordering Marvel to serve the executed portion of his

previously suspended sentences consecutively where the original sentencing

provided that they be served consecutively. For the foregoing reasons, we

affirm the trial court’s revocation of Marvel’s probation in both Cause 2583 and

Cause 4037.

[18] Affirmed.

Vaidik, C.J., and Robb, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 84A01-1503-CR-116 | October 8, 2015 Page 10 of 10