Leavell v. State

391 N.E.2d 246, 181 Ind. App. 69
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 18, 1979
Docket2-178A1
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 391 N.E.2d 246 (Leavell v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Leavell v. State, 391 N.E.2d 246, 181 Ind. App. 69 (Ind. Ct. App. 1979).

Opinion

SHIELDS, Judge.

Leavell was charged with Commission of a Felony While Armed, to wit, Robbery. IC 35-12 — 1-1 (Burns Code Ed. 1975) He was convicted as charged and sentenced to a determinate term of ten (10) years imprisonment. 1

His appeal presents two issues for review: (1) whether there was sufficient evidence linking him to the armed robbery; and (2) whether the trial court erred in ordering that he not be given any good time credit for his presentence confinement. We affirm Leavell’s conviction, but remand the case for correction of part of the judgment.

I

SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

Citing Gaddis v. State, (1968) 253 Ind. 73, 251 N.E.2d 658, Leavell argues that the victim’s in-court identification was so tainted by an overly suggestive pretrial photographic display that the testimony had no probative value.

According to the victim’s testimony at trial, the robbery occurred during daylight hours and must have taken at least several minutes to complete. The perpetrator, who did not wear a mask, stood for some time no more than an arm’s length away from the victim.

Where, as here, the victim had ample opportunity to observe his assailant, there exists a sufficient basis, independent of any pretrial photographic identification, to support his unequivocal in-court identification. Emerson v. State, (1972) 259 Ind. 399, 287 N.E.2d 867.

Nor was the pretrial photographic display unnecessarily suggestive. A few days after the robbery, the victim viewed a display of photographs at the police station. He went through a series of mug books, but was unable to identify any of the photographs. Then, as the police officer was going through a drawer of additional mugshots, several photographs fell out. One of the-photographs was of Leavell, which photograph the victim identified as being that of the person who had robbed him at gunpoint.

Although it is better practice not to use mugshots, or at least to cover any police identification markings on them if used, there is no strict rule against the display of such photographs to witnesses. In determining the suggestiveness of a photographic display, the totality of the circumstances surrounding the display should be considered and the nature of the photographs is only one of the factors to be considered. Whitt v. State, (1977) Ind., 361 N.E.2d 913.

Here, Leavell’s mugshot photograph was shown along with other mugshot photographs. In view of that fact, and also the fact that Leavell’s photograph was displayed fortuitously, we find that the pretrial photographic display was not unnecessarily suggestive.

*248 Leavell’s related challenge to the testimony of Anderson Freshwater, an admitted accomplice who served time for his participation in the armed robbery, is also without merit. Although Freshwater apparently agreed to testify in order to get out of prison and was subsequently released on shock probation, such evidence was before the jury to consider in evaluating Freshwater’s overall credibility. It is the trier of fact’s function, not ours, to weigh the evidence and determine the credibility of witnesses. Downing v. State, (1978) Ind. App., 381 N.E.2d 554.

Contrary to Leavell’s claim, therefore, the record discloses ample evidence from which the jury could have inferred that he was the perpetrator.

II

CREDIT FOR GOOD TIME CONDUCT

Following the jury verdict, the trial court sentenced Leavell to imprisonment for a determinate term of ten (10) years. The trial court also entered two related orders under IC 35-8 — 2.5-1 et seq. (Burns Code Ed. 1975) concerning the credit Leavell was to receive for his presentence confinement.

IC 35-8-2.5-1 requires that an individual be given credit toward service of his sentence for any days spent in confinement on that charge prior to sentencing. 2 See also, Williams v. State, (1978) Ind.App., 381 N.E.2d 1256. Pursuant to IC 35-8-2.5—3 which deals specifically with determinate sentences, 3 the trial court ordered that Lea-vell be given credit toward service of his sentence for the 300 days he spent in pre-sentence confinement.

The trial court’s second order, which is the one we are concerned with here, involved Leavell’s good time allowance under IC 35-8-2.5-5. By statute, an individual may earn a diminution of time from his sentence in the form of a “good time” allowance. Good time is earned at varying rates up to a maximum of thirty (30) days a month, depending upon the individual’s time earning class. See, IC 11-7-6.1-1 et seq. (Burns Code Ed. 1977 Supp.). 4 The trial court specifically ordered that Leavell not be given any good time allowance for the 300 days he spent in confinement prior to sentencing. 5 Leavell maintains that the trial court had no authority to enter a binding order in this regard. •

IC 35-8-2.5-5, the statute under which the trial court was proceeding, provides:

Credit for time served — Good time allowance. — Whenever a person has been given credit pursuant to section 1 [35-8— 2.5 — 1] of this chapter, any good time allowances to which such person is entitled under the laws of this state shall be computed as if the time for which credit has been allowed had been served after the sentence was imposed and in the place of confinement designated in such sentence or order of commitment. The sentencing judge shall make recommendations as to credit for good time conduct for time spent in confinement prior to sentencing.

A plain reading of this statute indicates that the sentencing judge only has the authority to make recommendations with re *249 spect to good time allowances. 6 The trial judge cannot, as was done here, enter a binding order and thereby circumvent the procedure specified by IC 11-7-6.1-1 et seq.

IC 11-7 — 6.1-1 et seq. contains the following provisions:

11-7-6.1-1. Definitions [Repealed effective October 1, 1977]. — As used in this chapter [11-7-6.1-1 — 11-7-6.1-8] unless otherwise provided:
(a) “Inmate” means those persons who are either actually within the walls of the various state correctional institutions or upon the grounds thereof, or are elsewhere working or under the control of the department of correction including, but not limited to, those persons on work release, academic and vocational study release, and temporary leaves.

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Bluebook (online)
391 N.E.2d 246, 181 Ind. App. 69, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/leavell-v-state-indctapp-1979.