Matthew Q. Baker v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: April 22, 2019
• Docket: 18A-CR-2720
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as FILED precedent or cited before any court except for the Apr 22 2019, 8:02 am purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, CLERK collateral estoppel, or the law of the case. Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Michael P. DeArmitt Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Columbus, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana Matthew B. MacKenzie Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Matthew Q. Baker, April 22, 2019 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 18A-CR-2720 v. Appeal from the Bartholomew Superior Court State of Indiana, The Hon. James D. Worton, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 03D01-1806-F5-3242

Bradford, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2720 | Apirl 22, 2019 Page 1 of 5 Case Summary [1] In June of 2018, Matthew Baker confined his ex-girlfriend Candie Conrad in

her home against her will, later pled guilty to Level 6 felony criminal

confinement, and was sentenced to two and one-half years of incarceration.

Baker contends that his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of his

offense and his character. Because we disagree, we affirm.

Facts and Procedural History [2] On June 10, 2018, Baker forced his way into Conrad’s home and physically

confined her against her will, also grabbing, pushing, slapping, and punching

her. At one point, Baker held a knife to Conrad’s throat and threatened her life

and the lives of her daughter and her cats. Conrad suffered bruising as a result

of Baker’s abuse during her confinement. On June 12, 2018, the State charged

Baker with Level 5 felony intimidation with a deadly weapon, Level 6 felony

criminal confinement, and Class A misdemeanor domestic battery. On

September 10, 2018, Baker pled guilty to criminal confinement in exchange for

the other counts being dismissed and agreed that sentencing would be left to the

trial court’s discretion. On October 16, 2018, the trial court sentenced Baker to

two and one-half years of incarceration. The trial court noted Baker’s extensive

criminal history, his history of violating the terms of probation, that past

treatment opportunities had been unsuccessful, and his history of battery and

domestic-violence offenses.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2720 | Apirl 22, 2019 Page 2 of 5 Discussion and Decision [3] Baker contends that his two-and-one-half year sentence, which is the maximum

sentence for a Level 6 felony, is inappropriately harsh. See Ind. Code § 35-50-2-

7(b). We may revise a sentence 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 offender.” Ind. Appellate Rule 7(B). The

“nature of the offense” refers to the defendant’s acts in comparison with the

elements of his offense, Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008),

while “character of the offender” refers to general sentencing considerations

and the relevant aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Knapp v. State, 9

N.E.3d 1274, 1292 (Ind. 2014). Baker has the burden to show that his sentence

is inappropriate in light of both the nature of the offense and his character. Gil

v. State, 988 N.E.2d 1231, 1237 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). This can only be done

with “compelling evidence portraying in a positive light the nature of the

offense […] and the defendant’s character[.]” Stephenson v. State, 29 N.E.3d

111, 122 (Ind. 2015).

[4] The nature of Baker’s offense is significantly worse than a typical Level 6 felony

criminal confinement. While Baker’s conviction was supported by his

admission that he “knowingly or intentionally confine[d Conrad] without [her]

consent[,]” Ind. Code § 35-42-3-3(a), the record indicates that his actions went

far beyond that. According to the probable cause affidavit, Baker’s confinement

of Conrad began when he forced his way into her house and grabbed, pushed

and slapped her. Baker held a butcher’s knife to Conrad’s throat and threatened

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2720 | Apirl 22, 2019 Page 3 of 5 her life and the lives of her daughter and her cats. When Conrad attempted to

leave the house to contact police who happened to be nearby, Baker grabbed

her, threw her onto a couch, and punched her legs with his fist. A police officer

later observed swelling to Conrad’s cheeks and bruising on her legs, back, and

chest. These facts could have supported charges far more serious than Level 6

felony criminal confinement, including, but not limited to, Level 5 felony

criminal confinement causing bodily injury, Ind. Code § 35-42-3-3(b)(1)(C), or

Level 3 felony criminal confinement while using a deadly weapon. Ind. Code §

35-42-3-3(b)(2)(A). In comparison to the elements of Level 6 felony criminal

confinement, the far more serious nature of Baker’s offense justifies his

sentence.

[5] Baker’s character, which is revealed by his lengthy criminal history, also

justifies his sentence. Over the course of almost thirty years, the forty-eight-

year-old Baker has accumulated adult convictions for Class C felony burglary,

Class D felony residential entry, two counts of Class A misdemeanor resisting

law enforcement, two counts of Class A misdemeanor battery, Class A

misdemeanor domestic battery, Class A misdemeanor operating while

intoxicated, Class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana, Class B

misdemeanor mischief, four counts of Class C misdemeanor illegal

consumption, and Class C misdemeanor driving while suspended. Baker’s

record also shows that less-restrictive measures have failed. Baker has had his

probation revoked six times, resulting in the imposition of over eight years of

executed time that had previously been suspended. Despite Baker’s lengthy

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2720 | Apirl 22, 2019 Page 4 of 5 history of criminal convictions and many chances to reform himself, he has not

chosen to do so. Baker has failed to convince us that his two-and-one-half-year

sentence for Level 6 felony criminal confinement is inappropriate.

[6] The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Crone, J., and Tavitas, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2720 | Apirl 22, 2019 Page 5 of 5