Shannon J. Danley v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: November 13, 2019
• Docket: 19A-CR-729
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before any Nov 13 2019, 8:38 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 Donald R. Shuler Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Barkes, Kolbus, Rife & Shuler, LLP Attorney General of Indiana Goshen, Indiana Tiffany A. McCoy Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Shannon J. Danley, November 13, 2019 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 19A-CR-729 v. Appeal from the Elkhart Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Appellee-Plaintiff. Gretchen S. Lund, Judge Trial Court Cause No. 20D04-1805-CM-1184

Kirsch, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 1 of 12 [1] Shannon J. Danley (“Danley”) was convicted after a bench trial of battery1 as a

Class A misdemeanor and was sentenced to one year with credit for three days

served and the balance suspended to probation. Danley appeals and raises the

following restated issues for our review:

I. Whether sufficient evidence was presented to support his conviction for battery; and

II. Whether his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the offender.

[2] We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History [3] On May 27, 2018, James Robinson (“James”) and his ex-wife Joanna Robinson

(“Joanna”) (together, “the Robinsons”) were at the beach area of a local lake

that was reserved for people in their neighborhood by the neighborhood

association (“the beach”). Tr. at 25-26. Danley and his family were also at the

beach for a graduation party, but there was limited interaction between the two

groups. Id. at 26, 45. James and Joanna went home after staying at the beach

for approximately an hour. Id. at 26. When Danley was getting ready to leave

the beach after being there all day, he and his girlfriend Michelle Rittershouse

(“Michelle”) could not find the keys to one of their vehicles. Id. at 61.

1 See Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 2 of 12 [4] About an hour after James got home, Danley’s children went to James’s house

looking for the lost car keys. Id. at 27, 61-62. Shortly thereafter, Danley and

Michelle drove to James’s house. Id. at 27, 61-62. James asked if Danley had

found his keys, and a verbal fight started between Joanna and Michelle about

drugs. Id. at 27, 34, 36, 62. During the fight, about seven more people showed

up outside James’s house. Id. at 29. Almost immediately the fight between

Joanna and Michelle became physical with the women grabbing each other’s

hair. Id. at 27, 62. James attempted to break up the fight by putting himself in

between Joanna and Michelle to separate the women. Id. at 28. Danley ran up

to James and told him that he did not “have a problem” with James and told

him it is “a girl fight,” and to “get [his] girl.” Id. at 29, 62. After James was

able to separate Joanna and Michelle, things calmed down for a moment, but

people were still yelling at each other. Id. at 28-29.

[5] In an attempt to diffuse the situation and to get people to leave his yard, James

started to record what was happening with his cell phone. Id. at 30. Someone

told James to “stop videotaping” and tried to knock the phone out of his hand.

Id. James then stuck the phone into his back pocket and then was hit from

behind, causing him fall to the ground. Id. at 31. James did not see who had

hit him that first time. Id. James stood up, walked to his front doorstep, and

saw Danley near him. Id. When James was near his front door, he was hit in

the face for a second time by an older man with a beard who was wearing

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 3 of 12 swimming trunks.2 Id. at 21-22, 33; Def.’s Ex. A. After being hit the second

time, James ended up being held in a headlock by Danley. Tr. at 31-32.

Danley held James in a headlock for approximately twenty seconds, asked

James if he “had enough,” and then released James. Id. at 31, 62. As a result

of this altercation, James had a black eye and sustained two cuts near his eye,

which caused him pain and resulted in a scar on his face. Id. at 32-33.

[6] Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department Officers Cory Oswald (“Officer Oswald”)

and Antonio Mantey (“Officer Mantey”) responded to a dispatch regarding the

altercation. Id. at 13-14, 40-41. Officer Oswald first approached the Robinsons’

residence and noticed that Joanna appeared to be extremely upset and

frustrated and that James was holding a wet napkin to his right eye and seemed

confused as to what had transpired. Id. at 42-43. When James removed the

napkin from his eye, Officer Oswald observed that the napkin had fresh blood

on it and that James’s eye was swollen and had a laceration underneath it. Id.

at 43. Based on his conversation with the Robinsons, Officer Oswald and

Officer Mantey went to Danley’s residence to speak with him. Id. at 14, 43.

[7] When the officers arrived at Danley’s address, there were numerous people at

the residence. Id. at 14, 43-44. Danley identified himself to Officer Oswald

with his name and date of birth. Id. at 44. At that time, Officer Oswald

2 Officer Antonio Mantey testified that James told him that he was hit a second time by a man with a beard wearing an unbuttoned floral shirt and swimming trunks. Tr. at 21. However, the officer later confirmed that his police report contained a statement from James that he was struck the second time by a shirtless man. Id. at 21-22.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 4 of 12 observed that Danley was wearing swimming trunks and no shirt and that he

could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Danley’s breath. Id. at 44.

While speaking with the officers, Danley repeatedly denied that he was

involved in any altercation at the Robinsons’ residence and claimed that he

arrived at the Robinsons’ residence after any altercation had ended. Id. at 15,

45. The officers observed that Danley had dried blood on his feet, shin,

stomach, and left hip area. Id. at 16, 45, 47-48; Exs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. After speaking

with Danley, Officer Mantey made the decision to detain him while the officers

conducted their investigation for battery. Tr. at 16-17. Officer Oswald

transported Danley to the Elkhart County Jail, and Officer Mantey went back

to the Robinsons’ residence to take photos and further statements. Id. at 17-19,

45.

[8] At the Elkhart County Jail, Danley told Officer Oswald that he had blood on

him because he cut his feet while kayaking. Id. at 48. Officer Oswald checked

Danley’s feet, and he did not see any fresh lacerations or open wounds that

could be a source of bleeding. Id. While in detention, Danley again denied any

involvement in the altercation, but later made a comment that “people that sell

drugs to kids deserve their ass whooped.” Id. at 48-49, 66.

[9] On May 30, 2018, the State charged Danley with battery as a Class A

misdemeanor. Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 14. A bench trial was held on February

5, 2019. Id. at 8. At trial, Danley admitted that he was present during the

altercation and held James in a headlock for approximately twenty seconds

until James “said he would quit.” Tr. at 61-62. Danley also testified that, when

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 5 of 12 he spoke to the officers, he denied involvement in the altercation “because [he]

didn’t want to be in trouble for what all had happened,” and he thought “if [he]

just denied it completely it would go away . . . .” Id. at 63, 66. After taking the

matter under advisement, the trial court found Danley guilty as charged on

March 3, 2019. Id. at 34-37. At sentencing, the trial court sentenced Danley to

one year with credit for three days served and the remaining time suspended to

reporting probation. Id. at 85; Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 42. Danley now

appeals.

Discussion and Decision

I. Sufficiency of the Evidence [10] Danley argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his

conviction. When we review the sufficiency of evidence to support a

conviction, we do not reweigh the evidence or assess the credibility of the

witnesses. Lehman v. State, 55 N.E.3d 863, 868 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), trans.

denied. We consider only the evidence most favorable to the verdict and the

reasonable inferences that can be drawn from that evidence. Fuentes v. State, 10

N.E.3d 68, 75 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014), trans. denied. We also consider conflicting

evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling. Oster v. State, 992

N.E.2d 871, 875 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied. We will not disturb the

verdict if there is substantial evidence of probative value to support it. Fuentes,

10 N.E.3d at 75. We will affirm unless no reasonable fact-finder could find the

elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Delagrange v. State, 5

N.E.3d 354, 356 (Ind. 2014). A conviction can be sustained on the Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 6 of 12 uncorroborated testimony of a single witness, even when that witness is the

victim. Dalton v. State, 56 N.E.3d 644, 648 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), trans. denied.

[11] Danley contends that the evidence presented by the State was not sufficient to

prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty of battery as a Class A

misdemeanor. Specifically, he asserts that, although the evidence established

that he and James were involved in an altercation and that at some point he had

James in a headlock, the evidence did not prove that James’s injuries were the

result of any touching by Danley. Danley also points to inconsistencies in

James’s description of who hit him in the face and caused his injuries.

[12] Danley was convicted of Class A misdemeanor battery. In order to convict him

of that crime, the State was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he

“knowingly or intentionally . . . touche[d] another person in a rude, insolent, or

angry manner” and that the touching resulted in bodily injury to the person.

Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1(c)(1), (d)(1). Bodily injury is defined as “any impairment

of physical condition, including physical pain.” Ind. Code § 35-31.5-2-29.

“Evidence of touching, however slight, is sufficient to support a conviction for

battery.” Wolf v. State, 76 N.E.3d 911, 915 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017) (citation

omitted).

[13] Here, the evidence most favorable to the verdict showed that, after a verbal and

physical altercation occurred between Joanna and Michelle, James was hit from

behind, then punched in the face and put in a headlock. Tr. at 31-33. As a

result, James sustained a black eye and two cuts near his eye, which caused him

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 7 of 12 pain and left a scar on his face. Id. at 32; Exs. 3, 4, 12, 13. Although James did

not see who hit him from behind, he reported to the officers that he was hit in

the face the second time by an older man with a beard who was wearing

swimming trunks.3 Tr. at 21-22, 33; Def.’s Ex. A. James testified that he was hit

in the face when he was near his doorstep, and he remembered Danley was

near him at that time. Tr. at 31, 33. Danley admitted at trial that he held

James in a headlock for approximately twenty seconds and asked James if he

“had enough.” Id. at 31, 62. When the police made contact with Danley and

spoke to him, he was dressed consistently with James’s description of the man

who hit him in the face. Id. at 15, 21-22; Ex. 3; Def.’s Ex. A.

[14] Additionally, Danley repeatedly lied to the police when he initially spoke with

them the night of the battery. He continuously denied he had been at James’s

residence during the altercation and that he had been involved in the altercation

at all. Tr. at 45. Instead, he claimed that he had only arrived at James’s

residence after the altercation had ended. Id. However, Danley had dried

blood on his foot, shin, stomach, and hip area. Id. at 16, 45, 47-48; Exs. 4, 5, 6,

7, 8. The injuries that James had sustained were bleeding, and Danley was the

only other person observed to have blood on him. Tr. at 16-17, 23. When

asked by the police about the dried blood, Danley stated that it was from cuts

3 We note that there was inconsistent evidence as to whether Danley was wearing an unbuttoned floral shirt during the altercation with James. Tr. at 21-22. However, it is reasonable to infer that a man wearing an unbuttoned shirt may have appeared as shirtless. Moreover, the trial court, in its order, recognized this inconsistency and found that “it would be reasonable for a person to be confused after having been hit in the head.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 37.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 8 of 12 he sustained to his feet from kayaking; however, the police did not observe any

fresh lacerations or injuries that could be the source of the dried blood. Id. at

48. At trial, Danley testified that, when he spoke to the officers, he denied

involvement in the altercation “because [he] didn’t want to be in trouble for

what all had happened,” and he thought “if [he] just denied it completely it

would go away . . . .” Id. at 63, 66. Based on the evidence most favorable to

the verdict presented at trial, we conclude that sufficient evidence was presented

to support Danley’s conviction for battery.

II. Inappropriate Sentence [15] Danley argues that his sentence is inappropriate. Pursuant to Indiana Appellate

Rule 7(B), this court “may revise a sentence authorized by statute if, after due

consideration of the trial court’s decision, the [c]ourt finds that the sentence is

inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the

offender.” Our Supreme Court has explained that the principal role of appellate

review should be to attempt to leaven the outliers, “not to achieve a perceived

‘correct’ result in each case.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1225 (Ind.

2008). We independently examine the nature of Danley’s offense and his

character under Appellate Rule 7(B) with substantial deference to the trial

court’s sentence. Satterfield v. State, 33 N.E.3d 344, 355 (Ind. 2015). “In

conducting our review, we do not look to see whether the defendant’s sentence

is appropriate or if another sentence might be more appropriate; rather, the test

is whether the sentence is ‘inappropriate.’” Barker v. State, 994 N.E.2d 306, 315

(Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied. Whether a sentence is inappropriate

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 9 of 12 ultimately depends upon “the culpability of the defendant, the severity of the

crime, the damage done to others, and a myriad of other factors that come to

light in a given case.” Cardwell, 895 N.E.2d at 1224. Danley bears the burden

of persuading us that his sentence is inappropriate. Id.

[16] Danley contends that his one-year sentence with credit for time served and the

balance suspended to probation is inappropriate in light of the nature of his

offense and his character. As to the nature of the offense, he asserts that the

circumstances of the offense were minimal and James’s injuries were not

serious, and that there was nothing particularly egregious about the offense to

support the imposition of the maximum length sentence. As to his character,

Danley maintains that his sentence is inappropriate because his criminal history

is minor, occurring many years ago and having no connection to the instant

offense, and he is a veteran who has steady employment.

[17] Here, Danley was convicted of one count of Class A misdemeanor battery. The

sentencing statute for Class A misdemeanors provides that “[a] person who

commits a Class A misdemeanor shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of not

more than one (1) year[.]” Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2. The trial court imposed a

one-year sentence with credit for three days served and the balance suspended

to reporting probation. Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 2.

[18] As this court has recognized, the nature of the offense is found in the details

and circumstances of the commission of the offense and the defendant’s

participation. Perry v. State, 78 N.E.3d 1, 13 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017). “When

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 10 of 12 determining the appropriateness of a sentence that deviates from an advisory

sentence, we consider whether there is anything more or less egregious about

the offense as committed by the defendant that ‘makes it different from the

typical offense accounted for by the legislature when it set the advisory

sentence.’” Moyer v. State, 83 N.E.3d 136, 142 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017) (quoting

Holloway v. State, 950 N.E.2d 803, 807 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)), trans. denied. In

the present case, a physical altercation between Joanna and Michelle occurred,

which James attempted to break up by putting himself between the two women.

After trying to diffuse the situation by recording what was happening on his

cellphone, James was hit from behind and then hit in the face and put into a

headlock. Although James did not see who hit him from behind, the evidence

showed that Danley hit James in the face and then held him in a headlock for

about twenty seconds. This battery by Danley resulted in James having a black

eye and two cuts on his face, which caused him pain and a scar on his face.

When approached by the police, Danley repeatedly lied about being at James’s

residence and being involved in the altercation.

[19] The character of the offender is found in what we learn of the offender’s life and

conduct. Perry, 78 N.E.3d at 13. When considering the character of the

offender, one relevant fact is the defendant’s criminal history. Johnson v. State,

986 N.E.2d 852, 857 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). The evidence showed that Danley

had a minimal criminal history that consisted of two misdemeanor convictions

from 2007, one for driving while suspended and one for possession of

marijuana. Tr. at 82. “‘Even a minor criminal record reflects poorly on a

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 11 of 12 defendant’s character.’” Morris v. State, 114 N.E.3d 531, 539 (Ind. Ct. App.

2018) (quoting Reis v. State, 88 N.E.3d 1099, 1105 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017)), trans.

denied. Additionally, Danley’s repeated lying to the police about being involved

in the altercation at James’s residence demonstrates poor character. When he

first spoke to the police, Danley denied that an altercation occurred and

claimed that he arrived at James’s residence after everyone had left. When

asked about the dried blood on his person, Danley initially stated it was his own

blood from kayaking, but the officers could not find any wounds from which

the blood could have come. At trial, Danley testified that he denied

involvement in the altercation “because [he] didn’t want to be in trouble for

what all had happened,” and he thought “if [he] just denied it completely it

would go away . . . .” Tr. at 63, 66. Although we commend Danley for his

military service, his repeated lies to the police to avoid responsibility show a

lack of respect for authority. We conclude that Danley has not shown that his

one-year sentence with credit for time served and the balance suspended to

reporting probation is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and his

character.

[20] Affirmed.

Baker, J., and Crone, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-729 | November 13, 2019 Page 12 of 12