Theron L. Bailey v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 15, 2015
Docket27A05-1404-PC-199
StatusPublished

This text of Theron L. Bailey v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) (Theron L. Bailey v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)) 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
Theron L. Bailey v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.), (Ind. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Jun 15 2015, 10:11 am Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be 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.

APPELLANT PRO SE ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Theron L. Bailey Gregory F. Zoeller Carlisle, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana Monika Prekopa Talbot Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Theron L. Bailey, June 15, 2015

Appellant-Petitioner, Court of Appeals Case No. 27A05-1404-PC-199 v. Appeal from the Grant Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Jeffrey D. Todd, Judge Appellee-Respondent. Cause Nos. 27D01-1007-PC-143 & 27D01-0703-FA-54

Kirsch, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 27A05-1404-PC-199 | June 15, 2015 Page 1 of 16 [1] Theron L. Bailey was convicted of Class A felony attempted murder,1 Class A

felony kidnapping,2 Class B felony criminal confinement,3 two counts of Class

C felony intimidation,4 six counts of Class D felony pointing a firearm at

another person,5 Class A misdemeanor invasion of privacy,6 and Class C felony

carrying a handgun without a license.7 Due to double jeopardy concerns, the

trial court vacated four of his convictions and sentenced him to an aggregate

sentence of 108 years in prison. Bailey now appeals the denial of his petition

for post-conviction relief, raising the following consolidated and restated issue:

whether his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that his trial

counsel was ineffective when, during voir dire, trial counsel did not thoroughly

explore the potential bias of a juror.

[2] The post-conviction court did not err in finding that Bailey’s appellate counsel

provided effective assistance of counsel. We affirm.

1 See Ind. Code § 35-41-5-1(a); Ind. Code § 35-42-1-1(1). We note that, effective July 1, 2014, a new version of the criminal statutes at issue was enacted. Because Bailey committed his crimes prior to July 1, 2014, we will apply the statutes in effect at the time he committed his crimes. 2 See Ind. Code § 35-42-3-2(b)(2). 3 See Ind. Code § 35-42-3-3(a)(2), (b)(2)(A). 4 See Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(a)(1), (b)(2). 5 See Ind. Code § 35-47-4-3(b). 6 See Ind. Code § 35-46-1-15.1(5). 7 See Ind. Code §§ 35-47-2-1(a); 35-47-2-23(c).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 27A05-1404-PC-199 | June 15, 2015 Page 2 of 16 Facts and Procedural History [3] This court’s unpublished memorandum decision for Bailey’s direct appeal

provides us with facts and procedural history. Bailey v. State, 908 N.E.2d 712

(Ind. Ct. App. 2009). Rita Underwood (“Underwood”) obtained a no-contact

order against Bailey, her ex-boyfriend. Underwood worked at a diner in

Marion, Indiana and lived in an apartment above the diner. On the night of

March 3, 2007, Underwood and one of her sons, Dustin Cox (“Cox”), were in

her apartment when Cox saw Bailey near the apartment. Bailey came to the

door of the apartment, but Underwood was able to exit without Bailey noticing

and went downstairs to the diner. Bailey searched Underwood’s apartment and

then searched the diner, where patrons were dining. Soon after, Underwood

exited the restaurant, followed by Bailey and the diner’s cook, Jesse Henry

(“Henry”). As these events were occurring, Underwood’s other son,

Christopher Sherron (“Sherron”), arrived at the diner.

[4] Bailey and Underwood argued in the parking lot while her two sons and Henry

looked on. Bailey pointed a handgun at Henry, and everyone stepped back.

Bailey and Underwood struggled; meanwhile, the others urged Bailey to put

away the gun, which Bailey later admitted he had no license to carry. Bailey

then pointed his handgun at Henry, and everyone stepped back. Underwood

walked back into the diner. Bailey followed her, and in front of witnesses, shot

Underwood in the back of the head. Before fleeing the scene, Bailey pointed

the gun at Cox and Sherron, asking them whether they wanted to die.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 27A05-1404-PC-199 | June 15, 2015 Page 3 of 16 [5] A short time later, Bailey entered the Marion V.F.W. Hall and saw Charles

Teegarden (“Teegarden”), a former co-worker. Teegarden agreed that, after he

finished a game of pool, he would give Bailey a ride. Not satisfied by the delay,

Bailey drew his gun, pointed it at Teegarden, and stated that he would shoot

Teegarden if he did not immediately help him flee. Teegarden managed to

escape from the situation, and Bailey left the hall.

[6] Bailey then approached a pub, outside of which he found a man named James

Johnson (“Johnson”) talking on his cell phone. Bailey pressed his gun into

Johnson’s chest and told him that he would shoot him in the head if Johnson

did not agree to drive Bailey where he wanted to go. Johnson drove Bailey to a

trailer court.

[7] Bailey was later arrested and charged with thirteen counts, including attempted

murder, kidnapping, criminal confinement, invasion of privacy, carrying a

handgun without a license, two counts of intimidation, and six counts of

pointing a firearm. During voir dire at Bailey’s jury trial, trial counsel, Don

Gallaway (“Gallaway”) asked a prospective juror (“Juror 4”), “Can you give

[Bailey] the presumption of innocence even knowing the type of crime[s] with

which he has been charged,” to which Juror 4 said, “No.” Trial Tr. at 57.

Gallaway noted, “[B]eside[s] burden of proof an[d] reasonable doubt, the

fundamental element of this process that we call a jury trial is fairness.” Id.

Gallaway then impressed on the prospective jurors, “if you can’t be fair an[d]

impartial then this may not be the case for you.” Id.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 27A05-1404-PC-199 | June 15, 2015 Page 4 of 16 [8] Gallaway asked the prospective jurors whether any of them had seen Bailey “in

a little different light” after they heard “what he’d been accused of doing.” Id.

Only one juror, Webb, raised his hand and explained that when he heard about

the case he “had an opinion immediately.” Id. at 58. Webb was dismissed

from the jury. Juror 4 was not moved to answer Gallaway’s question and was

placed on the jury.

[9] Approximately thirty witnesses testified on behalf of the State, at least six of

whom had been present when Bailey shot Underwood. Testimony from those

six witnesses revealed: Bailey had been banned from the diner and had been

asked to leave on the night in question; patrons were in the diner at the time

Underwood was shot; Underwood was afraid of Bailey; and Bailey had opened

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