Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before any court except for the Mar 28 2013, 8:52 am purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
ELIZABETH A. BELLIN GREGORY F. ZOELLER Cohen Law Offices Attorney General of Indiana Elkhart, Indiana CHANDRA K. HEIN Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
WILLIAM J. CAUDILL, ) ) Appellant-Defendant, ) ) vs. ) No. 20A03-1206-CR-274 ) STATE OF INDIANA, ) ) Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE ELKHART SUPERIOR COURT The Honorable George Biddlecome, Judge Cause No. 20D03-1201-FD-54
March 28, 2013
MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION
ROBB, Chief Judge Case Summary and Issue
William J. Caudill was convicted of battery resulting in bodily injury, a Class D
felony. He was sentenced to a thirty-month term of imprisonment. He now appeals,
raising the issue of whether his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of his
offense and character. Concluding that his sentence is not inappropriate, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
On December 19, 2011, Caudill was an inmate at the Elkhart County Correctional
Facility. Caudill was informed by Officer John Bell that he was to take his hour out at a
time he did not want. Caudill became agitated and confrontational. After trying to
verbally subdue Caudill, Officer Bell called for backup. He, along with two other
officers, one with a video camera, entered the pod where Caudill’s cell was located.
Officer Bell and one other officer went up the stairs where Caudill was waiting for them.
Caudill punched Officer Bell numerous times in the head as the officers attempted to
restrain him. Caudill continued to punch and kick Officer Bell until Caudill was finally
subdued with the use of pepper spray.
During the jury trial, Caudill claimed that he had blacked out and could not recall
the incident. Caudill was convicted of battery resulting in bodily injury, a Class D
felony. During sentencing, Caudill expressed remorse and apologized for what he had
done. He was sentenced to a thirty-month term of imprisonment to be served
consecutively to a sentence in another cause and a sentence arising out of a probation
violation. Caudill now appeals the thirty-month sentence. Additional facts will be
provided as necessary.
2 Discussion and Decision
I. Standard of Review
This court has the authority to revise a sentence “if, after due consideration of the
trial court’s decision, the Court finds 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” portion of inappropriate sentence review concerns the advisory
sentence for the class of crimes to which the offense belongs; therefore, the advisory
sentence is the starting point in our sentence review. Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d
482, 494 (Ind. 2007), clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 218 (Ind. 2007). The “character of
the offender” portion of the sentence review involves consideration of the aggravating
and mitigating circumstances and general considerations. Clara v. State, 899 N.E.2d 733,
736 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). Whether a sentence is inappropriate ultimately turns on “the
culpability of the defendant, the severity of the crime, the damage done to others, and
myriad other factors that come to light in a given case.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d
1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008). The defendant bears the burden of persuading this court that his
or her sentence is inappropriate. Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080 (Ind. 2006).
II. Caudill’s Sentence
The sentencing range for a Class D felony is between six months and three years
imprisonment, with an advisory sentence of one and one-half years. Ind. Code § 35-50-
2-7(a). The trial court imposed a thirty-month, or two and one-half years, sentence1 on
1 The parties refer to Caudill’s thirty-month sentence as an “enhanced sentence.” Even though it is above the advisory sentence, it is not an “enhanced sentence.” See Marbley-El v. State, 929 N.E.2d 194, 195 (Ind. 2010) (a sentence at the high end of the statutory range for a crime is not an “enhanced sentence” because a court may impose any sentence within the range under the present “advisory” sentencing scheme). 3 Caudill, which he argues is inappropriate in light of the nature of his offense and
character. We disagree.
With regard to the nature of the offense, Caudill argues that it did not warrant his
sentence because the incident was brief, no other inmates were involved, he was
restrained quickly, and he apologized for his actions. However, the evidence indicates
that Caudill punched and kicked Officer Bell numerous times in the head and chest.
Caudill resisted all attempts at being restrained until Officer Bell sprayed pepper spray on
his face. Further, Officer Bell suffered pain, sustained multiple lacerations to his head as
well as a concussion, and was unable to return to work for a week. Caudill’s behavior
and Officer Bell’s injuries were well beyond those required to prove battery causing
bodily injury. See Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1(a) (“A person who knowingly or intentionally
touches another person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner commits battery . . . .”); Ind.
Code § 35-31.5-2-29 (“’Bodily injury’ means any impairment of physical condition,
including physical pain.”).
With regard to Caudill’s character, he had a history of delinquent behavior as a
juvenile, five misdemeanor convictions, and one felony conviction prior to the conviction
in this case. He also had two probation violations and was on probation when he
committed the current crime, leading to a third probation violation. Thus, prior attempts
to rehabilitate Caudill from unlawful conduct have failed. He argues, however, that his
history of mental health issues along with the fact that he showed remorse and apologized
for his actions numerous times renders his sentence inappropriate. The trial court took
both Caudill’s mental health history and his apologies into account and stated the
following at sentencing: 4 I will tell you, Mr. Caudill, that had you not expressed remorse for your conduct, and had you not been suffering from a mental illness, I would have been compelled to sentence you to the full three years available. Since you do suffer from either a mental illness or an emotional disorder, I’m not entirely sure which based on the information I have, I – and since you have apologized to your victim, the officer, I’m willing to reduce that sentence to 30 months as opposed to 36 months.
Transcript at 277.
With regard to mental illness as a mitigating factor at sentencing, our supreme
court has identified four factors to consider: “(1) the extent of the defendant’s inability to
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Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before any court except for the Mar 28 2013, 8:52 am purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
ELIZABETH A. BELLIN GREGORY F. ZOELLER Cohen Law Offices Attorney General of Indiana Elkhart, Indiana CHANDRA K. HEIN Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
WILLIAM J. CAUDILL, ) ) Appellant-Defendant, ) ) vs. ) No. 20A03-1206-CR-274 ) STATE OF INDIANA, ) ) Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE ELKHART SUPERIOR COURT The Honorable George Biddlecome, Judge Cause No. 20D03-1201-FD-54
March 28, 2013
MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION
ROBB, Chief Judge Case Summary and Issue
William J. Caudill was convicted of battery resulting in bodily injury, a Class D
felony. He was sentenced to a thirty-month term of imprisonment. He now appeals,
raising the issue of whether his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of his
offense and character. Concluding that his sentence is not inappropriate, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
On December 19, 2011, Caudill was an inmate at the Elkhart County Correctional
Facility. Caudill was informed by Officer John Bell that he was to take his hour out at a
time he did not want. Caudill became agitated and confrontational. After trying to
verbally subdue Caudill, Officer Bell called for backup. He, along with two other
officers, one with a video camera, entered the pod where Caudill’s cell was located.
Officer Bell and one other officer went up the stairs where Caudill was waiting for them.
Caudill punched Officer Bell numerous times in the head as the officers attempted to
restrain him. Caudill continued to punch and kick Officer Bell until Caudill was finally
subdued with the use of pepper spray.
During the jury trial, Caudill claimed that he had blacked out and could not recall
the incident. Caudill was convicted of battery resulting in bodily injury, a Class D
felony. During sentencing, Caudill expressed remorse and apologized for what he had
done. He was sentenced to a thirty-month term of imprisonment to be served
consecutively to a sentence in another cause and a sentence arising out of a probation
violation. Caudill now appeals the thirty-month sentence. Additional facts will be
provided as necessary.
2 Discussion and Decision
I. Standard of Review
This court has the authority to revise a sentence “if, after due consideration of the
trial court’s decision, the Court finds 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” portion of inappropriate sentence review concerns the advisory
sentence for the class of crimes to which the offense belongs; therefore, the advisory
sentence is the starting point in our sentence review. Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d
482, 494 (Ind. 2007), clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 218 (Ind. 2007). The “character of
the offender” portion of the sentence review involves consideration of the aggravating
and mitigating circumstances and general considerations. Clara v. State, 899 N.E.2d 733,
736 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). Whether a sentence is inappropriate ultimately turns on “the
culpability of the defendant, the severity of the crime, the damage done to others, and
myriad other factors that come to light in a given case.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d
1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008). The defendant bears the burden of persuading this court that his
or her sentence is inappropriate. Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080 (Ind. 2006).
II. Caudill’s Sentence
The sentencing range for a Class D felony is between six months and three years
imprisonment, with an advisory sentence of one and one-half years. Ind. Code § 35-50-
2-7(a). The trial court imposed a thirty-month, or two and one-half years, sentence1 on
1 The parties refer to Caudill’s thirty-month sentence as an “enhanced sentence.” Even though it is above the advisory sentence, it is not an “enhanced sentence.” See Marbley-El v. State, 929 N.E.2d 194, 195 (Ind. 2010) (a sentence at the high end of the statutory range for a crime is not an “enhanced sentence” because a court may impose any sentence within the range under the present “advisory” sentencing scheme). 3 Caudill, which he argues is inappropriate in light of the nature of his offense and
character. We disagree.
With regard to the nature of the offense, Caudill argues that it did not warrant his
sentence because the incident was brief, no other inmates were involved, he was
restrained quickly, and he apologized for his actions. However, the evidence indicates
that Caudill punched and kicked Officer Bell numerous times in the head and chest.
Caudill resisted all attempts at being restrained until Officer Bell sprayed pepper spray on
his face. Further, Officer Bell suffered pain, sustained multiple lacerations to his head as
well as a concussion, and was unable to return to work for a week. Caudill’s behavior
and Officer Bell’s injuries were well beyond those required to prove battery causing
bodily injury. See Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1(a) (“A person who knowingly or intentionally
touches another person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner commits battery . . . .”); Ind.
Code § 35-31.5-2-29 (“’Bodily injury’ means any impairment of physical condition,
including physical pain.”).
With regard to Caudill’s character, he had a history of delinquent behavior as a
juvenile, five misdemeanor convictions, and one felony conviction prior to the conviction
in this case. He also had two probation violations and was on probation when he
committed the current crime, leading to a third probation violation. Thus, prior attempts
to rehabilitate Caudill from unlawful conduct have failed. He argues, however, that his
history of mental health issues along with the fact that he showed remorse and apologized
for his actions numerous times renders his sentence inappropriate. The trial court took
both Caudill’s mental health history and his apologies into account and stated the
following at sentencing: 4 I will tell you, Mr. Caudill, that had you not expressed remorse for your conduct, and had you not been suffering from a mental illness, I would have been compelled to sentence you to the full three years available. Since you do suffer from either a mental illness or an emotional disorder, I’m not entirely sure which based on the information I have, I – and since you have apologized to your victim, the officer, I’m willing to reduce that sentence to 30 months as opposed to 36 months.
Transcript at 277.
With regard to mental illness as a mitigating factor at sentencing, our supreme
court has identified four factors to consider: “(1) the extent of the defendant’s inability to
control his or her behavior due to the disorder or impairment; (2) overall limitations on
functioning; (3) the duration of the mental illness; and (4) the extent of any nexus
between the disorder or impairment and the commission of the crime.” Weeks v. State,
697 N.E.2d 28, 30 (Ind. 1998). Here, the evidence indicates that Caudill has a history of
mental illness going back to the year 2000. He has had several suicide attempts and
several hospitalizations for psychiatric treatment. However, the extent of his ability to
control his behavior and the nexus between the disorder and his crime are unclear. His
hospitalizations date back to 2003, 2005, and 2006. During his last psychiatric evaluation
in 2010, it was noted that “[h]e seems to have some good insight. Judgment is possibly
somewhat immature, but seems fairly good and sound . . . . There is no evidence of
psychotic symptoms at this time.” State’s Exhibit 1 from Sentencing at 4.
In sum, although Caudill suffers from mental health problems, he has not met his
burden of convincing us that we should take this factor into account any more than the
trial court already has. And while we commend Caudill for showing remorse and
apologizing to Officer Bell, his sentence, higher than the advisory sentence but lower
5 than the maximum, is not inappropriate in light of the nature of his offense and his
character.
Conclusion
Caudill’s sentence is not inappropriate in light of the nature of his offense and
character. His sentence is therefore affirmed.
Affirmed.
FRIEDLANDER, J., and CRONE, J., concur.