Williams v. State

417 N.E.2d 328, 275 Ind. 434
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 11, 1981
Docket1179 S 325
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 417 N.E.2d 328 (Williams v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Williams v. State, 417 N.E.2d 328, 275 Ind. 434 (Ind. 1981).

Opinion

PRENTICE, Justice.

Defendant (Appellant) was convicted in a jury trial of Burglary, a Class B Felony, Ind.Code § 35-43-2-1 (Burns 1979), Robbery, also a Class B Felony, Ind.Code § 35-42-5-1 (Burns 1979), and Rape, a Class A Felony, Ind.Code § 35-42-4-1 (Burns 1979). He was sentenced to twenty (20) years imprisonment on the Burglary conviction, ten (10) years imprisonment on the Robbery conviction and forty (40) years imprisonment on the Rape conviction. The sentences for Burglary and Rape were to run consecutively, while the sentence for Robbery was to run concurrently.

This direct appeal presents the following issues:

(1) Whether the trial court erred in denying the defendant’s motion for bond reduction;

(2) Whether the trial court erred in denying the defendant’s motion for additional discovery;

(3) Whether the trial court erred in granting the State’s motion for a protective order;

(4) Whether the trial court erred in refusing to order the divulgence of an “informant’s” identity;

(5) Whether the trial court erred in granting the State’s motion in limine;

(6) Whether the trial court erred in denying the defendant’s challenge to one of the jurors for cause;

(7) Whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence of Defendant’s other criminal activities;

(8) Whether the trial court erred in denying the defendant’s motion for judgment on the evidence; and

(9) Whether the sentences upon the Burglary and Rape convictions were excessive and unreasonable.

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ISSUE I

On February 2, 1979, an information was filed against the defendant and bond was set at $110,000, in accordance with the Marion County bond schedule. The defendant moved to reduce his bond on February 6 and a hearing was held upon that motion the next day. It was determined at the hearing to reduce the bond to $20,000, and the defendant also entered a plea of not guilty. Thereafter, Defendant posted bond and was released.

On March 7, the defendant’s trial was set for June 4.

On March 22, Judge Daugherty ordered a hearing for March 30 for reconsideration of the previous reduction in bond. The defendant opposed the order, and on March 29 moved for a change of judge. At the March 30 hearing, Judge Daugherty, over the defendant’s objection, premised on the Judge’s lack of jurisdiction, reset Defendant’s bond at $110,000. But, on April 2, the change of judge motion was granted, and the case was transferred to Judge Tran-berg. Defendant, thereafter, moved for a reduction in bond before Judge Tranberg, who denied the motion.

Defendant contends that the bond was excessive and that, because he was unable to meet it, his ability to aid the defense was diminished. He also argues that Judge Daugherty was without jurisdiction to increase the amount, inasmuch as a motion for a change of judge was pending.

We need not consider the defendant’s challenge to Judge Daugherty’s jurisdiction. The defendant’s motion for a change of judge was ultimately sustained and another bond reduction hearing was held before Judge Tranberg. Thus, the defendant had the amount of his bond considered upon its merits and determined by a judge, who, without question, possessed jurisdiction. The matter lay within his sound discretion. See Hughes v. Sheriff, (1978) 268 Ind. 21, 373 N.E.2d 144. See also Vacendak v. State, (1973) 261 Ind. 317, 302 N.E.2d 779.

*331 ISSUES II & III

The defendant was originally charged with two rapes, which were two of six recent incidents known as the “southside” rapes. The defendant sought and received complete discovery as to the two rapes with which he was charged. However, on March 26, 1979, he moved for additional discovery with regard to the other four rapes. Specifically, he sought all the reports made by the Indianapolis Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, the Indiana State Police Department and the Marion County Prosecutor’s office with reference to the other four rapes. The State opposed the motion and moved for a protective order. The trial court held a hearing on the matter on May 10, 1979 and denied the defendant’s motion.

The defendant now contends that the trial court erred in denying the motion. He asserts that the information sought was material to the defense, because if it could have been shown that the other four rapes were committed by someone other than the defendant, then it was less likely that he committed the two rapes with which he was originally charged. The defendant also contends, for the same reason, that the trial court erred in granting the State’s motion for a protective order.

We have assiduously combed the record in an attempt to determine whether the trial court granted the State a protective order. While our attempt was futile, we perceive the trial court’s denial of the defendant’s motion for additional discovery to be tantamount to a granting of a protective order. Accordingly, the two issues have been merged.

The scope of criminal discovery generally lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. Vaughn v. State, (1978) 269 Ind. 142, 378 N.E.2d 859. Discovery will normally be afforded when the defendant (1) sufficiently designates the items he seeks, and (2) demonstrates the materiality of those items, unless the State establishes a paramount interest in non-disclosure. E. g., Brandon v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 150, 374 N.E.2d 504. In the instant case, we have not been persuaded that there is any basis for a substantial belief that the information would have been beneficial to the defense. Moreover, the interest of the State in maintaining confidentiality with respect to an on-going police investigation is self-evident. Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the defendant’s motion for additional discovery.

ISSUE IV

The defendant next assigns error to the trial court’s refusal to compel the disclosure of an “informant’s” identity. The “informant” had contacted the police and told them that the defendant may have been involved in the “southside” rapes. The police responded by including the defendant’s photograph in a photographic array displayed to three of the rape victims, two of whom selected the defendant’s picture as depicting one of their assailants. Defendant contends that the “informant’s” identity was necessary for investigative purposes, with a view toward a potential motion to suppress the identifications. We do not agree.

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Bluebook (online)
417 N.E.2d 328, 275 Ind. 434, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/williams-v-state-ind-1981.