Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-205 | August 19, 2020 Page 1 of 11

MEMORANDUM DECISION

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.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Christopher Taylor-Price

Marion County Public Defender Agency

Indianapolis, Indiana

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Curtis T. Hill, Jr.

Attorney General of Indiana

Josiah Swinney

Deputy Attorney General

Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE

COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Kenneth Gregory Hudgins,

Appellant-Defendant,

v.

State of Indiana,

Appellee-Plaintiff.

August 19, 2020

Court of Appeals Case No.

20A-CR-205

Appeal from the Marion Superior 

Court

The Honorable Christina R. 

Klineman, Judge

The Honorable Marshelle Dawkins 

Broadwell, Magistrate

Trial Court Cause Nos.

49G17-1906-F6-22909

49G17-1906-F6-23116

Najam, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-CR-205 | August 19, 2020 Page 2 of 11

Statement of the Case

[1] The State charged Kenneth Hudgins with various crimes in two causes numbers 

based on offenses Hudgins had allegedly committed at two locations on the 

same date. The State then moved to have the two causes joined for trial, which 

motion the trial court granted. Hudgins now appeals his convictions following 

a jury trial for criminal recklessness, as a Level 6 felony; resisting law 

enforcement, as a Level 6 felony; intimidation, as a Level 6 felony; battery on a 

public safety official, as a Level 6 felony; two counts of battery by bodily waste, 

as Level 6 felonies; domestic battery, as a Class A misdemeanor; and criminal 

mischief, as a Class B misdemeanor. 

[2] Hudgins raises one issue for our review, namely, whether the trial court abused 

its discretion when it granted the State’s motion to join the two causes for trial. 

We also address sua sponte whether the trial court’s written sentencing order 

erroneously describes one of Hudgins’ convictions. We affirm and remand with 

instructions. 

Facts and Procedural History

[3] On the morning of June 9, 2019, Hudgins and his girlfriend, Katrina Henton, 

were at Henton’s home discussing whether they were going to help Hudgins’ 

brother move. Henton initially agreed to help, but she later changed her mind.

Hudgins got “upset” and hit Henton in her “face and [her] ear.” Tr. Vol. II at 

122, 123. As a result, Henton fell and hit her head on the wall. Henton said 

that she was going to call 9-1-1, but Hudgins took her phone and broke it. 
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Hudgins then left, and Henton went to her neighbor’s house to call 9-1-1. 

Medics arrived and treated Henton’s injuries. While she was being treated, 

Hudgins returned to the house. Henton remained in the ambulance while she 

waited for officers to arrive. 

[4] Officers Michael Harmon, Jaqueline Piekarz, and John Lyn with the 

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (“IMPD”) arrived at the scene at 

7:44 a.m. Officer Harmon observed that Henton was “shaking” and “clearly 

upset.” Id. at 101. Based on the conversation that the officers had had with 

Henton, they attempted to speak with Hudgins. The officers knocked on the 

door, but they did not get a response. The officers then retrieved the house key 

from Henton. As they started to unlock the door, Hudgins began yelling that 

he had knives and that he “was going to kill” the officers if they entered the 

house. Id. at 145. Officer Harmon then called for backup, and several 

additional officers arrived.

[5] Hudgins continued to refuse to leave the house. So officers informed Hudgins 

that they were going to call a SWAT Team. At that point, Hudgins, holding a 

knife, exited the house and ran toward Officer Lyn. Officers instructed 

Hudgins to stop and drop the knife, but he refused. Hudgins then “slipped” and 

fell to the ground. Id. at 109. But he got back up and continued running 

toward Officer Lyn with the knife. Out of concern for his safety, Officer Lyn 

tased Hudgins. Hudgins then fell onto his stomach with the knife underneath 

him. Officer Lyn instructed Hudgins to show his hands, but Hudgins refused. 

Instead, Hudgins “curled up” and put his hands under his body. Id. at 187. 
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Officer Lyn was concerned that Hudgins may be reaching for the knife, so he

tased Hudgins again. Officers were still unable to restrain Hudgins, so Officer 

Lyn tased Hudgins a third time. Officers were ultimately able to restrain 

Hudgins. They then called for medics to make sure that Hudgins was not 

injured from either of the falls or from the taser. 

[6] When the medics arrived, officers and medics moved Hudgins to a gurney so 

that he could be transported to the hospital. Hudgins became “very aggressive” 

toward the medics and tried to bite them. Id. at 192. He then spat at the 

medics, so officers put a “spit mask” over his face. Id. at 115. Hudgins also 

threatened to kill the officers “several times,” and he made “vulgar threats” 

toward Officer Piekarz. Id. Medics ultimately transported Hudgins to Eskenazi 

hospital, and Officer Lyn followed along “for the safety of the medical crew.” 

Id. at 193. 

[7] Hudgins arrived at the hospital at approximately 11:00 a.m. When he arrived,

Marion County Sheriff Deputy Michael Winston observed that Hudgins was 

“double-cuffed,” which usually happens when a person is “out of control.” Id. 

Based on what officers had told Deputy Winston about Hudgins’ actions at 

Henton’s house, Deputy Winston moved Hudgins from the holding room into 

a private room. 

[8] Deputy Winston left Hudgins’ room “to do a round” and check on the other 

patients who were detained. Id. at 226. When he returned, Hudgins was no 

longer in his room. The nurse had moved him to a “shock room” because his 
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oxygen saturation levels were low. Id. at 244. Hudgins remained in the shock 

room for ten to fifteen minutes. 

[9] When he came back to his room, Hudgins was “agitated.” Id. at 237. He 

began yelling, and he threatened “to throw urine” on a nurse. Id. at 228. 

Hudgins then tore the medical leads off of his body and put them in his mouth. 

Deputy Winston and Marion County Sheriff Deputy Ernest Wesley entered 

Hudgins’ room and attempted to remove the leads from Hudgins’ mouth. At 

that point, Hudgins kicked Deputy Winston “square in the chest.” Id. at 229. 

Hudgins then kicked Deputy Winston a second time in the stomach. And 

Hudgins spit a mixture of “saliva and blood” at both Deputy Winston and 

Deputy Wesley. Id. at 232. 

[10] On June 10, the State charged Hudgins with one count of battery against a 

public safety official, as a Level 6 felony, and two counts of battery by bodily 

waste, as Level 6 felonies, in Cause Number 49G18-1906-F6-22909 based on 

Hudgins’ actions at the hospital (“the hospital case”). And, on June 11, the 

State charged Hudgins with resisting law enforcement, as a Level 6 felony; 

criminal recklessness, as a Level 6 felony; intimidation, as a Level 6 felony; 

domestic battery, as a Class A misdemeanor; battery, as a Class A 

misdemeanor; resisting law enforcement, as a Class A misdemeanor; 

interference with the reporting of a crime, as a Class A misdemeanor; and 

criminal mischief, as a Class B misdemeanor, in Cause Number 49G17-1906-

F6-23116 based on Hudgins’ actions at Henton’s house (“the house case”). 
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[11] Thereafter, the State filed a motion for joinder in which it requested that the

hospital case and the house case be joined for trial. The State specifically 

asserted that “[b]oth cases allege incidents that happened on June 9th, 2019” 

and that the offenses were “a series of continuous events, one leading into the 

other[,] which makes this one common scheme or plan.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 

II at 130. 

[12] The trial court held a hearing on the State’s motion on November 14, 2019. At 

the hearing, the State reiterated its argument that the offenses were “part of the 

same . . . series of acts.” Tr. Vol. II at 4. In response, Hudgins agreed that 

“there are some circumstances that link” the two offenses and that “they are 

closely related in time.” Id. at 7. But Hudgins objected to having the two 

causes joined for trial because “there’s no overlap in witnesses [and] there are 

no overlaps in facts that would determine one . . . way or another whether or 

not this did or did not happen.” Id. He also asserted that the “sole purpose” of 

joining the house case to the hospital case would be to introduce evidence of a 

prior bad act, which would be prejudicial to him. Id. Following the hearing, 

the court granted the State’s motion for joinder. 

[13] Prior to Hudgins’ trial, the State dismissed the charge for resisting law 

enforcement, as a Class A misdemeanor. Following a jury trial, the jury found 

Hudgins not guilty of interference with the reporting of a crime, as a Class A 

misdemeanor, but found him guilty of the remaining charges. The trial court 

entered judgment of conviction accordingly but later vacated his conviction for 

battery, as a Class A misdemeanor, due to double jeopardy concerns. The court 
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then sentenced Hudgins to an aggregate sentence of six and one-half years, with

four and one-half years executed and two years suspended. This appeal ensued. 

Discussion and Decision

[14] Hudgins contends that the trial court erred when it granted the State’s motion 

to join the two causes for trial. Pursuant to Indiana Code Section 35-34-1-9(a), 

two or more offenses may properly be joined in the same information if they 

“(1) are of the same or similar character, even if not part of a single scheme or 

plan; or (2) are based on the same conduct or on a series of acts connected 

together or constituting parts of a single scheme or plan.” Ind. Code § 35-34-1-

9(a) (2020). Where, as here, offenses have been joined under subsection (a)(2) 

because the underlying acts are so connected together, we review a trial court’s 

ruling for an abuse of discretion. See Ennik v. State, 40 N.E.3d 868, 875 (Ind. Ct. 

App. 2015), trans. denied. An abuse of discretion occurs where the decision is 

clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances or when the 

trial court has misinterpreted the law. State v. Dixon, 924 N.E.2d 1270, 1271 

(Ind. Ct. App. 2010). 

[15] As an initial matter, we note that, while Hudgins objected to the State’s motion 

for joinder, he did not file a motion for severance. Once the State’s motion for 

joinder was granted over Hudgins’ objection, “proper procedure required him 

to file a motion for severance.” Ennick, 40 N.E.3d at 875; see also I.C. § 35-24-1-

12(a) (stating that a motion for severance must be made before trial or by the 

close of the evidence if based on a ground not previously known and that the 
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right to severance is waived by failing to file a motion at the appropriate time). 

Because Hudgins failed to file a motion for severance, we conclude that he has 

waived this issue for our review. See Ennik, 40 N.E.3d at 875.

[16] Waiver notwithstanding, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion 

when it granted the State’s motion for joinder. As discussed above, the State 

moved to join the hospital case and the house case because the two offenses 

were based on the same conduct or on a series of acts connected together or 

constituting a single plan or scheme. See I.C. § 35-34-1-9(a)(2). To determine 

whether offenses warrant joinder under subsection (a)(2), we ask whether the 

operative facts establish a pattern of activity beyond mere satisfaction of the 

statutory elements. Ennik, 40 N.E.3d at 876. Joinder under that subsection 

“may be justified ‘if the State can establish that a common modus operandi linked 

the crimes and that the same motive induced that criminal behavior.’” Id. 

(quoting Craig v. State, 730 N.E.2d 1262, 1265 (Ind. 2000)). 

[17] On appeal, Hudgins asserts that the court abused its discretion when it granted 

the State’s motion for joinder because the hospital case occurred after Hudgins 

was arrested for the house case, the two offenses occurred in different locations, 

there was “no overlap” between witnesses, and each case had “separate and 

distinct” victims. Appellant’s Br. at 16. He also asserts that the cases were not 

connected because “the means used [to commit the offenses] in the house case 

was a knife, words, and Hudgins’ hand, whereas in the hospital the means were 

spit and Hudgins’ foot.” Id. at 17. 
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[18] However, during both offenses, Hudgins repeatedly targeted public servants. 

Indeed, at Henton’s home, Hudgins ran toward Officer Lyn with a knife. Even 

after Officer Lyn had tased Hudgins, which caused Hudgins to fall, Hudgins 

continued to reach under his body toward the knife. Then, after officers 

detained Hudgins, they called for medics to ensure that Hudgins did not sustain 

any injuries as a result of either of the falls or the taser. Once medics arrived, 

Hudgins became “very aggressive” and tried to bite them. Tr. Vol. II at 192. 

He then spat at the medics, and he threatened to kill the officers. 

[19] Medics then transported Hudgins to the hospital where he continued to attack 

public servants. Indeed, Officer Lyn followed Hudgins to the hospital “for the 

safety of the medical crew.” Id. at 193. At the hospital, Hudgins continued to 

target officers. Specifically, Hudgins kicked Deputy Winston twice, and he spat 

a mixture of saliva and blood at both Deputy Winton and Deputy Wesley. In 

other words, at both locations, Hudgins both spat at public servants and either 

threatened or committed acts of violence against officers. And all offenses 

happened within a short period of time on the same day.

[20] Because Hudgins spat on medics at Henton’s home and on officers at the 

hospital, the State has established that a common modus operandi linked the two 

offenses. And because Hudgins repeatedly targeted public servants at both 

locations, the State has established that the same motive induced his criminal 

behavior. Accordingly, joinder of the two offenses was justified. See Ennick, 40 

N.E.3d at 876. 
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[21] Moreover, while the State charged Hudgins with eleven offenses, one of which 

was dismissed prior to trial, the nature of those charges and the evidence 

presented were not overly complex. See Grimes v. State, 84 N.E.3d 635, 642 

(Ind. Ct. App. 2017). Much of the evidence consisted of the officers’ 

testimonies, which was straightforward and easy to understand. And Hudgins 

does not make any claim that the jury was unable to distinguish the evidence 

that applied to the hospital case from the evidence that applied to the house 

case. See id. For all of those reasons, we hold that the trial court did not abuse 

its discretion when it joined the two offenses for trial. We therefore affirm 

Hudgins’ convictions.

[22] However, while we affirm Hudgins’ convictions, we note that there is a 

discrepancy between the written sentencing order and the parties’ recitations of 

Hudgins’ convictions. The parties both describe Hudgins’ conviction for 

domestic battery as a Class A misdemeanor, which is consistent with the jury 

verdicts and the court’s oral judgment of conviction at the sentencing hearing. 

See Tr. Vol. III at 68. But the written sentencing order describes his conviction 

for that count as a Level 6 felony. See Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 24. While the 

State had initially filed a notice of its intent to prove an enhancement that

would elevate the domestic battery offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a 

Level 6 felony, the State ultimately informed the court that it would not pursue 

that enhancement. We therefore remand with instructions for the court to 

correct the written sentencing order to reflect Hudgins’ domestic battery 

conviction as a Class A misdemeanor. 
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[23] In sum, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it granted the State’s 

motion for joinder. As such, we affirm Hudgins’ convictions, but we remand 

with instructions for the court to correct its written sentencing order. 

[24] Affirmed and remanded with instructions. 

Bradford, C.J., and Mathias, J., concur.