FOR PUBLICATION

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:

MARK I. COX GREGORY F. ZOELLER

The Mark I. Cox Law Office, LLC Attorney General of Indiana

Richmond, Indiana

ERIC P. BABBS

Deputy Attorney General

Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE

COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

KIMBERLY A. PIEPER, )

)

Appellant-Defendant, )

)

vs. ) No. 89A01-1110-CR-482

)

STATE OF INDIANA, )

)

Appellee-Plaintiff. )

APPEAL FROM THE WAYNE CIRCUIT COURT

The Honorable David A. Kolger, Judge

Cause No. 89C01-0909-FD-108

 

March 29, 2012

OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION

BAILEY, Judge
2

Case Summary

Kimberly A. Pieper (“Pieper”) was convicted by a jury of Neglect of a Dependent, a 

Class D felony,1and Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated, in a Manner that 

Endangers a Person, a Class A misdemeanor;2she admitted her status as a habitual substance 

offender.3 She now attempts to challenge the habitual substance offender adjudication, 

claiming that her pre-trial motion to dismiss should have been granted because the habitual 

substance offender allegation was untimely.4 We dismiss.

Facts and Procedural History

On September 9, 2009, the State charged Pieper with Neglect of a Dependent, and 

Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated, in a Manner that Endangers a Person, and also 

alleged her to be a habitual offender.5 The trial court set an omnibus date of November 9, 

2009. On March 16, 2010, the parties entered into a plea agreement. On May 10, 2010, 

Pieper withdrew from the agreement. Three days later, on May 13, 2010, the State filed an 

allegation that Pieper is a habitual substance offender.

On June 14, 2010, Pieper filed a motion to dismiss the habitual substance offender 

allegation as untimely.6 The State responded that it had good cause for filing the allegation 

later than ten days after the omnibus date, because plea negotiations had been ongoing. The 

 

1

Ind. Code § 35-46-1-4(a)(1).

2

Ind. Code § 9-30-5-2(b).

3

Ind. Code § 35-50-2-10.

4

She does not challenge her convictions entered upon the jury verdicts. 

5

Ind. Code § 35-50-2-8.

6

Indiana Code Section 35-34-1-5 requires that an amendment of an indictment or information to include a 

habitual offender allegation must be filed not later than ten days after the omnibus date; however, upon good 

cause, the court may permit the filing any time before the commencement of trial.
3

trial court conducted a hearing on October 18, 2010. On October 22, 2010, the trial court 

denied the motion to dismiss. Each of the parties requested continuances.

On August 29, 2011, Pieper’s jury trial was conducted, and she was found guilty of 

both charges against her. She then admitted her status as a habitual substance offender. She 

received a two-year sentence for Neglect of a Dependent and a one-year concurrent sentence 

for the Operating While Intoxicated offense. The latter was enhanced by five years, due to 

Pieper’s status as a habitual substance offender. Accordingly, Pieper’s aggregate sentence is 

six years. She now appeals. 

Discussion and Decision

Following her jury trial, Pieper communicated her intention to admit to the habitual 

substance offender allegation. Outside the presence of the jury, the trial court informed 

Pieper of the consequences of her plea, including the waiver of the right to appeal the 

habitual substance offender adjudication. Pieper indicated that she understood the 

advisements, admitted that a factual basis existed to support the habitual substance offender 

allegation, and then admitted her status as a habitual substance offender.

In Tumulty v. State, 666 N.E.2d 394 (Ind. 1996), a defendant charged with multiple 

offenses and alleged to be a habitual offender pled guilty to all charges but then appealed the 

acceptance of the plea. Our Indiana Supreme Court observed that “the plea as a legal act 

brings to a close the dispute between the parties” and held that Tumulty was prohibited from 

bringing his claim on direct appeal. Id. at 396. Following the trial court’s acceptance of a 

guilty plea, “a defendant is entitled to contest the merits of a trial court’s sentencing 
4

discretion,” but otherwise a petition for post-conviction relief is the appropriate vehicle for 

pursuing claims. Id.

Here, Pieper admitted to the habitual substance offender allegation. She does not 

challenge an exercise of the trial court’s sentencing discretion, but rather requests that we 

vacate the adjudication entered upon her admission and vacate the sentence enhancement in 

its entirety. The basis upon which she seeks to have the adjudication vacated is her 

contention that the trial court erred in its pre-trial ruling that the State’s late filing of the 

habitual substance offender allegation was supported by good cause.

However, Pieper may not challenge the acceptance of her plea on direct appeal. See

id. at 394. Moreover, she may not challenge the trial court’s ruling on a pre-trial motion. 

One who pleads guilty “cannot benefit from both the advantages of pleading guilty and the 

right to raise allegations of error with respect to pre-trial rulings; these rights are relinquished 

once defendants decide against facing an uncertain outcome at trial.” Alvey v. State, 911 

N.E.2d 1248, 1251 (Ind. 2009).

A direct appeal is not the appropriate vehicle for seeking to vacate an adjudication as a 

result of a guilty plea. Therefore, we dismiss the appeal.

Dismissed.

ROBB, C.J., and MATHIAS, J., concur.