Opinion ID: 2140929
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Even if available, an intoxication defense would have failed.

Text: The postconviction court, without considering whether Van Cleave could have asserted an intoxication defense, concluded that [o]n the night of the offense, [Van Cleave's] intoxication would have precluded his ability to form the conscious intent to rob or kill. Even assuming an intoxication defense would have been available, this finding is clear error. Had he gone to trial, Van Cleave would not have obtained a jury instruction on voluntary intoxication, much less an acquittal on these grounds. Under Indiana law, an intoxication instruction should be given only where the evidence relevant to the defense, if believed, was such that it could have created a reasonable doubt in the jury's mind that the accused had acted with the requisite mental state or specific intent. Morrison v. State, 462 N.E.2d 72, 74 (Ind.1984). As commentators have noted, Terry was a somewhat illusory victory for defendants because the reasonable doubt standard for the intoxication instruction is not an easy threshold to meet. See Voluntary Intoxication, supra note 14. In construing the statute that allows for the intoxication defense, we have held that the degree of intoxication is immaterial so long as the accused was still able to form the mens rea required for the crime. See, e.g., Ferguson v. State, 594 N.E.2d 790, 792 (Ind.1992). As we have reiterated in oft-quoted language, [e]vidence that shows a defendant was not so intoxicated so that he could indeed form the requisite mens rea includes such things as his ability to devise a plan, operate equipment, instruct the behavior of others, or carry out acts requiring physical skill. Owens v. State, 659 N.E.2d 466, 473 (Ind.1995), reh'g denied (citing Terry ) (internal quotation marks omitted). Van Cleave's intoxication clearly did not preclude him from forming the intent required for felony murder in this case. Felony murder occurs when the defendant kills another human being while committing, or attempting to commit, one of several felonies enumerated by statute, including attempted robbery, the underlying crime here. IND. CODE § 35-42-1-1(2) (1982). [18] Thus, to convict Van Cleave of felony murder, the State would have had to prove: (1) an attempt to rob; and (2) a death in the course of the attempted robbery. No doubt exists as to the latter element. As Van Cleave himself testified, Robert Falkner was killed as Van Cleave and Sims approached Falkner to demand the television set. In contrast to the intent discussed above as a death penalty aggravating factor, Van Cleave's only relevant state of mind here is that necessary for attempted robbery. One of the most disputed factual issues in this case is whether Van Cleave intended to kill or shoot Falkner. However, this question is unrelated to Van Cleave's culpability for felony murder. The evidence needs to show only that Van Cleave intended to commit the underlying felony. Intent to kill is relevant at the penalty phase as a potential aggravating circumstance. IND.CODE § 35-50-2-9(b)(1) (1982). The crime of attempt occurs when the defendant, acting with the mens rea required for commission of a particular crime, takes a substantial step towards carrying out that crime. IND.CODE § 35-41-5-1 (1982). Robbery occurs when the defendant knowingly or intentionally takes property from another by using or threatening to use force, or by putting the victim in fear. IND.CODE § 35-42-5-1 (1982). The evidence in this case unequivocally shows that on the night of October 19, 1982 Van Cleave knowingly, if not intentionally, attempted to take property from Falkner by using or threatening to use force, or by putting Falkner in fear. What constitutes a substantial step depends on the facts of the particular case, but this requirement is a minimal one, often defined as any overt act in furtherance of the crime. Jones v. State, 523 N.E.2d 750, 752 (Ind.1988). In approaching Falkner with a shotgun, Van Cleave was far over the threshold of taking a substantial step towards committing robbery. Indeed, defendants have been convicted of attempted robbery on much flimsier facts. Cf. Hampton v. State, 468 N.E.2d 1077 (Ind.Ct.App.1984) (defendant who was found wearing ski mask outside restaurant, but who did not enter restaurant or accost employees, took substantial step towards committing robbery). Armed with their loaded weapons, Van Cleave and Sims told Falkner to shut up, and in so doing put Falkner in fear. The television set the two men planned to take lay in close proximity. In light of these facts, the substantial step requirement is easily satisfied. Van Cleave has offered nothing to question these conclusions, and in fact confirmed them at his sentencing hearing. The only remaining issue is Van Cleave's mens rea at the time of the offense. Attempted robbery requires proof that the defendant knowingly or intentionally engaged in the criminal act. [19] Conduct is intentional if the defendant had a conscious objective to do the act in question. IND. CODE § 35-41-2-2(a) (1982). Conduct is knowing if the defendant was aware of a high probability that he or she was engaging in the conduct. IND.CODE § 35-41-2-2(b) (1982). Because any defendant who intentionally robs by definition also knowingly does so, here the evidence needs to show only that Van Cleave knowingly attempted to rob Falkner. Despite Van Cleave's intoxication, there is no reasonable doubt that he was aware that he was attempting to commit robbery. Van Cleave testified in detail at the sentencing hearing about the events surrounding the robbery and disclaimed intent to kill but, most importantly, conceded his intent to rob. In looking over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching him approach Falkner, Van Cleave demonstrated knowledge of the criminality of his actions. Van Cleave had no trouble explaining how the plan was hatched to steal the television and the specific acts that were taken to carry out the robbery attempt. Van Cleave also stated that he did not get sick from alcohol that evening and never fell or tripped due to intoxication. Regardless of his blood-alcohol content, Van Cleave was able to carry out acts requiring physical skill and was also able to direct the behavior of others. Because Van Cleave's testimony showed an acute awareness of his actions related to the robbery attempt, no reasonable doubt exists that Van Cleave was capable of forming the general intent required for robbery, and in fact had formed that intent the night Falkner was killed. The postconviction court clearly erred in concluding otherwise. Our result here is consistent with prior Indiana cases in which voluntary intoxication was asserted as a defense. Indeed, defendants who would seem far better candidates for an intoxication defense have seen that effort fail. For example, in Vickers v. State, 653 N.E.2d 110 (Ind.Ct.App.1995) the defendant was convicted of resisting law enforcementa crime that also requires knowing or intentional conduct. [20] A chemical test after his arrest revealed that Vickers had a blood-alcohol content of 0.35%, more than Van Cleave's speculated 0.25% in this case. [21] And unlike Van Cleave, Vickers claimed to have had blackouts and gone in and out of consciousness at the time the offense was committed. Id. at 113. Nonetheless the Court of Appeals affirmed the bench-trial conviction, reasoning that Vickers was aware of his conduct despite his intoxicated state. Id. at 113-14. As in Vickers, Van Cleave was conscious of his actions, intoxication notwithstanding, and therefore could not have succeeded with that defense at trial. [22]