Opinion ID: 2023701
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Motion for Directed Verdict on Habitual Offender Charge

Text: The defendant also contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for directed verdict filed before the commencement of his second habitual offender phase trial. The motion, denominated as a Motion for Directed Verdict of Not Guilty on Count III, Habitual Offender, asserted that there was no evidence that he was convicted of a Kentucky felony, and requested the trial court, sitting as a 13th juror, to direct a verdict of not guilty, citing both Trial Rules 59(J)(7) and 50(A)(6). Record at 612. He claims that no evidence was presented to support the required finding that a conviction from Kentucky was a felony as required by the habitual offender statute. A trial court may enter judgment under Trial Rule 59(J)(7) upon determination that a jury verdict is clearly erroneous as contrary to or not supported by the evidence. State v. Kleman, 503 N.E.2d 895, 896 (Ind. 1987). However, because the first habitual offender phase jury did not reach a verdict, the relief sought under Rule 59(J)(7) was not available to the defendant. Pursuant to Trial Rule 50, a judgment on the evidence is properly granted only where there is a total absence of evidence on some essential issue or where the evidence is without conflict and susceptible to only one inference and that inference is in favor of the defendant. Ind.Trial Rule 50(A); Lowery v. State, 547 N.E.2d 1046, 1051 (Ind. 1989); Proctor v. State, 272 Ind. 357, 360, 397 N.E.2d 980, 983 (1979). Our habitual offender statute requires proof of two prior unrelated felonies in order to warrant a finding that the defendant is a habitual offender. IND.CODE § 35-50-2-8 (1993). A felony conviction is defined as a conviction, in any jurisdiction at any time, with respect to which the convicted person might have been imprisoned for more than one (1) year. IND.CODE § 35-50-2-1(b) (1993). It is the length of the term of imprisonment that is important, not whether the crime is classified by the other jurisdiction as a felony or misdemeanor. Beach v. State, 496 N.E.2d 43, 45 (Ind.1986). Here there was not a total absence of evidence. The record reveals that evidence was presented to the trial court of the indictment and judgment of conviction pursuant to a guilty plea in the Circuit Court of Kenton County, Kentucky. The indictment refers to the statute under which the defendant was charged and convicted. KY.REV.STAT.ANN. § 527.040 (Michie 1990). The trial court took judicial notice of the law of Kentucky under Indiana Evidence Rule 201(b). The Kentucky statute in force provided that a conviction for possession of a handgun by a convicted felon is classified as a D felony. Although not discussed at trial, we now take judicial notice [3] that the sentence for a D felony at that time was not less than one nor more than five years. KY.REV.STAT.ANN. § 532.060 (Michie 1990). This meets the definition of a felony under our habitual offender statute and, thus, the trial court properly denied the defendant's motion for directed verdict.