Opinion ID: 853117
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Intoxication as a Mitigating Circumstance

Text: The defendant also contends that the trial court failed to accord weight to the mitigating circumstance that the defendant was intoxicated at the time of the crime. Sentencing decisions rest within the discretion of the trial court, and are reviewed on appeal only for an abuse of discretion. Monegan v. State, 756 N.E.2d 499, 501 (Ind.2001). A trial court need not regard or weigh a possible mitigating circumstance the same as urged by the defendant. Id. at 504. The trial court's sentencing order expressly addressed the defendant's claim of intoxication as a mitigating circumstance: Although the defendant did not testify as to his degree of impairment or intoxication, if any, the court does note, however, that the defendant and his co-defendants had been consuming alcohol and cocaine when this offense took place. In reviewing the evidence presented, this fact neither rises to a defense nor, given the apparent ease with which the crime was committed and the fact that the defendant carried out his intent indicates any level of impaired thinking, beyond that testified to by Dr. Hudson. Accordingly, the court gives no weight to this as an aggravating factor. Appellant's Appendix at 426. The trial court's explanation demonstrates that this mitigating circumstance was carefully considered. We decline to find an abuse of discretion in the court's decision not to give weight to this proposed mitigating circumstance.