Opinion ID: 2198338
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Sufficiency of Evidence Supporting Penalty

Text: The defendant contends that the death sentence is not supported by sufficient evidence of the charged aggravator and that it is manifestly unreasonable in light of the significantly lesser penalties given to Wesley Young and David Young. The latter claim was addressed and resolved against the defendant in the preceding discussion. The sole charged aggravating circumstance was the intentional killing while committing burglary. The defendant argues that there was insufficient evidence to prove the breaking element needed to establish burglary. In order to establish that a breaking has occurred, the State need only introduce evidence from which the trier of fact could reasonably infer that the slightest force was used to gain unauthorized entry. England v. State (1988), Ind., 530 N.E.2d 100; Trice v. State (1986), Ind., 490 N.E.2d 757. As noted previously, the events of the crime began on the exterior back porch of Donna Denney's home. The doorway to the porch consisted of a primary inside wooden door and an outside metal screen door. Although conclusive evidence is lacking, the metal door appears to be equipped with a closure device. Exhibit 36, Record at 2980. In addition, in Exhibit 43, a photograph taken after the crime by police to show blood stains, the metal screen door is shown propped open with a rock. Record at 2987. The evidence regarding the entry into the home came from the testimony of Wesley Young. When Wesley and the defendant pulled into the Denney driveway and exited the vehicle, the back porch light came on and the victim came out onto the porch where they talked for several minutes. When asked what the defendant said before attacking the victim, Wesley replied: He asked if he could go and use the bathroom. He wanted to get inside the house and I guess she saw through him kind of and she wouldn't let him in the house. She told him he could go behind the garage. Record at 4014. The defendant then went off towards the garage, returning shortly thereafter. Minutes later, he began the attack on the victim. Then, stating that he believed her to be dead, the defendant told Wesley, I'm going to go in and make it look like a burglary. Record at 4024. Both the defendant and Wesley entered the home. The defendant went in first. Record at 4027. Wesley admitted that they did not have permission to enter the house. Record at 4027-28. We find that the evidence was sufficient to permit the jury to reasonably infer beyond a reasonable doubt the necessary breaking element in burglary, as included in the charged aggravating circumstance for the death penalty.