Opinion ID: 2222266
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Authentication of Documents

Text: The defendant finally contends that the finding of habitual offender resulted from improper evidence of the prior offenses. He alleges various errors in the admission of such evidence. The defendant argues that the trial court erred in admitting certain documents in the habitual offender phase because the documents were not properly authenticated pursuant to Ind. Code § 34-1-17-7. This statute provides for admission of copies of public records when they are attested as true and complete by the keeper of the records under the seal of his office. Exhibit 10 is a certified copy of the records of the Department of Corrections for inmate Harold I. Logston Jr., containing in three parts his photograph, fingerprint card and description and commitment in CR75-56D. Exhibit 11 is a certified copy of the charging information in CR79-8, charging Harold Ivan Logston Jr. with theft on January 12, 1979, and a copy of one page of the docket sheet in CR79-8, showing Harold Ivan Logston Jr. being sentenced, on September 10, 1979, to the Department of Corrections for three years. Exhibit 12 is an Indiana Reformatory information card describing Harold Ivan Logston, his photograph from the Indiana Reformatory, fingerprint card and Indiana Department of Corrections Parole Investigation Request for Harold Logston. Exhibit 13 is a certified copy of the records of the Department of Corrections for inmate Harold Ivan Logston Jr., containing in two parts his commitment in CR75-56D and his commitment in CR79-8. Exhibit 15 is a certified copy of the commitment of Harold Ivan Logston in CR80-420D, a certified copy of the indictment in CR80-420D charging Harold Ivan Logston with arson and murder and a certified copy of a Motion to Nolle in CR80-420D. The defendant asserts that these documents were not properly authenticated under the procedures in Ind. Code § 34-1-17-7. However, Trial Rule 44(A)(1) is an alternative method of authentication and is a sufficient means of certifying court records in a habitual offender proceeding. Moore v. State (1987), Ind., 515 N.E.2d 1099, 1104; Earls v. State (1986), Ind., 489 N.E.2d 516, 518. Trial Rule 44(A)(1) provides that an official record may be evidenced by a copy attested by the officer having the legal custody of the record or by his deputy. Exhibits 11 and 15 were certified by the clerk of each court with the seal of each office in compliance with Trial Rule 44(A)(1) and were properly admitted. Although the docket sheet page included in Exhibit 11 was not certified, any error in its admission is harmless because the entire docket for CR79-8 is contained in Exhibit 18 and is properly certified. Exhibits 10 and 13 were certified copies of prison records. Exhibit 10 was certified by Donald E. Musick, release coordinator, designated as keeper of the Records for the Indiana Reformatory, and was properly notarized. Exhibit 13 was certified by Michael Q. Swain, records controller, designated as keeper of the Records for the Central Office of the Indiana Department of Correction, and was properly notarized. Certified copies of prison records are properly admissible as public records and may be used to establish the fact of defendant's prior felony convictions. Wilson v. State (1987), Ind., 513 N.E.2d 653, 657. See also Seeglitz v. State (1986), Ind., 500 N.E.2d 144. Exhibits 10 and 13 were properly admitted. Exhibit 12 contained no official certification. However, Sam Whiteman, director of records for the Indiana Department of Correction, testified that the items in Exhibit 12 were records ordinarily kept by the Indiana Department of Correction and that they were true and accurate copies and originals of the material kept as records. An official record may be attested to by the person who has custody of those records, regardless of whether that person has first-hand knowledge of the underlying transaction. Lyons v. State (1987), Ind., 506 N.E.2d 813, 816. The witness is required to demonstrate only that the document is a part of records kept in the routine course of business and placed in the record by an authorized person who had personal knowledge of the underlying transaction. Id. at 817. Records contained in the usual course of business are presumed to have been placed there by those who have a duty to so record and have personal knowledge of the transaction represented by the entry, unless there is a showing to the contrary. Id. Exhibit 12 was properly admitted. The defendant also argues that Exhibit 10 should not have been admitted because the commitment order for the armed robbery conviction showed it was from Marion County Criminal Court Division Four, while the habitual offender information showed Criminal Division Two. Such a discrepancy goes to the weight of the identification evidence, not its admissibility and is within the province of the jury. Cavendish v. State (1986), Ind., 496 N.E.2d 46. See also Barger v. State (1984), Ind., 466 N.E.2d 725. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. SHEPARD, C.J., and DeBRULER, GIVAN and PIVARNIK, JJ., concur.