Opinion ID: 2212544
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Confiscation of Funds

Text: Prior to the defendant's sentencing and upon the State's motion, the trial court appropriated $176.43 from the defendant's commissary account with the sheriff's office. During his incarceration, the defendant had received a tax refund check for $304.00, of which he had spent a portion, leaving $176.43. The prosecutor justified the seizure of the funds as reimbursement to the taxpayers for providing the defendant's defense. The defendant argues that courts may impose authorized fines and order restitution but that Indiana has no recoupment statute permitting the State to recover expenditures for indigent defense after trial. To the contrary, Indiana Code § 33-9-11.5-6 authorizes a court, upon a finding of ability to pay the costs of representation, to require a defendant to pay attorney's fees for appointed counsel and costs incurred by the county as a result of court-appointed legal services. The defendant does not assert any claim that the trial court violated this statutory authorization. We find no error on this issue.