Opinion ID: 852050
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The fact of violation and requisite mental state

Text: The record makes clear that Smith failed to pay weekly support obligations as a required condition of his probation. Indeed on appeal Smith concedes as much. Rather Smith complains the State failed to show that he had missed weekly child support payments knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly. Appellant's Br. at 4. First, as we observed in Runyon because the phrase `recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally' appears in the disjunctive and thus prescribes alternative considerations, the state of mind requirement may be satisfied by adequate evidence that a defendant's failure to pay a probation imposed financial obligation was either reckless, knowing, or intentional. 939 N.E.2d at 616. Indiana Code section 35-41-2-2(b) provides that a person engages in conduct knowingly if, when he or she engages in the conduct, the person is aware of a high probability that he or she is doing so. Because knowledge is a mental state of the actor, it may be proved by circumstantial evidence and inferred from the circumstances and facts of each case. See Young v. State, 761 N.E.2d 387, 389 (Ind.2002). Thus, aside from the inability to pay which we discuss belowin order to sustain the probation revocation in this case, the evidence must show that Smith was aware of a high probability that he was not pay[ing] current support every week in the amount of $78.79 as modified from time to time. Appellant's App. at 27. As indicated earlier Smith gave extensive testimony concerning his various medical problems, including back surgery in August 2009. When asked on cross-examination whether he had ever filed for a modification of the support ordered in this case he answered, no ma'am and elaborated, I feel like I want to take care of my children and everything.... I'm not trying to get out of paying it I just.... I'm trying the best I can. Tr. at 69-70. When asked on redirect examination, In addition to looking for new employment then, after you lost your job last fall, have you done anything else to raise money to pay your support? Smith responded, [I] really haven't had any way. I mean, I've been barely skimming by and really it's hard just putting food on the table. Tr. at 71. From this testimony we are of the view that the trial judge as fact finder could reasonably conclude that Smith knowingly failed to pay current child support every week as required by the terms of his probation.