Opinion ID: 853120
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Necessary Proof for Life Without Parole

Text: Highbaugh first challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his life sentence for the murder of Hairston, arguing that the State failed to prove that he committed an intentional killing during the commission of a robbery. Highbaugh specifically argues that the State failed to establish that any property of value was taken and did not prove that property was taken from the person or presence of Hairston. A trial court may sentence a defendant to life without parole when the State has proven an aggravating circumstance specified in the death penalty statute beyond a reasonable doubt. Ind.Code Ann. § 35-50-2-9(b) (West 2000); Greer v. State, 749 N.E.2d 545, 549 (Ind.2001). [2] The State proved that Highbaugh took property of value. The charging information stated that Highbaugh took bags and contents from Hairston's home. (R. at 108.) Michael testified that when Highbaugh and Powell first arrived at Hairston's house, both were empty handed. Although Michael was lying on the kitchen floor playing dead, he saw Powell leave the house with several bags, one of which contained marijuana. This was sufficient evidence that property of value was taken. See Ortiz v. State, 716 N.E.2d 345, 351 (Ind.1999) (marijuana taken during robbery). Highbaugh also argues that the items taken were not taken from Hairston's person or presence. Moreover, because Hairston apparently was buying the home on contract with another person, Highbaugh asserts it is unknown whether Hairston had sole control of the premises or even personally possessed the unrecovered and unidentified items. (Appellant's Br. at 15.) The evidence leads us to conclude otherwise. A sufficiency challenge will not prevail simply because the murder and the taking of property occurred in different rooms. See Ortiz, 716 N.E.2d at 352. A perpetrator still commits robbery when the property seized is not owned by the victim, but is merely under the personal protection of the victim. Paul v. State, 612 N.E.2d 1060, 1062 (Ind.1993) (upholding robbery conviction when defendant took cigarettes from store after fatally shooting employee in charge). As we noted above, Highbaugh and Powell were empty-handed when they arrived at Hairston's. After shooting and stabbing the victims, they left Hairston's house with packaged marijuana and other bags. Later, while investigating the crime scene, police found an ashtray full of loose marijuana in plain view in the basement where Hairston was immediately prior to the shooting. See Henderson v. State, 715 N.E.2d 833, 835 (Ind.1999) (constructive possession may be found when items are in plain view of a person because the person has the ability to exercise dominion and control over the items). Police also found packaging equipment, scales, and other paraphernalia in plain view that would indicate that drugs were dealt from the home. The marijuana taken from the home was either possessed by Hairston or in his personal protection. The evidence is sufficient to support the statutory aggravator.