Court Opinion

ID: 4033191
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-13 15:07:25.979552+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:35.491943
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
                                                                       FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),                            Sep 13 2016, 6:34 am
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
                                                                       CLERK
regarded as precedent or cited before any                          Indiana Supreme Court
                                                                      Court of Appeals
court except for the purpose of establishing                            and Tax Court

the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Molly Turner King                                        Gregory F. Zoeller
Bloomington, Indiana                                     Attorney General of Indiana
                                                         Larry D. Allen
                                                         Deputy Attorney General
                                                         Indianapolis, Indiana

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Chad J. Ley,                                             September 13, 2016
Appellant-Defendant,                                     Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                         53A01-1602-CR-251
        v.                                               Appeal from the Monroe Circuit
                                                         Court
State of Indiana,                                        The Honorable Teresa D. Harper,
Appellee-Plaintiff                                       Judge
                                                         Trial Court Cause No.
                                                         53C09-1509-CM-2341

Baker, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 53A01-1602-CR-251 | September 13, 2016   Page 1 of 7
[1]   Chad Ley appeals the trial court’s order modifying his bail. Finding no error,

      we affirm.

                                                     Facts
[2]   On September 3, 2015, the State charged Ley with class A misdemeanor theft in

      Cause Number 53C09-1509-CM-2341 (Cause 2341). A warrant was issued for

      Ley’s arrest that initially set Ley’s bond at $1,000 surety and $500 cash.

[3]   On October 25, 2015, Ley knocked on someone’s apartment door in

      Bloomington and claimed to be a federal agent with the Drug Enforcement

      Agency (DEA). Ley is not a DEA agent. He demanded entry into the

      apartment because he wanted to talk with Indiana State Police officers Ley

      believed were inside. The occupant of the apartment was frightened and called

      the police to report the encounter. Ley was gone by the time police arrived.

[4]   Local police were familiar with Ley because he had made similar claims of

      being a DEA agent to a young woman in the past. On October 27, 2015, police

      officers went to Ley’s apartment to question him about the October 25 incident.

      He denied any involvement with that incident. The officers told him to stop

      saying he was a DEA agent and walked outside of the apartment building.

      After exiting the building, the officers noticed the active arrest warrant for Ley

      that had been issued on September 3. They returned to his apartment and,

      when they attempted to arrest him, he allegedly resisted the arrest. Ultimately,

      the officers arrested Ley on the attempted theft warrant in Cause 2341. The

      State also charged him, under Cause Number 53C09-1510-F6-1003 (Cause

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 53A01-1602-CR-251 | September 13, 2016   Page 2 of 7
      1003), for Level 6 felony impersonation of a public servant and class A

      misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. His bail on Cause 1003 was set at

      $5,000 surety and $500 cash.

[5]   On November 4, 2015, the trial court held a bail review hearing in both causes.

      Ley identified himself as a DEA agent to the trial court throughout the hearing

      and told the trial court that he had money in the bank but refused to state

      whether he could pay bond. The trial court did not modify Ley’s bail during

      that hearing but ordered that Ley be evaluated by a psychologist. The trial

      court placed a hold on Ley in Cause 2341, and Ley later filed a motion to

      reduce his bail and remove the hold.

[6]   On February 2, 2016, the trial court held a hearing on Ley’s motion, during

      which Ley indicated that he was not challenging the bail in Cause 1003. At the

      hearing, it was revealed that Ley had three prior convictions for resisting law

      enforcement and one conviction for carrying a handgun without a license. In

      both cases, Ley was given mental health deferments, but failed to appear for

      hearings following the deferments. The trial court found that Ley was a

      potential danger to the community, given his prior criminal history and possible

      mental instability, as well as the circumstances of the current charge of

      impersonating a public servant. It also found that Ley had a history of failing to

      attend hearings. As a result of these findings, the trial court increased Ley’s

      bond in Cause 2341 to be $50,000 surety and $1,000 cash. The trial court noted

      that it would consider modifying Ley’s bond if he cooperated with the

      competency examination, which was underway. Ley now appeals.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 53A01-1602-CR-251 | September 13, 2016   Page 3 of 7
                                   Discussion and Decision
[7]   Ley argues that the trial court erred by modifying his bond in Cause 2341. The

      trial court has broad leeway in determining whether to modify a defendant’s

      bond. Wertz v. State, 771 N.E.2d 677, 680 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). We will

      reverse only if the trial court’s decision is clearly against the logic and effect of

      the facts and circumstances before it. Sneed v. State, 946 N.E.2d 1255, 1257

      (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). We need not determine whether the amount of the

      defendant’s bail is completely appropriate, as the trial court errs only if the

      amount is “clearly excessive.” Id. at 1259.

[8]   Bail is excessive only if set at an amount higher than an “amount reasonably

      required to assure the defendant’s appearance in court or to assure the physical

      safety of another person or the community if the court finds by clear and

      convincing evidence that the defendant poses a risk to the physical safety of

      another person or the community.” Ind. Code § 35-33-8-4(b). Once bail has

      been set, it may be modified upon a showing of good cause by either party. I.C.

      § 35-33-8-5. When deciding whether to modify bail, the trial court may

      consider multiple factors, including, among other things, the defendant’s mental

      condition, criminal history, and history of failing to appear at court

      proceedings, as well as any evidence of instability or disdain for authority that

      might indicate that the defendant might not recognize and adhere to the

      authority of court to bring him to trial. I.C. § 35-33-8-4(b).

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 53A01-1602-CR-251 | September 13, 2016   Page 4 of 7
[9]    In this case, the record reveals that Ley may not have had stable housing, as he

       indicated to the trial court that, upon his release, he might have to stay in a

       hotel and visit the county trustee regarding his residence. Moreover, the record

       reveals significant questions regarding Ley’s mental condition. He repeatedly

       represented himself as a DEA agent to the police, jail staff, and the trial court.

       On multiple occasions, Ley has represented himself as a DEA agent to young

       women and, in the instant case, used that falsehood in an attempt to gain entry

       to an apartment of an unknown person, frightening her. Ley also has a violent

       criminal history, including three convictions for resisting law enforcement and

       one for carrying a handgun without a license. In the past, he has repeatedly

       failed to appear for court proceedings.

[10]   Ley directs our attention to a number of cases in support of his argument that

       the trial court erred, but we find them easily distinguishable. In Cole v. State,

       this Court found that it was error to modify the defendant’s bail where, among

       other things, the defendant was employed and could pay a lower bond. 997

       N.E.2d 1143, 1145 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). In this case, in contrast, there is no

       evidence in the record that Ley was employed1 or able to pay a lower bond2. In

       1
         As to his employment history, Ley testified that “I do drug enforcement and when drug dealers out of hand
       [sic] and they’ve caused people to be sick or caused trouble then I have to find out what they’ve done and
       that’s what I do here. You know, I’ve worked here for quite a while now so I feel like it’s time for me to
       move on and go home for a while. And next time I’m needed I will work again.” Tr. p. 4.
       2
         Ley refused to tell the trial court how much money he has in the bank, saying that he would not bond
       himself out of jail because “it’s not necessary. I actually work here in and out of jail, in and out of this
       place.” Tr. p. 5. But he then asked “to be released to go home,” asking the trial court if it was “holding me
       ransom” and saying that he had never had to post bail “the entire time I’ve worked here.” Id. at 5-6.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 53A01-1602-CR-251 | September 13, 2016            Page 5 of 7
       Sherelis v. State, this Court found that it was error to modify the defendant’s bail

       where, among other things, he had strong family and community contacts and

       was substantially invested in a local business. 452 N.E.2d 411, 412-14 (Ind. Ct.

       App. 1983). In the case before us, however, it appears that Ley was on the

       verge of homelessness, his nearest family was in another county, and he had no

       mode of transportation or local support. Additionally, unlike Ley, Sherelis had

       no criminal history or mental instability.

[11]   In Lopez v. State, this Court found that it was error to modify the defendant’s

       bail where, among other things, the defendant had no criminal history, had a

       long and stable employment history, had immediate family in the same area,

       and already had over $3 million in assets seized as part of his arrest. 985

       N.E.2d 358, 361-62 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). In the case before us, on the other

       hand, Ley has a criminal history, no immediate family in the area, and

       presented no evidence regarding his employment history. Finally, in Sneed v.

       State, we found that the trial court had erred where it made no statement on the

       record regarding the reasons for denying the defendant’s request to modify his

       bail and the record reflected that Sneed was unable to pay the cash-only bond

       that had been set. 946 N.E.2d at 1260. In this case, the trial court made a

       detailed statement regarding its reasons for increasing Ley’s bail and, as noted

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 53A01-1602-CR-251 | September 13, 2016   Page 6 of 7
       above, there is no evidence regarding Ley’s ability to pay the bail other than his

       refusal to answer the trial court’s questions on the subject.3

[12]   Based on all of this evidence, the trial court found that the State had showed

       good cause to modify Ley’s bail because Ley represented a risk to the

       community and might fail to appear at future court proceedings. We cannot

       say that the trial court erred by increasing Ley’s bail under these circumstances

       or that the amount set by the trial court is excessive.

[13]   The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

       Vaidik, C.J., and Riley, J., concur.

       3
        Ley also argues that the trial court erred because the amount of bail exceeds the bail schedule established by
       Monroe County. But bail schedules are only a starting point for tailoring the bail bond to the individual in
       each circumstance, and an amount set outside a bail schedule is not presumptively unreasonable. Samm v.
       State, 893 N.E.2d 761, 765-66 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). Therefore, this argument is unavailing.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 53A01-1602-CR-251 | September 13, 2016            Page 7 of 7