Court Opinion

ID: 4432703
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-23 15:03:44.246309+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:01.474671
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),                                      FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                  Aug 23 2019, 5:46 am

regarded as precedent or cited before any                                   CLERK
court except for the purpose of establishing                            Indiana Supreme Court
                                                                           Court of Appeals
                                                                             and Tax Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael R. Fisher                                        Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Marion County Public Defender Agency                     Attorney General of Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
                                                         Ian McLean
                                                         Supervising Deputy Attorney
                                                         General
                                                         Indianapolis, Indiana

                                          IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Thomas Spicer,                                           August 23, 2019
Appellant-Defendant,                                     Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                         19A-CR-434
        v.                                               Appeal from the Marion Superior
                                                         Court
State of Indiana,                                        The Honorable Stanley E. Kroh,
Appellee-Plaintiff.                                      Magistrate
                                                         Trial Court Cause No.
                                                         49G03-1807-FB-23188

Robb, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019                  Page 1 of 14
                                   Case Summary and Issues
[1]   Following a jury trial, Thomas Spicer was found guilty of one count of Class B

      felony child molesting.1 The trial court sentenced him to ten years executed in

      the Indiana Department of Correction (“DOC”) with three years suspended to

      probation. Spicer now appeals, raising two issues for our review, which we

      restate as: (1) whether the trial court denied him the right to allocution before

      the imposition of his sentence; and (2) whether his sentence is inappropriate in

      light of the nature of the offense and his character. Concluding that Spicer was

      not denied his right to allocution, and the sentence is not inappropriate, we

      affirm.

                                Facts and Procedural History
[2]   The victim, K.L.-J., and Spicer are cousins. K.L.-J. was born on December 31,

      2004. Spicer is eleven years older than K.L.-J. At the time the current events

      unfolded, Spicer lived with his great aunt, Toni White. On the occasions that

      K.L.-J. visited the house where Spicer lived, she and Spicer would play video

      games together.

[3]   Sometime between February and December 2012, when K.L.-J. was seven or

      eight years old and Spicer was eighteen or nineteen years old, K.L.-J. was

      visiting at White’s house. Spicer was in a back room of the house, and K.L.-J.

      1
          Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(a) (2007).

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 2 of 14
      was in the kitchen. Spicer asked K.L.-J. to come to the back room, and K.L.-J.,

      thinking that she and Spicer would play video games, complied. However,

      K.L.-J. recalled that once inside the room, Spicer pushed her “[a]ggressively”

      toward a bed such that K.L.-J. ended up in a seated position on the bed.

      Transcript, Volume 2 at 21. Spicer pulled his pants down, and then he pulled

      down K.L.-J.’s pants and subjected her to vaginal intercourse. K.L.-J. recalled

      the feeling of Spicer “[p]iercing” her vagina as he moved, and that she felt bad

      and uncomfortable during the attack. Id. at 22. K.L.-J. did not fully

      understand what Spicer had done to her. She did not tell her family about the

      incident because she was afraid of what would happen if she did.

[4]   At the time of the attack, K.L.-J. had a male childhood friend, U.D. K.L.-J.

      and U.D. later became girlfriend and boyfriend in what K.L.-J.’s mother, T.L.-

      J., referred to in her testimony as a “puppy love” relationship. Id. at 48. In

      April 2018, K.L.-J. told U.D. that when she was seven years old, Spicer raped

      her. K.L.-J. knew that she was around seven years old when the incident

      occurred because at that time, she “always used to wear . . . pigtails in [her]

      hair[.]” Id. at 18. U.D. told his own mother what K.L.-J. told him about the

      attack. U.D.’s mother then contacted T.L.-J.

[5]   U.D. and U.D.’s mother travelled to K.L.-J.’s home, met with K.L.-J. and

      T.L.-J., and disclosed to T.L.-J. what Spicer had done to K.L.-J. The police

      were notified, and an investigation was conducted.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 3 of 14
[6]   Spicer was eventually charged with one count of child molesting as a Class B

      felony. Following a jury trial held on January 17, 2019, Spicer was found guilty

      as charged.

[7]   A sentencing hearing was held on January 29, 2019. At the hearing, the State

      called T.L.-J., and she testified regarding how Spicer’s crime has affected K.L.-

      J.’s life. When the State was finished, the trial court said, “Turn to the Defense,

      then.” Id. at 86. Spicer’s mother and father then testified on Spicer’s behalf. At

      the conclusion of their testimony, the trial court asked Spicer’s counsel if the

      defense had further evidence, and Spicer’s counsel said, “Briefly, Your Honor.

      Mr. [Spicer] would like to briefly address the Court.” Id. at 95. The trial court

      then administered the oath to Spicer.

[8]   On direct examination by his counsel, Spicer testified that he was not living in

      the residence where the molestation occurred. He also testified, “I would never

      do anything to” the victim, and, “I’m really sorry that it happened to her, but I

      know I’m innocent for [sic] this case.” Id. Spicer then testified about his future

      educational and career plans. On cross-examination, Spicer was questioned

      regarding his prior juvenile adjudication for what would have been Class C

      felony child molesting if committed by an adult—as well as the sex-offender

      evaluation and treatment he underwent because of it.

[9]   When the cross-examination was concluded, the State and Spicer’s counsel

      presented sentencing arguments, after which the trial court addressed Spicer

      directly, as follows:

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 4 of 14
               [COURT]: . . . And, Mr. Spicer, you’re not required to say
               anything else, but I’m required to ask you is there anything else
               you’d like to say here this afternoon?

               [SPICER]: Again, I do apologize, if that really happened to
               K.L[.]-J. But I am innocent for [sic] this case, and I would never
               do anything to K.L[.]-J.

               [COURT]: Thank you.

       Id. at 101.

[10]   The trial court sentenced Spicer to a term of ten years executed in the DOC

       with three years suspended to probation. Spicer now appeals. Additional facts

       will be supplied as necessary.

                                 Discussion and Decision
                                               I. Allocution
[11]   Spicer argues that the trial court committed fundamental error when it failed to

       advise him of his right to allocution and allowed the State to cross-examine him

       when he testified at his sentencing hearing. According to Spicer, “[t]hrough the

       improper cross-examination, the prosecution was able to attack and undermine

       the statement [Spicer] gave and to present evidence that was entirely improper

       and inconsistent with the exercise of the right of allocution.” Brief of Appellant

       at 7. The State counters that no error occurred because the trial court

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 5 of 14
       “expressly gave Spicer the opportunity to allocute[,]” and “Spicer allocuted.”

       Brief of Appellee at 9.

                                       A. Standard of Review
[12]   Spicer did not object during sentencing but now claims that the trial court

       committed fundamental error. “An error is fundamental, and thus reviewable

       despite failure to object, if it ‘made a fair trial impossible or constituted a clearly

       blatant violation of basic and elementary principles of due process presenting an

       undeniable and substantial potential for harm.’” Young v. State, 30 N.E.3d 719,

       726 (Ind. 2015) (quoting Knapp v. State, 9 N.E.3d 1274, 1281 (Ind. 2014), cert.

       denied, 135 S. Ct. 978 (2015)). Fundamental error is a “a daunting standard,”

       applicable only in egregious circumstances. Knapp, 9 N.E.3d at 1281. The

       exception is extremely narrow, and reaches only errors that are so blatant that

       the trial judge should have taken action sua sponte. Id.

                               B. Nature of Right to Allocution
[13]   “A defendant’s right to offer a statement on his or her behalf before the trial

       court pronounces sentence is known as the right of allocution.” Woods v. State,

       98 N.E.3d 656, 661 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018), trans. denied. The right of allocution is

       rooted in the common law. Biddinger v. State, 868 N.E.2d 407, 410 (Ind.

       2007). In Indiana, that right has been preserved by our state’s allocution

       statute, which provides:

               When the defendant appears for sentencing, the court shall
               inform the defendant of the verdict of the jury or the finding of

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 6 of 14
               the court. The court shall afford counsel for the defendant an
               opportunity to speak on behalf of the defendant. The defendant
               may also make a statement personally in the defendant’s own
               behalf and, before pronouncing sentence, the court shall ask the
               defendant whether the defendant wishes to make such a
               statement. Sentence shall then be pronounced, unless a sufficient
               cause is alleged or appears to the court for delay in sentencing.

       Ind. Code § 35-38-1-5 (2010). The purpose of the right of allocution is satisfied

       “[w]hen the defendant is given the opportunity to explain his view of the facts

       and circumstances[.]” Vicory v. State, 802 N.E.2d 426, 430 (Ind. 2004). On

       appeal, “a defendant claiming that he was denied his right to allocution carries

       a strong burden in establishing his claim.” Id. at 429.

[14]   Here, the record reveals that Spicer willingly testified at his sentencing hearing.

       After he testified, and after counsel presented closing sentencing arguments, the

       trial court personally asked Spicer if he wanted to make a statement prior to

       pronouncement of the sentence, and Spicer then provided a brief statement

       explaining his view of the facts. Spicer was not denied his right to allocution.

       Accordingly, we find no error.

                                   II. Inappropriate Sentence
[15]   Spicer next argues his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of his

       offense and his character. He acknowledges that he received the advisory

       sentence for the crime and that the sentence was partially suspended but

       maintains that “there is nothing in the record to indicate that the minimum

       sentence was not appropriate.” Br. of Appellant at 8. He asks this court to

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 7 of 14
       revise his sentence “to one appropriate for an impulsive act by an immature

       young man who has since lived in a law-abiding fashion.” Id.

[16]   At sentencing, the trial court found as follows regarding aggravating and

       mitigating circumstances:

                     The Court, Mr. Spicer, has listened carefully to the
               evidence and argument. The Court’s also reviewed the
               Presentence Report.

                     The Court recognizes the mitigating circumstance that
               [defense counsel] has brought up on your behalf. You’re very
               young. You’re 25 years old.

                      That – the Court does consider that a prolonged
               incarceration could be an undue hardship to – I mean, it’s – the
               statutory mitigator is to dependents, but the Court recognizes
               that a prolonged incarceration would be an undue hardship to
               your family. In particular, the – what the Court’s heard from
               your mother, who she’s – you know, depends on you.

                       I understand you’re remorseful that if something – as you
               say, if something happened to K.L[.]-J. But I don’t know that
               the Court can recognize that as a statutory mitigator the way it’s
               been framed.

                     The Court has recognized the mitigators that [defense
               counsel] has talked of in her argument as well.

                     On the other side of the equation is the prior attempt at
               rehabilitation in the juvenile system does concern the Court.
               Although I have to recognize that in the page 5 of the
               Presentence Report it states that the – and please, Lawyers,

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 8 of 14
        correct me if you think I’m interpreting this incorrectly. But it
        says the original referral was at age 16 [for what would have been
        Class C felony child molesting had it been committed by an
        adult], meaning when Mr. Spicer was 16 years old, but then the
        adjudication was not until he was 19 years old. So – . . . it
        appears the case was in juvenile court for around three years, and
        then the adjudication was when Mr. Spicer was 19.

               And then this – the [instant] accusations, and now the
        conviction, is based on events that occurred between February 1,
        2012 and December 13, 2012. So[,] I think, as [the State] said,
        these events occurred very close in time. So[,] I don’t know that
        the Court can really recognize that as an aggravator because
        things were so close in time.

                We’re very used to looking at things that way when there
        are prior true findings or prior convictions. But this situation is a
        little unusual in that it’s – it’s a delayed disclosure. And the – it’s
        difficult to tell the exact timing, but it appears to the Court that
        both the true finding [in the juvenile case] and the acts that
        resulted in your [instant] conviction were very near to the same
        time span. So[,] I said a minute ago this Court was looking at
        this as an aggravator, but I don’t believe the Court can do that.

               I’ve just expressed concern that – of your childhood. And
        I know you have expressed that you were sexually abused as – as
        a child. The Court’s considered that as well.

                                               *****

              [T]his is a serious offense, a Class B felony. The advisory
        sentence is ten years. The sentence can . . . go down to six years,
        which is the minimum, if there are mitigating circumstances. It
        could go up to 20 years, which is the maximum sentence, if there
        are aggravating circumstances.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 9 of 14
                       And in this case, the Court believes the advisory sentence
               is the correct total sentence. So[,] the Court does enter a total
               sentence of ten years. The Court believes that seven years should
               be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction and then
               three years suspended, and that those three years be served on
               probation . . . .

       Tr., Vol. 2 at 102-04.

                                        A. Standard of Review
[17]           We may review and revise criminal sentences pursuant to the
               authority derived from Article 7, Section 6 of the Indiana
               Constitution. Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B) empowers us to revise
               a sentence “if, after due consideration of the trial court’s decision,
               the Court finds that the sentence is inappropriate in light of the
               nature of the offense and the character of the offender.” Because
               a trial court’s judgment “should receive considerable
               deference[,]” our principal role is to “leaven the outliers.”
               Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1222-25 (Ind. 2008). “Such
               deference should prevail unless overcome by compelling
               evidence portraying in a positive light the nature of the offense
               (such as accompanied by restraint, regard, and lack of brutality)
               and the defendant’s character (such as substantial virtuous traits
               or persistent examples of good character).” Stephenson v. State, 29
N.E.3d 111, 122 (Ind. 2015). The defendant bears the burden to
               persuade this court that his or her sentence is inappropriate,
               Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080 (Ind. 2006), and we may
               look to any factors appearing in the record for such a
               determination, Stokes v. State, 947 N.E.2d 1033, 1038 (Ind. Ct.
               App. 2011), trans. denied.

       Reis v. State, 88 N.E.3d 1099, 1101-02 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017). The question under

       Appellate Rule 7(B) analysis is “not whether another sentence is more

       appropriate” but rather “whether the sentence imposed is inappropriate.” King
       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 10 of 14
       v. State, 894 N.E.2d 265, 268 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). Whether a sentence is

       inappropriate “turns on our sense of the culpability of the defendant, the

       severity of the crime, the damage done to others, and myriad other factors that

       come to light in a given case.” Cardwell, 895 N.E.2d at 1224.

[18]   We begin with the advisory sentence in determining the appropriateness of a

       sentence. Childress, 848 N.E.2d at 1081. Since the advisory sentence is the

       starting point our General Assembly has selected as an appropriate sentence for

       the crime committed, the defendant bears a particularly heavy burden in

       persuading us that his sentence is inappropriate when the trial court imposes

       the advisory sentence. Golden v. State, 862 N.E.2d 1212, 1216 (Ind. Ct. App.

       2007), trans. denied. The advisory sentence for a Class B felony is ten years,

       with a minimum sentence of six years and a maximum sentence of twenty

       years. Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5 (2005). Spicer received the advisory sentence.

                                      B. Nature of the Offenses
[19]   Spicer does not attempt to mitigate the seriousness of his offense. He argues,

       however, that “the minimum sentence would be appropriate here” because this

       was an “isolated incident, there being no indication that anything similar had

       occurred with this young relative before or that it ever occurred thereafter[; t]he

       victim said it happened one time[; and it] was a stupid, impulsive act by a

       young, immature boy.” Br. of Appellant at 16 (internal citation omitted). We

       disagree.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 11 of 14
[20]   Whether the incident was “isolated” does not lessen the seriousness of the

       offense. Spicer, who was eighteen or nineteen years old at the time, lured his

       seven-year-old cousin into a back room and vaginally raped her. Nothing about

       the nature of the offense warrants a reduction in Spicer’s advisory sentence.

                                   C. Character of the Offender
[21]   As to his character, Spicer argues that he has no prior adult criminal history; he

       was “barely eighteen-years-old at the time the offense occurred”; he has not

       committed any offenses since the attack on K.L.-J.; he has attended college and

       has plans to complete his college education; and he has been employed. Id. at

       18. We are unpersuaded that Spicer’s character warrants a reduction of his

       sentence.

[22]   Spicer’s involvement with the justice system began in 2005, when, as a juvenile,

       he was alleged to have committed an act that would have been Class D felony

       theft if committed by an adult. As part of the disposition in that case, Spicer

       was given a diversion contract, and he completed community service work.

[23]   Spicer’s next brush with the juvenile justice system is of particular note, as it

       establishes that the instant offense is not the first time Spicer committed an act

       of child molesting. In July 2010, when Spicer was sixteen years old, he

       committed what would have been Class C felony child molesting if committed

       by an adult. The juvenile court made a true finding, and the resulting case was

       disposed of in July 2013 when Spicer was nineteen years old. Spicer received

       sex-offender evaluation/counseling, which he completed in September 2013.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 12 of 14
       He was also placed on formal probation, which he completed in that same

       month.

[24]   Regarding the seriousness of his act against K.L.-J., Spicer’s testimony at his

       sentencing hearing indicates that he does not fully comprehend why his act was

       harmful to her. For example, when Spicer was cross-examined by the State

       regarding the juvenile true finding for child molesting, Spicer testified that he

       had taken responsibility for that act but stated: “[W]e were just kids when it

       happened. It wasn’t really rape or anything like that. . . . I was ten years old

       when it all happened. And . . . the victim did apologize to my mother and my

       sisters for that false allegation that it was forced.” Tr., Vol. 2 at 97.

[25]   Regarding Spicer’s age, the trial court agreed that his young age was a

       mitigating circumstance. However, our supreme court has held that a

       young age does not “automatically” qualify as a significant mitigator. Gross v.

       State, 769 N.E.2d 1136, 1141 n.4 (Ind. 2002). In fact, it “is neither a statutory

       nor a per se mitigating factor. There are cunning children and there are naïve

       adults.” Sensback v. State, 720 N.E.2d 1160, 1164 (Ind. 1999). Accordingly,

       when a defendant is in his teens or early twenties, chronological age is only the

       starting point. Monegan v. State, 756 N.E.2d 499, 504 (Ind. 2001). What really

       must be determined is whether the young offender is “clueless” or “hardened

       and purposeful.” Id.

[26]   Spicer was at least eighteen years old when he took advantage of the trust he

       had built with K.L.-J., lured her into a back room, and attacked and raped her.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 13 of 14
       He was within a year of graduating from high school when he committed the

       offense. This was the second time Spicer committed an act of child molesting.

       And, as the trial court noted, it appears that the actions that led to the true

       finding in the juvenile case and the actions that resulted in Spicer’s instant

       conviction took place “very near to the same time span.” Tr., Vol. 2 at 103.

       Spicer’s character does not merit sentence revision under Appellate Rule 7(B).

[27]   Based on the facts and circumstances of this case, we cannot conclude that

       Spicer’s ten-year sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of his offense

       and his character. We decline to revise it under Appellate Rule 7(B).

                                               Conclusion
[28]   In conclusion, Spicer was not denied his right to allocution and his sentence is

       not inappropriate given the nature of the offense and his character.

[29]   Affirmed.

       Mathias, J., and Pyle, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-434 | August 23, 2019   Page 14 of 14