Court Opinion

ID: 3177276
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-02-15 16:15:39.322075+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:02:48.785524
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),                            Feb 15 2016, 8:20 am
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Steven Knecht                                            Gregory F. Zoeller
Vonderheide & Knecht, P.C.                               Attorney General of Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
                                                         Karl M. Scharnberg
                                                         Deputy Attorney General
                                                         Indianapolis, Indiana

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Michael T. Lowry,                                        February 15, 2016
Appellant-Defendant,                                     Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                         08A04-1507-CR-949
        v.                                               Appeal from the Carroll Circuit
                                                         Court
State of Indiana,                                        The Honorable Benjamin A.
Appellee-Plaintiff.                                      Diener, Judge
                                                         Trial Court Cause No.
                                                         08C01-1503-F5-2

May, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 08A04-1507-CR-949 | February 15, 2016   Page 1 of 6
[1]   Michael T. Lowry appeals his four year sentence for Level 5 felony trafficking

      with an inmate. 1 As his sentence is not inappropriate, we affirm.

                                     Facts and Procedural History
[2]   On or about February 2, 2015, Lowry mailed a greeting card to Cassie

      Ruhlander, an inmate in the Carroll County Jail with whom he had a previous

      sexual relationship. Hidden within the folds of the card, Lowry had concealed

      a paper strip containing suboxone. Lowry has a prescription for suboxone for a

      back injury. The State charged Lowry with Level 5 felony trafficking with an

      inmate. Lowry pleaded guilty without benefit of a plea agreement.

[3]   At sentencing, the court found as mitigators the fact Lowry pleaded guilty and

      took responsibility for his crime, the undue hardship his dependents will suffer

      if he is imprisoned, and his history of substance abuse. As aggravators, the

      court found Lowry has a history of criminal or delinquent behavior, he was

      assessed as a high risk to reoffend, and he had recently violated pre-trial release

      by leaving the county despite being ordered to not do so. The court sentenced

      Lowry to four years in the Indiana Department of Correction, ordered him to

      repay to the county $580.00 for the costs of his representation, and ordered

      Lowry to complete the Therapeutic Communities and Substance Abuse

      programs while incarcerated.

      1
          Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-5 (2014).

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 08A04-1507-CR-949 | February 15, 2016   Page 2 of 6
                                     Discussion and Decision
[4]   Lowry asserts his sentence is inappropriate. We may revise a sentence if it is

      inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the

      offender. Williams v. State, 891 N.E.2d 621, 633 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (citing

      Ind. Appellate Rule 7(B)). As we conduct our review, we consider not only the

      aggravators and mitigators found by the trial court, but also any other factors

      appearing in the record. Roney v. State, 872 N.E.2d 192, 206 (Ind. Ct. App.

      2007), trans. denied. The appellant bears the burden of demonstrating his

      sentence is inappropriate. Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080 (Ind. 2006).

[5]   When considering the nature of the offense, the advisory sentence is the starting

      point to determine the appropriateness of a sentence. Anglemyer v. State, 868

      N.E.2d 482, 494 (Ind. 2007), clarified on reh’g 878 N.E.2d 218 (Ind. 2007). The

      sentencing range for a level 5 felony is “a fixed term of between one (1) and six

      (6) years, with the advisory sentence being three (3) years.” Ind. Code § 35-50-

      2-6(b) (2014). Lowry requests we reduce his four-year sentence to the advisory

      three years.

[6]   Regarding the nature of his offense, Lowry was contacted by a friend requesting

      he send suboxone to their mutual friend Ruhlander, who was incarcerated.

      Lowry concealed the suboxone in the folds of a greeting card and, without

      permission from any official at the jail, mailed it to Ruhlander. This shows a

      blatant disregard for the judicial system and could have created a very

      dangerous situation. Lowry claims no harm was done or intended by his

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 08A04-1507-CR-949 | February 15, 2016   Page 3 of 6
      actions. However, the lack of harm is due in part to the suboxone not being

      delivered to Ruhlander. Our legislature classified the introduction of drugs into

      a jail as being as serious an offense as the introduction of a deadly weapon, see

      Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-5, and we decline to minimize the seriousness of Lowry’s

      offense. Nevertheless, neither is there anything more egregious about Lowry’s

      act than any other Level 5 felony trafficking offense.

[7]   When considering the character of the offender, one relevant fact is the

      defendant’s criminal history. Rutherford v. State, 866 N.E.2d 867, 874 (Ind. Ct.

      App. 2007). The significance of a criminal history in assessing a defendant’s

      character varies based on the gravity, nature, and number of prior offenses in

      relation to the current offense. Id.

[8]   Lowry claims to not remember many of the charges on his record, or he asserts

      they happened in different locales and in different years, but the fact remains he

      has charges dating back to 1983 in Florida and the convictions range from drug

      offenses to escape. 2 The Probation Department found Indiana records

      demonstrating Lowry had been convicted of three habitual offender

      enhancements, two felony escape charges, two felony theft charges, a felony

      possession of a narcotic drug charge, a misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle

      while never receiving a license charge, and a misdemeanor operating a motor

      2
        Lowry claims most, if not all, the Florida convictions were incorrect but they were included in a 2010 pre-
      sentence report from Tippecanoe County, Indiana, without his objection. Included in the 2010 pre-sentence
      report were convictions of four felony drug offenses, three felony forgeries, a felony tampering with evidence
      offense, and a probation violation.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 08A04-1507-CR-949 | February 15, 2016            Page 4 of 6
       vehicle while suspended charge. Although offered multiple attempts over the

       years to participate in probation, in-home detention, and work release, he has

       repeatedly violated the terms of the programs. Lowry’s behavior throughout his

       life does not reflect any respect for the law.

[9]    Lowry claims his actions have been influenced by his long-term substance

       abuse. We fail to see why that should improve our assessment of his character.

       Lowry admits he “feel[s] terrible” about committing this crime and risking his

       family’s financial security. (Tr. at 36.) He says he’s “very sorry for what [he]

       did and [he] would never do anything to break the law in any way.” (Id.)

       However, his commission of this crime does not support that assertion as he

       knowingly broke the law and put his family at risk of losing their home, health

       insurance, and financial support, all because he wanted to send drugs to an

       incarcerated woman with whom he had a previous sexual relationship.

[10]   In light of Lowry’s character, including his long-term substance abuse and

       substantial criminal history, we see nothing inappropriate about his four-year

       sentence. See, e.g., Johnson v. State, 986 N.E.2d 852, 857 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013)

       (affirming sentence as not inappropriate based on criminal history).

                                                 Conclusion
[11]   Lowry has not demonstrated his four-year sentence is inappropriate in light of

       his character and his offense. Accordingly, we affirm.

[12]   Affirmed.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 08A04-1507-CR-949 | February 15, 2016   Page 5 of 6
Najam, J., concurs. Riley, J., dissents without opinion.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 08A04-1507-CR-949 | February 15, 2016   Page 6 of 6