Court Opinion

ID: 2725462
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 20:49:25.34762+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:45:11.056485
License: Public Domain

Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before
                                                       Feb 28 2014, 8:38 am
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:

DAVID W. STONE IV                                  GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Anderson, Indiana                                  Attorney General of Indiana

                                                   LARRY D. ALLEN
                                                   Deputy Attorney General
                                                   Indianapolis, Indiana

                               IN THE
                     COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

TERRY LEE DUCKWORTH,                               )
                                                   )
       Appellant-Defendant,                        )
                                                   )
               vs.                                 )       No. 48A02-1307-CR-582
                                                   )
STATE OF INDIANA,                                  )
                                                   )
       Appellee-Plaintiff.                         )

                     APPEAL FROM THE MADISON CIRCUIT COURT
                          The Honorable David A. Happe, Judge
                            Cause No. 48C04-1209-FB-1746

                                       February 28, 2014

                MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

MAY, Judge
        Terry Lee Duckworth appeals his three year sentence for Class D felony sexual

battery.1 As the sentence was not inappropriate in light of his character and the nature of the

offense, we affirm.

                          FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        On July 6, 2012, Duckworth met M.H. on the street in Anderson. They walked back

to M.H.’s apartment, where Duckworth made sexual advances and touched M.H. without her

consent.

        The State charged Duckworth with Class B felony attempted rape2 and Class B felony

criminal deviate conduct,3 and Duckworth agreed to plead guilty to Class D felony sexual

battery. In exchange for Duckworth’s guilty plea, the State agreed to dismiss the charges of

attempted rape and criminal deviate conduct, and it agreed not to file additional charges of

Class D felony residential entry,4 Class D felony criminal confinement,5 and being a habitual

offender.6 The trial court found Duckworth’s three prior felonies to be an aggravating factor

and found Duckworth’s guilty plea to be the only mitigating factor. After weighing these

factors, the trial court imposed the maximum sentence of three years.

                                DISCUSSION AND DECISION

        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)

1
  Ind. Code § 35-42-4-8.
2
  Ind. Code § 35-42-4-1(a) (rape); Ind. Code §35-41-5-1 (attempt).
3
  Ind. Code § 35-42-4-2(a).
4
  Ind. Code § 35-43-2-1.5.
5
  Ind. Code § 35-42-3-3(a).
6
  Ind. Code § 35-50-2-8.
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(citing Ind. Appellate Rule 7(B)). We consider not only the aggravators and mitigators found

by the trial court, but also any other facts appearing in the record. Roney v. State, 872 N.E.2d

192, 206 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), abrogated on other grounds, Bethea v. State, 983 N.E.2d

1134, 1145 (Ind. 2013). The appellant bears the burden of demonstrating his sentence is

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

       When considering the nature of the offense, the advisory sentence is the starting point

to determine the appropriateness of a sentence. Anglemeyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482, 494

(Ind. 2007), clarified on reh’g on other grounds, 875 N.E.2d 218 (Ind. 2007). The

sentencing range for a Class D felony is six months to three years, with an advisory sentence

of eighteen months. Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7. Duckworth asserts there is “nothing about the

manner in which the crime in this case was committed which makes it more egregious than

other sexual batteries.” (Br. of Appellant at 3). According to the victim impact statement,

this sexual battery occurred in the presence of the victim’s very young child. It also resulted

in two Class B felony charges, each of which could have carried a sentence of twenty years,

if Duckworth had not pled guilty. These facts lead us to believe a three-year sentence is not

inappropriate based on the nature of this sexual battery.

       Regarding a defendant’s character, one relevant fact is his 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. Duckworth had three prior

felony convictions, including a second degree burglary in 1964, attempted escape in 1979,

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and intimidation as a Class D felony in 2007. In addition, he had a conviction for

misdemeanor resisting law enforcement in 2007. Due to his violation of probation in the

2007 case, Duckworth served his suspended sentence and was released from the Department

of Correction only three months prior to committing the current crime.

       Another factor relevant to a defendant’s character is his remorse or his lack thereof.

Deane v. State, 759 N.E.2d 201, 205 (Ind. 2001).          The trial court explicitly noted

Duckworth’s lack of remorse, and we concur in the court’s assessment because, even after

pleading guilty, Duckworth continued to denigrate the victim and deny culpability. At one

point during the sentencing hearing, Duckworth tried to withdraw his guilty plea. These facts

do not reflect well on his character.

       Based on Duckworth’s character and the nature of his offense, we cannot say his

three-year sentence was inappropriate. Accordingly, we affirm.

       Affirmed.

VAIDIK, C.J. and RILEY, J., concur.

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