Court Opinion

ID: 4027496
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-23 15:05:48.796172+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:21.847569
License: Public Domain

FILED
MEMORANDUM DECISION                                          Aug 23 2016, 10:24 am

                                                                  CLERK
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this                   Indiana Supreme Court
                                                                 Court of Appeals
Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as                       and Tax Court

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
Jeremy K. Nix                                            Gregory F. Zoeller
Matheny Hahn Denman & Nix, LLP                           Attorney General of Indiana
Huntington, Indiana
                                                         Angela N. Sanchez
                                                         Deputy Attorney General
                                                         Indianapolis, Indiana

                                             IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Brian K. Bell,                                           August 23, 2016

Appellant-Defendant,                                     Court of Appeals Cause No.
                                                         35A02-1512-CR-2245
        v.                                               Appeal from the Huntington
                                                         Superior Court
State of Indiana,                                        The Honorable Jeffrey R.
                                                         Heffelfinger, Judge
Appellee-Plaintiff.
                                                         Cause No. 35D01-1506-F5-136

Riley, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 35A02-1512-CR-2245 | August 23, 2016   Page 1 of 10
                                   STATEMENT OF THE CASE

[1]   Appellant-Defendant, Brian Bell (Bell), appeals his conviction and sentence for

      dealing in a narcotic drug, a Level 5 felony, Ind. Code § 35-48-4-1.

[2]   We affirm.

                                                   ISSUES

[3]   Bell raises two issues on appeal, which we restate as follows:

      (1) Whether the trial court abused its discretion in admitting certain evidence;

      and

      (2) Whether Bell’s sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense

      and his character.

                           FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

[4]   In order to avoid prosecution for a felony drug related charge, Mitchel Buzzard

      (Buzzard) entered into an agreement to work as a confidential police informant

      for the Huntington Police Department on March 5, 2015. Buzzard’s contract

      mandated him to choose eight people and to at least make two controlled buys

      from each individual by July 1, 2015.

[5]   On May 11, 2015, Buzzard arranged a controlled buy from Matthew Roberts

      (Roberts), who was an acquaintance. Buzzard agreed, via phone call, to buy

      five morphine pills for $140. Buzzard contacted Detective Shane Jones

      (Detective Jones) of the Huntington Police Department about the potential buy.

      Detective Jones and other detectives met with Buzzard to prepare him for the

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 35A02-1512-CR-2245 | August 23, 2016   Page 2 of 10
      transaction. The officers searched Buzzard and provided him with buy money

      and also gave him audio and video recording equipment.

[6]   Bell, who was friends with Roberts, drove Roberts to meet Buzzard at a

      restaurant parking lot. Buzzard knew Bell from elementary school, and both

      had lived in the same neighborhood. Upon seeing Bell’s vehicle, Buzzard

      entered the vehicle and sat in the rear seat. Bell then drove to a house on

      Poplar Street, in Huntington County, Indiana, and parked outside. At that

      point, Buzzard gave the $140 buy money to Roberts, but instead of keeping it,

      Roberts offered the buy money to Bell. The police, who were maintaining

      surveillance of the transaction, saw Bell exit his vehicle and go inside an

      apartment on Poplar Street belonging to a man from whom the police had

      made previous controlled drug buys. After about four minutes, Bell returned to

      his vehicle and gave Buzzard five morphine pills wrapped in cellophane. Three

      of the morphine pills were 60 milligrams, and two were 30 milligrams. Bell

      then drove back to the restaurant parking lot where he had met with Buzzard.

      Buzzard exited Bell’s vehicle and walked to the location where the police were

      parked and handed over the morphine pills and recording equipment. Buzzard

      refused to make a second controlled buy from Bell since he did not want to get

      Bell in trouble.

[7]   On June 15, 2015, the State filed an Information, charging Bell with dealing in

      a narcotic drug, a Level 5 felony. On October 16-17, 2015, the trial court

      conducted a jury trial. At the close of the hearing, the jury found Bell guilty as

      charged. On December 1, 2015, the trial court held a sentencing hearing and

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 35A02-1512-CR-2245 | August 23, 2016   Page 3 of 10
       subsequently sentenced Bell to an executed sentence of six years at the

       Department of Correction.

[8]    Bell now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.

                                   DISCUSSION AND DECISION

                                                I. Best Evidence

[9]    Bell first claims that the trial court abused its discretion by permitting the State

       to question Buzzard about a certain term heard on the audio recording.

       Specifically, Bell challenges Buzzard’s testimony under the best evidence

       principles. We note that the best evidence rule simply refers to the principle

       that when trying to prove the content of a document, recording, or photograph,

       an original is the best evidence of that content. Ind. Evidence Rule 1002.

       “However, when a witness has personal knowledge of the facts contained in the

       best evidence, the best evidence rule will not bar the witnesses’ [sic] testimony

       since the witness is not being asked to reveal the contents of the best evidence,

       but rather is being asked to recall his own independent observations.” Lopez v.

       State, 527 N.E.2d 1119, 1125 (Ind. 1988).

[10]   Further, we observe that the decision to admit or exclude evidence is within the

       trial court’s sound discretion and is “afforded a great deal of deference on

       appeal.” Hauk v. State, 729 N.E.2d 994, 1001 (Ind. 2000). We will not reverse

       that decision absent a manifest abuse of discretion resulting in the denial of a

       fair trial. Edwards v. State, 724 N.E.2d 616, 620 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 35A02-1512-CR-2245 | August 23, 2016   Page 4 of 10
[11]   As noted above, Buzzard was equipped with audio and video recording

       equipment to monitor the controlled buy. At trial, the State sought to

       introduced the audio recording as Exhibit 3. As the State published that audio

       recording to the jury members, Buzzard was on the witness stand and the State

       asked questions to provide context of the voices, background noises, and events

       occurring. Buzzard identified his voice, Roberts’ voice, and Bell’s voice. Also

       without objection, he identified Roberts as the speaker who asked him for the

       buy money. Without objection, Buzzard testified that he gave Roberts the buy

       money when Roberts asked for it, and that Bell returned to the car and gave

       him the morphine pills before they drove away. At some point the State asked

               THE STATE: . . . [W]ho is that talking right there?

               [BUZZARD]: [Roberts]

               THE STATE: He referred to Perks. What are Perks?

               [BUZZARD]: Oxycodone[]s.

               THE STATE: What are Opanas?

               [BUZZARD]: Um, I believe they are Hydromorphone pills.

               THE STATE: Okay. Also pain med pills?

               [BUZZARD]: Correct.

               Recording stopped at 4:13:37

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 35A02-1512-CR-2245 | August 23, 2016   Page 5 of 10
        THE STATE: There was . . .

        [BELL’S] COUNSEL: Your Honor, I’m going to have to object at
        this point. What I’m hearing is [the State] testifying . . . .[T]his
        information should come from his own testimony and not from [the
        State]. . . . I didn’t hear ‘perks’. . .

        THE COURT: I don’t think [] she’s referring to what the tape says
        and asks him to identify it or to explain it. That’s not improper.

        [BELL’S] COUNSEL: I’m saying I didn’t hear that word.

        THE COURT: Well if the jury didn’t hear then . . . (sic).

        [BELL’S] COUNSEL: What gives her the right to … (sic).

        THE COURT: Then they are going to have the same interpretation
        you are. But [] the jury will be able to listen to the tape again if they
        wish and as many times as they wish.

        [BELL’S] COUNSEL: Right, right. And the best evidence is the
        witness.

        THE STATE: Well, the best evidence is the recording.

        ****

        THE COURT: I’m going to overrule the objection. You can note
        your objection.

        (Transcript pp. 194-95).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 35A02-1512-CR-2245 | August 23, 2016   Page 6 of 10
[12]   From the above, it appears that Bell did not reference the best evidence rule as

       his reason for objecting to Buzzard’s testimony. Rather, the substance of Bell’s

       objection appears to have been focused on the form of questioning and his belief

       that the State was asking leading questions. Bell does not develop an argument

       on appeal that the form of the questioning was leading and because Bell cannot

       object on one basis at trial and raise another basis on appeal, he has waived

       appellate review of any claim that the challenged questioning violated the best

       evidence rule. See Phillips v. State, 22 N.E.3d 749, 757 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015).

       Indeed, the rule of waiver protects the integrity of the trial court in that the trial

       court cannot be found to have erred as to an argument that it never had an

       opportunity to consider. T.S. v. Logansport State Hosp., 959 N.E.2d 855, 857

       (Ind. Ct. App. 2011), trans. denied. Therefore, Bell’s claim is waived.

[13]   Waiver notwithstanding, we conclude that there was no error. To the extent

       that the contents of the recordings were in dispute, the recordings were

       available for review by the jury during deliberations. Moreover, the disputed

       testimony primarily relates to Buzzard clarifying the use of a slang term for a

       certain drug during his conversation with Roberts. It does not relate to the

       specific drug that Bell sold to Buzzard, which was morphine. It also did not

       relate directly to Bell’s role in the crime. In light of the overwhelming evidence

       of Bell’s guilt presented at trial, it is unlikely that the jury’s decision was

       influenced by Buzzard clarifying the meaning of “perks”, the street name of

       Oxycodone. See Halliburton v. State, 1 N.E.3d 670, 683 n. 7 (Ind. 2013) (“Where

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 35A02-1512-CR-2245 | August 23, 2016   Page 7 of 10
       evidence of guilt is overwhelming any error in the admission of evidence is not

       fundamental.”). Accordingly, we find no error here.

                                             II. Inappropriate Sentence 1

[14]   Lastly, Bell contends that his six-year sentence is inappropriate in light of the

       nature of the offense and his character. Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B) provides

       that we “may revise a sentence authorized by statute if, after due consideration

       of the trial court’s decision, [we find] that the sentence is inappropriate in light

       of the nature of the offense and the character of the offender.” The burden is on

       the defendant to persuade the appellate court that his or her sentence is

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

       “Ultimately the length of the aggregate sentence and how it is to be served are

       the issues that matter.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008).

       Whether we regard a sentence as appropriate at the end of the day turns on our

       sense of the culpability of the defendant, the severity of the crime, the damage

       1
         Pursuant to Indiana Administrative Rule 9(G)(2)(b) and Indiana Code section 35-38-1-13, the presentence
       investigation (PSI) report must be excluded from public access. However, in this case, the information
       contained in the PSI report “is essential to the resolution” of Bell’s claim on appeal. Ind. Admin. Rule
       9(G)(7)(a)(ii)(c). Accordingly, we have included confidential information in this decision only to the extent
       necessary to resolve the appeal.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 35A02-1512-CR-2245 | August 23, 2016             Page 8 of 10
       done to others, and a myriad of other considerations that come to light in a

       given case. Id.

[15]   The advisory sentence is the starting point the legislature has selected as an

       appropriate sentence for the crime committed. Abbott v. State, 961 N.E.2d 1016,

       1019 (Ind. 2012). For his Level 5 felony dealing in a narcotic drug, Bell faced a

       sentencing range of one to six years, with the advisory sentence being three

       years. Here, the trial court imposed the maximum sentence.

[16]   As to the nature of the offense, Bell argues that he was not the target of the

       controlled buy, and he happened to drive his vehicle in which the target of the

       drug buy was present. Bell’s culpability is not diminished based on the fact that

       he was not the actual target. The record shows that Bell received $140 from

       Buzzard and, in return, he gave Buzzard five morphine pills.

[17]   As to Bell’s character, the record shows that he has an extensive criminal

       history. Bell’s criminal record dates back to 2002, and it includes twelve

       convictions, including domestic battery, resisting law enforcement, operating a

       vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction, driving while suspended,

       public intoxication, and possession of alcohol by a minor. Furthermore, this is

       not Bell’s first drug offense, Bell has been convicted of dealing in marijuana. In

       addition, Bell’s probation has been revoked three times.

[18]   Despite his numerous prior contacts with the criminal justice system, Bell has

       not reformed his criminal behavior. Here, we cannot say that the six-year

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 35A02-1512-CR-2245 | August 23, 2016   Page 9 of 10
       sentence imposed by the trial court is inappropriate in light of the nature of the

       offense and the character of the offender.

                                               CONCLUSION

[19]   Based on the foregoing, we find no error in the admission of Buzzard’s

       testimony; and Bell’s sentence is appropriate in light of the nature of the offense

       and his character.

[20]   Affirmed.

[21]   Kirsch, J. and Pyle, J. concur

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 35A02-1512-CR-2245 | August 23, 2016   Page 10 of 10