Court Opinion

ID: 2726082
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 20:57:58.090828+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:42:59.644947
License: Public Domain

Nov 14 2013, 5:45 am

 Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D),
 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:

DONALD E. BAIER                                      GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Baier & Baier                                        Attorney General of Indiana
Mount Vernon, Indiana
                                                     RICHARD C. WEBSTER
                                                     Deputy Attorney General
                                                     Indianapolis, Indiana

                                IN THE
                      COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

RANDY TERRELL,                                       )
                                                     )
       Appellant-Defendant,                          )
                                                     )
                vs.                                  )       No. 65A04-1303-CR-147
                                                     )
STATE OF INDIANA,                                    )
                                                     )
       Appellee-Plaintiff.                           )

                       APPEAL FROM THE POSEY SUPERIOR COURT
                            The Honorable S. Brent Almon, Judge
                              Cause No. 65D01-1208-FB-358

                                         November 14, 2013

                 MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

FRIEDLANDER, Judge
        Randy Terrell appeals the sentence he received following his conviction of Dealing in

Methamphetamine1 as a class B felony; two counts of Burglary,2 both as class B felonies;

Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors with Intent to Manufacture a Controlled

Substance3 as a class D felony; Maintaining a Common Nuisance4 as a class D felony; and

two counts of Theft,5 both as class D felonies. These convictions were entered upon his pleas

of guilty. Terrell contends his sentence is inappropriate in light of his character and the

nature of his offenses.

        We affirm.

        The facts as admitted by Terrell are that on July 17, 2012, Terrell and his son broke

into a barn located on property owned by Fred Eaton in Posey County. Once inside, the men

removed an air compressor, tools, and an air conditioner. The air conditioner was later

recovered at Terrell’s residence. On August 13, 2012, Terrell and his son went to the

residence of Karen Mathews in Posey County, forced open a window, and entered the home.

Terrell’s son removed an antique jewelry box full of jewelry. Terrell and other members of

his family subsequently sold some of the jewelry in various places in Posey and Vanderburgh

Counties. Some of the jewelry and the antique jewelry box were later recovered at Terrell’s

residence. On August 16, 2013, police officers went to Terrell’s residence because they had

evidence indicating that Terrell and his son were involved in the burglaries and were selling

1
  Ind. Code Ann. § 35-48-4-1.1 (a)(1) (West, Westlaw current with all 2013 legislation).
2 Ind. Code Ann. § 35-43-2-1 (West, Westlaw current with all 2013 legislation).
3 I.C. § 35-48-4-14.5 (e) (West, Westlaw current with all 2013 legislation).
4 I.C. § 35-48-4-13 (b) (2) (West, Westlaw current with all 2013 legislation).
5 I.C. § 35-43-4-2 (a) (West, Westlaw current with all 2013 legislation).

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property stolen during those burglaries. Once there, police observed in plain view various

pieces of jewelry that Terrell was in the process of dismantling. Police then obtained a

search warrant for Terrell’s residence, and upon executing the warrant, recovered items

stolen during the aforementioned burglaries. Terrell and his son gave statements admitting

they committed the burglaries.

      While executing the above-mentioned warrant, officers also observed in plain view

items that led them to believe that Terrell was engaged in the manufacture of

methamphetamine. Police then obtained a second search warrant, executed that warrant, and

recovered two HCL generators and a drinking glass containing a liquid that was subsequently

determined to contain methamphetamine. They also recovered: empty blister packs for

pseudoephedrine tablets, pseudoephedrine tablets, cut-corner plastic baggies containing a

white, powdery substance determined to be methamphetamine, several pieces of burnt

aluminum foil that were used to ingest methamphetamine, wet and dry coffee filters, some of

which contained a white, powdery residue subsequently determined to be methamphetamine,

a thermos cup with a powdery residue that was subsequently determined to be ephedrine, a

metal spoon with a residue that was subsequently determined to be methamphetamine,

camping fuel, plastic tubing, and sodium hydroxide.        Terrell admitted he had used

methamphetamine for a period of years, but claimed that he did not manufacture it it.

      The State charged Terrell with dealing in methamphetamine (Count 1) and burglary

(Count 4), both as class B felonies, burglary as a class C felony (Count 5), class D felony

possession of chemical reagents or precursors with intent to manufacture a controlled

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substance (Count 2), class D felony maintaining a common nuisance (Count 3), and two

counts of theft (Counts 6 and 7), both as class D felonies. Terrell pled guilty to all counts

without the benefit of a plea agreement. Following a hearing, the trial court sentenced

Terrell to an aggregate, executed sentence of twenty-four years. This included the advisory

sentence for each offense, some of which were to run consecutively to each other, while

others were to run concurrently.

       Terrell contends his sentence was inappropriate in light of his character and the nature

of his offense. He cites the correct standard of review for challenges to the appropriateness

of a criminal sentence. Pursuant to that standard, article 7, section 4 of the Indiana

Constitution grants our Supreme Court the power to review and revise criminal sentences.

Under Ind. Appellate Rule 7, the Supreme Court authorized this court to perform the same

task. Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219 (Ind. 2008). Per Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B), we

may 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.” Wilkes v. State, 917 N.E.2d 675, 693 (Ind. 2009), cert. denied, 131 S.Ct. 414

(2010). “[S]entencing is principally a discretionary function in which the trial court’s

judgment should receive considerable deference.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d at 1223.

Terrell bears the burden on appeal of persuading us that his sentence is inappropriate.

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

       Although citing this standard, Terrell’s argument focuses not upon his character or the

nature of his offenses, but rather upon the aggravating and mitigating circumstances cited by

                                               4
the court in arriving at his sentence. He argues, “the trial court failed to appropriately

consider the significance of the mitigating factors [found by the trial court], and had the court

done so, the Court would’ve reduced [Terrell’s] sentences below the advisory sentence and

would not have run sentences consecutively. Further, the trial court gave inappropriate

significance to [Terrell’s] criminal history.” Appellant’s Brief at 9. He provides the

following summary at the conclusion of his argument:

       Appellant submits that the trial court did not attach enough significance to the
       mitigating factors in failing to reduce appellant’s sentence below the advisory
       sentence and by imposing consecutive sentences. Appellant requests that the
       appellate court exercise its authority under Appellate Rule 7 (B), [and]
       determine that the appellant’s sentence in [sic] inappropriate in light of the
       nature of the offense and the character of the offender[.]

Id. at 11.

       As reflected in this summary, Terrell conflates two distinct legal issues. While

ostensibly challenging the appropriateness of the sentence, his argument substantively

focuses exclusively on the trial court’s weighing of aggravating and mitigating

circumstances. Our Supreme Court has explained that under the current advisory sentencing

scheme, trial courts do not have an obligation to weigh aggravating and mitigating factors

against each other when imposing a sentence. See Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482 (Ind.

2006), clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 218 (Ind. 2007). Therefore, the weight the trial court

assigns to any aggravating or mitigating circumstance is not subject to appellate review. Id.

       With respect to the challenge that he may and ostensibly does make to his sentence,

i.e., the appropriateness of the sentence, the “revision of a sentence under Indiana Appellate

Rule 7(B) requires the appellant to demonstrate that his sentence is inappropriate in light of

                                               5
both the nature of his offenses and his character.” Williams v. State, 891 N.E.2d 621, 633

(Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (emphasis in original); see App. R. 7(B). Terrell presents no argument

whatsoever concerning the inappropriateness of his sentence in light of the nature of his

offenses or his character. Therefore, the argument is waived. Williams v. State, 891 N.E.2d

621; see App. R. 46(A)(8)(a).

      Judgment affirmed.

BAKER, J., and VAIDIK, J., concur.

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