Court Opinion

ID: 4545126
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-06-30 15:03:32.131076+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:50:29.052855
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                           FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any                                 Jun 30 2020, 8:47 am
court except for the purpose of establishing
                                                                                CLERK
the defense of res judicata, collateral                                   Indiana Supreme Court
                                                                             Court of Appeals
estoppel, or the law of the case.                                              and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Christopher Kunz                                         Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Marion County Public Defender                            Attorney General of Indiana
Appellate Division
Indianapolis, Indiana                                    Tina L. Mann
                                                         Deputy Attorney General
                                                         Indianapolis, Indiana

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Keith Michael Yox,                                       June 30, 2020
Appellant-Defendant,                                     Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                         19A-CR-2879
        v.                                               Appeal from the Marion Superior
                                                         Court
State of Indiana,                                        The Honorable James Kevin
Appellee-Plaintiff                                       Snyder, Commissioner
                                                         Trial Court Cause No.
                                                         49G02-1801-F1-2363

Crone, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2879 | June 30, 2020                     Page 1 of 9
                                                Case Summary
[1]   Keith Michael Yox appeals his convictions, following a jury trial, for two

      counts of level 1 felony child molesting. He contends that the trial court abused

      its discretion in denying his motion for continuance made on the morning of

      trial, and that the State presented insufficient evidence to support his

      convictions. Finding no abuse of discretion and sufficient evidence, we affirm.

                                   Facts and Procedural History
[2]   In August 2001, twenty-eight-year-old Yox began a relationship with eighteen-

      year-old Lena Bandy. Yox and Bandy were married in 2004, and had one

      daughter, E.Y., born in June 2009. The couple divorced in December 2012.

      Following the divorce, Yox had visitation with E.Y. every Thursday night and

      every other weekend.

[3]   On Thursday, February 18, 2016, six-year-old E.Y. spent the night at Yox’s

      house. Yox and E.Y. slept together in the living room on a mattress. When

      they went to bed that night, E.Y. did not have any clothes on. Yox also did not

      have any clothes on. At some point, E.Y. found herself on top of Yox. E.Y.

      remembers that, as she tried to sleep, Yox was touching her “butt” with his

      penis. State’s Ex. 28. 1 Yox touched the “inside” of her “butt” and it “hurt.”

      Id.

      1
       State’s Exhibit 28 is the video recording of an interview of E.Y. by a child forensic interviewer. The exhibit
      was published to the jury but not admitted into evidence. Tr. Vol. 3 at 73.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2879 | June 30, 2020                       Page 2 of 9
[4]   The following day, Bandy went to pick up E.Y. from school. When Bandy

      arrived, E.Y. would not come out of the bathroom because she had “an

      accident in her underwear” and wanted Bandy to come in to help her. Tr. Vol.

      2 at 147. Bandy went in and realized that E.Y. had “pooped on herself.” Id.

      As Bandy tried to clean E.Y., she could tell that E.Y. was in pain because E.Y.

      kept “flinching” and would push Bandy’s hands away from her vaginal area

      and buttocks. Id. Bandy observed that those areas were “inflamed and

      bleeding.” Id. Bandy knew that it was “more than just [her] cleaning [E.Y.]”

      that was causing pain. E.Y. disclosed that Yox had hurt her, so Bandy took

      E.Y. to an urgent care and then to the hospital. Id. at 148.

[5]   E.Y. was seen by forensic nurse Julia Weems. Nurse Weems conducted a

      three-hour sexual assault exam. Weems noticed erythema (redness) on E.Y.’s

      labia majora and an abrasion on her anus running from the anal fold to the

      outside of the anus. Id. at 177-78. Weems swabbed E.Y.’s external and

      internal genitalia, inner thighs, and anus, and collected all of E.Y.’s clothing,

      including her underwear.

[6]   Testing on the internal genital swab and E.Y.’s underwear indicated the

      presence of seminal fluid. DNA profile testing confirmed that Yox was the

      “contributor” of the sperm found on the internal genital swab. Id. at 249. In

      addition, serology and DNA tests performed on E.Y.’s underwear confirmed

      that the DNA from the seminal fluid belonged to Yox. Regarding the anal

      swab, testing revealed a male presence, but there was insufficient DNA to

      develop a profile.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2879 | June 30, 2020   Page 3 of 9
[7]   On January 22, 2018, the State charged Yox with two counts of level 1 felony

      child molesting. After numerous continuances had been granted, a jury trial

      was set for August 12, 2019. That morning, the court congested Yox’s trial off

      the court’s calendar for another jury trial, and the court reset Yox’s jury trial for

      October 15. On October 3, the parties affirmed that trial date during a pretrial

      conference. The jury trial began as scheduled on October 15, 2019. At the

      outset, Yox made an oral motion for continuance, which the trial court denied.

      The jury subsequently found Yox guilty as charged. The trial court sentenced

      him to concurrent terms of thirty-five years, with five years suspended and two

      years of probation on each count. This appeal ensued.

                                     Discussion and Decision

           Section 1 – The trial court did not abuse its discretion in
           denying Yox’s oral motion for continuance made on the
                          morning of his jury trial.
[8]   Yox first contends that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his oral

      motion for continuance made on the morning of his jury trial. Rulings on

      nonstatutory motions for continuance lie within the trial court’s discretion.

      Maxey v. State, 730 N.E.2d 158, 160 (Ind. 2000). “We will not disturb the trial

      court’s decision absent a clear demonstration of abuse of discretion resulting in

      prejudice.” Blackburn v. State, 130 N.E.3d 1207, 1210 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019).

      “An abuse of discretion occurs only where the trial court’s decision is clearly

      against the logic and effect of the fact and circumstances before the court.”

      Shoultz v. State, 995 N.E.2d 647, 657 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied. We

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2879 | June 30, 2020   Page 4 of 9
      further observe that continuances to allow more time for trial preparation are

      generally disfavored in criminal cases. Zanussi v. State, 2 N.E.3d 731, 734 (Ind.

      Ct. App. 2013). The appellant must overcome a strong presumption that the

      trial court properly exercised its discretion. Evans v. State, 855 N.E.2d 378, 386

      (Ind. Ct. App. 2006), trans. denied (2007). Additionally, the appellant must

      make a specific showing of how he was prejudiced as a result of the trial court’s

      denial of his motion. Id. at 386-87.

[9]   Here, on the morning of trial, defense counsel made an oral request for a

      continuance. Specifically, Yox’s counsel indicated that he was not prepared for

      trial because Yox’s jury trial had been the “second choice” trial setting until the

      day prior. Tr. Vol. 2 at 5. The trial court reminded defense counsel that there is

      always a chance that first choice “falls off” and that the second-choice setting

      must be ready to proceed. Id. The court then inquired, “[S]o, what are you not

      ready to proceed on, because this case has been congested the day of jury

      before, on August 12th.” Id. Counsel simply responded, “It would have been

      lovely to have gone over the evidence one last time with Mr. Yox and kind of

      make sure that he understood what the arguments were going to be, and the

      direction the Defense was going ….” Id. Counsel then conceded that he had,

      in fact, recently gone over everything with Yox before the original August 12

      trial date, but quipped, “It’s always nice to give the client refreshers. They –

      they forget – they tend to forget things.” Id. at 6. Yox’s counsel made no other

      assertions as to why a continuance was necessary or how his client would be

      prejudiced in the event of a denial. The trial court denied Yox’s last-minute

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2879 | June 30, 2020   Page 5 of 9
       oral motion, noting, “This case is a year and nine months old …. It’s been

       prepped for trial before.” Id.

[10]   Yox has failed to demonstrate that the trial court’s decision in this regard

       constituted an abuse of discretion. Although Yox now asserts that a

       continuance was necessary for him to review the “supplemental notice of

       discovery compliance” filed by the State a month before trial, Appellant’s Reply

       Br. at 5, Yox made no such argument to the trial court, and therefore it, is

       waived. See Butler v. State, 140 N.E.3d 870, 875-76 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019) (finding

       issue waived on appeal because defendant’s failure to raise below deprived trial

       court of opportunity to address question or develop record), trans. denied (2020).

       Moreover, other than bald assertions, Yox makes no specific showing on appeal

       that he suffered prejudice as a result of the trial court’s denial of his motion for

       continuance. Accordingly, we find no abuse of discretion.

        Section 2 – The State presented sufficient evidence to support
                               the convictions.
[11]   Yox challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions.

       When reviewing a claim of insufficient evidence, we neither reweigh the

       evidence nor assess witness credibility. Bell v. State, 31 N.E.3d 495, 499 (Ind.

       2015). We look to the evidence and reasonable inferences drawn therefrom that

       support the conviction, and will affirm if there is probative evidence from which

       a reasonable factfinder could have found the defendant guilty beyond a

       reasonable doubt. Id. In short, if the testimony believed by the trier of fact is

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2879 | June 30, 2020   Page 6 of 9
       enough to support the conviction, then the reviewing court will not disturb it.

       Id. at 500.

[12]   “A person who, with a child under fourteen (14) years of age, knowingly or

       intentionally performs or submits to sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct

       (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5) commits child molesting ….” Ind. Code § 35-

       42-4-3(a). “Sexual intercourse” means an act that includes any penetration of

       the female sex organ by the male sex organ. Ind. Code § 35-31.5-2-302. “Other

       sexual conduct” means an act involving: (1) a sex organ of one (1) person and

       the mouth or anus of another person; or (2) the penetration of the sex organ or

       anus of a person by an object. Ind. Code § 35-31.5-2-221.5. The offense of

       child molesting is a level 1 felony if it is committed by a person at least twenty-

       one (21) years of age. Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(a)(1).

[13]   Yox asserts that the State presented insufficient evidence of his intent, namely

       that the State failed to establish that he “knowingly” performed sexual

       intercourse and other sexual conduct with E.Y. A person engages in conduct

       “knowingly” if, “when he engages in the conduct, he is aware of a high

       probability that he is doing so.” Ind. Code § 35-41-2-2(b). “Intent is a mental

       function.” Lush v. State, 783 N.E.2d 1191, 1196 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). Absent

       an admission by the defendant, intent must be determined from a consideration

       of the defendant’s conduct and the natural and usual consequences thereof. Id.

       “The trier of fact must resort to reasonable inferences based upon an

       examination of the surrounding circumstances to determine whether, from the

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2879 | June 30, 2020   Page 7 of 9
       person’s conduct and the natural consequences of what might be expected from

       that conduct, a showing or inference of the intent to commit that conduct

       exists.” Id. The intent element of child molesting may be established by

       circumstantial evidence. Bowles v. State, 737 N.E.2d 1150, 1152 (Ind. 2000).

[14]   Here, laboratory testing on the internal genital swab and E.Y.’s underwear

       indicated the presence of seminal fluid. DNA profile testing confirmed that

       Yox was the “contributor” of the sperm found on the internal genital swab. Tr.

       Vol. 2 at 249. In addition, serology and DNA tests performed on E.Y.’s

       underwear confirmed that the DNA from the seminal fluid belonged to Yox.

       E.Y. had redness on her labia majora and an abrasion on her anus running from

       the anal fold to the outside of the anus. Six-year-old E.Y. told the child forensic

       interviewer that Yox “hurt her butt,” and she circled a penis on an anatomical

       drawing to indicate the body part that Yox used to hurt her. State’s Ex. 28.

[15]   Yox appears to concede that sufficient evidence establishes that he performed

       sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct with E.Y., but he asserts that the

       State failed to prove that he acted knowingly. Specifically, he suggests that it

       was just as likely that he accidentally performed sexual intercourse or other

       sexual conduct with E.Y. because the State failed to show that he “was awake”

       when he ejaculated on and/or into E.Y.’s genitals and anus. Appellant’s Br. at

       14. Yox’s assertion is simply a request that we reweigh the evidence in his

       favor, which we will not do. As noted by the State, Yox engaged in sexual

       touching and conduct long enough and intensely enough to reach the point of

       ejaculation. State’s Br. at 16. We agree with the State that a jury could

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2879 | June 30, 2020   Page 8 of 9
       reasonably infer from the surrounding circumstances (Yox lying naked with his

       naked young daughter on top of him) that Yox acted knowingly. In other

       words, the jury could reasonably infer from Yox’s conduct and the natural

       consequences of what might be expected from that conduct, that he possessed

       the requisite intent to commit that conduct. The State presented sufficient

       evidence that Yox knowingly performed sexual intercourse and other sexual

       conduct with E.Y. We affirm his convictions.

[16]   Affirmed.

       Bailey, J., and Altice, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2879 | June 30, 2020   Page 9 of 9