Court Opinion

ID: 2725042
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 20:44:32.884625+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:59.951479
License: Public Domain

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                                          May 20 2014, 9:01 am
establishing the defense of res judicata,
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                            ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:

DEBORAH MARKISOHN                                  GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Marion County Public Defender Agency               Attorney General of Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
                                                   JOSEPH Y. HO
                                                   Deputy Attorney General
                                                   Indianapolis, Indiana

                               IN THE
                     COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

MARK BLACKBURN,                                    )
                                                   )
       Appellant-Defendant,                        )
                                                   )
               vs.                                 )      No. 49A02-1310-CR-833
                                                   )
STATE OF INDIANA,                                  )
                                                   )
       Appellee-Plaintiff.                         )

                     APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT
                            The Honorable Mark Stoner, Judge
                            Cause No. 49G06-1306-FB-39719

                                          May 20, 2014

                MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

BRADFORD, Judge
                                        CASE SUMMARY

        Appellant-Defendant Mark Blackburn appeals his conviction of Class B felony

robbery. Non-parties L.S. and Markel Gray committed two robberies twenty minutes apart.

Blackburn drove L.S. and Gray away from the scene of the second robbery, and the three

were apprehended shortly thereafter.             Appellee-Plaintiff the State of Indiana tried

Blackburn as an accomplice to the second robbery only. At trial, the State presented

evidence of the first robbery to prove Blackburn’s knowledge in aiding L.S. and Gray in

the second robbery. Blackburn argues that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting

evidence of the first robbery in violation of Indiana Evidence Rule 404(b). Blackburn

claims evidence of the first robbery is not relevant to any issue other than his propensity to

commit the second robbery. We disagree, finding evidence that Blackburn knew L.S. and

Gray had committed the first robbery, which evidence makes it more probable that

Blackburn knew L.S. and Gray had committed the second robbery when he drove them

away from the scene. Blackburn further claims evidence of first robbery is unfairly

prejudicial because it inescapably leads to the forbidden inference that he participated in

the second robbery. Finding no direct evidence or argument concerning Blackburn’s

participation in the first robbery, and considering the limiting instructions given by the trial

court, we conclude that the danger of unfair prejudice did not substantially outweigh the

probative value of the challenged evidence. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

                          FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY1

        1
          The record on appeal in this case was prepared pursuant to the Indiana Supreme Court’s “Order
Establishing the Indiana Court Reporting Pilot Project for Exploring the Use of an Audio/Visual Record on
                                                   2
       At approximately 9:40 p.m. on June 17, 2013, the Village Pantry located at 3760

North Franklin Road (“the 38th Street Village Pantry”) was robbed by two males (“the 38th

Street robbery”). The first male, later identified as L.S., wore a white T-shirt, red shorts,

and a red bandana covering his face. The second male, later identified as Markel Gray,

wore dark clothing, a black and red baseball cap, and a dark bandana covering his face.

Inside the 38th Street Village Pantry, L.S. pointed a handgun at Village Pantry employee

Mea Passley while he and Gray took approximately $70.00 in cash, cigarillos, and cigarette

lighters. L.S. and Gray then ran from the store heading south.

       Approximately twenty minutes after the 38th Street robbery, the Village Pantry

located at 5199 North Franklin Road (“the 52nd Street Village Pantry”) was also robbed by

two males (“the 52nd Street robbery”). The first male, later identified as L.S., wore a white

T-shirt, red shorts, and a red bandana covering his face. The second male, later identified

as Gray, wore dark clothing, a black and red baseball cap, and a dark bandana covering his

face. Inside the 52nd Street Village Pantry, L.S. pointed a handgun at Village Pantry

employee Deborah Ballard while he and Gray took approximately $200.00 in cash,

cigarillos, and cigarette lighters. L.S. and Gray then ran from the store heading west.

       Moments after the 52nd Street robbery, Lawrence Police Department (“LPD”)

Officer Jon Thompson observed a gray 1988 Chevrolet Caprice Classic speed past a stop

Appeal[,]” issued on September 18, 2012, and effective on July 1, 2012. See In Re Pilot Project for
Audio/Visual Recordings In Lieu of Paper Transcripts In the Preparation of the Record and Briefing on
Appeal, 976 N.E.2d 1218 (Ind. 2012). We are grateful for the ongoing cooperation of the Honorable Mark
D. Stoner of Marion Superior Court, the Marion County Public Defender Agency, and the Office of the
Indiana Attorney General in the execution of this pilot project.

                                                  3
sign at the intersection of 52nd Street and Normal Avenue, two blocks from the 52nd Street

Village Pantry. The vehicle was registered to and driven by Blackburn; Gray was riding

in the front passenger seat, and L.S. was seated behind him. Officer Thompson initiated a

traffic stop of the vehicle, and, as it slowed, L.S. exited the backseat and fled west on foot.

Officer Thompson detained Blackburn and Gray in the vehicle, and L.S. was soon

apprehended several blocks away.

       From Blackburn’s vehicle, officers recovered $217.00 in cash; forty-one cigarillos

wrapped in varying green, purple, and red packaging; a black and red “Chicago Bulls”

baseball cap; and two bandanas, one red and one black. An additional $79.00 in cash and

five cigarette lighters were recovered from L.S.’s person. The State charged L.S. and Gray

for both the 38th Street and the 52nd Street robberies, while only charging Blackburn for the

latter. Specifically, Blackburn was charged with Class B felony robbery on a theory of

accomplice liability. He was tried separately from the L.S. and Gray.

       On August 26, 2013, Blackburn filed a motion in limine, seeking to exclude

evidence of the 38th Street robbery as inadmissible character evidence under Indiana

Evidence Rule 404(b). After a pre-trial hearing on the issue, the trial court denied

Blackburn’s motion but agreed to give the jury limiting instructions as to the challenged

evidence. The trial court also granted Blackburn a continuing objection on the issue.

       Blackburn’s two-day jury trial commenced on August 23, 2013, during which the

State presented surveillance video of the 52nd Street robbery. The video shows a vehicle

matching the description of Blackburn’s driving past the 52nd Street Village Pantry just

prior to the robbery. The vehicle turns right onto White Lane, approximately 100 yards
                                            4
west of the 52nd Street Village Pantry, and moments later, L.S. and Gray approach the store

on foot from the direction of White Lane. The video further shows L.S. and Gray running

from the store in the direction of White Lane after the robbery.

       The State also presented surveillance video of the 38th Street robbery at trial. This

video shows L.S. and Gray approaching the 38th Street Village Pantry on foot from a field

south of the store and then running toward the field after committing the robbery. Inside

the store, the video shows Gray taking cigarillos wrapped in green packaging. Passley later

testified that the cigarillos found in Blackburn’s car, including those wrapped in green

packaging, were the same type of cigarillos taken during the 38th Street robbery.

       Prior to admitting the surveillance video of the 38th Street robbery, the trial court

instructed the jury as follows:

       Ladies and gentlemen you are about to look at evidence of an incident that’s
       not directly charged before you. This is an incident that was earlier in the
       evening before the incident that you are being asked to determine whether
       the State can prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt or not. You are being
       shown this incident for a limited purpose of determining solely on the issue
       of what the Defendant’s knowledge would be, or whether there is a lack of
       accident, or what his intent would be on that particular evening. You are not
       to consider it for any other purpose. In other words and specifically you are
       not to consider as character evidence. You are only being asked about
       whether the Defendant is guilty of the Village Pantry incident at 51st and
       Franklin Road. You may not draw the assumption that because if you believe
       the Defendant was involved in that incident that therefore he must have done
       this one. You must determine that independently based upon the elements
       of the offense that I have already given you. Ok? So, one of the elements is
       that the Defendant knowingly do something. You are being allowed to
       consider this incident, which is at a different location, solely for the purpose
       of determining the Defendant’s knowledge, or his intent, or a lack of mistake.
       Ok? … The court will also give you a final instruction that specifies what
       I’ve already told you here orally in court, just to make sure that you do keep
       that in mind as you consider the evidence and you go in deliberations.

                                              5
(A/V Rec.; 08/26/13; 03:48:28-03:50:38). Final Instruction No. 5, which was later given

to the jury both orally and in writing, similarly provided as follows:

       Sometimes evidence is admitted for a limited purpose. You have heard
       testimony from multiple complaining witnesses. You may consider the
       testimony of such witnesses as it relates to the other incidents for the limited
       purpose of determining the defendant’s knowledge, intent, and lack of
       mistake on the case before you.

       You may not consider such testimony for any other purpose. Specifically,
       you may not consider the evidence as proof of the defendant’s character. You
       may not draw any inference that, because the defendant acted a certain way
       on one occasion, he must have acted the same way on a different occasion
       because of that character trait.

(A/V Rec.; 08/27/13; 11:04:00-11:04:46).

       The jury found Blackburn guilty as charged.

                                        DISCUSSION

       Blackburn argues that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence of

the 38th Street robbery in violation of Evidence Rule 404(b). An abuse of discretion occurs

if a trial court’s decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances

before the court. Ware v. State, 816 N.E.2d 1167, 1175 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). Rule 404(b)

provides that “[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the

character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be

admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, intent, preparation, plan,

knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident….”

               In assessing the admissibility of evidence under Rule 404(b), the trial
       court must: (1) determine whether the evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or
       acts is relevant to a matter at issue other than the defendant’s propensity to
       commit the charged act; and (2) balance the probative value of the evidence
       against its prejudicial effect pursuant to Indiana Evidence Rule 403.
                                               6
Fry v. State, 748 N.E.2d 369, 372 (Ind. 2001). To determine whether the trial court abused

its discretion, we employ the same test. Ware, 816 N.E.2d at 1175.

                                       I. Relevancy

       Blackburn claims there is insufficient evidence that he participated in the 38th Street

robbery, such that evidence of that robbery cannot be relevant to his alleged participation

in the 52nd Street robbery. “When the relevance of evidence depends on whether a fact

exists, proof must be introduced sufficient to support a finding that the fact does exist.”

Evid. R. 104(b). Contrary to Blackburn’s claim, however, the relevance of evidence of the

38th Street robbery is not dependent on whether Blackburn participated in its commission.

       Blackburn was tried on a theory of accomplice liability, requiring the State to prove

that he knowingly aided L.S. and Gray in robbing the 52nd Street Village Pantry. To that

end, the State presented evidence that Blackburn helped L.S. and Gray flee the scene of the

52nd Street robbery by driving them away in his vehicle. If Blackburn knew that L.S. and

Gray had robbed the 38th Street Village Pantry approximately twenty minutes earlier,

evidence of that robbery is relevant to the issue of whether Blackburn knew L.S. and Gray

had robbed the 52nd Street Village Pantry when he drove them away. See Cox v. State, 696

N.E.2d 853, 861 (Ind. 1998).

       The State presented evidence that Blackburn dropped off L.S. and Gray near the

52nd Street Village Pantry just prior to its robbery and that cigarillos taken during the 38th

Street robbery were found in Blackburn’s vehicle shortly thereafter. This evidence places

L.S. and Gray in Blackburn’s vehicle during the twenty-minute period between the 38th

Street and 52nd Street robberies and is sufficient to support the inference that Blackburn
                                             7
knew L.S. and Gray had just robbed the 38th Street Village Pantry. See id.

       Blackburn also claims evidence of the 38th Street robbery is not relevant to any issue

other than his propensity to commit the 52nd Street robbery. We disagree. Relevant

evidence is that having “any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of

consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would

be without the evidence.” Evid. R. 401. As stated above, evidence that L.S. and Gray

robbed the 38th Street Village Pantry approximately twenty minutes before committing the

52nd Street robbery makes it more probable that Blackburn knew L.S. and Gray had robbed

the 52nd Street Village Pantry when he helped them getaway. The trial court did not abuse

its discretion in this regard.

                                   III. Unfair Prejudice

       Blackburn further claims evidence that he participated in the 38th Street robbery is

unfairly prejudicial because it inescapably leads to the forbidden inference that he also

participated in the 52nd Street robbery. “Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if

its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice….” Evid.

R. 403. “‘Unfair prejudice’ addresses the way in which the jury is expected to respond to

the evidence; it looks to the capacity of the evidence to persuade by illegitimate means, or

the tendency of the evidence to suggest decision on an improper basis[.]” Ingram v. State,

715 N.E.2d 405, 407 (Ind. 1999).

       To the extent that the evidence of the 38th Street robbery implicated Blackburn’s

participation therein, we conclude that the danger of unfair prejudice did not substantially

outweigh the evidence’s probative value. No witness identified Blackburn as participating
                                           8
in the 38th Street robbery, and there is no direct evidence placing him or his vehicle at the

scene. Additionally, the State never argued before the jury that Blackburn participated in

in the 38th Street robbery. Rather, the State’s argument at trial focused on evidence that

L.S. and Gray were in Blackburn’s vehicle during the twenty-minute period between the

two robberies. The trial court also admonished the jury that it was only to consider

evidence of the 38th Street robbery for the purpose of determining Blackburn’s knowledge

in aiding L.S. and Gray in robbing the 52nd Street Village Pantry. The trial court did not

abuse its discretion in this regard.

       The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

KIRSCH, J., and MAY, J., concur.

                                             9