Court Opinion

ID: 2727273
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 21:13:26.669825+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:39:58.306345
License: Public Domain

Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D),                                   Jun 19 2013, 7:17 am
 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.

APPELLANT PRO SE:                                         ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:

ANTHONY HOUSTON                                           GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Pendleton, Indiana                                        Attorney General of Indiana

                                                          KYLE HUNTER
                                                          Deputy Attorney General
                                                          Indianapolis, Indiana

                                IN THE
                      COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

ANTHONY HOUSTON,                                          )
                                                          )
       Appellant-Defendant,                               )
                                                          )
                vs.                                       )      No. 49A05-1208-PC-432
                                                          )
STATE OF INDIANA,                                         )
                                                          )
       Appellee-Plaintiff.                                )

                      APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT
                           The Honorable Amy Barbar, Magistrate
                            Cause No. 49G02-9311-PC-157796

                                                June 19, 2013

                 MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

FRIEDLANDER, Judge
       Anthony Houston appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief

following his conviction of Criminal Recklessness, 1 a class D felony, and Carrying a

Handgun Without Being Licensed, 2 a class A misdemeanor. Houston presents one issue on

appeal: did the trial court properly advise him regarding possible alternative misdemeanor

sentencing for his class D felony conviction?

       We affirm.

       On February 3, 1994, the trial court held a hearing on Houston’s guilty plea. At the

hearing, Houston was advised of his rights and the trial court verified that he knowingly and

voluntarily entered his plea. Houston was informed of the possible maximum and minimum

sentences for both counts. The following colloquy ensued:

       The Court: Okay. Okay. Then I will give him the advisements as to everything. Sir, a
       class D felony carries a presumptive term of imprisonment of one and one half years
       in prison; it could be aggravated up to three years, mitigated down to one half year for
       a determinate sentence, one half year up to three years up to a $10,000 fine, do you
       understand that, sir?

       Mr. Houston: Yes, sir.

       The Court: Sir, in certain situations a class A — excuse me, a class D felony can be
       sentenced as a class A misdemeanor and a class A misdemeanor carries no time up to
       one year up to a $5000 fine, do you understand that, sir?

       Mr. Houston: Yes, Sir.

Transcript at 9.

       The trial court then explained to Houston the possibility of consecutive and aggregate

1
  Ind. Code Ann. § 35-42-2-2 (West, Westlaw current through P.L.171 with effective dates through May 7,
2013).
2
  Ind. Code Ann. § 35-37-2-1 (West, Westlaw current through P.L.171 with effective dates through May 7,
2013).

                                                  2
sentences that could result. After the factual basis for the plea was established, the trial court

accepted Houston’s plea and entered a judgment of conviction on criminal recklessness and

carrying a handgun without a license.

                                               1.

       The purpose of post-conviction relief is to give the petitioner an opportunity to argue

issues that were unavailable or unknown during trial or direct appeal. Donnegan v. State,

889 N.E.2d 886 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). On post-conviction relief, the petitioner has the burden

of establishing his claims by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. Claims that are generally

recognized as appropriate for post-conviction relief fit into narrow classifications showing

deprivation of the right to counsel or unavailability of issues at the time of trial or direct

appeal. Id. Also, we will disturb the post-conviction court’s decision only if the evidence is

without conflict and leads to a conclusion opposite that of the post-conviction court. Id.

       Houston claims he was not properly advised by the trial court under Ind. Code Ann. §

35-35-1-2 (West, Westlaw current through P.L.171 with effective dates through May 7,

2013), and he was misled about his sentencing options concerning the class D felony

conviction. To prevail on a claim that he was improperly advised concerning sentencing

alternatives, the petitioner must satisfy a two-part test inquiring into: “1) whether the

defendant was aware of actual sentencing possibilities and 2) whether the accurate

information would have made any difference in his decision to enter the plea.” Harris v.

State, 762 N.E.2d 163, 167 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002).

       Houston fails to satisfy both elements of the test. He was advised that a class D felony,

                                                3
like his conviction of criminal recklessness, “can be sentenced as a class A misdemeanor.”

Transcript at 9. He was also informed of the minimum and maximum sentences for a class D

felony and a class A misdemeanor. Moreover, Houston was properly advised of consecutive

and aggregate sentencing schemes, as well as the maximum and minimum he could receive

under both. Therefore, Houston was properly advised by the trial court and his petition for

post-conviction relief must fail.

       Judgment affirmed.

ROBB, C.J., and CRONE, J., concur.

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