Court Opinion

ID: 2784963
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-03-10 14:03:01.598197+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:28:34.132433
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
                                                                   Mar 10 2015, 9:23 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
John T. Wilson                                           Gregory F. Zoeller
Anderson, Indiana                                        Attorney General of Indiana
                                                         Eric P. Babbs
                                                         Deputy Attorney General
                                                         Indianapolis, Indiana

                                             IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Robert Miller,                                           March 10, 2015

Appellant-Defendant,                                     Court of Appeals Cause No.
                                                         48A02-1407-CR-478
        v.                                               Appeal from the Madison Circuit
                                                         Court.
State of Indiana,                                        The Honorable Thomas Newman,
                                                         Jr., Judge.
Appellee-Plaintiff
                                                         Cause No. 48C03-1301-FC-182

Riley, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision | 48A02-1407-CR-478 | March 10, 2015    Page 1 of 9
                                   STATEMENT OF THE CASE
[1]   Appellant-Defendant, Robert Miller (Miller), appeals his sentence following

      pleading guilty as charged without a plea agreement for two Counts of child

      molesting, Class C felonies, Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(b) (2013).

[2]   We affirm.

                                                    ISSUE

[3]   Miller raises one issue on appeal, which we restate as follows: Whether the

      trial court properly sentenced Miller to an aggregate sixteen-year sentence.

                             FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

[4]   Between December 2010 and November 27, 2012, S.H., then six and seven

      years old, was molested by Miller, her biological uncle. During that time, S.H.

      lived with her grandmother where Miller spent a considerable amount of time.

      At a forensic interview, S.H. described that Miller had touched her vagina with

      his finger. She stated that sometimes he would put his finger inside her vagina

      “but not most of the time.” (Appellant’s App. II, p. 43). Sometimes Miller

      would touch S.H. inside her underwear, other times outside her underwear.

[5]   Police officers interrogated Miller. He admitted to having touched S.H. twice

      but told the officers that each time S.H. initiated the contact. He said that when

      S.H. and he would be sitting side by side on the couch, S.H. would take a hold

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision | 48A02-1407-CR-478 | March 10, 2015   Page 2 of 9
      of his wrist and put the back of his hand on her vagina. Miller acknowledged

      that this touching would last for a couple of minutes before he pulled his hand

      away.

[6]   On January 24, 2013, the State filed an Information charging Miller with two

      Counts of Class C felony child molesting. On June 2, 2014, Miller pled guilty

      as charged without a plea agreement. A week later, on June 9, 2014, the trial

      court conducted a sentencing hearing. During the hearing, other victims came

      forward to testify about past molestations by Miller. Sh.H., Miller’s niece,

      testified that she was twelve years old when Miller has sexual intercourse with

      her in the back of his semi-truck. Even though Sh.H. made a written statement

      to police, she later recanted under pressure of her grandmother, Miller’s

      mother. Sean Moore (Moore), Miller’s former brother-in-law, testified that

      Miller had admitted to molesting Miller’s daughter. Based on these

      molestations, a fifty-one count indictment had been filed against Miller in

      North Carolina, his daughter’s place of residence.

[7]   During its sentencing, the trial court noted as follows

              The mitigating [factors] that the [c]ourt recognizes at this time are that
              [Miller] did plea saving the cost of the crime . . . the trial, and the
              victim having to testify. No prior criminal history. There w[ere]
              alleged acts of mitigation that he did cooperate with police but the
              [c]ourt finds that it was some what . . . and that he attempted to share
              some of the blame with the victim in this case. Aggravating
              circumstances are that the multiple [] offenses which were repeated
              against this particular victim; the trust position that he was in with this
              victim; the fact that he did try to blame the victim for the activity that
              he has admitted to. The [c]ourt also finds aggravating circumstances

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision | 48A02-1407-CR-478 | March 10, 2015   Page 3 of 9
               to be the prior incidents that have been testified to by other persons,
               which the [c]ourt determines that [Miller] [is] a serial sex offender. So,
               the [c]ourt finds aggravating outweighs mitigation which would
               enhance the two (2) counts [] to eight (8) years each, consecutive for an
               executed sentence of sixteen (16) years in the Department of
               Correction.
       (Transcript pp. 42-43).

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

                                   DISCUSSION AND DECISION

[9]    Miller contends that his aggregate sentence of sixteen years is inappropriate for

       two reasons. First, he alleges that the trial court’s sentencing statement was

       inadequate because it failed to explain why the particular individualized

       circumstance was determined to be aggravating. Second, Miller disputes the

       appropriateness of his sentence in light of the nature of the crime and his

       character.

                                            I. Sentencing Statement

[10]   Generally sentencing determinations are within the trial court’s discretion.

       McElroy v. State, 865 N.E.2d 584, 588 (Ind. 2007). We review the trial court’s

       sentencing decision for an abuse of that discretion. Id. An abuse of discretion

       has occurred when the sentencing decision is “clearly against the logic and

       effect of the facts and circumstances before the court, or the reasonable,

       probable, and actual deductions to be drawn therefrom.” Id. (citing K.S. v.

       State, 849 N.E.2d 538, 544 (Ind. 2006)). Trial courts have the discretion to

       deviate from the presumptive sentence upon finding and weighing any
       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision | 48A02-1407-CR-478 | March 10, 2015   Page 4 of 9
       aggravating or mitigating circumstances. Id. However, when a trial court

       enhances a presumptive sentence, it must state its reasons for doing so,

       identifying all significant aggravating and mitigating factors; stating the facts

       and reasons that lead the court to find the existence of each such circumstance;

       and demonstrating that the court has evaluated and balanced the aggravating

       and mitigating factors in determining the sentence. Id. This serves to guard

       against arbitrary sentences and to provide an adequate basis for appellate

       review. Id.

[11]   A trial court’s sentencing statement is adequate if it is “sufficient for this [c]ourt

       to conduct meaningful appellate review.” Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482,

       490 (Ind. 2007), clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 218. If the recitation includes the

       finding of aggravating or mitigating circumstances, the statement must identify

       all significant mitigating and aggravating circumstances and explain why each

       circumstance has been determined to be mitigating or aggravating. Id. at 490.

       An abuse of discretion occurs then if the record does not support the reasons

       given for imposing the sentence, or the sentencing statement omits reasons that

       are clearly supported by the record and advanced for consideration, or the

       reasons given are improper as a matter of law. Id. at 490-91. On appeal, we

       may consider both the trial court’s written statement and its comments at the

       sentencing hearing. Gibson v. State, 856 N.E.2d 142, 146 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006).

[12]   Reviewing the trial court’s sentencing statement, we conclude that it is adequate

       as it allows us to conduct a meaningful review. Nevertheless, Miller’s

       contentions also reach the content of the sentencing statement itself, as he

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision | 48A02-1407-CR-478 | March 10, 2015   Page 5 of 9
       disputes not only its overall sufficiency, but also the validity of several

       aggravators.

[13]   First, Miller contends that the trial court abused its discretion when identifying

       the “multiple offenses, which were repeated against this particular victim,” as

       an aggravating circumstance. (Appellant’s Br. p. 4). In its statement, the trial

       court alluded to the fact that even though Miller was only charged with the two

       particular offenses he had admitted to, the evidence reflects that the

       molestations were numerous and had been ongoing over a lengthy period of

       time. As such, the trial court referenced the repetitive and ongoing nature and

       circumstances of the uncharged acts against S.H. “It is a well-established

       principle that the fact of multiple crimes or victims constitutes a valid

       aggravating circumstance that a trial court may consider in imposing

       consecutive or enhanced sentences.” O’Connell v. State, 742 N.E.2d 943, 952

       (Ind. 2001). See also Buck v. State, 716 N.E.2d 507, 513 (Ind. 1999) (the

       repetitive and ongoing nature and circumstances of the crimes is a valid

       aggravator).

[14]   Second, contesting his position of trust, Miller claims that this aggravator is

       non-existent because he did not reside in the house. Generally, the position of

       trust as a sentence aggravator “applies in cases where the defendant has a more

       than casual relationship with the victim and has abused the trust resulting from

       that relationship.” Rodriguez v. State, 868 N.E.2d 551, 555 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).

       Here, Miller was S.H.’s biological uncle and she considered him a relative.

       Although Miller did not reside in the same residence as S.H., he was a frequent

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision | 48A02-1407-CR-478 | March 10, 2015   Page 6 of 9
       visitor and spent a significant amount of time in the home. As such, an

       inference can be made that a position of trust had developed between the uncle

       and niece.

[15]   Lastly, Miller asserts that the trial court improperly considered the prior

       uncharged criminal acts to aggravate his sentence. In its statement, the trial

       court identified the prior incidents testified to by other witnesses, alluding to

       Sh.H.’s testimony of sexual intercourse when she was twelve years old and

       Moore’s statements that Miller had admitted to molesting Miller’s daughter in

       North Carolina. “Charges that do not result in convictions are not by themselves

       permissible as aggravating criminal history.” McElroy, 865 N.E.2d at 591.

       They “may be considered by the sentencing court in context, but something

       more than mere recitation unaccompanied by specific allegations should be

       shown.” Id. We have held that “in order to enhance a criminal sentence based,

       in whole or in part, on the defendant’s history of criminal activity, a sentencing

       court must find instances of specific criminal conduct shown by probative

       evidence to be attributable to the defendant. A bare record of arrest will not

       suffice to meet this standard.” Id. Here, the trial court did not merely rely on a

       record of arrest but instead heard and credited the testimony of two witnesses.

       Therefore, we find the aggravator of prior uncharged criminal acts valid.

                                           II. Inappropriate Sentence

[16]   Miller also contends that his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of

       the offense and his character. Although a trial court may have acted within its

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision | 48A02-1407-CR-478 | March 10, 2015   Page 7 of 9
       lawful discretion in imposing a sentence, Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B) provides

       that an appellate court “may revise a sentence authorized by statute 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.” The defendant has the burden of persuading us that his sentence is

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

       this court regards a sentence as appropriate at the end of the day turns on its

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

       done to others, and myriad other facts that come to light in a given case.

       Suprenant v. State, 925 N.E.2d 1280, 1284 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010), trans. denied.

[17]   Miller pled guilty to two Counts of child molesting as Class C felonies. The

       advisory term for a Class C felony is four years with the minimum and

       maximum terms being two and eight years, respectively. I.C. § 35-50-5-6

       (2013). The trial court imposed a consecutive, maximum sentence of eight

       years for each Count, for an aggregate sentence of sixteen years.

[18]   With respect to the nature of Miller’s offenses, we note at the outset that

       “[c]rimes against children are particularly contemptible.” Walker v. State, 747
N.E.2d 536, 538 (Ind. 2001). Here, Miller molested S.H. when she was six and

       seven years old in the safety of her own house and over a lengthy period of

       time. Despite his contention to the contrary, Miller “hurt” S.H. when he

       touched “her private part.” (Appellant’s App. p. 43). Testimony revealed that

       S.H. still suffers the consequences of the molestations in that she is “having

       many sleepless nights because she gets bad headaches because everything seems

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision | 48A02-1407-CR-478 | March 10, 2015   Page 8 of 9
       bad to her.” (Tr. p. 24). S.H. has been in counseling “for a long period of

       time.” (Tr. p. 24).

[19]   Turning to his character, we note the absence of a criminal history. Despite his

       lack of convictions, by the time Miller pled guilty, he had been charged with a

       Class A felony child molesting which was still pending at the time of

       sentencing. Additionally, he acknowledged that he had been charged with fifty-

       one counts of “sex offenses” against his daughter in North Carolina. This

       pattern of criminal activity persuaded the trial court to characterize him as a

       “serial sex offender.” (Tr. p. 43). However, instead of being remorseful for his

       actions, Miller has the temerity to blame his victim, insisting that a six-year-old

       instigated the sexual molestations. Even though Miller focuses on his positive

       employment history, we cannot say that this fact overcomes the sordid

       character of Miller’s criminal activity.

[20]   In light of the evidence before us, we conclude that Miller’s sixteen-year

       sentence is appropriate in light of the nature of the offense and his character.

                                               CONCLUSION

[21]   Based on the foregoing, we conclude the trial court’s sentencing statement was

       adequate and Miller’s sentence appropriate pursuant to Appellate Rule 7(B).

[22]   Affirmed.

[23]   Vaidik, C.J. and Baker, J. concur

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision | 48A02-1407-CR-478 | March 10, 2015   Page 9 of 9