Court Opinion

ID: 2724881
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 20:42:33.752401+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:40:50.805941
License: Public Domain

Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any                              Jun 12 2014, 10:21 am
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:

PATRICIA CARESS MCMATH                           GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Indianapolis, Indiana                            Attorney General of Indiana

                                                 CHANDRA K. HEIN
                                                 Deputy Attorney General
                                                 Indianapolis, Indiana

                              IN THE
                    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

FRANKLIN E. LOGAN,                               )
                                                 )
       Appellant-Defendant,                      )
                                                 )
              vs.                                )      No. 24A05-1310-CR-495
                                                 )
STATE OF INDIANA,                                )
                                                 )
       Appellee-Plaintiff.                       )

                    APPEAL FROM THE FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT
                          The Honorable J. Steven Cox, Judge
                            Cause No. 24C01-1202-FC-180

                                       June 12, 2014

               MEMORANDUM DECISION – NOT FOR PUBLICATION

BAKER, Judge
          In this case, appellant-defendant Franklin E. Logan burglarized a shed belonging

to his friend and neighbor, Christopher Hammond, and stole items belonging to

Hammond and his cousin, Donald Gabbard. Logan appeals his conviction and sentence

for Burglary,1 a class C felony. More particularly, Logan argues that fundamental error

occurred on the basis of a jury instruction, that the evidence was insufficient, and that his

eight-year sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and his character.

Concluding that the trial court committed no error in instructing the jury, finding

sufficient evidence, and determining that Logan’s sentence is not inappropriate, we

affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                          FACTS

          Hammond and Gabbard, who are cousins, were raised together by their mothers on

Vanatta Road in Franklin County. Logan lived down the road, and Hammond considered

Logan a friend. When Hammond was fifteen years old, he built an eight-foot by twelve-

foot shed on his mother’s property and used it to store various tools. Hammond stated

that “[t]he only access to [the shed], it’s the door which I kept locked with a hasp and

standard pad lock.” Tr. p. 157. Because Gabbard repairs lawnmowers as a hobby,

Hammond allowed him to store his lawnmower engines and parts in the shed.

          At some point, the family moved from the property, but Hammond and Gabbard

continued to use the shed. Hammond testified that Logan knew the contents of the shed

because Logan would stop and talk to Hammond and Gabbard if they were outside

1
    Ind. Code § 35-43-2-1.
                                              2
working, and the shed would always be open during these times. Hammond also testified

that he had asked Logan to “keep an eye on the property” because there had been several

occasions when items were missing from the shed. Id. at 176.

       On December 4, 2011, Hammond noticed “that the hasp on the door had been

pried on. It looked like someone had gained entry to it. Uh, I then unlocked it, and

look[ed] in. There was nothing missing at that time.” Id. at 164. The next day,

Hammond returned to the shed and noticed that

       the hasp had been ripped off of the door, and someone had went inside of it,
       and I . . . at that time there was a few items missing. I really don’t recall
       exactly what it was, it was smaller stuff, and at that point we tried to re-
       secure the door.

Id. at 165.

       On the morning of December 6, 2011, two days after Hammond discovered that

someone had gained access to the shed, Gabbard was driving to work on Old U.S.

Highway 52 around 7:00 a.m. Gabbard decided to take a different route to work that day

to see if anyone was trying to break into the shed. As Gabbard drove towards the shed,

he noticed that the shed doors were wide open, and the shed was nearly empty. At that

moment, Gabbard passed Logan, who was driving his red 1992 Chevrolet S-10 truck.

Gabbard noticed that the truck appeared to have something heavy in the bed, but Gabbard

continued to the shed. When Gabbard went into the shed, he observed that many items

were missing:

       [T]hree riding lawnmower engines, . . . a couple push mower engines,
       buckets of starters to mowers, buckets of coils, carburetors, uh, some of the

                                            3
         yard tools . . . . I had a couple of tool sets in there that was gone, dry shafts
         to trucks and a couple of radiators.

Tr. p. 197-98.

         Gabbard noticed that the hasp on the shed had been completely broken. Gabbard

remembered that Integrity Metals (Integrity), a scrap yard, was down the road and

thought that Logan might be taking the stolen items to Integrity.

         Because Gabbard had to go to work, he woke up Hammond and told him that “the

shed had been cleaned out.” Id. at 166. Gabbard also informed Hammond that he had

observed Logan drive by with what appeared to be scrap metal in the bed of Logan’s

truck.

         Indiana State Trooper Barry Bischoff responded to Hammond’s call. Trooper

Bischoff met Hammond at the shed and observed that the shed was empty. Hammond

told Trooper Bischoff that Logan was seen leaving the area with what appeared to be

scrap metal in his truck bed and that Hammond suspected that Logan had stolen the

property to sell at Integrity.

         Trooper Bischoff went to Integrity and asked an employee2 if Logan had dropped

off any items. The employee informed Trooper Bischoff that Logan had been in that

morning. Another Integrity employee remembered Logan and told Trooper Bischoff that

he could gather the items that Logan had brought in earlier that day.

2
 The record does not reflect the name of the employee with whom Trooper Bischoff spoke. Tr. p. 236;
appellant’s app. p. 20.
                                                4
       Hammond arrived at Integrity a short time later. Trooper Bischoff asked him to

look at three lawnmower engines: a single-cycle Briggs engine, a twin-cylinder Briggs

engine, and a single-cylinder Kohler engine. Hammond identified all three engines as the

ones that were in his shed on December 5.

       Hammond then called Gabbard and asked him to come to Integrity to identify the

items. Gabbard later identified the same items as the items that were in his shed.

       On February 12, 2012, the State charged Logan with class C felony burglary. On

August 12, 2013, Logan’s jury trial commenced. Prior to jury deliberations, the jury was

instructed, in part that “[u]nexplained possession of stolen items shortly after a burglary

supports an inference of guilt of burglary and theft of that property.” Appellant’s Supp.

App. p. 19. Logan did not object to this instruction, and the jury found him guilty as

charged.

       On September 11, 2013, the trial court sentenced Logan to eight years in the

Indiana Department of Correction with two years suspended to probation. Logan now

appeals.

                            DISCUSSION AND DECISION

                                    I. Jury Instruction

       Logan maintains that fundamental error occurred when the trial court instructed

the jury that “[u]nexplained possession of stolen items shortly after a burglary supports

an inference of guilt of burglary and theft of that property.” Appellant’s Supp. App. p.

19. When reviewing a trial court’s decision regarding a jury instruction, the appellate

                                             5
court considers (1) whether the instructions correctly states the law, (2) whether the

instruction is supported by the evidence in the record, and (3) whether the instruction is

not covered in substance by other instructions. O’Connell v. State, 970 N.E.2d 168, 172

(Ind. Ct. App. 2012). The trial court has discretion in instructing a jury; accordingly, we

will reverse only when the trial court has abused its discretion, which includes giving an

instruction that misstates the law or otherwise misleads the jury. Id. When making this

determination, we will consider the jury instructions as a whole and in reference to each

other rather than in isolation. Id.

       Where, as here, the defendant does not object to a jury instruction, he has waived

the issue on appeal. Clay v. State, 766 N.E.2d 33, 36 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). However,

waiver can be avoided by showing that giving the jury instruction amounted to

fundamental error, which “applies in an extremely narrow set of circumstances.” Sanders

v. State, 764 N.E.2d 705, 710 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). More particularly, the error has to be

so prejudicial to the rights of the defendant that he could not have received a fair trial. Id.

at 710-11.

       Logan directs this Court to Fortson v. State, 919 N.E.2d 1136 (Ind. 2010), in

support of his argument that the trial court committed fundamental error. In Fortson, our

Supreme Court addressed an anomaly identified by this Court:               “‘the unexplained

possession of recently stolen property may be sufficient to support a conviction for theft;

however if the State charges receiving stolen property, the unexplained possession of

recently stolen property must be accompanied with additional circumstances supporting

                                              6
an inference that the accused knew the property was stolen.’” Id. at 1139 (quoting

Fortson v. State, No. 82A04-0801-CR-16, slip. op at 6 n.3 (August 29, 2008)). Put

another way, mere possession of stolen property will support a conviction for theft, while

something more is required to support a conviction for receiving stolen property.

        Our Supreme Court observed that the sole unexplained possession of recently

stolen property cannot substantiate a charge of receiving stolen property because “[t]he

very essence of the offense is the receiving knowing [the goods] to have been stolen.” Id.

at 1140. If it is presumed that everyone found in possession of stolen property knows

that the property was stolen, the State is relieved of its duty of establishing the required

mens rea. Id.

        However, as applied to a charge of theft, the Fortson Court explained that the rule

was “the exclusive, unexplained possession of recently stolen property is a circumstance

from which the fact-finder may draw an inference of guilt. It was a fact to consider along

with all the other facts and circumstances tending to show a defendant’s guilt.” Id. at

1141.

        The Fortson Court noted that this was the law until 1970, when our Supreme Court

decided Bolton v. State, 254 Ind. 648, 261 N.E.2d 841 (1970). Id. at 1142. Affirming

two defendants’ convictions for theft, the Bolton Court stated that “‘[t]he State had made

its prima facie case before the trial court when it presented evidence of exclusive

possession in the appellants shortly after the theft of the tractor.’” Id. (quoting Bolton,

261 N.E.2d at 843) (emphasis added).         In other words, the State had not merely

                                             7
introduced evidence that would have permitted the factfinder to draw an inference of

guilt, but had established its case-in-chief.

       The Fortson Court returned “to this jurisdiction’s original moorings and as such

abandon[ed] the so-called mere possession rule.” Id. at 1143 (footnote omitted). Instead,

possession is to be considered with the other evidence in a case rather than automatically

supporting a conviction for theft. Id. Other evidence to be considered along with

possession includes: how recently was the defendant found in possession of the stolen

item, did the defendant possess the item right next door or many miles away, and any

other relevant circumstances surrounding the possession. Id.

       In this case, Logan contends that the trial court’s instruction articulated the old

Bolton rule, namely, that if the State has proved that the defendant was in possession of

the stolen item, it has proven its prima facie case.      However, as stated above, the

instruction provided that the unexplained possession of stolen goods “supports an

inference of guilt of burglary and theft of that property.” Appellant’s Supp. App. p. 19.

This language is consistent with this jurisdiction’s “original moorings,” providing that

possession of a stolen item permits the factfinder to draw an inference, or, in other words,

be considered along with the other evidence. Fortson, 919 N.E.2d at 1143.

       Moreover, when this instruction is considered with all the jury instructions, it is

clear that the unexplained possession of stolen items was only one of many facts that the

jury was instructed to consider and find to convict Logan. See Appellant’s Supp. App. p.

18, 22, 31; see also id. at 25 (instructing that “[a]ll of the law of this case has not been

                                                8
embodied in any one instruction. Therefore, in construing any single instruction you

should consider it with all other instructions given”).          Under these facts and

circumstances, the trial court did not err.        Consequently, Logan has not shown

fundamental error.

                               II. Sufficiency of the Evidence

       Logan argues that there is insufficient evidence to sustain his conviction for class

C felony burglary. When reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, this

Court neither reweighs the evidence nor judges the credibility of witnesses. McHenry v.

State, 820 N.E.2d 124, 126 (Ind. 2005).          Instead, we consider the evidence most

favorable to the trial court’s ruling and must affirm the conviction unless no reasonable

factfinder could find the elements proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Drane v. State, 867
N.E.2d 144, 146 (Ind. 2007).

       To convict Logan of class C felony burglary, the State was required to prove

beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about December 6, 2011, Logan knowingly or

intentionally did break and enter the building or structure of Chris Hammond with the

intent to commit theft. Ind. Code § 35-43-2-1; Appellant’s App. p. 17.

       At trial, Hammond stated that, “[t]he only access to [the shed], it’s the door which

I kept locked with a hasp and standard pad lock.” Tr. p. 157. Gabbard, who stored some

of his lawnmower engines and other parts in the shed, was the only other person who had

access to the shed. Id. at 159-60.

                                             9
       Hammond and Gabbard testified that Logan knew what was in the shed because

Logan would stop and talk to them if Logan was driving by and saw them working. Id. at

174-75; 203. According to Hammond, the doors to the shed were open when they were

working, and anyone driving by or on the property could see what was inside the shed.

Id. at 175.

       Hammond also testified that over the past few years, items would be missing from

the shed. Id. Because Hammond considered Logan a friend, he asked Logan to “keep an

eye on the property.” Id.

       Gabbard testified that on the morning of December 6, 2011, he drove to work

using a different route to see if anyone was trying to break into the shed because it had

been broken into the previous night. Id. at 195. As Gabbard drove towards the shed, he

noticed that the shed doors were wide open, and it was nearly empty. Id. at 196. Before

reaching the shed, Gabbard passed a red 1992 Chevrolet S-10 truck that he recognized as

belonging to Logan. Id. Gabbard stated that, “[i]t looked like it was loaded down [with]

something heavy in it. . . . [b]ecause the back fenders [were] close to the tires.” Id. at

197.

       When Gabbard reached the shed, he found that most of the items in the shed were

missing, including: three riding lawnmower engines, a couple of push mower engines,

buckets of mower starters, buckets of coils, carburetors, yard tools, several tool sets, dry

shafts, and a couple of radiators. Id. at 197-98. Additionally, the lock had been broken

off. Id. at 198.

                                            10
       Trooper Bischoff was dispatched to the shed where he met Hammond, and after

observing that the shed was nearly empty, he went to Integrity. Id. at 234-35. Integrity

employees remembered the load that Logan had brought in just a few hours before and

brought it from the scrap yard to be inspected. Id. at 238-39. Hammond and Gabbard

identified the property as belonging to them. Id. at 240. Contrary to Logan’s assertion,

we cannot say that this evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction for class C felony

burglary.

                                III. Inappropriate Sentence

       Logan argues that his eight-year maximum sentence is inappropriate in light of the

nature of the offense and his character. This Court will revise a sentence authorized by

statute only “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.” Ind. Appellate Rule 7(B).

       The question is not whether another sentence is more appropriate, but whether

Logan’s sentence is inappropriate. King v. State, 894 N.E.2d 265, 268 (Ind. Ct. App.

2008). The defendant has the burden of proving that his sentence is inappropriate in light

of the nature of the offense and his character. Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080

(Ind. Ct. App. 2006),

       Logan was convicted of a class C felony. The sentencing range for a class C

felony is between two years and eight years, with an advisory sentence of four years.

Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6.

                                             11
       As for the nature of the offense, Logan was a close friend of Hammond, one of the

victims in this case. Tr. p. 173. Indeed, Hammond trusted Logan to “keep an eye on the

property,” after items had been stolen. Id. at 175. Logan took advantage of the position

that he gained from that trust. Thus, the nature of the offense avails Logan of nothing.

       As for Logan’s character, as with the nature of the offense, Logan’s willingness to

take advantage of a friend does not reflect well on his character. Additionally, Logan has

an extensive criminal history, including three felony and five misdemeanor convictions.

Appellant’s App. p. 88-90. Two of Logan’s felony convictions are for receiving stolen

property, an offense clearly related to the offense in this case. Id. at 89-90. Perhaps even

more compelling, one of those convictions was based on acts committed after the present

offense. Id. at 90. And even though Logan has responded well to probation in the past,

his continuous disregard for the law makes these sentencing alternatives unworkable in

isolation. Id. at 88-90. Therefore, Logan’s eight-year sentence is not inappropriate in

light of the nature of the offense and his character.

       The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

BARNES, J., and CRONE, J., concur.

                                              12