Court Opinion

ID: 3173413
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-29 16:03:20.751233+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:59:52.067491
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any                               Jan 29 2016, 8:57 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
Donald E.C. Leicht                                       Gregory F. Zoeller
Kokomo, Indiana                                          Attorney General of Indiana
                                                         J.T. Whitehead
                                                         Deputy Attorney General
                                                         Indianapolis, Indiana

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Sherry A. Fairchild,                                     January 29, 2016
Appellant-Defendant,                                     Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                         34A02-1507-CR-798
        v.                                               Appeal from the Howard Superior
                                                         Court
State of Indiana,                                        The Honorable William C.
Appellee-Plaintiff.                                      Menges, Judge
                                                         Trial Court Cause No.
                                                         34D01-1312-FD-957

Pyle, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016          Page 1 of 13
                                          Statement of the Case
[1]   Sherry A. Fairchild (“Fairchild”) appeals her sentence, following a guilty plea,

      to Class D felony theft.1 Fairchild argues that her sentence was inappropriate,

      and she argues that the trial court erred by ordering her to submit to a urine

      drug screen. Concluding that Fairchild has waived appellate review of any

      argument regarding the drug screen by failing to raise a contemporaneous

      objection and that she has failed to show that her sentence is inappropriate, we

      affirm her sentence.

[2]   We affirm.

                                                         Issues
               1. Whether Fairchild has waived review of her challenge to the
               trial court’s order for her to submit to a urine drug screen by failing
               to object.

               2. Whether Fairchild’s sentence was inappropriate pursuant to
               Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B).

                                                         Facts
[3]   On November 29, 2013, Fairchild and her friend went into a Walmart store in

      Howard County. Fairchild purchased a box of syringes and then placed

      1
        IND. CODE § 35-43-4-2(a). We note that, effective July 1, 2014, a new version of the theft statute was
      enacted and that the offense of theft, for the total value of items that Fairchild was alleged to have taken, is
      now a Class A misdemeanor. Because Fairchild committed this crime in 2013, we will refer to the statute in
      effect at that time.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016               Page 2 of 13
      additional items,2 for which she had not paid, into her bag and exited the store.

      Fairchild was stopped by Walmart security personnel who then notified the

      Kokomo Police Department. After Fairchild consented to a search of her car,

      the police found a used syringe.

[4]   On December 4, 2013, the State charged Fairchild with Count 1, Class D felony

      unlawful possession of a syringe, and Count 2, Class D felony theft. On

      January 3, 2014, Fairfield was released on bond.

[5]   The following week, on January 10, 2014, Fairfield was arrested in Wabash

      County on a charge of Class D felony possession of methamphetamine

      (“Wabash County drug cause”).3 Fairfield pled guilty to the possession of

      methamphetamine charge in the Wabash County drug cause. On April 22,

      2014, the Wabash Superior Court held a sentencing hearing, and Fairfield’s

      sentence in that case was “taken under advisement pending [her] completion of

      the Wabash County Drug Court Program.” (App. 53).4

      2
       These items, which included socks, a bracelet, suntan lotion, and packages of underwear, had a total value
      of $29.43.
      3
          This drug charge was filed under cause number 85D01-1312-FD-103.
      4
        The information regarding Fairchild’s Wabash County drug cause is derived from the presentence
      investigative report (“PSI”) contained in a confidential volume of Fairchild’s Appendix. Pursuant to Indiana
      Administrative Rule 9(G)(2)(b) and INDIANA CODE § 35-38-1-13, the PSI Report must be excluded from
      public access. However, in this case, the information contained in the PSI is “essential to the resolution” of
      Fairchild’s claim. See Admin. Rule 9(G)(7)(a)(ii)(c). Accordingly, we have included confidential
      information in this decision only to the extent necessary to resolve the appeal.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016             Page 3 of 13
[6]   The following day, on April 23, 2014, Fairchild entered into a written plea

      agreement in this Howard County case. In the plea agreement, she agreed to

      plead guilty to the Class D felony theft charge in Count 2 in exchange for the

      dismissal of Count 1. The plea agreement also provided as follows:

               The sentence shall be left to the discretion of the Court after
               evidence and argument. [Fairchild’s] sentence shall include
               restitution, as determined by the Court at the time of sentencing.
               Said sentencing shall be deferred during [Fairchild’s]
               participation in the Wabash County Drug Court Program.

                                                        *****

               Should [Fairchild] successfully complete the Wabash County
               Drug Court Program, this [Howard County] cause shall be
               dismissed.

               Should [Fairchild] fail the Wabash County Drug Court Program,
               this matter shall be set for sentencing with the terms and
               conditions of that sentence decided by the Court after evidence
               and arguments presented by the parties.

      (App. 28) (emphasis in original).

[7]   On April 30, 2014, the trial court held a guilty plea hearing.5 Fairchild pled

      guilty to the Class D felony theft charge, and the trial court accepted her guilty

      5
       In its Statement of Facts, the State indicated that Fairchild “stipulated to the facts contained in the affidavit
      of probable cause.” (State’s Br. 6). The transcript from the guilty plea hearing, however, indicates that
      Fairchild stipulated to the probable cause affidavit only “as it relate[d] to the count to which she [wa]s
      pleading” guilty. (Tr. 5).

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016                 Page 4 of 13
      plea.6 Per the plea agreement, the trial court deferred sentencing in the case and

      referred Fairchild to the Wabash County Drug Court Program with a directive

      for it to “inform the Court of [Fairchild’s] completion or termination of their

      [sic] program.” (App. 2, 31).

[8]   Thereafter, the State filed—in Fairchild’s Wabash County drug cause—

      numerous petitions to revoke her participation in the Wabash County Drug

      Court Program. Specifically, it filed revocation petitions on: May 13, 2014;

      August 22, 2014; November 3, 2014; and March 6, 2015. Each time, Fairchild

      “admitted to violating the terms of Drug Court[.]” (App. 53). Upon Fairchild’s

      first two violations, the Wabash Superior Court ordered her to serve ninety days

      in jail. For her third violation, the Wabash Superior Court ordered her to serve

      180 days in jail. However, on April 21, 2015, upon Fairchild’s fourth violation,

      the Wabash Superior Court terminated her from the drug court program and

      ordered her to serve the balance of her suspended sentence, which was two

      years.

[9]   That same day, on April 21, 2015, the State filed—in this Howard County

      cause—a request for the trial court to set a sentencing date on Fairchild’s Class

      D felony theft conviction because she had violated the terms of the Wabash

      6
        Fairchild asserts that there was “confusion” in this case, suggesting that the trial court accepted Fairchild’s
      guilty plea before she pled guilty. (Fairchild’s Br. 3). At the beginning of the guilty plea hearing, the trial
      court stated that it would “accept the recommendation[,]” (Tr. 5), but the chronological case summary
      indicates that Fairchild “enter[ed] a plea of guilty to Count 2, Theft, a Class D Felony[,] and [t]he Court
      accept[ed] [her] plea of guilty.” (App. 3-4).

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016                 Page 5 of 13
       County Drug Court Program and had been terminated from the program. The

       trial court set a sentencing hearing for May 20, 2015, and it referred Fairchild to

       the Howard County Probation Department for a PSI to be compiled.

[10]   The probation department met with Fairchild on May 15, 2015. During her

       interview with the probation officer, Fairchild admitted that she “was under the

       influence of drugs when [she] took a few items from WalMart.” (App. 53). She

       stated that she had undergone previous substance abuse programs. She also

       admitted that she had used “speed, meth, heroin, and Suboxone while in Drug

       Court.” (App. 56). Additionally, she admitted that her violations while in the

       Wabash County Drug Court Program had involved positive urine drug screens.

[11]   On May 20, 2015, the parties appeared for a sentencing hearing, and Fairchild

       requested a continuance of the hearing. The trial court granted the continuance

       and reset sentencing for June 10, 2015. When the parties appeared in court that

       day, the trial court had the following conversation with Fairchild:

               JUDGE MENGES: . . . Show that the defendant appears in
               person with counsel . . . the State of Indiana appears . . . Ms.
               Fairchild, I want you to report immediately to the adult
               probation department and give them an instant urine drug screen
               and as soon as you have done so, I want you to report back here.
               Do you need assistance finding your way to the probation
               department?

               THE DEFENDANT: I have no idea where that’s at.

               JUDGE MENGES: Would you please see that she makes it
               down and take her down the elevator, I don’t trust her ability to
               navigate the stairs.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016   Page 6 of 13
               THE DEFENDANT: Your Honor, this situation with my
               revoke [sic] the bond, I did not, I just wanted, would like to
               explain to you I’m not trying to disrespect the court by having
               them on. I was in an accident --

               JUDGE MENGES: I don’t have a problem with that --

               THE DEFENDANT: -- and I burnt my eyes, so that’s why.

               JUDGE MENGES: I want you to give a urine drug screen and
               we’ll go from there.

               THE DEFENDANT: OK, that’s fine.

[12]   (Tr. 8). The hearing was then suspended until the results of Fairchild’s

       urinalysis were returned. When the trial court came back on the record, it

       stated that Fairchild had “tested positive for methamphetamine, opiates, and

       amphetamines[.]” (Tr. 9). The trial court then ordered her bond revoked,

       stated that it was “reject[ing] the plea agreement[,]” and set the matter for trial.

       (Tr. 9).

[13]   Thereafter, the trial court “note[d] that this matter was erroneously set for Jury

       Trial” because Fairchild had “previously entered a plea of guilty,” which was

       accepted by the trial court. (App. 5). The trial court then set Fairchild’s

       sentencing hearing for June 24, 2015.

[14]   At the sentencing hearing, Fairchild’s counsel acknowledged that Fairchild had

       “an addiction issue” and argued that the trial court should not sentence her to

       the Department of Correction because the cost of her placement there was more

       expensive than the value of the items that she had stolen from Walmart. (Tr.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016   Page 7 of 13
       14). Her counsel asked that Fairchild be allowed to serve her executed time on

       home detention. The prosecutor, on the other hand, argued that the trial court

       should follow the probation department’s recommendation 7 that Fairchild be

       placed in a therapeutic community within the Department of Correction due to

       her substance abuse issues, especially because she had tested positive for

       methamphetamines, amphetamines and opiates when last in court.

[15]   The trial court, when sentencing Fairchild, stated:

                  I agree that the amount taken in connection with the charge in
                  Count II was [of] relatively minor value and I would agree that
                  the cost of housing the defendant is substantially higher than the
                  value of those items. The cost to society of her continuing her
                  addiction, however, is even higher than that. The court notes
                  that she was referred to the Wabash County Drug Court Program
                  but she did not successfully complete that. The idea that she
                  could successfully complete home detention falls under the
                  category of less supervision, therefore more chance that she will
                  not get caught violating the terms and conditions of probation
                  and in-home detention. And I probably should note that while
                  she was in court two weeks ago, that while she tested positive,
                  not only did she test positive for the substances as indicated by
                  [the prosecutor], but she appeared to be visibly under the

       7
           In the PSI, the probation department’s recommendation was as follows:

                  The Defendant is at a moderate risk to reoffend with her overall score being one point
                  away from being high risk. It is suggested that moderate risk offenders receive a sentence
                  which includes regular supervision. It is clear that because of her substance abuse issues
                  regular supervision is not appropriate. Additionally, the Defendant did not successfully
                  complete the most stringent form of community supervision due to those same issues. It is
                  evident that in order to reduce the Defendant’s risk of reoffending, the Defendant is in need
                  of the most intensive program available for substance abuse treatment which at this time is
                  Therapeutic Community.
       (App. 56).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016                Page 8 of 13
               influence of one or more of them, so I’m very limited on what
               our options are. I agree with the probation department that the
               best chance of recovery is therapeutic community.

       (Tr. 15-16). The trial court then imposed a three (3) year executed sentence in

       the Department of Correction with the recommendation that she be placed in a

       therapeutic community. The trial court further indicated that it would “reserve

       the right to modify her sentence upon successful completion of the therapeutic

       community.” (Tr. 16). Fairchild now appeals.

                                                   Decision
[16]   Fairchild argues that: (1) the trial court erred by ordering her to submit to a

       urine drug screen; and (2) her sentence was inappropriate. We will review each

       argument in turn.

       1. Drug Screen

[17]   Fairchild argues that the trial court erred by ordering her to submit to a urine

       drug screen during the June 10, 2015 hearing, which was originally scheduled

       to be her sentencing hearing. She contends that the trial court’s order was

       “illegal” and violated her right against self-incrimination under the Fifth

       Amendment and her right against unreasonable search and seizure under the

       Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. (Fairchild’s Br. 7).

       Additionally, she makes a passing reference to Article 1, Section 11 of the

       Indiana Constitution, suggesting that she was subjected to a warrantless search

       in violation thereof.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016   Page 9 of 13
[18]   Fairchild, however, has waived appellate review of any challenge to the trial

       court’s order because she failed to raise a contemporaneous objection at the

       time the trial court ordered her to submit to the drug screen. As a general rule,

       the failure to object at the trial level results in waiver of an issue on appeal.

       Bruno v. State, 774 N.E.2d 880, 883 (Ind. 2002), reh’g denied. “The rule of

       waiver in part protects the integrity of the trial court in that the trial court

       cannot be found to have erred as to an issue or argument that it never had an

       opportunity to consider.” T.S. v. Logansport State Hosp., 959 N.E.2d 855, 857

       (Ind. Ct. App. 2011), trans. denied.

[19]   Here, Fairchild never objected to the trial court’s directive that she submit to a

       urine drug screen, and she never argued to the trial court that its order to do so

       would violate the United States or Indiana Constitutions. Thus, she has waived

       her constitutional claims for appellate review. See State v. Friedel, 714 N.E.2d
1231, 1236 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999) (hold that the State waived challenge to the

       defendant’s standing by failing to present claim to the trial court).

       2. Sentence

[20]   Fairchild argues that her three-year executed sentence for Class D felony theft is

       inappropriate, suggesting that the trial court sentenced her for her drug

       addiction rather than for her theft conviction.

[21]   We may revise a sentence if it is inappropriate in light of the nature of the

       offense and the character of the offender. Ind. Appellate Rule 7(B). The

       defendant has the burden of persuading us that her sentence is inappropriate.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016   Page 10 of 13
       Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080 (Ind. 2006). The principal role of a

       Rule 7(B) review “should be to attempt to leaven the outliers, and identify some

       guiding principles for trial courts and those charged with improvement of the

       sentencing statutes, but not to achieve a perceived ‘correct’ result in each case.”

       Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1225 (Ind. 2008).

[22]   Whether a sentence is inappropriate ultimately turns on “the culpability of the

       defendant, the severity of the crime, the damage done to others, and a myriad

       of other factors that come to light in a given case.” Id. at 1224. Additionally,

       “[u]nder Indiana law, several tools are available to the trial court to use in

       fashioning an appropriate sentence for a convicted offender.” Sharp v. State, 970
N.E.2d 647, 650 (Ind. 2012). These “penal tools”—which include suspension

       of all or a portion of the sentence, probation, executed time in a Department of

       Correction facility, and placement in a community corrections program—“form

       an integral part of the actual aggregate penalty faced by a defendant and are

       thus properly considered as part of the sentence subject to appellate review and

       revision.” Id. (citing Davidson v. State, 926 N.E.2d 1023, 1025 (Ind. 2010)).

[23]   When determining whether a sentence is inappropriate, we acknowledge that

       the advisory sentence “is the starting point the Legislature has selected as an

       appropriate sentence for the crime committed.” Childress, 848 N.E.2d at 1081.

       Here, Fairchild pled guilty to Class D felony theft in exchange for the dismissal

       of a Class D felony unlawful possession of a syringe charge. At the time of

       Fairchild’s offense, a Class D felony conviction carried a sentencing range of six

       months to three years. I.C. § 35-50-2-7(a). After deferring Fairchild’s sentence,

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016   Page 11 of 13
       referring her to a drug program, and allowing her the opportunity to have her

       conviction dismissed upon successful completion of the drug program, the trial

       court imposed the maximum term of three years for Fairchild’s Class D felony

       conviction after she failed to successfully complete the drug program. The trial

       court also recommended that Fairchild receive substance abuse treatment while

       in the Department of Correction, and it advised her that it would later consider

       a modification of her sentence upon successful completion of the Department of

       Correction’s therapeutic program. Thus, the trial court utilized some of the

       available “penal tools” to fashion a sentence for Fairchild. See Sharp, 970
N.E.2d at 650.

[24]   The nature of Fairchild’s offense reveals that she bought a box of syringes and

       then stole various personal items by secreting them in her bag. Fairchild

       attempts to minimize the nature of her crime by pointing out that the value of

       the items she stole was not extravagant. However, Fairchild was admittedly

       under the influence of drugs when she stole the items from Walmart. The trial

       court acknowledged that “the cost of housing the defendant is substantially

       higher than the value of th[e] items” stolen but noted that the “cost to society of

       her continuing her addiction . . . [was] even higher than that” and that home

       detention was not an option given Fairchild’s failed attempts while in the drug

       court program. (Tr. 15).

[25]   Turning to Fairchild’s character, we see from the record that Fairchild—who

       was thirty-five years old at the time of her offense—had two felony convictions

       at the time of sentencing. In 2003, Fairchild was convicted of Class B felony

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016   Page 12 of 13
       aiding in robbery. She was placed on probation for this crime and admitted to

       twice violating probation, which resulted in continued probation upon the first

       violation and termination of probation upon the second violation. Fairchild

       was also convicted of Class D felony possession of methamphetamine in 2014.

       It was this conviction from her Wabash County drug cause for which she was

       originally placed in the Wabash County Drug Court Program. This drug court

       program was the same program that Fairchild was required to complete in this

       case if she wanted to have her theft conviction dismissed. Fairchild, however,

       violated the drug court program four times by using drugs. Indeed, Fairchild

       admitted that she had used “speed, meth, heroin, and Suboxone while in Drug

       Court.” (App. 56). Furthermore, Fairchild showed up to court while under the

       influence of drugs and tested positive for methamphetamine, opiates, and

       amphetamines. Fairchild’s actions show a lack of respect for the legal system

       and a lack of commitment to opportunities provided by the trial court.

[26]   Fairchild has not persuaded us that that her three-year executed sentence, with

       the recommendation to a therapeutic program and the opportunity for a

       sentence modification upon successful completion of the therapeutic program,

       for her Class D felony conviction is inappropriate. Therefore, we affirm the

       trial court’s sentence.

[27]   Affirmed.

       Baker, J., and Bradford, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1507-CR-798| January 29, 2016   Page 13 of 13