Court Opinion

ID: 2746413
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-29 15:04:26.422307+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:55:38.719358
License: Public Domain

Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any              Oct 29 2014, 9:31 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:

KIMBERLY A. JACKSON                                GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Indianapolis, Indiana                              Attorney General of Indiana

                                                   LARRY D. ALLEN
                                                   Deputy Attorney General
                                                   Indianapolis, Indiana

                               IN THE
                     COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

JEREMY J. TURNER,                                  )
                                                   )
       Appellant-Defendant,                        )
                                                   )
               vs.                                 )       No. 90A02-1403-CR-222
                                                   )
STATE OF INDIANA,                                  )
                                                   )
       Appellee-Plaintiff.                         )

                       APPEAL FROM THE WELLS CIRCUIT COURT
                          The Honorable Kenton W. Kiracofe, Judge
                               Cause No. 90C01-1210-FB-19

                                        October 29, 2014

                MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

BARTEAU, Senior Judge
                                    STATEMENT OF THE CASE

          Jeremy J. Turner appeals his sentence after pleading guilty to one count of dealing
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in methamphetamine as a Class B felony, contending that the trial court abused its

discretion when sentencing Turner and that Turner’s sentence is inappropriate in light of

the nature of the offense and the character of the offender. Consistent with our standard of

review, however, we affirm.

                             FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

          The facts supporting Turner’s guilty plea established that Turner went to the house

where his brother, Jason Johnson, lived with Leah Allen and her young child. Johnson and

Allen’s child were both sleeping in the living room of the house when Turner awakened

Johnson to ask if he could use the attached garage to work on his car. Turner had used the

garage for approximately an hour before running into the house and informing Johnson

that there was a fire in the garage. Smoke billowed into the house from the attached garage

and noxious fumes were present.

          Allen attempted to extinguish the fire, but cut her hand when the vase or pitcher she

was attempting to fill with water broke. Johnson told Turner he was going to call the police

and fire department, but Turner requested that he not do so. Turner’s brother called 911

nonetheless and Turner fled the scene. Johnson observed what he believed were items

related to illegal drugs in the attached garage.

          When firefighters arrived, there was heavy smoke coming from the attached garage,

1
    Ind. Code §35-48-4-1.1(a)(1) (2006).

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and the house was filled with black smoke. The firefighters attempted to enter through the

garage door, but the door was locked, forcing the firefighters to break the door and remove

it from its frame in order to gain access. Once the fire was extinguished, police officers on

the scene found several items related to the manufacture of methamphetamine; however,

several items Turner used to manufacture the methamphetamine were reduced to ash as a

result of the fire. Police officers and firefighters determined that the fire was caused by

Turner’s manufacturing of methamphetamine.

       Johnson and Allen were allowed to briefly enter the house to gather a few personal

items including clothes and diapers for Allen’s daughter. On Monday, October 8, 2012,

Johnson called the detective assigned to the case to report that when he returned to the

house to pick up some personal belongings it appeared to him that someone else had

entered the house over the weekend. Johnson also reported finding additional drug

paraphernalia he thought that the officers might have overlooked.

       Turner pleaded guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine the day before his jury

trial was to begin, and the State agreed to dismiss another charge filed against Turner. By

the terms of the plea agreement, Turner’s sentence was capped at 12 years. The trial court

accepted Turner’s plea and sentenced him to twelve years executed to be served

consecutively to a prior sentence imposed in Allen County.            Turner now appeals.

Additional facts will be supplied as needed.

                             DISCUSSION AND DECISION

                    I. ABUSE OF DISCRETION IN SENTENCING

       Turner claims that the trial court abused its discretion by finding as an aggravating

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circumstance that the injury, harm, loss, or damage suffered by the victim of the offense

was both significant and greater than that required to prove the commission of the offense,

and ordering Turner’s sentence to be served consecutively to one imposed in Allen County.

       “Sentencing decisions are reviewed for an abuse of discretion.” Bethea v. State, 983
N.E.2d 1134, 1139 (Ind. 2013). “An abuse of discretion occurs if the decision is clearly

against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before the court.” Id. A

sentencing court may abuse its discretion by: (1) failing to enter a sentencing statement,

(2) entering a sentencing statement that explains reasons for imposing the sentence but the

record does not support the reasons, (3) omitting reasons that are clearly supported by the

record and advanced for consideration, or (4) stating reasons that are improper as a matter

of law. Kimbrough v. State, 979 N .E.2d 625, 628 (Ind. 2012).

       In pertinent part, the trial court’s oral sentencing statement is as follows:

              Mr. Turner, you started a fire in a home [where] a small child lived.
              You destroyed that child’s home. Your brother and his family were
              displaced and you fled, you ran away, very selfish behavior on your
              part. . . . They[sic], considering imposing a sentence, I know one of
              the statutory factors at 35-38-1-7.1 is whether the injury harm or loss
              or damage suffered by the victim of the offense is greater than all of
              the elements necessary to prove the commission of the offense. As I
              stated earlier, this is not, drug use is typically thought of as a
              victimless crime. It wasn’t in this case. As I stated earlier, [your]
              brother and his family, you set fire to their, to their property. The
              property owner, who they rented from, had lost their property. I can’t
              ignore that and I am finding that also, I think it fits the definition of
              the aggravating factors the Court’s going to consider. . . .

Tr. p. 54.

       Turner contends that the trial court erroneously found that the home Johnson and

his family were living in was completely destroyed, arguing that the record does not

                                              4
support that finding. In order to establish that Turner committed the offense, the State was

required to show only that Turner knowingly or intentionally manufactured

methamphetamine. Ind. Code §35-48-4-1.1(a)(1). Therefore, any damage to the property

was significant and greater than that required to prove Turner committed the offense.

          Moreover, the record reflects that Johnson and his family were not allowed to stay

in the home after the fire, and were allowed to re-enter the home to pick up a few essentials

including diapers for Allen’s child. Johnson called the detective investigating the incident

after a subsequent trip to the house to retrieve a few more personal items, since the family

was displaced from their home. Johnson reported that black smoke came into the home

from the attached garage and there was an odor of noxious fumes from the fire. Firefighters

had to break down the garage door to gain access to the fire. This aggravating circumstance

is supported by the record, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding that

factor.

          Assuming, arguendo, that the trial court abused its discretion by finding that factor,

there was an additional valid factor supported by the record. Indeed, a single aggravating

circumstance is sufficient to justify a sentence enhancement. Peoples v. State, 649 N.E.2d
638, 640 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995). Here, the trial court also found Turner’s criminal history to

be an aggravating factor. We will elaborate on Turner’s criminal history in our analysis of

his challenge to the appropriateness of his sentence. Suffice it to say that Turner’s

extensive criminal history is supported by the record and is unchallenged on appeal. Given

that criminal history, we can say with confidence that the trial court’s sentence

enhancement should be affirmed.

                                                5
       Turner further claims that the trial court abused its discretion by ordering the

sentence in this matter to be served consecutively to Turner’s sentence in Allen County. A

trial court has the discretion to impose consecutive sentences. Ind. Code §35-50-1-2

(2012); McBride v. State, 992 N.E.2d 912, 919 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). “However, a trial

court is required to state its reasoning for imposing consecutive sentences.” Id. “In order

to impose consecutive sentences, a trial court must find at least one aggravating

circumstance.” Id.

       We have concluded that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by finding the

aggravating circumstances set forth in the oral sentencing statement. Any one of those

aggravating circumstances would have supported the imposition of consecutive sentences.

We reject Turner’s request that we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by

improperly weighing his criminal history as an aggravating circumstance also used to

support consecutive sentencing. “Because the trial court no longer has any obligation to

‘weigh’ aggravating and mitigating factors against each other when imposing a sentence,

unlike the pre-Blakely statutory regime, a trial court can not now be said to have abused its

discretion in failing to ‘properly weigh’ such factors.” Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d
482, 491 (Ind. 2007), clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 218 (Ind. 2007).

       Turner’s criminal history in large part is comprised of offenses related to substance

abuse. Turner failed to address his substance abuse over the years. His criminal history

reflects a history of disregard for the law. The trial court did not abuse its discretion with

respect to its finding about Turner’s criminal history.

       Similarly, we reject Turner’s argument that because his crimes were so similar and

                                              6
closely related in time that they should not be considered for purposes of supporting

consecutive sentencing. Turner was arrested in Allen County when police officers who

were there to serve a warrant for his arrest in the present case discovered that Turner

continued to manufacture methamphetamine. The offenses, while similar, occurred five

months apart. This is further evidence that he has not been deterred from criminal activity.

There is no abuse of discretion here.

                            II. INAPPROPRIATE SENTENCE

       Turner also contends that his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the

offense and the character of the offender. Article 7, section 4 of the Indiana Constitution

authorizes independent appellate review of sentences. Rice v. State, 6 N.E.3d 940, 946

(Ind. 2014). This review is implemented through Appellate Rule 7(B), which states that

we may revise a sentence, even if authorized by statute, if “after due consideration of the

trial court’s decision,” the sentence is inappropriate “in light of the nature of the offense or

the character of the offender.”

       The principal role of such review is to attempt to leaven the outliers. Merida v.

State, 987 N.E.2d 1091, 1092 (Ind. 2013). “Sentence review under Appellate Rule 7(B) is

very deferential to the trial court.” Conley v. State, 972 N.E.2d 864, 876 (Ind. 2012). The

burden is on the defendant to persuade the appellate court that his or her sentence is

inappropriate. Id.

       Per the terms of the plea agreement, Turner’s sentence was capped at twelve years.

The trial court imposed a sentence of twelve years executed at the Department of

Correction with no time suspended to probation. At the time he committed his offense, the

                                               7
sentencing range for dealing in methamphetamine as a Class B felony was a term of from

six to twenty years imprisonment with an advisory sentence of ten years. Turner argues

that his sentence, which is two years above the advisory sentence for his offense, and is the

maximum allowed by the plea agreement, is inappropriate.

       As for the nature of the offense, Turner’s conduct went beyond the elements

required to establish that he knowingly manufactured methamphetamine, pure or

adulterated. Turner went to his brother’s house and in the process of manufacturing the

methamphetamine started a fire in the attached garage. Johnson, who is Turner’s brother,

Allen, and her small child were in the home at the time. Smoke and noxious fumes wafted

into the house, forcing all to evacuate. Allen cut her hand in the process of attempting to

douse the fire. Turner fled the scene upon learning that Johnson intended to call for

assistance from the police and firefighters.      The home was further damaged when

firefighters broke into the garage to gain access to the source of the fire. Johnson was

allowed re-entry of the house for brief periods to retrieve items the family needed upon

being displaced from the residence. Our Supreme Court has recognized that the process of

manufacturing methamphetamine is very dangerous and poses a high risk of explosion and

fire. Holder v. State, 847 N.E.2d 930, 939 (Ind. 2006).

       As for the character of the offender, we observe that Turner’s criminal history spans

most of his adult life. Turner did express remorse and regret for his actions, taking

responsibility by pleading guilty. However, Turner sent a letter to the trial court after

pleading guilty, claiming that he had been coerced to accept the plea agreement and placed

blame on his trial counsel. He also expressed his desire to withdraw his plea. The trial

                                             8
court allowed Turner’s court-appointed trial counsel to withdraw his representation. At the

time of sentencing, however, Turner did not claim that his plea was coerced. Therefore,

although Turner ultimately accepted responsibility by pleading guilty, his subsequent,

inconsistent actions undermine Turner’s acceptance of responsibility. The trial court

explicitly noted that it seemed Turner was saying what he believed the trial court wished

to hear in order to receive a more favorable sentence.

       Turner also received a substantial benefit from his plea. One of the charges filed

against Turner was dismissed per the terms of the plea agreement. Turner’s plea is also

less significant considering that he pleaded guilty one day prior to the start of his jury trial.

See Gillem v. State, 829 N.E.2d 598, 605 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005) (plea has lessened

significance where State has already spent considerable time and resources). Given the

video tape of Turner purchasing the precursors used to attempt to manufacture the

methamphetamine and eyewitness testimony of his presence at Johnson’s house, the trial

court could have reasonably concluded that Turner’s decision to plead guilty was largely a

pragmatic one. See Wells v. State, 836 N.E.2d 475, 480 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005) (guilty plea

accorded less significant weight where plea was largely pragmatic decision). Further, his

plea provided for a sentencing cap of twelve years instead of the twenty year maximum

sentence Turner faced.

       Turner’s criminal history was described by the preparer of his pre-sentence

investigation report as precluding any “consideration of most mitigating factors.”

Appellant’s App. p. 273. Turner, who was thirty-nine when his committed this offense,

had no less than fifteen convictions as an adult. That criminal history consisted mostly of

                                               9
substance abuse offenses, but he also had convictions for battery and felony burglary.

Turner’s probation had been revoked multiple times, the latest for consuming alcohol and

committing new offenses. We conclude that Turner has failed to meet his burden of

persuading us that his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the

character of the offender.

                                      CONCLUSION

       In light of the above, we affirm the trial court’s decision.

       Affirmed.

       RILEY, J., and MATHIAS, J., concur.

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