Court Opinion

ID: 4216494
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-31 17:08:38.385045+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:26:20.500153
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
                                                                           FILED
Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as                          Oct 31 2017, 12:11 pm
precedent or cited before any court except for the
                                                                           CLERK
purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata,                   Indiana Supreme Court
                                                                          Court of Appeals
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.                                and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Mark S. Lenyo                                            Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
South Bend, Indiana                                      Attorney General of Indiana
                                                         Larry D. Allen
                                                         Deputy Attorney General
                                                         Indianapolis, Indiana

                                             IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Jonathan Webster,                                        October 31, 2017

Appellant-Defendant,                                     Court of Appeals Cause No.
                                                         71A03-1610-CR-2319
        v.                                               Appeal from the St. Joseph Superior
                                                         Court
State of Indiana,                                        The Honorable John M. Marnocha,
                                                         Judge
Appellee-Plaintiff.
                                                         Trial Court Cause No. 71D02-1509-
                                                         FA-3

Riley, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017         Page 1 of 16
                                STATEMENT OF THE CASE
[1]   Appellant-Defendant, Jonathan Webster (Webster), appeals his conviction and

      sentence for child molesting, a Class A felony, Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(a)(1).

[2]   We affirm.

                                                   ISSUES
[3]   Webster presents four issues on appeal, which we restate as follows:

      (1) Whether the State’s comments during closing argument constituted

      misconduct;

      (2) Whether the trial court abused its discretion by responding to a jury

      question;

      (3) Whether the trial court improperly determined that Webster was a credit

      restricted felon; and

      (4) Whether Webster’s sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the

      offense and his character.

                      FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
[4]   M.W., who was born in June 1999, lived with her father, mother, brother, and

      sister. In September of 2006, M.W.’s family moved to a house on Caroline

      Street in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana. In 2008, Webster, who is

      M.W.’s uncle, and M.W.’s paternal grandmother (Grandmother) moved into

      M.W.’s family home. Sometime thereafter, Webster molested M.W. The first

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 2 of 16
      time, Webster and M.W. were alone in the living room and M.W. asked

      Webster to scratch her back. At first, Webster scratched M.W.’s back, but then

      he began moving his hand down M.W.’s lower back, he touched M.W.’s butt,

      and eventually slipped his finger inside M.W.’s vagina. Another time, M.W.

      was in the backyard of her family home playing. Webster joined M.W. outside

      and directed M.W. behind a shed where he squatted and put his finger inside

      M.W.’s vagina.

[5]   In 2014, M.W.’s mother passed away, and sometime thereafter, M.W. began

      seeing a counselor. In June of 2015, M.W. disclosed to her counselor that

      Webster had molested her. M.W. also reported that she had nightmares of

      Webster molesting her. Based on the molestation claims, M.W.’s counselor

      contacted the Department of Child Services, and a forensic interview of M.W.

      was conducted at the Casie Center. On July 11, 2015, Webster was called for

      an interview at the St. Joseph County Special Victims Unit. During a recorded

      interview, Webster admitted that he rubbed M.W.’s back, and that during the

      back rub, he put his hand on M.W.’s “butt” underneath her underwear. (State’s

      Exh. 2A). Webster additionally confessed that he had his hand in M.W.’s

      “privates,” but he denied inserting his finger inside M.W.’s vagina. (State’s

      Exh. 2A). Webster added that he rubbed M.W.’s back “more than once.”

      (State’s Exh. 2A). Webster also penned an apology letter to M.W. stating, in

      part, “I am very sorry for the things I did. I never wanted to hurt you. What I

      did was wrong.” (State’s Exh. 3).

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 3 of 16
[6]   On September 1, 2015, the State filed an Information, charging Webster with

      child molesting, a Class A felony. Following a jury trial on August 10, 2016,

      Webster was found guilty as charged. On September 7, 2016, the trial court

      conducted a sentencing hearing. At the close of the hearing, the trial court

      sentenced Webster to thirty years in the Department of Correction.

[7]   Webster now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.

                              DISCUSSION AND DECISION
                                         I. Prosecutorial Misconduct

[8]   Webster argues that the State committed misconduct by referring to a decision

      from our supreme court during closing argument. To properly preserve

      appellate review of an improper argument made by the State during trial, the

      defendant must request an admonishment. Cooper v. State, 854 N.E.2d 831, 835

      (Ind. 2006). If the admonishment is believed to be insufficient, then the

      defendant should move for a mistrial. Id. If properly preserved, we consider

      claims of prosecutorial misconduct under a two-step inquiry: “(1) whether the

      prosecutor engaged in misconduct, and if so, (2) whether the misconduct, under

      all of the circumstances, placed the defendant in a position of grave peril to

      which he or she should not have been subjected.” Id. The gravity of peril is

      measured by the probable persuasive effect of the misconduct on the jury's

      decision rather than the degree of impropriety of the conduct. Booher v. State,

      773 N.E.2d 814, 818 (Ind. 2002).

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 4 of 16
[9]   During closing argument, the State displayed a PowerPoint slide with a citation

      to Bowles v. State, 738 N.E.2d 1150 (Ind. 2000). Citing to Bowles, the State

      proceeded to state:

              A victim’s testimony, even if uncorroborated is ordinarily sufficient to
              sustain a conviction for child molesting. And that’s from the Indiana
              Supreme Court. All you need is to believe [M.W.]. One witness is
              enough.

      (Tr. Vol. IV, p. 12). Following the State’s argument, Webster’s counsel sought

      permission for a sidebar conference. Outside the jury’s presence, Webster’s

      counsel asked whether the Bowles’ case was part of the jury instruction and the

      State responded that it was not. Webster’s counsel then proceeded to argue that

      even though the State had a right to cite case law, the trial court should issue

      “some kind of a cautionary instruction” to the jury. (Tr. Vol. IV, p. 13). In

      denying Webster’s request, the trial court stated, “[T]he parties can argue case

      law, so long as it’s not contrary to the instructions, [and] so long as the [c]ourt

      hasn’t denied giving a particular instruction.” (Tr. Vol. IV, p. 13). Here,

      Webster’s request that the trial court should have issued some kind of cautionary

      instruction to the jury is equivalent to a request for admonishment. Thus,

      Webster must prove (1) that misconduct occurred, and if it did, (2) that the

      misconduct, considering all of the circumstances, placed him in a position of

      grave peril to which he would not have been subjected otherwise. See Cooper,
854 N.E.2d at 835.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 5 of 16
[10]   In the instant case, we only need to address the first prong—whether there was

       misconduct. We recognize that, as part of its closing argument, the State may

       argue both law and fact and propound conclusions based upon an analysis of

       the evidence. Poling v. State, 938 N.E.2d 1212, 1217 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). This

       court and our Indiana Supreme Court have upheld child molesting convictions

       on the uncorroborated testimony of the victim on many occasions. See, e.g.,

       Hoglund v. State, 962 N.E.2d 1230, 1239 (Ind. 2012); Young v. State, 973 N.E.2d
1225, 1227 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012); Baber v. State, 870 N.E.2d 486, 490 (Ind. Ct.

       App. 2007), trans. denied. The State’s inclusion of our supreme court opinion in

       its closing argument did not amount to prosecutorial misconduct. Besides, we

       view the State’s argument that the jury could convict Webster if it believed

       M.W.’s testimony as an appropriate characterization of the evidence, and its

       reference to the Bowles case as a proper statement of the law. See Poling, 938
N.E.2d at 1217; Bowles, 737 N.E.2d at 1152.

[11]   Moreover, during the final instructions, the jury was reminded that closing

       arguments

               are not evidence but were made to help you evaluate the evidence. In
               final arguments, the attorneys are permitted to characterize the
               evidence, to argue the law and try to persuade you to a particular
               verdict. You may accept or reject those arguments as you see fit.

               ****

               Since this is a criminal case you are the judges of both the law and the
               facts, you have the right to determine the law for yourself. You may
               not, however, make, repeal, disregard or ignore the law as it exists.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 6 of 16
               These [jury] instructions are the best source as to the law applicable to
               this case.

       (Tr. Vol. IV, pp. 46, 48). Here, the trial court’s final instructions were sufficient

       to cure any improper comments by the State. See Emerson v. State, 952 N.E.2d
832, 838 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011) (any misconduct in prosecutor’s statement cured

       by court’s general instruction regarding prosecutor’s comment). Based on the

       foregoing, we conclude by stating that the State did not commit misconduct

       quoting Bowles in its closing argument.

                                                II. Jury Question

[12]   After the jury retired to deliberate, the jury passed a note to the trial court

       consisting of two questions, the second of which is at issue in this appeal.

       Recapping the jury’s question, the trial court stated, “One witness is enough

       with no corroboration ordinarily. What does ordinarily mean?” (Tr. Vol. IV.

       pp. 51-52 (quotation marks omitted)). Thereafter, the trial court advised the

       parties that it would instruct the jury on the dictionary definition of the word

       ordinarily from the American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition.

       Webster, through his counsel, objected to the instruction, but the trial court

       proceeded to instruct the jury with the dictionary-definition of the word

       “ordinarily.” Webster now argues that the trial court abused its discretion by

       instructing the jury on the dictionary definition of the word “ordinarily,”

       because that word “was an excerpt from the prosecutor’s power point slide”

       which was used to bolster its argument during the closing arguments.

       (Appellant’s Br. p. 12).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 7 of 16
[13]   A trial court’s decision whether to respond to jury questions is treated on appeal

       in the same manner as jury instructions. Gantt v. State, 825 N.E.2d 874, 877

       (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). Instructing the jury lies within the sole discretion of the

       trial court. Id. Jury instructions are to be considered as a whole and in

       reference to each other. Id. An error in a particular instruction will not result in

       reversal unless the entire jury charge misleads the jury as to the law in the case.

       Id. Before a defendant is entitled to a reversal, he or she must affirmatively

       show that the erroneous instruction prejudiced his substantial rights. Id. An

       error is to be disregarded as harmless unless it affects the substantial rights of a

       party. Ind. Trial Rule 61.

[14]   In Thomas v. State, 774 N.E.2d 33, 36 (Ind. 2002), which Webster claims is

       analogous, the jury requested that the trial court reread the portion of the

       prosecution’s closing argument that referred to a portion of an Indiana Supreme

       Court opinion. Id. at 34. Our supreme court determined that it was improper

       for the trial court to reread a section of the supreme court case as quoted by the

       State during closing argument “the way that it did” because it was not a valid

       point of law. Id. at 36. Nevertheless, the Thomas court determined that

       although the trial court’s recitation of the case law to the jury was error, it was

       harmless under the circumstances because the instruction was cumulative of

       other evidence, and there was overwhelming evidence establishing the

       defendant’s guilt. Id.

[15]   Webster argues that even if the Thomas court determined that the jury

       instruction was harmless based on the fact that there was sufficient evidence

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 8 of 16
       establishing the defendant’s guilt, the same conclusion cannot be made in the

       present case. Specifically, Webster argues that:

                 The present case dealt with acts which allegedly had occurred about
                 ten (10) years prior. There was no scientific or forensic evidence
                 supporting the conviction. M.W. had forgotten many of the pertinent
                 details about the case and was impeached on a number of occasions
                 due to her inconsistent statements regarding the offense.

       (Appellant’s Br. p. 16). To the extent that Webster asserts that M.W.’s

       testimony was less believable due to inconsistencies, we note that this is an

       issue of witness credibility. The function of weighing witness credibility lies

       with the trier of fact, not this court. Whited v. State, 645 N.E.2d 1138, 1141

       (Ind. Ct. App. 1995). We cannot reweigh the evidence and judge the credibility

       of the witnesses. Jones v. State, 783 N.E.2d 1132, 1139 (Ind. 2003). Again, we

       reiterate that a conviction of child molesting may rest on the uncorroborated

       testimony of the victim. Rose v. State, 36 N.E.3d 1055, 1061 (Ind. Ct. App.

       2015). Although he denied putting his finger inside M.W.’s vagina at his trial,

       Webster had confessed to the police during a recorded interview that he rubbed

       M.W.’s “back,” he had his hand on M.W.’s “butt,” and that he had his hand in

       M.W.’s “privates.” (State’s Ex. 2A). Webster also confessed that the back

       rubbing happened more than once. Additionally, M.W. unequivocally testified

       that Webster had, on more than one occasion, penetrated her vagina with his

       finger.

[16]   Moreover, although not similar but close to the facts of this case, in Shultz v.

       State, 417 N.E.2d 1127, 1133-34 (Ind. Ct. App. 1981), we surveyed the opinions

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 9 of 16
       of various jurisdictions with regard to a jury’s use of a dictionary during

       deliberations. We held that the presence of a dictionary in the jury deliberation

       room did not raise a presumption of prejudice and did not constitute reversible

       error. Id. In sum, taking into account the Thomas and Shultz decisions, we

       conclude that the trial court did not prejudice Webster’s substantial rights when

       it offered to the jury the dictionary-definition of the word ordinarily, and even if

       it was error, it was harmless. See Ind. Trial Rule 61.

                                          III. Credit-Restricted Felon

[17]   Webster argues that the trial court’s application of the 2008 credit restricted

       felon statute violated the federal and state constitutional prohibition against ex

       post facto laws. “An ex post facto law is one which applies retroactively to

       disadvantage an offender’s substantial rights.” Armstrong v. State, 848 N.E.2d
1088, 1092 (Ind. 2006). Both the United States Constitution and the Indiana

       Constitution prohibit ex post facto laws. U.S. Const. art. I, § 10; Ind. Const. art.

       1 § 24. The ex post facto analysis is the same under both constitutions. Upton v.

       State, 904 N.E.2d 700, 705 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), trans. denied.

[18]   The credit restricted felon statute took effect on July 1, 2008, and applied “only

       to persons convicted after June 30, 2008.” Id. at 704 (quoting Pub.L. 80-2008, §

       6). The statute, in relevant part, defined “credit restricted felon” as:

               [A] person who has been convicted of at least one (1) of the following
               offenses:

               (1) Child molesting involving sexual intercourse or deviate sexual
               conduct (IC 35-42-4-3(a)), if:

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 10 of 16
                  (A) the offense is committed by a person at least twenty-one (21) years
                  of age; and

                  (B) the victim is less than twelve (12) years of age.

       Ind. Code § 35-41-1-5.5. 1

[19]   “A person who is a credit restricted felon and who is imprisoned for a crime or

       imprisoned awaiting trial or sentencing is initially assigned to Class IV. A

       credit restricted felon may not be assigned to Class I or Class II.” I.C. § 35-50-

       6-4(b). Indiana Code section 35-50-6-3(d) provides that: “A person assigned to

       Class IV earns one (1) day of credit time for every six (6) days the person is

       imprisoned for a crime or confined awaiting trial or sentencing.”

[20]   In the instant matter, it is undisputed that Webster was at least twenty-one

       years old and that M.W. was less than twelve years old in July of 2008. On

       appeal, Webster claims that the criminal acts in question occurred

                  between June, 2006 and June, 2007. The State’s charging information
                  alleges the acts took place between June 2, 2006 and June 2, 2007,
                  prior to the July 1, 2008 effective date of the credit-restricted felon
                  statute. . . . M.W. ’s father, confirmed that . . . Webster was living at
                  his residence where the acts occurred during the period of 2006 to

       1
           Effective July 1, 2012, this statute was recodified under Indiana Code section 35-31.5-2-72.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017             Page 11 of 16
               2007. . . . M.W. also confirmed that the relevant time period was
               [between] June 2006 to June 2007.

       (Appellant’s Br. p. 18).

[21]   In Upton v. State, 904 N.E.2d 700 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), trans. denied, the

       defendant committed several child molesting offenses between 2003 and 2007.

       When he was sentenced, the trial court ordered that he would receive Class IV

       pre-sentencing credit time pursuant to the newly-enacted credit restricted felon

       statute. Id. at 705. We reversed the trial court’s classification of the defendant

       as a credit restricted felon because it was an ex post facto violation because at the

       time he committed his offenses, the law did not so restrict the credit time he

       could earn. Id. Likewise, in Gaby v. State, 949 N.E.2d 870, 883 (Ind. Ct. App.

       2011), we noted that the defendant, who was convicted of Class A felony child

       molesting in 2010, would appear to qualify as a credit restricted felon under the

       terms of the credit restricted felon statute. However, we concluded that, in light

       of our opinion in Upton, the application of the credit restricted felon statute to

       the defendant would be an ex post facto violation because the defendant

       committed his offense prior to the effective date of the statute. Id.

[22]   Based on the above discussion, the pertinent question here is whether there is

       sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s determination that Webster

       molested M.W. on or after July 1, 2008, the effective date of the credit restricted

       felon statute.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 12 of 16
[23]   Indeed, the charging Information alleged that the Webster molested M.W.

       between June 2, 2006 and June 2, 2007. Also, at Webster’s jury trial, M.W.’s

       father testified that Webster and Grandmother lived at his house for a short

       while, but moved out in 2007. In addition, when the State questioned M.W.

       whether the molestation occurred between June 2006 and June 2007, M.W.

       confirmed that was the particular time period.

[24]   Aside from the foregoing, our supreme court has held that even in the absence

       of a specific finding that an act of molesting occurred after the effective date of

       the credit-restricted felon statute, a credit-restriction designation does not

       violate the ex post facto prohibition if the evidence allows a reasonable jury to

       conclude that at least one incident of the charged conduct occurred after July 1,

       2008. See Sharp v. State, 970 N.E.2d 647, 648 n. 1 (Ind. 2012) (violation of ex

       post facto prohibition not explored where victim testified that defendant

       committed the act about “every other weekend,” the last of which would have

       been after July 1, 2008).

[25]   Apart from M.W.’s father testimony that Webster lived in his home, but moved

       out of his home in 2007, and M.W.’s testimony that the molestation occurred

       between June 2006 and June 2007; at his jury trial, Webster testified that “I

       lived at [M.W.’s home] from 2008 to 2010.” (Tr. Vol. III, p. 112). In addition,

       during M.W.’s direct examination, the State presented M.W. with a picture of

       herself, and M.W. confirmed that the picture was from “2007 and 2008” when

       she was about “eight” years old. (Tr. Vol. III, pp. 35-36). Thereafter, M.W.

       averred that Webster molested her on at least two instances when she lived in

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 13 of 16
       her family home on Caroline Street. Webster’s own testimony that he lived at

       M.W.’s family home between 2008 and 2010, allows an inference that he

       molested M.W. after the effective date of the credit-restriction felon statute.

       Applying the same logic of the Sharp case to the instant case, we find no ex post

       facto violation, and conclude that the trial court properly designated Webster as

       a credit restricted felon.

                                          IV. Inappropriate Sentence

[26]   Webster claims that his thirty-year sentence is inappropriate in light of the

       nature of the offenses and his character. Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B) empowers

       us to independently review and revise sentences authorized by statute if, after

       due consideration, we find the trial court’s decision inappropriate in light of the

       nature of the offense and the character of the offender. Reid v. State, 876 N.E.2d
1114, 1116 (Ind. 2007). The “nature of offense” compares the defendant’s

       actions with the required showing to sustain a conviction under the charged

       offense, while the “character of the offender” permits a broader consideration of

       the defendant’s character. Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008);

       Douglas v. State, 878 N.E.2d 873, 881 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). An appellant bears

       the burden of showing that both prongs of the inquiry favor a revision of his

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

       regard a sentence as appropriate at the end of the day turns on our sense of the

       culpability of the defendant, the severity of the crime, the damage done to

       others, and a myriad of other considerations that come to light in a given case.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 14 of 16
       Cardwell, 895 N.E.2d at 1224. Our court focuses on “the length of the aggregate

       sentence and how it is to be served.” Id.

[27]   The advisory sentence is the starting point the legislature has selected as an

       appropriate sentence for the crime committed. Abbott v. State, 961 N.E.2d 1016,

       1019 (Ind. 2012). For his Class A felony child molesting offense, Webster faced

       a sentencing range of twenty to fifty years, with the advisory sentence being

       thirty years. I.C. § 35-50-2-4. Here, the trial court imposed the advisory thirty-

       year sentence.

[28]   Turning to the nature of the offense, Webster, who is M.W.’s uncle, inserted his

       finger inside M.W.’s vagina on at least two occasions. M.W. later reported that

       she had nightmares afterward of Webster molesting her. We do not believe that

       Webster’s sentence was inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense. As

       for Webster’s character, we note that one relevant fact is the defendant’s

       criminal history. Johnson v. State, 986 N.E.2d 852, 857 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013).

       Webster correctly notes that that he has no criminal record, but his lack of a

       formal record is offset by the fact that he molested M.W. on multiple instances.

       Moreover, as M.W.’s uncle, he violated his position of trust with M.W. by

       molesting her, which speaks volumes of his unsavory character. Here, Webster

       has failed to meet his burden in persuading us that his sentence is inappropriate

       in light of his character. Having reviewed the matter, we conclude that the trial

       court did not impose an inappropriate sentence under Appellate Rule 7(B).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 15 of 16
                                             CONCLUSION
[29]   In sum, we conclude that the State did not commit misconduct by referencing

       case law during its closing argument; the trial court did not abuse its discretion

       by responding to a jury question; the trial court properly determined that

       Webster was a credit restricted felon; and Webster sentence is appropriate in

       light of the nature of the offense and his character.

[30]   Affirmed.

[31]   Robb, J. and Pyle, J. concur

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Opinion 71A03-1610-CR-2319 | October 31, 2017   Page 16 of 16