Court Opinion

ID: 4286738
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-21 15:11:21.75354+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:38.411478
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),                                        FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                   Jun 21 2018, 9:20 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
                                                                              CLERK
court except for the purpose of establishing                            Indiana Supreme Court
                                                                           Court of Appeals
the defense of res judicata, collateral                                      and Tax Court

estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael R. Fisher                                        Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Marion County Public Defender Agency                     Attorney General of Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
                                                         Lyubov Gore
                                                         Deputy Attorney General
                                                         Indianapolis, Indiana

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Darrin Shores,                                           June 21, 2018
Appellant-Defendant,                                     Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                         18A-CR-81
        v.                                               Appeal from Marion Superior
                                                         Court
State of Indiana,                                        The Honorable Sheila A. Carlisle,
Appellee-Plaintiff.                                      Judge
                                                         Trial Court Cause No.
                                                         49G03-1704-MR-15432

Bradford, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-81 | June 21, 2018                     Page 1 of 9
                                          Case Summary
[1]   In 2008, Thomas Johnson was shot and killed in Indianapolis. The case

      remained unsolved until 2016, when detectives received a tip from an

      individual in federal custody that Ashley Jones was a witness to the murder.

      After interviewing Jones, Darrin Shores was charged with Johnson’s murder.

[2]   A trial was held in December of 2017. At trial, Shores attempted to ask one of

      the detectives about the criminal history of individual who provided the tip, any

      benefit he may have received for providing the tip, and federal sentencing for

      drug offenses. The State objected on several grounds including lack of personal

      knowledge. After a bench conference, the objections were sustained. Shores

      was found guilty as charged.

[3]   On appeal, Shores argues that the trial court committed reversible error in

      sustaining two objections to Shores’s questioning of the detective about the

      criminal history of the individual who provided the tip and federal sentencing

      for drug offenses. Because the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding

      that the detective lacked sufficient personal knowledge to testify about the

      matter, we affirm.

                            Facts and Procedural History
[4]   In 2008, Johnson purchased drugs from Shores on multiple occasions. (State’s

      Ex. 86-87). In exchange for the drugs, Johnson allowed Shores to borrow his

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-81 | June 21, 2018   Page 2 of 9
      Toyota Highlander. Jones, Shores’s then-girlfriend, witnessed some of these

      exchanges. (Tr. Vol. II 204-05).

[5]   On the morning of November 24 or November 25, 2008, Johnson went to the

      Rosewood Commons apartment complex in Indianapolis, Indiana, where

      Shores was residing at the time, to retrieve his vehicle. (Tr Vo. II 132-33; Tr.

      Vol. III 131). Johnson’s vehicle was not at the apartment complex at that time,

      so he left. (Tr. Vol. II 132-33).

[6]   In the early morning hours of November 27, 2008, Johnson called Shores’s

      mobile telephone fifteen times starting at 4:34 a.m. (Tr. Vol. II 210-11, 213,

      227, 240-41). At some point, Shores answered and he and Johnson proceeded

      to have a heated discussion. Johnson told Shores that he was “coming to get

      his truck back and that he wanted his money back” “because the drugs [Shores

      gave him] was no good.” Tr. Vol. II 210, 227. Johnson also said he was

      coming over to kill Shores. Tr. Vol. II 212.

[7]   Johnson placed two final calls to Shores at 6:04 a.m. and 6:23 a.m., both of

      which went to voicemail. (Tr. Vol. III p. 129, 132, 145-47). Johnson went to

      Shores’s apartment complex again and looked inside Shores’s bedroom

      window. (Tr. Vol. II 213-14). When Shores and Jones saw him in the window,

      Shores got dressed, grabbed his gun, and walked out the front door. Jones

      heard a gunshot go off very close to the bedroom window. (Tr. Vol. II 217-18).

      After the gunshot, Shores returned to the apartment and said, “Got his a**.”

      Tr. Vol. II 219.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-81 | June 21, 2018   Page 3 of 9
[8]    At 6:48 a.m., officers were dispatched to Rosewood Commons after someone

       called to report that there was a “perpetual horn blowing” and a vehicle in a

       bush. Tr. Vol. II 107. Officer Jeff Mehrlich responded to Rosewood Commons

       and found Johnson’s vehicle stopped against a guardrail near the exit of the

       apartment complex. (Tr. Vol. II 86, 92). When Officer Mehrlich approached

       the vehicle, he observed Johnson gasping for air with an injury to his chest in

       the driver’s seat. (Tr. Vol. II 86). Johnson later died from the gunshot wound.

       (Tr. Vol. III 54, 57).

[9]    Detective Michael Mitchell was assigned to the case and obtained mobile

       telephone records for the telephone found in Johnson’s vehicle. (Tr. Vol. II

       115, 117) Detective Mitchell investigated the case, but was unable to develop

       any leads, causing the investigation to go cold. (Tr. Vol. II 108-10, 112). Jones

       never went to the police with the information she had because she was scared to

       be involved with a homicide. (Tr. Vol. II 224). She continued her relationship

       with Shores for some time and had a child with him in 2010. The case was

       eventually reassigned to Detective David Ellison of the Cold Case Unit. (Tr.

       Vol. II 113).

[10]   Several years later, in 2016, Jones told her then-boyfriend and father of one of

       her children, Daemez Long, about the events surrounding Johnson’s death.

       (Tr. Vol. 228-29). In June of 2016, Jones was driving with Long, when the two

       were stopped by federal agents and Long was arrested for having 23 ounces of

       heroin in the vehicle. (Tr. Vol. III 2, 4). Long was taken into custody on

       federal charges. When Long was in custody, he told officers that he had

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-81 | June 21, 2018   Page 4 of 9
       information on an unsolved murder and provided Jones’s name as a witness to

       that murder. (Tr. Vol. II 190-191).

[11]   Jones was interviewed by Detective Ellison on several occasions and told him

       what she had witnessed in November of 2008. (Tr. Vo. II 191-93, 224, 229-30).

       She also took the Detective to the scene of the murder and was able to identify

       Johnson as the victim and Shores as the shooter from photo arrays. (Tr. Vol. II

       225-26, 231-32; Tr. Vol. III 78-82). Jones’s account of the telephone calls that

       occurred that night between her and Shores and between Johnson and Shores

       was corroborated by mobile telephone records. (Tr. Vol. II 230-31; Tr. Vol. III

       147-49).

[12]   Detective Ellison found and interviewed Shores in Georgia. (Tr. Vol. III 208-

       10). During the interview, Shores claimed he was living with his mother at the

       time of the homicide, denied any connection to his mobile telephone number,

       denied recognizing Johnson when shown a picture of him, and denied knowing

       about Rosewood Commons. (Tr. Vol. III 214-17). On April 26, 2017, Shores

       was charged with murder. (App. Vol. II pp. 7, 9).

[13]   Shores’s jury trial was held from December 4 to December 5, 2017. When

       Detective Ellison testified about Long’s part in the investigation, he confirmed

       that Long had “some incentive for giving” the information about Jones and her

       knowledge of the homicide. Tr. Vol. II 188-89. He further explained that Long

       was not a witness to the homicide and merely led the authorities to Jones. (Tr.

       Vol. II 191, 194, 196). Detective Ellison testified that he did not know what

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-81 | June 21, 2018   Page 5 of 9
       Long was actually charged with and had not seen or talked to Long since before

       he was sentenced. (Tr Vol. III 219-20).

[14]   When Shores attempted to ask Detective Ellison about whether Long had a

       criminal history, the State objected on the grounds that the witness lacked

       personal knowledge and the questions were irrelevant. (Tr. Vol. III 220-223).

       The trial court sustained the objection. Shores then asked Detective Ellison

       whether he had familiarity with the federal system and drug cases, to which

       Detective Ellison responded, “a little.” Tr. Vol. III 224. Shores continued to

       question Detective Ellison about sentencing in the federal system and the State

       objected on the grounds of speculation and that Long was not a witness. (Tr.

       Vol. III 224). The trial court sustained this objection as well. The jury found

       Shores guilty as charged, and the trial court sentenced Shores to fifty-five years.

                                  Discussion and Decision
[15]   Shores argues that the trial court committed reversible error when it denied him

       his Sixth Amendment right to cross-examine a witness. As a general matter,

       the decision to admit or exclude evidence lies within the trial court’s sound

       discretion and is afforded great deference on appeal. Carpenter v. State, 786

       N.E.2d 696, 703 (Ind. 2003). We will not reverse the trial court’s decision on

       appeal “unless it represents a manifest abuse of discretion that results in the

       denial of a fair trial.” Id. While conducting our review, we will not reweigh the

       evidence and will consider any conflicting evidence in favor of the trial court’s

       ruling. King v. State, 985 N.E.2d 755, 757 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-81 | June 21, 2018   Page 6 of 9
[16]   “Both the Federal Constitution and our Indiana Constitution guarantee a

       defendant’s right to confront the witnesses against him. U.S. Const. amend. VI;

       Ind. Const. art. 1, § 13. This right is not absolute; it is subject to reasonable

       limitations, which we trust our trial judges to impose.” Pierce v. State, 29

       N.E.3d 1258, 1268 (Ind. 2015). The trial court may, within reason, impose

       limitations on the right to cross-examine based on their “concerns about,

       among other things, harassment, prejudice, confusion of the issues, the witness’

       safety, or interrogation that is repetitive or only marginally relevant.” Wilson v.

       State, 39 N.E.3d 705, 712 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). However, that exercise of

       discretion must be consistent with due process. Id; see also McCarthy v. State, 749

       N.E.2d 528, 533–36 (Ind. 2001) (finding error, although not reversible, in

       denying defendant the opportunity to cross-examine a witness about an event

       that may have motivated her to favor the prosecution). To aid the trial court

       and reviewing appellate court in determining the appropriate scope of cross-

       examination, a party will often present an offer of proof. Id. at 1268. “Absent

       an offer of proof, neither this court nor the trial court can adequately determine

       the admissibility and relevance of the proffered testimony.” Paullus v. Yarnelle,

       633 N.E.2d 304, 308 (Ind. Ct. App. 1994).

[17]   Shores claims the trial court abused its discretion by not permitting him to

       cross-examine Detective Ellison to establish that Long could have received a

       longer sentence had he not provided Jones’s name and that Jones received a

       significant benefit by testifying through the early release of Long. The State

       objected on the grounds that it was irrelevant, the questions were attempting to

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-81 | June 21, 2018   Page 7 of 9
       impeach an individual who was not a witness, and the witness lacked personal

       knowledge. (Tr. Vol. III p. 221-22).

[18]   Under Indiana Rules of Evidence 602 and 701, a witness must have personal

       knowledge of a matter in order to testify about it.

       Evidence Rule 602 provides:

               A witness may not testify to a matter unless evidence is
               introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has
               personal knowledge of the matter. A witness does not have
               personal knowledge as to a matter recalled or remembered, if the
               recall or remembrance occurs only during or after hypnosis.
               Evidence to prove personal knowledge may, but need not, consist
               of the testimony of the witness.

       Evidence Rule 701 states:

               If the witness is not testifying as an expert, the witness’s
               testimony in the form of opinions or inferences is limited to those
               opinions or inferences which are (a) rationally based on the
               perception of the witness and (b) helpful to the clear
               understanding of the witness’s testimony or the determination of
               a fact in issue.

[19]   The trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that Detective Ellison

       lacked personal knowledge to testify regarding any deal Long might have made

       in his federal case. Detective Ellison said he did not know what Long was

       originally charged with, convicted of, or ultimately sentenced to. (Tr. Vol. III

       p. 219, 220). Detective Ellison also testified that he had not spoken to or seen

       Long since before his sentencing hearing. Moreover, to the extent that

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-81 | June 21, 2018   Page 8 of 9
       Detective Ellison was aware of any deal or leniency that Long may have

       received, no offer of proof was made to that effect. Given the evidence of

       Detective Ellison’s lack of knowledge regarding Long’s criminal case and the

       federal system as a whole, all indications are that any answer he would have

       given to Shores’s questions would have been speculative. Shores has failed to

       establish an abuse of discretion in this regard.

[20]   We think it is worth noting that Shores was not precluded from impeaching

       Jones through cross-examination about Long, his charges, his sentence, her

       relationship with him, or any reason why a deal Long received might provide

       her with a motive to lie.1 As it happened, the only question Shores asked of

       Jones with respect to Long’s federal charges, which the trial court permitted

       over the State’s objection, was whether she was driving the vehicle when Long

       was arrested by federal agents for drugs. The trial court properly denied the two

       questions that Shores posed to Detective Ellison.

[21]   The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

       Baker, J., and Kirsch, J., concur.

       1
        Shores asked Jones, “What do you know about the charges that [Long] faced with the feds?” and “[W]ere
       you driving the vehicle when [Long] got arrested?” Tr. Vol. III 2–4. The State objected to the first question.
       During a bench conference, Shores merely said he was trying to establish Jones’s own personal motive
       because she was driving the car when Long was arrested. Shores did not try to elicit any other information
       about Jones’s knowledge of the Long’s charges or sentence or whether she was still in a relationship with
       Long at the time of the trial.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-81 | June 21, 2018                         Page 9 of 9