Court Opinion

ID: 2727795
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 21:23:22.739211+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:03:14.892977
License: Public Domain

FOR PUBLICATION

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                     ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:

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

                                            KARL M. SCHARNBERG
                                            Deputy Attorney General
                                            Indianapolis, Indiana

                                                                    Mar 15 2013, 8:53 am

                            IN THE
                  COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

MATTHEW BRYANT,                             )
                                            )
     Appellant-Defendant,                   )
                                            )
            vs.                             )      No. 03A04-1205-CR-283
                                            )
STATE OF INDIANA,                           )
                                            )
     Appellee-Plaintiff.                    )

              APPEAL FROM THE BARTHOLOMEW SUPERIOR COURT
                       The Honorable Chris D. Monroe, Judge
                         Cause No. 03D01-1108-FB-4453

                                  March 15, 2013

                            OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION

DARDEN, Senior Judge
                             STATEMENT OF THE CASE

      Matthew Bryant appeals his conviction and sentence for aggravated battery, a

Class B felony, and for being a habitual offender. We affirm.

                                        ISSUES

      Bryant raises four issues, which we expand and restate as:

      I.     Whether Bryant was deprived of his right to a speedy trial under the federal
             and state constitutions.

      II.    Whether the trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence.

      III.   Whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain Bryant’s conviction for
             aggravated battery.

      IV.    Whether the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing Bryant.

      V.     Whether Bryant’s sentence is appropriate.

                       FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

      On June 4, 2011, Bryant was incarcerated on unrelated charges in the

Bartholomew County Jail. As the inmates ate lunch in their cellblock, Bryant perceived

that fellow inmate Roosevelt Crowdus was eating spaghetti too loudly. Bryant told him,

“[L]et’s go to the room,” which Crowdus interpreted as a challenge to go fight in

Bryant’s cell. Tr. p. 199. Crowdus followed Bryant to the cell. Although disputed,

Crowdus testified that Bryant threw the first punch but missed.          The combatants

exchanged punches with their fists and then fell to the floor struggling with one another.

Bryant put Crowdus in a headlock, but Crowdus grabbed Bryant’s groin. At that point,

they broke apart from one another.

                                            2
       Bryant told Crowdus that Crowdus “don’t got [sic] enough heart for [Bryant],”

which Crowdus took to mean that Bryant did not think Crowdus could beat him. Id. at

202. Crowdus offered to shake hands to establish a truce, but Bryant rejected the offer,

stating, “I don’t shake up,” and “Aryans don’t shake up.” Id. at 203. The two resumed

fist-fighting, and at some point Crowdus put his hands around Bryant’s neck. Later in the

altercation, while Crowdus was holding onto the top bunk, Bryant grabbed a pencil and

swung it at Crowdus, stabbing him in the left ear. Crowdus fell to the floor, and Bryant

walked out of the cell. As Bryant exited the cell, he told an inmate, “[I]f you want to see

a kill, that’s a kill.” Id. at 281. Crowdus subsequently obtained assistance from jail staff,

who summoned an ambulance. Despite undergoing surgery, Crowdus permanently lost

all hearing in his left ear.

       The State charged Bryant with the instant offense, aggravated battery, and with

being an habitual offender.      A jury found Bryant guilty of aggravated battery but

deadlocked on the habitual offender determination. The trial court declared a mistrial and

ordered that Bryant be retried on the habitual offender enhancement. A jury determined

at a subsequent trial that Bryant was an habitual offender. The court sentenced Bryant to

an aggregate term of fifty years, and this appeal followed.

                               DISCUSSION AND DECISION

                               I. RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL

       Bryant filed a motion for speedy trial on October 26, 2011, and the court released

him on his own recognizance on December 13, 2011, while trial was pending. Bryant

                                             3
argues that the court nonetheless infringed upon his right to a speedy trial despite being

released in this case because he remained incarcerated on other charges.

       The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and article one,

section twelve of the Indiana Constitution both protect the right of an accused to a speedy

trial. Cundiff v. State, 967 N.E.2d 1026, 1027 (Ind. 2012). This right is a fundamental

principle of constitutional law and has been “zealously guarded” by our courts. Id. The

provisions of Indiana Criminal Rule 4 implement a defendant’s right to a speedy trial.

Otte v. State, 967 N.E.2d 540, 545 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012), trans. denied. That rule

provides, in relevant part:

       If any defendant held in jail on an indictment or an affidavit shall move for
       an early trial, he shall be discharged if not brought to trial within seventy
       (70) calendar days from the date of such motion, except where a
       continuance within said period is had on his motion, or the delay is
       otherwise caused by his act, or where there was not sufficient time to try
       him during such seventy (70) calendar days because of the congestion of
       the court calendar.

Ind. Crim. Rule 4(B). It is well established that Criminal Rule 4 places an affirmative

duty on the State to bring a defendant to trial. Cundiff, 967 N.E.2d at 1028. Bryant’s

speedy trial claim presents a question of law, which we review de novo. Id. at 1027.

       Here, the relevant facts are not in dispute. The trial court held an initial hearing in

the instant case on August 29, 2011, and scheduled a jury trial for February 7, 2012.

Bryant filed a speedy trial request on October 26, 2011. That is the date upon which the

seventy-day period set forth in Indiana Criminal Rule 4(B) began to run.

       On November 29, 2011, the State filed a motion requesting the trial court to

release Bryant on his own recognizance in this case, noting that he would remain

                                              4
incarcerated due to another pending case. The trial court held a hearing on the State’s

motion on December 13, 2011, within the seventy-day deadline. On the same day, the

trial court granted the State’s motion and ordered Bryant released upon his own

recognizance in this case. Bryant remained incarcerated due to another case until his trial

in this case commenced on February 7, 2012. That date was beyond the seventy-day

period that began running on October 26, 2011.

       We find guidance in our Supreme Court’s opinion in Cundiff. In that case, the

Court specifically “address[ed] the question of whether an incarcerated defendant has the

right to be tried within seventy days under Criminal Rule 4(B) when he is being held for

an unrelated offense and not on the charges for which speedy trial is demanded.”

Cundiff, 967 N.E.2d at 1028-29. Cundiff was arrested for driving while intoxicated and

other charges, and he was released on bond after a brief period of incarceration.

However, he was soon incarcerated again on a separate probation revocation matter.

Next, Cundiff filed a motion for speedy trial in the drunken driving case, and he

subsequently filed a motion for discharge.       The trial court denied his motion for

discharge, and our Supreme Court affirmed. The Court reviewed its precedent and

concluded: “[F]or Rule 4(B) to apply, the defendant must be incarcerated on the charge

for which he seeks a speedy trial, and as long as that requirement is met, the availability

of Rule 4(B) is not affected if the defendant is also incarcerated on other grounds.” Id. at

1031. Thus, Cundiff’s right under Criminal Rule 4(B) was not violated because he was

not incarcerated on the charges for which he sought a speedy trial.

                                             5
       In this case, applying the reasoning in Cundiff, we find that the trial court did not

violate Criminal Rule 4(B). Bryant was released on his own recognizance in this case

within seventy days of requesting a speedy trial. Bryant argues that this interpretation of

Criminal Rule 4 is too narrow and undermines a defendant’s right to a speedy trial.

Specifically, he believes the State will have no incentive to try a defendant quickly if it

knows the defendant can be released in one case because the defendant will still remain

incarcerated for another case. We acknowledge Bryant’s argument, but we cannot reject

our Supreme Court’s clear holding in Cundiff.

       Bryant also claims that even if the trial court did not violate the terms of Criminal

Rule 4, his right to a speedy trial has been violated because the court did not comply with

“the spirit” of that rule. Appellant’s Br. p. 23. He cites State v. Roberts, 171 Ind. App.

537, 358 N.E.2d 181 (1976), in support of his claim, but that case is distinguishable.

There, a juvenile court waived jurisdiction over Roberts on March 19, 1975, and ordered

that he be transferred to the custody of the sheriff to stand trial as an adult for the crime

of escape. However, the State did not file an information until May 8, 1975. Upon

review, a panel of this Court noted that Roberts’ detention from March 19 through May 8

was not the result of an arrest or caused by a felony charge. Thus, the trial court should

have applied procedural safeguards that would have protected Roberts’ right to a speedy

trial. The Court determined that Criminal Rule 4(B) applied to Roberts’ detention and

that the State’s failure to timely charge and try Roberts violated the spirit of the rule.

       In this case, there is no dispute that Bryant’s initial hearing on the charge was held

in a timely manner.       Consequently, it cannot be said that Bryant experienced an

                                               6
unreasonable delay, as Roberts did, and Roberts is not controlling. We conclude that the

court did not violate Bryant’s right to a speedy trial.

                             II. ADMISSION OF EVIDENCE

       Bryant argues that the trial court erred by allowing a detective to tell the jury what

Crowdus said at the hospital and by admitting a recording of Bryant’s telephone

conversation with a friend. The admission or exclusion of evidence rests within the

sound discretion of the court, and we review for an abuse of discretion. Conley v. State,

972 N.E.2d 864, 871 (Ind. 2012). An abuse of discretion occurs when the court’s

decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before it. Id.

         A. ADMISSION OF CROWDUS’ STATEMENT AT THE HOSPITAL

       Detective Christopher Roberts was dispatched to investigate Crowdus’ stabbing

after jail staff reported it. He went to the jail and spoke with the staff, and then he

followed the ambulance that took Crowdus to the hospital. Roberts interviewed Crowdus

before he began receiving treatment. At trial, the following colloquy occurred:

       [STATE:]       What, if anything, did Roosevelt tell you in terms of what
                      occurred during the assault?

       [ROBERTS:] He told me that he was invited to the cell, where they started
                  a fight. He said that he was not the first one that threw a
                  punch, but the Defendant . . . , [sic] Excuse me.

       ....

       [BRYANT:] I’m going to object to this questioning. Mr. Crowdus has
                 already testified as to what happened. This is hearsay.

       [THE COURT:]          Overruled.

                                               7
       [ROBERTS:] Roosevelt Crowdus told me that he was invited into the cell
                  where they commenced to fight and it was over what he
                  believed was that he was eating too loudly. And when he got
                  into the cell, he said that the Defendant threw the first punch,
                  which he missed, and he retaliated with a strike to the face.

Tr. p. 341.

       Bryant contends that Roberts’ account of what Crowdus told him is inadmissible

hearsay. We agree. Hearsay is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while

testifying at a trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter

asserted. Ind. Evidence Rule 801. Hearsay is not admissible except as provided by the

Indiana Rules of Evidence or by law. Ind. Evidence Rule 802. Roberts’ description of

Crowdus’ statement is an out-of-court statement, and it reasonably could be construed to

have been offered to prove the truth of Crowdus’ statement.

       The State argues that Roberts’ testimony about Crowdus’ statement is not hearsay

because the statement was “one of identification of a person made shortly after

perceiving a person,” pursuant to Indiana Evidence Rule 801(d)(1)(C). We disagree.

There was no dispute at trial that Bryant stabbed Crowdus; thus, Crowdus’ statement was

one of explanation rather than identification.

       The State also argues that Roberts’ account of Crowdus’ statement was admissible

as an excited utterance.    Indiana Evidence Rule 803(2) allows the admission of “a

statement relating to a startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the

stress of excitement caused by the event or condition.” Here, Crowdus returned to his

cell after the stabbing and lay in his bunk until another inmate summoned jail staff. The

record does not disclose how long Crowdus was in his cell until staff arrived. The jail

                                             8
officers requested assistance from their supervisor. After an undisclosed period of time,

the supervisor went to Crowdus’ cell, reviewed the situation, and summoned paramedics.

The record does not reflect how long it took the paramedics to arrive at the jail. The

paramedics took Crowdus to the hospital, and the record does not indicate how long the

trip to the hospital took. Thus, the State has failed to establish how much time elapsed

between the stabbing and Crowdus’ conversation with Roberts, which is essential to

determining whether a witness was still under the stress of the event or condition.

Furthermore, at the hospital Crowdus talked to Roberts in a “low and slow” tone of voice

rather than in an excited manner. Tr. p. 339. We cannot conclude that Crowdus was still

under the stress of the stabbing when Roberts interviewed him, so Crowdus’ statement

was not an excited utterance and should not have been admitted.

      Generally, errors in the admission of evidence are to be disregarded unless they

affect the substantial rights of a party. Hoglund v. State, 962 N.E.2d 1230, 1238 (Ind.

2012). The improper admission is harmless error if the conviction is supported by

substantial independent evidence of guilt, satisfying the reviewing court there is no

substantial likelihood the challenged evidence contributed to the conviction. Id.

      Here, Crowdus and Bryant both testified at trial, and there is no dispute that

Bryant stabbed Crowdus in the ear. Furthermore, Crowdus’ statement to Roberts was, for

the most part, cumulative of Crowdus’ testimony. We cannot conclude that there is a

substantial likelihood that Roberts’ hearsay testimony contributed to the conviction.

Consequently, admission of the testimony was harmless error.

                                            9
                           B. BRYANT’S TELEPHONE CALL

       Bryant remained incarcerated in the Bartholomew County Jail after his fight with

Crowdus. When an inmate places a telephone call, an automatic message informs the

inmate at the beginning of the call that the call will be recorded. On July 4, 2011, the jail

recorded a phone call that Bryant initiated to a friend.        A redacted portion of the

recording was admitted into evidence at trial. The portion provides, in relevant part:

       Male: I heard there is some f*****g dud [sic] that f*****g in there that
              f*****g like beat you up or something that’s what somebody was
              telling me that.
       Male: Huh? Beat me up?
       Male: Yeah there was some . . . yeah.
       Male: No.
       Male: I-I told the girl I was like, I told that chick I was like man, I said, I
              don’t know I said I’ve known Matt for awhile, I said I’ve never seen
              anybody beat up Matt. (laughs)
       Male: Who-who was, which was the chick?
       Male: Uh, some girl at my work. I don’t know her name, but she uh, she
              dates f*****g Matt Brantley.
       Male: Oh, black dude, Matt Brantley. No I beat up . . .
       Male: Yeah.
       Male: [A] black dude. I-I mean I beat this mother f*****g rug up
              decent. I mean I stabbed him in the ear with a pencil and everything.
              I f****d him up.
       Male: Yeah, see I heard that too and then that’s what she was telling me
              she’s like yeah she’s like I guess a couple of them f*****g black
              dudes got a hold of him or something and . . .
       Male: Man no . . .
       Male: [G]ot back at him or something.
       Male: I . . .
       Male: I was just like oh, I don’t know about that.
       Male: Where do you work at?
       Male: Uh, The Garage downtown.
       Male: Oh, The Garage. Oh, no, who . . .
       Male: Yeah.
       Male: [A]in’t none of the dudes, there ain’t no black dude . . . I called
              them all in the room once and told them I said if we’re going to get
              it, let’s get it. And Dirk Neal . . .

                                             10
       Male: Yeah.
       Male: [H]e – he was like f**k it, let’s get it mother f*****s. And-and . . .
       Male: Yeah, I mean that’s what I told her I said man . . . I’ve known Matt
              forever and I said I ain’t never . . . heard not nobody [sic] beating
              him up. (laughs)
       Male: Let, about . . .
       Male: Are you there?
       Male: But yeah . . . they [sic], let her know I am 7 and 0 in the county jail.
              So . . .
       Male: What’s that?
       Male: Tell her that I am 7 and 0, there is [sic] 7 wins and 0 loses [sic]
              so . . .
       Male: (laughs)
       Male: . . . I’ve been running through mother f*****s left and right. I
              mean . . .
       Male: Oh, I’m sure you have. (laughs)
       Male: . . . [T]hey had to carry old boy out to the mother f*****g [sic], on a
              stretcher man. So . . .
       Male: (laughs)

State’s Ex. 11 (recording), Defendant’s Ex. A pp. 9-11 (transcript of recording).

       Bryant argues that the recording contains inadmissible hearsay, specifically

statements by Bryant’s friend and a woman with whom Bryant’s friend had spoken. In

Williams v. State, 669 N.E.2d 956, 958 (Ind. 1996), Williams contended that the trial

court should not have admitted recordings of Williams’ conversations with a confidential

informant, asserting that the informant’s statements were hearsay. Our Supreme Court

determined that the informant’s statements were largely intended to prompt Williams to

speak and were not admitted for the truth of the matter asserted. Consequently, the

statements were not hearsay.

       In this case, as in Williams, the statements by Bryant’s friend, including his

account of what a female co-worker told him, served to prompt Bryant to speak.

                                            11
Bryant’s statements constituted the evidentiary weight of the conversation. Thus, we

conclude that the recording was not inadmissible hearsay.

       Next, Bryant claims that even if the recording was not hearsay, the trial court

should not have admitted it because it was unfairly prejudicial. Indiana Evidence Rule

403 provides, “Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is

substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or

misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, or needless presentation of

cumulative evidence.” The balancing of the probative value against the danger of unfair

prejudice must be determined with reference to the issue to be proved by the evidence.

Brim v. State, 624 N.E.2d 27, 35 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993), trans. denied. Evaluation of

whether the probative value of an evidentiary matter is substantially outweighed by the

danger of unfair prejudice is a discretionary task best performed by the trial court. Baer

v. State, 866 N.E.2d 752, 763 (Ind. 2007).

       Bryant asserts that the recording painted him “as a racist with a criminal history,

violent propensity, and penchant for fighting in jail.” Appellant’s Br. p. 35. However,

the key issue at trial was whether Bryant stabbed Crowdus in self defense. Bryant’s

statement in the recording that he “beat [Crowdus] up decent” and stabbed him in the ear

helped to establish that Bryant was a willing participant in the fight. Furthermore, Bryant

initiated the call and was aware that it was being recorded, so there is no question of

surprise or coercion. In addition, other testimony at trial established that Bryant referred

to himself as an Aryan, so the jury was already made aware that he may have had racist

beliefs. Balancing the issue to be proved by the recording, specifically Bryant’s intent,

                                             12
against the danger of unfair prejudice, we cannot say that admission of the recording

violated Indiana Evidence Rule 403. See Baer, 866 N.E.2d at 763 (determining that

admission of a recording of Baer’s jailhouse phone call was not unduly prejudicial

because Baer was pursuing a defense of guilty but mentally ill, and the recording was

highly probative to establish whether he was faking mental illness).

       Finally, Bryant argues that the recording improperly informed the jury of prior,

uncharged misconduct.       Indiana Evidence Rule 404(B) provides, in relevant part:

“Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a

person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible

for other purposes, such as proof of motive, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity,

or absence of mistake or accident . . . .” Our Supreme Court has stated as follows with

respect to the intent exception:

       The intent exception in Evid. R. 404(b) will be available when a defendant
       goes beyond merely denying the charged culpability and affirmatively
       presents a claim of particular contrary intent. When a defendant alleges in
       trial a particular contrary intent, whether in opening statement, by cross-
       examination of the State’s witnesses, or by presentation of his own case-in-
       chief, the State may respond by offering evidence of prior crimes, wrongs,
       or acts to the extent genuinely relevant to prove the defendant’s intent at the
       time of the charged offense. The trial court must then determine whether to
       admit or exclude such evidence depending upon whether “its probative
       value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice,
       confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of
       undue delay, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.”

Wickizer v. State, 626 N.E.2d 795, 799 (Ind. 1993) (quoting Ind. Evidence Rule 403).

       In this case, the State alleged that Bryant committed the crime of aggravated

battery. Bryant presented evidence of a contrary intent at trial, specifically that he acted

                                             13
in self defense. He sought to establish that Crowdus violated jail rules by entering

Bryant’s cell. Next, Bryant extensively cross-examined Crowdus, and Crowdus admitted

that he could have asked the guards for help rather than going into Bryant’s cell to fight.

Crowdus also admitted during cross-examination that he struck Bryant during the fight.

Thus, Bryant was attempting to prove that Crowdus was the initial aggressor and he was

merely defending himself. Given Bryant’s claim of self defense, the court properly

allowed the State to present evidence of prior acts, specifically Bryant’s prior jail fights,

to prove his intent. See Evans v. State, 727 N.E.2d 1072, 1080 (Ind. 2000) (determining

that the trial court’s admission of Evans’ act of strangulation was admissible under Rule

404(b) in Evans’ attempted murder prosecution because Evans had claimed self defense,

and Evans’ act of strangulation rebutted his claim that the attempted murder victim was

the aggressor). Furthermore, we have already determined that Evidence Rule 403 does

not bar admission of the recording. For these reasons, the trial court did not abuse its

discretion by admitting the recording.

                        III. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

       Bryant argues there is insufficient evidence to support his aggravated battery

conviction because he believes the State failed to rebut his claim of self defense. When a

claim of self defense is raised and finds support in the evidence, the State has the burden

of negating at least one of the necessary elements beyond a reasonable doubt. Wilson v.

State, 770 N.E.2d 799, 800 (Ind. 2002). The standard of review for a challenge to the

sufficiency of the evidence to rebut a claim of self defense is the same as the standard for

any sufficiency of the evidence claim. Id. at 801. We do not reweigh the evidence or

                                             14
judge the credibility of the witnesses. Joslyn v. State, 942 N.E.2d 809, 811 (Ind. 2011).

We consider only the probative evidence and reasonable inferences drawn from the

evidence that support the verdict. Id. If a defendant is convicted despite a claim of self

defense, we reverse only if no reasonable person could say that self defense was negated

by the State beyond a reasonable doubt. Wilson, 770 N.E.2d at 800-01.

       A valid claim of defense of oneself or another person is legal justification for an

otherwise criminal act. Ind. Code § 35-41-3-2 (2006).       To prevail on a claim of self

defense, the defendant must present evidence that he: (1) was in a place he had a right to

be; (2) did not provoke, instigate, or participate willingly in the violence; and (3) had a

reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm. Tharpe v. State, 955 N.E.2d 836, 844 (Ind.

Ct. App. 2011), trans. denied. A person is not justified in using force if the person has

entered into combat with another person or is the initial aggressor unless the person

withdraws from the encounter and communicates to the other person the intent to do so

and the other person nevertheless continues or threatens to continue unlawful action. Ind.

Code § 35-41-3-2(e).

       In this case, although some portions of the evidence are disputed, Bryant

challenged Crowdus to fight in his cell. According to Crowdus, once they were in the

cell Bryant threw the first punch but missed, and Crowdus then struck Bryant with his

fist. It is undisputed that Bryant also struck Crowdus several times with his fist and put

him in a headlock. It is further undisputed that when the combatants broke away from

each other, Crowdus offered a truce. However, Bryant rejected the offer, and the two

continued fist-fighting.   Crowdus never used or reached for a weapon, but Bryant

                                            15
grabbed a pencil and stabbed Crowdus with it, resulting in permanent injury to Crowdus’

left ear. This evidence reasonably establishes that Bryant provoked the fight, or at least

participated willingly in it, which undermines his claim of self defense. Furthermore,

when Crowdus communicated his intent to withdraw from combat, Bryant rejected it and

continued to fight. Consequently, the jury could have reasonably concluded that under

the circumstances herein, Bryant was not justified in using the pencil as a weapon to stab

Crowdus in the ear, causing permanent damage. See Ind. Code § 35-41-3-2(e); Huls v.

State 971 N.E.2d 739, 747 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (determining that the State carried its

burden of negating Huls’ claim of self defense when Huls continued to shoot at the

victims even after they asked him to stop shooting and said they were leaving), trans.

denied. Bryant argues that he continued to fight because Crowdus was preventing him

from leaving the cell or seeking assistance from the guards, but this is a request for us to

reweigh the evidence, which we cannot do.         We conclude that the State put forth

sufficient evidence to negate Bryant’s claim of self defense beyond a reasonable doubt.

                    IV. SENTENCING – ABUSE OF DISCRETION

       Bryant contends that the trial court overlooked mitigating factors he submitted at

sentencing.   Subject to the review and revision power discussed below, sentencing

decisions rest within the sound discretion of the trial court and are reviewed on appeal

only for an abuse of discretion. Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482, 490 (Ind. 2007),

clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 218 (2007). One way in which a trial court may abuse its

discretion is failing to enter a sentencing statement at all. Id. Other examples include

entering a sentencing statement that explains reasons for imposing a sentence—including

                                            16
a finding of aggravating and mitigating factors if any—but the record does not support

the reasons, or the sentencing statement omits reasons that are clearly supported by the

record and advanced for consideration, or the reasons given are improper as a matter of

law. Id. at 490-91.

       Bryant claims the trial court should have determined that his difficult childhood

and his mental illness were mitigating factors. However, Bryant did not cite those factors

at sentencing. Instead, Bryant’s entire argument at sentencing was as follows:

       We’d just ask the, the Court to consider the pre-sentence investigation
       report and the background of the Defendant as well as the fact that he’s
       currently serving a prolonged sentence in prison. So we’d ask the Court to
       review those facts and sentence him accordingly.

Tr. p. 701. Although the trial court is obligated to review the presentence investigation

report and consider all aggravating and mitigating circumstances presented in that

document, the court is not required to comb through it and present mitigating arguments

on behalf of the defendant when the defendant fails to act. Failure to present a mitigating

circumstance to the trial court waives consideration of the circumstance on appeal.

McKinney v. State, 873 N.E.2d 630, 646 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), trans. denied.

Consequently, Bryant’s claims with respect to mitigating factors are waived.

       Waiver notwithstanding, our Supreme Court has consistently held that evidence of

a difficult childhood warrants little, if any, mitigating weight. Ritchie v. State, 875

N.E.2d 706, 725 (Ind. 2007). Here, the court noted that Bryant had a difficult childhood,

but it was not a mitigating circumstance because “a number of attempts have been made

                                            17
in the juvenile area to try to provide services to you. That was not successful.” Tr. p.

704. We find no abuse of discretion with respect to Bryant’s childhood.

       Turning to Bryant’s mental illness, there are four factors that bear on the weight to

be given to mental illness at sentencing:

       (1) the extent of the defendant’s inability to control his or her behavior due
       to the disorder or impairment; (2) overall limitations on functioning; (3) the
       duration of the mental illness; and (4) the extent of any nexus between the
       disorder or impairment and the commission of the crime.

Weeks v. State, 697 N.E.2d 28, 30 (Ind. 1998). Here, the presentence investigation report

indicated that Bryant had received counseling for mental illnesses, including bipolar

disorder and substance abuse, since 1995. However, the report provides no evidence that

relates to the other three factors set forth in Weeks. Consequently, even if Bryant had

raised his mental illness as a mitigating factor, based on the evidence here the trial court

would not have been obligated to find that it was a mitigating circumstance. The trial

court did not abuse its discretion by failing to find that Bryant’s mental illness is a

mitigating factor.

               V. SENTENCING – APPROPRIATNESS OF SENTENCE

       Although a trial court may have acted within its lawful discretion in imposing a

sentence, Article 7, Sections 4 and 6 of the Indiana Constitution authorize independent

appellate review and revision of sentences through Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B), which

provides that a court “may revise a sentence authorized by statute 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.” Reid

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v. State, 876 N.E.2d 1114, 1116 (Ind. 2007) (citing Anglemyer, 868 N.E.2d at 491). The

defendant has the burden of persuading us that his sentence is inappropriate. Id. (citing

Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080 (Ind. 2006)). In making this determination, we

may look to any factors appearing in the record. Calvert v. State, 930 N.E.2d 633, 643

(Ind. Ct. App. 2010).

      We first look to the statutory range established for the class of the offense. The

advisory sentence for a Class B felony is ten years, with a minimum of six years and a

maximum of twenty years. Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5 (2005). In addition, the habitual

offender determination carried an enhancement of ten to thirty years in this case. Ind.

Code § 35-50-2-8 (2005). Bryant received fifty years, the maximum possible sentence.

      We next look to the nature of the offense and the character of the offender. Our

review here of the nature of the offense shows that Bryant provoked a fight with a fellow

inmate over a trivial matter. Crowdus testified that Bryant threw the first punch, refused

to stop fighting when Crowdus offered a truce, and subsequently permanently destroyed

Crowdus’ hearing in one ear. It is particularly troubling that Bryant committed this crime

while he was already incarcerated on other serious felony charges, because his actions

displayed contempt for the law and a willingness to commit serious crimes even when

incarcerated. In addition, Bryant told another inmate his attack on Crowdus was a “kill”

and subsequently bragged about the fight in a phone call with a friend.

      Our review here of the character of the offender shows that Bryant has a lengthy

criminal history. As a juvenile, he committed several acts that would have constituted

battery had they been committed by an adult. As an adult, Bryant has been convicted of

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ten felonies, including burglary, strangulation, invasion of privacy, and possession of

methamphetamine. At the time Bryant committed his current crime, he was already

incarcerated on very serious felony charges including Class A felony battery, Class C

felony battery, two counts of criminal confinement, and two counts of intimidation. He

was subsequently convicted of those charges and sentenced to ninety-three years prior to

sentencing in the current case. In addition, Bryant has violated the terms and conditions

of his probation on multiple occasions. In summary, Bryant has a lengthy history of

violent crimes, and prior, shorter sentences and terms of probation did not cause him to

alter his behavior. To the contrary, over the course of his life his crimes have escalated

and become more and more serious. Bryant also has a history of using methamphetamine

and marijuana.

       Bryant notes that he had a troubled childhood because he witnessed domestic

abuse. He also asserts that he has a history of mental illness. Finally, he has sporadic

employment when he is not incarcerated, and he has two daughters. In light of the

vicious nature of the crime and Bryant’s demonstrated unwillingness to reform, none of

these circumstances render his sentence inappropriate.      Consequently, we decline to

revise his sentence.

                                     CONCLUSION

       For the reasons stated above, we affirm the judgment of the court.

       Affirmed.

ROBB, C.J., and BAKER, J., concur.

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