BAKER, Judge.
In this interlocutory appeal, appellant-defendant Willie Montgomery challenges the trial court's denial of his motion to dismiss the charge of Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender
On November 5, 2010, Montgomery was convicted of sexual battery. As a result of this conviction, Montgomery was required to register as a sex offender. On November 8, 2011, he registered as a sex offender with the Pike County Sheriff's Office.
On July 6, 2012, Indiana State Police Sergeant Detectives Marty Metzger and Tim Keller drove to Montgomery's registered address to ensure compliance. However, when they arrived, Montgomery's parents informed the officers that Montgomery had moved out of the home. They told the officers that Montgomery had moved in with his girlfriend, Gabrielle Evans, who lived in Vanderburgh County.
The officers then went to Evans's residence, where they verified that Montgomery
On July 18, 2012, Montgomery was charged with failure to register in Pike County. The following day, July 19, 2012, Montgomery was charged with failure to register in Vanderburgh County. Montgomery pleaded guilty to failing to register in Pike County on October 3, 2012. On March 6, 2013, he filed a motion to dismiss the charge of failing to register in Vanderburgh County, arguing that the prosecution in Vanderburgh County was barred by a previous prosecution pursuant to Indiana Code 35-34-1-4(a)(7) and the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution. On April 16, 2013, the trial court denied Montgomery's motion after holding a hearing on the matter.
On April 19, 2013, Montgomery filed a motion to certify for interlocutory appeal in the trial court, and the trial court granted the motion that same day.
We review a ruling on a motion to dismiss for an abuse of discretion. Ingram v. State, 760 N.E.2d 615, 618 (Ind.Ct.App. 2001). An abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court's decision is against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before it. Weis v. State, 825 N.E.2d 896, 900 (Ind.Ct.App.2005).
However, as Montgomery's arguments require interpretation of the failure to register statute, our review of this question of law is de novo. Houston v. State, 898 N.E.2d 358, 361 (Ind.Ct.App.2008). When reviewing a matter de novo, we owe no deference to the trial court's legal conclusions. Kibbey v. State, 733 N.E.2d 991, 995 (Ind.Ct.App.2000).
Montgomery argues that the trial court erred when it denied his motion to dismiss because a plain reading of Indiana Code section 11-8-8-11(a) in conjunction with Indiana Code section 11-8-8-17 creates a single duty for a sex offender to register with the appropriate law enforcement officials when moving between counties in Indiana. Therefore, Montgomery contends he can only be guilty of one offense.
Montgomery, as a sex or violent offender, was required to register pursuant to Indiana Code section 11-8-8-7. When he moved to Vanderburgh County, Indiana Code section 11-8-8-11(a)
I.C. § 11-8-8-11(a).
When Montgomery failed to register as required, he was charged under Indiana Code section 11-8-8-17(a), which states:
Montgomery was charged under section 11-8-8-17(a) in Pike County and in Vanderburgh County.
As noted above, Montgomery argues that there is a single duty for a sex offender to register with the appropriate law enforcement officials when moving and asserts that he can be guilty of only one offense.
However, Montgomery's interpretation does not comport with our reading of Indiana Code section 11-8-8-17(a). There are two duties here, one for a sex offender to reside at his registered address in Pike County and one to register as a sex offender in Vanderburgh County. Montgomery is guilty of two divisible offenses. Therefore, he could fulfill or omit one duty without fulfilling or omitting the other. As such, we cannot find that Montgomery was charged twice with the same offense for the same act. Rather, we conclude that he was properly charged twice for two separate offenses.
Montgomery also argues that the prosecution in Vanderburgh County was barred by a previous prosecution pursuant to Indiana Code section 35-34-1-4(a)(7). Indiana Code section 35-34-1-4(a)(7) allows the trial court to dismiss an indictment or information if "the prosecution is barred by reason of a previous prosecution." However, as noted above, Montgomery was properly prosecuted for two separate offenses. Therefore, prosecution in Vanderburgh County was not barred.
Finally, Montgomery argues that a subsequent prosecution in Vanderburgh County would violate double jeopardy principles.
Article I, section 14 of the Indiana Constitution provides that "[n]o person shall be put in jeopardy twice for the same offense." Two or more offenses are the same offense if, with respect to either the statutory elements of the challenged crimes or the actual evidence used to convict, the essential elements of one challenged offense also establish the essential elements of another challenged offense. Richardson v. State, 717 N.E.2d 32,
Under the actual evidence test, the defendant must show a reasonable possibility that the evidentiary facts used by the fact-finder to establish the essential elements of one offense may also have been used to establish the essential elements of a second challenged offense. Id. at 53. However, Indiana's Double Jeopardy Clause "is not violated when the evidentiary facts establishing the essential elements of one offense also establish only one or even several, but not all, of the essential elements of a second offense." Spivey v. State, 761 N.E.2d 831, 833 (Ind.2002).
First, we conclude that Montgomery's charge in Vanderburgh County does not violate double jeopardy principles under the statutory elements test. Montgomery was charged with two separate violations of Indiana Code section 11-8-8-17(a). In order to prove the violation in Pike County, the State had to show that Montgomery 1) was a registered sex or violent offender, 2) who knowingly or intentionally, 3) did not reside at the sex or violent offender's registered address or location. I.C. § 11-8-8-17(a)(5); Appellant's App. p. 33. On the other hand, in order to prove the violation in Vanderburgh County, the State was required to prove that Montgomery 1) was a registered sex or violent offender, 2) who knowingly or intentionally, 3) failed to register when required. I.C. § 11-8-8-17(a)(1); Appellant's App. p. 16. Under these circumstances, we cannot say Montgomery's charge in Vanderburgh County violated the statutory elements test.
As regards the actual evidence test, as noted above, Montgomery was charged with two counts of failing to register under Indiana Code section 11-8-8-17(a). However, different evidence would be required to prove each charge because the charges were the result of two divisible omissions. More particularly, in Pike County the prosecution would have been required to prove that Montgomery did not live at his registered address, and in Vanderburgh County the prosecution would be required to prove that Montgomery did not register in Vanderburgh County. In light of these circumstances, we cannot say that there was a double jeopardy violation.
We remand this case to the trial court for trial.
BARNES, J., and CRONE, J., concur.