ROBB, Judge.
Mason Meunier-Short pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony. The trial court sentenced him to two years in the Department of Correction, with one year suspended to probation. Meunier-Short appeals, arguing (1) the trial court abused its discretion by assessing fines, costs, and fees without first conducting an indigency hearing and by ordering all fines, costs, and fees be paid prior to his earliest possible release date, and (2) the trial court abused its discretion by ordering him to return to school and maintain a "C" average as a condition of his probation.
Concluding the trial court was not required to conduct an indigency hearing before assessing fines, costs, and fees as a condition of probation, nor required to defer the assessment of fines, costs, and fees until after Meunier-Short's release — but is required to conduct an indigency hearing at some point — we remand to the trial court to conduct an indigency hearing prior to the termination of Meunier-Short's probation, or in the event the State files a petition to revoke his probation, prior to
On October 10, 2014, Meunier-Short was unemployed and living with his father. That afternoon, Meunier-Short removed a shotgun from beneath his father's bed and pointed it at his girlfriend. Unaware the shotgun was loaded, he pulled the trigger and fired. The shot struck his girlfriend in the abdomen, causing severe and life-threatening injuries. Meunier-Short was arrested and charged with criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony, and a firearm enhancement pursuant to Indiana Code section 35-50-2-11. He hired private counsel and posted a $25,000 surety bond on October 31, 2014. In December, he moved out of his father's apartment and found a job at a restaurant. He enrolled in classes at a community college and completed thirteen credit hours during the spring semester.
On June 23, 2015, Meunier-Short pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness as a Level 6 felony; the State dismissed the firearm enhancement in exchange for his guilty plea. At the time of the sentencing hearing, Meunier-Short was still employed at the restaurant and was enrolled in classes for the summer and fall semesters. He informed the trial court of his intention to transfer to Indiana State University in January 2016 and argued a period of incarceration would "stop all of these positive efforts." Transcript at 92. Nonetheless, the trial court sentenced Meunier-Short to two years in the Department of Correction, with one year suspended to probation. The trial court imposed $1,099.00 in fines, costs, and fees and ordered Meunier-Short return to school and maintain a "C" average following his release. Meunier-Short signed the Probation Order and did not object to the conditions listed therein. The trial court appointed appellate counsel, and Meunier-Short initiated this appeal.
We review the trial court's sentencing decisions for abuse of discretion. McElroy v. State, 865 N.E.2d 584, 588 (Ind.2007). Sentencing decisions include the imposition of fines, costs, and fees, Henderson v. State, 44 N.E.3d 811, 814 (Ind.Ct.App.2015), and the conditions of a defendant's probation, Whitener v. State, 982 N.E.2d 439, 446 (Ind.Ct.App. 2013), trans. denied. An abuse of discretion occurs when a sentencing decision is "clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before the court, or the reasonable, probable, and actual deductions to be drawn therefrom." McElroy, 865 N.E.2d at 588 (citation omitted).
If a trial court imposes costs or fines as a condition of probation, the court is statutorily required to conduct an indigency hearing. See Ind.Code § 33-37-2-3(a) (costs); Ind.Code § 35-38-1-18(a)
Meunier-Short contends a trial court may not impose costs or fines upon an indigent defendant. But we have previously held, "A defendant's indigency does not shield him from all costs or fees related to his conviction." Banks v. State, 847 N.E.2d 1050, 1051 (Ind.Ct.App.2006), trans. denied. An indigency determination merely prevents the defendant from being imprisoned for his inability to pay. Henderson, 44 N.E.3d at 815 (emphasizing "the trial court may in its discretion fine [the defendant] whether or not he is found to be indigent"); see also Berry, 950 N.E.2d at 803 n. 6 (noting the imposition of costs is an issue separate from the sanctions imposed for nonpayment). In short, Meunier-Short is mistaken. Notwithstanding the indigency hearing requirement contained in Indiana Code sections 33-37-2-3(a) and 35-38-1-18(a), a trial court has the authority to assess fines, costs, and fees against an indigent defendant; "indeed, a different result would amount to inverse discrimination since it would enable an indigent to avoid both the fine and imprisonment for nonpayment whereas other defendants must always suffer one or the other ..." Williams v. Illinois, 399 U.S. 235, 244, 90 S.Ct. 2018, 26 L.Ed.2d 586 (1970).
In addition, the costs and fees mandated by Indiana Code section 33-37-4-1 are imposed by operation of law; the defendant's ability to pay is not considered. Berry, 950 N.E.2d at 802-03. Indiana Code section 33-37-4-1 provides in relevant part,
(Emphasis added).
Here, the trial court ordered Meunier-Short to pay $1,099.00 in various fines, costs, and fees after he pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony. The Supplemental Probation Order provides a comprehensive breakdown: (1) $100.00 probation administrative fee; (2) $100.00 initial probation user's fee; (3) $168.00 in court costs; (4) $1.00 fine; (5) $200.00 substance abuse fee; (6) $200.00 alcohol and drug countermeasures fee; and (7) $330.00 in monthly probation user's fees. The Supplemental Probation Order does not specify by when they are to be paid, nor does it identify the specific statutory authority for the fines, costs, and fees imposed.
The trial court did not conduct an indigency hearing prior to ordering at least some of the fines, costs, and fees be paid by December 15, 2015.
First, we note the trial court lacked the statutory authority to impose the $200.00 substance abuse fee and the $200.00 alcohol and drug countermeasures fee. See Ind.Code § 33-37-4-1(b)(5), (6).
Indiana Code chapter 9-30-5 describes offenses relating to operating a vehicle while intoxicated; criminal recklessness does not fall under this chapter.
Second, contrary to Meunier-Short's assertion, the trial court is not required to defer the assessment of fines, costs, and fees until after a defendant's release date. See Berry, 950 N.E.2d at 801. Nor is the trial court required to suspend payment of fines, costs, and fees until a defendant completes his sentence. See id. at 802. Indiana Code sections 33-37-2-3 and 35-38-1-18 permit, but do not require, the trial court to suspend payment. See id. Moreover, although these statutes address how a trial court may enforce payment of fines or costs by a non-indigent person, they do not address the procedure a trial court should follow if the person is found to be indigent. Vaughn v. State, 982 N.E.2d 1071, 1074 (Ind.Ct.App. 2013). Indiana Code section 33-37-2-3 provides in relevant part,
(Emphasis added); accord Ind.Code § 35-38-1-18 (fines).
Had the trial court conducted a hearing and determined Meunier-Short was not indigent, the trial court could have ordered Meunier-Short to pay the fines, costs, and fees at the time he was sentenced or sometime prior to his earliest possible release date. See id. The trial court did not conduct an indigency hearing, however, and ordered Meunier-Short to pay at least some of the fines, costs, and
Finally, we do not agree with the State's contention that an indigency hearing would have been superfluous in this case. Indiana Code sections 33-37-2-3(a) and 35-38-1-18(a) unequivocally require an indigency hearing, and the State cites no authority to support its assertion that an indigency hearing may not be required if a fine is "de minimis." Moreover, there is conflicting information in the record regarding Meunier-Short's ability to pay. Although Meunier-Short retained private trial counsel and was employed at the time of sentencing, the trial court subsequently appointed appellate counsel. We therefore remand to the trial court to conduct an indigency hearing prior to the termination of Meunier-Short's probation, or in the event the State files a petition to revoke his probation, prior to revoking Meunier-Short's probation for failure to pay fines, costs, and fees. In addition, we vacate the portion of the Supplemental Probation Order imposing a $200.00 substance abuse fee and $200.00 alcohol and drug countermeasures fee. The trial court was without authority to impose either fee and erred by doing so.
The trial court also ordered Meunier-Short to return to school and maintain a "C" average as a condition of his probation:
Tr. at 98; see also App. at 93 (Probation Order, requiring "Defendant to enroll and return to school and maintain C's or better").
The trial court has broad discretion in determining the appropriate conditions of a defendant's probation. Bratcher v. State, 999 N.E.2d 864, 873 (Ind.Ct.App.2013), trans. denied. Our review is limited to determining whether the conditions placed on the defendant are "reasonably related to the treatment of the defendant and the protection of public safety." Jackson v. State, 816 N.E.2d 868, 871 (Ind.Ct.App.2004). Meunier-Short contends the trial court abused its discretion by imposing a condition that is unrelated to his rehabilitation or the public's safety. The State argues Meunier-Short waived this issue by failing to object to the condition when he was sentenced and by signing the Probation Order.
First, we note there appears to be a division of authority among the panels of this court regarding whether a defendant must object to his probation conditions in order to preserve the issue for appeal. In some cases we have held the defendant's failure to object waived appellate review of his probation conditions. Patton v. State, 990 N.E.2d 511, 514 (Ind.Ct.App.2013); Hale v. State, 888 N.E.2d 314, 319 (Ind.Ct. App.2008), trans. denied; Stott v. State, 822 N.E.2d 176, 179 (Ind.Ct.App.2005), trans. denied. But in Piercefield v. State, 877 N.E.2d 1213 (Ind.Ct.App.2007), trans. denied, we rejected the State's argument that a defendant waives review of his probation conditions by failing to object at sentencing and then signing a form listing the conditions. In so holding, we analogized "the appeal of [a] probation condition to an appeal of a sentence, which we may review `without insisting that the claim first be presented to the trial judge.'" Id. at 1218 (quoting Kincaid v. State, 837 N.E.2d 1008, 1010 (Ind.2005)); accord Bratcher v. State, 999 N.E.2d 864, 873-74 (Ind.Ct.App.2013), trans. denied. We find the reasoning of Piercefield persuasive and conclude Meunier-Short has not waived appellate review of this issue.
As for the merits, we believe requiring Meunier-Short to return to school and maintain a "C" average as a condition of probation constituted an abuse of discretion. The trial court may, as a condition of probation, require a person to "[w]ork faithfully at suitable employment or faithfully pursue a course of study or career and technical education that will equip the person for suitable employment." Ind.Code § 35-38-2-2.3(a)(1) (emphasis
In short, requiring Meunier-Short to return to school and maintain a "C" average while also working full time — without regard to his ability to pay for school or the time needed to maintain satisfactory grades — is not reasonably related to Meunier-Short's rehabilitation or the public's safety. We therefore remand to the trial court with instructions to amend the Probation Order by giving Meunier-Short the option to either maintain full time employment or "faithfully pursue" a course of study that will equip him for suitable employment. Ind.Code § 35-38-2-2.3(a)(1).
We remand to the trial court to conduct an indigency hearing prior to the termination of Meunier-Short's probation, or in the event the State files a petition to revoke his probation, prior to revoking Meunier-Short's probation for failure to pay fines, costs, and fees. In addition, we vacate the portion of the Supplemental Probation Order imposing a $200.00 substance abuse fee and $200.00 alcohol and drug countermeasures fee. The trial court was without authority to impose either fee and erred by doing so. As for the probation condition requiring Meunier-Short to return to school and maintain a "C" average, we conclude the trial court abused its discretion by imposing this condition in addition to requiring he maintain full time employment. We remand with instructions to amend the Probation Order by giving Meunier-Short the option to either maintain full time employment or "faithfully pursue" a course of study that will equip him for suitable employment. Ind.Code § 35-38-2-2.3(a)(1).
Reversed in part and remanded with instructions.
BARNES, J., and ALTICE J., concur.
App. at 93.