BARNES, Judge.
Jeffery Cleary appeals his conviction and sentence for Class B felony causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a BAC over .15. We affirm.
Cleary raises three issues, which we restate as:
Late in the evening on November 4, 2010, Cleary left the Country Lounge in Hobart, intending to go home via I-65. Cleary proceeded onto a southbound ramp toward I-65. A service truck was parked behind a tractor-trailer on the shoulder of the ramp, and Philip Amsden was changing a tire on the tractor-trailer. As Cleary proceeded down the ramp, he struck the back of Amsden's service truck, pushing it into the area behind the tractor-trailer where Amsden was working, killing Amsden.
When Cleary was freed from his overturned SUV, he was taken to Methodist Hospital by Lawrence McFarrin of the Indiana State Police. Emergency room staff used ChloraPrep to cleanse Cleary's skin and conducted a blood draw. Cleary's blood alcohol content was over.15.
On November 5, 2010, the State charged Cleary with Class B felony causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a BAC over .15, Class C felony causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and Class A misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle with a BAC over .15. On January 21, 2011, the information was amended to include charges of Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated and Class C misdemeanor operating while intoxicated. On August 18, 2011, Cleary was also charged with failure to yield to a recovery vehicle, a Class A infraction, improper lane movement, a Class C infraction, and having more than one driver's license, a Class C infraction.
A jury trial was conducted from December 5, 2011, through December 14, 2011. The jury found Cleary guilty of the Class A misdemeanor and Class C misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated charges and found him liable on the infractions. The jury was deadlocked on the felony charges. Although the State did not move for judgment on the verdicts, Cleary did. The trial court took the matter under advisement. After a hearing on January 30, 2012, the trial court denied Cleary's motion for judgment on the verdict and scheduled a new trial. Cleary filed a motion to dismiss based on purported
A second jury trial began on August 29, 2012, and on September 11, 2012, the jury found Cleary guilty of all the charged offenses and liable on the infractions. The State moved for judgment on the Class B felony verdict and the infractions. The trial court granted the motion over Cleary's double jeopardy objection.
On November 9, 2012, a sentencing hearing was held. The trial court concluded that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors and sentenced Cleary to fourteen years. Cleary now appeals.
Cleary argues that the State was statutorily prohibited from retrying him. Cleary contends the trial court was required to enter judgments of conviction on the misdemeanor charges based on the jury's verdict at the conclusion of the first trial. According to Cleary, if judgments of conviction had been entered, the State would have been statutorily barred from prosecuting him again.
Indeed, had judgments of conviction been entered, retrial would have been barred by Indiana Code Section 35-41-4-3,
See also Hoover v. State, 918 N.E.2d 724, 736 (Ind.Ct.App.2009) ("Hoover's conviction on the lesser-included robbery offense constitutes an acquittal on the greater felony-murder charge, notwithstanding the jury's express deadlock. The State is therefore barred from retrying Hoover for felony murder."), trans. denied.
We do not agree with Cleary, however, that the trial court was required to enter a judgment of conviction, as opposed to ordering a new trial, upon the return of the jury's verdict. Indiana Code Section 35-38-1-1(a) explains, "Except as provided in section 1.5 of this chapter, after a verdict, finding, or plea of guilty, if a new trial is not granted, the court shall enter a judgment of conviction."
Although Cleary did not file a petition for writ of mandamus, we believe Haddix's statutory interpretation is sound. Thus, here, where no judgment of conviction was entered on a lesser offense because a new trial was granted, Indiana Code Section 35-41-4-3(a) does not bar retrial of the greater offenses.
Cleary also asserts that, when the State charges someone with multiple counts of crimes based on the same conduct, it assumes the risk that a jury may not find guilt on the more serious counts. According to Cleary, "It is solely [the State's] charging decision and the State should not be able to repeatedly prosecute someone when they get verdicts on lesser offense[s] they charged but no verdict on the greater offense." Appellant's Br. p. 11. Although Cleary makes an interesting point, absent clarification from the legislature or our supreme court, it is not enough to establish that the State was statutorily barred from retrying him on the Class B felony.
Cleary also argues that Indiana's Double Jeopardy Clause barred retrial after the guilty verdict on the misdemeanor offenses. The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Indiana Constitution provides "[n]o person shall be put in jeopardy twice for the same offense." Ind. Const. art. 1, § 14. In Richardson v. State, 717 N.E.2d 32, 49 (Ind.1999), our supreme court concluded that two or more offenses are the "same offense" in violation of the Indiana Constitution, "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." Cleary contends that Indiana's double jeopardy protections are broader than federal protections and that retrial violated Richardson's statutory elements and actual evidence tests.
Cleary does not direct us to, nor do there appear to be, any cases that apply Richardson's analysis to a circumstance such as this — where no judgment of conviction is entered after a guilty verdict on lesser included offenses and the defendant is retried on all of the offenses — and we are not convinced that it applies. In explaining the two components of the "same offense" analysis under the Indiana Constitution, the Richardson court noted, "Under some circumstances, even when two or more offenses constitute the same offense under a federal or state `same offense' test, no double jeopardy violation will be found to have occurred." Richardson, 717 N.E.2d at 49 n. 37. The court
Cleary also directs us to Garrett v. State, 992 N.E.2d 710, 719 (Ind.2013), in which our supreme court modified its holding in Richardson.
In Garrett, at the conclusion of the first trial, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on counts of Class A felony rape, Class B felony criminal deviate conduct, and Class C felony criminal confinement and was unable to reach a verdict on a second Class A felony rape count and a Class B felony criminal confinement count. Garrett was retried in a bench trial on those counts and was found guilty of Class B felony rape and not guilty of criminal confinement. In post-conviction relief proceedings, Garrett asserted that he received ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel because neither attorney challenged the retrial on double jeopardy grounds.
Our supreme court acknowledged that most cases involve defendants challenging two convictions, not retrial after acquittal, and concluded that the Indiana Double Jeopardy analysis is applicable to assess whether two offenses are the same offense when there is an acquittal on one offense and retrial on another offense. Garrett, 992 N.E.2d at 720-21. The court explained:
Garrett v, 992 N.E.2d at 721.
Ultimately, our supreme court held that Richardson's "actual evidence" test "is applicable to cases in which there has been an acquittal on one charge and retrial on another charge after a hung jury." Garrett, 992 N.E.2d at 714. The court explained:
Id. at 723.
Here, were are not faced with multiple convictions as in Richardson or conviction after acquittal as in Garrett and, therefore, those cases do not apply. Instead, the jury in the first trial was deadlocked on the felony charges.
Moreover, a close reading of Garrett suggests that our supreme court does not believe that the Indiana Constitution bars retrial where a jury reaches a verdict on some counts but is deadlocked on others. Specifically, in determining whether trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to retrial on double jeopardy grounds, the Garrett court observed:
Id. at 723-24 (emphasis added). Here, the jury returned verdicts on some counts but could not reach a unanimous verdict on the felony charges. Thus, pursuant to Garrett,
Cleary argues that his blood test results were inadmissible because hospital emergency room protocol for drawing blood conflicted with hospital laboratory protocol for drawing blood. Specifically, the emergency room protocol called for ChloraPrep, an alcohol-based product, to be used to clean the site of the blood draw, while the laboratory protocol for blood alcohol tests called for iodine or soap to be used to clean the site, not alcohol.
The admission of evidence at trial is a matter left to the trial court's discretion discretion of the trial court. Clark v. State, 994 N.E.2d 252, 259-60 (Ind.2013). These determinations are reviewed for an abuse of that discretion and reversed only when admission is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances and the error affects a party's substantial rights. Id.
Indiana Code Section 9-30-6-6 (2012) provides:
Paramedic Donna Logan testified that she cleaned the area on Cleary's arm with ChloraPrep pursuant to emergency room protocol. Cleary does not dispute that this was consistent with emergency room protocol but contends that, because the use of ChloraPrep is a violation of laboratory protocol, the results are inadmissible. He asserts that, given the conflicting protocols, there is no way to generally comply with Indiana Code Section 9-30-6-6. We disagree. Cleary's blood was drawn pursuant to a protocol as required by Indiana Code Section 9-30-6-6 and therefore is admissible. To the extent he contends it is logical to assume that the laboratory protocol was created with "more scientific understanding" and out of concern for contamination, this goes to the weight of the evidence, not its admissibility. Appellant's Br. p. 20. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the blood test results into evidence.
Cleary argues that his fourteen-year sentence is inappropriate. Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B) permits us to revise a sentence authorized by statute if, after due consideration of the trial court's decision, we find that the sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offenses and the character of the offender. Although Rule 7(B) does not require us to be "extremely" deferential to a trial court's sentencing decision, we still must give due consideration to that decision. Rutherford v. State, 866 N.E.2d 867, 873 (Ind.Ct.App. 2007). We also understand and recognize the unique perspective a trial court brings to its sentencing decisions. Id. "Additionally, a defendant bears the burden of persuading the appellate court that his or her sentence is inappropriate." Id.
Although Cleary concedes that Amsden's death was a tragedy, Cleary's argument focuses primarily on his character. We, however, cannot overlook the fact that Cleary admitted to consuming several drinks over the course of the day and was talking on the phone, despite the rain, wind, and sleet at the time of the accident in which Amsden was crushed between two vehicles.
As for his character, Cleary points to his community involvement, his generosity to his employees, and the support of his family. He also argues that, because he was sixty-six at the time of trial, his fourteen-year sentence is inappropriate to serve the purpose of rehabilitation. Even considering these factors, we are not convinced his sentence is inappropriate.
Although Cleary argues he was remorseful, the trial court was not convinced and noted that, throughout the entire trial, Cleary laughed and giggled during the breaks. The trial court found Cleary's conduct during trial "absolutely despicable and disgusting" because, even if Cleary did not believe he had committed a crime, Amsden died. The trial court also noted Cleary's tendency to put himself first, even in his attempt to apologize. Based on these observations, we are not convinced that Cleary's alleged remorse requires his sentence to be reduced.
More significant to our consideration of Cleary's character, however, is his criminal history. In 1996, Cleary was convicted of Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated and received a suspended sentence and informal probation. In 2002, Cleary was arrested for Class C misdemeanor operating a vehicle with a BAC of.10 or more and, upon conviction, was sentenced to one year suspended. In 2009, Cleary was arrested and charged with several alcohol-related offenses and was convicted of Class B misdemeanor public intoxication and sentenced to 180 days in jail and six months of probation. We agree with the trial court that prior leniency toward the negative effects of Cleary's alcohol use did not deter his criminal behavior. Given Cleary's lack of remorse and criminal history, he has not established that his sentence is inappropriate.
Cleary's retrial did not violate statutory or Indiana constitutional double jeopardy principles. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the blood test results into evidence, and Cleary has not established that his sentence is inappropriate. We affirm.
Affirmed.
PYLE, J., concurs.
CRONE, J., dissents with separate opinion.
The trial court should have entered a judgment of conviction on Cleary's misdemeanor operating while intoxicated ("OWI") charges, which would have precluded a retrial on the felony OWI charges. I believe that this result is compelled by principles of fundamental fairness and the principles underlying the Indiana Constitution's double jeopardy clause. Therefore, I respectfully dissent.
Cleary points out that "when the State charges someone with multiple counts of crimes based on the same conduct but at varying felony and misdemeanor levels, [it assumes] the risk that a jury may not find guilt on the more serious counts." Appellant's Br. at 11. He argues that if the State wants to avoid findings on a lesser offense, it
Id. I find Cleary's argument persuasive and believe that allowing the State to "keep taking a shot" at a felony conviction against a defendant in Cleary's position violates principles of fundamental fairness as well as the principles underlying the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy. See Garrett, 992 N.E.2d at 721 ("[T]he idea underlying the Double Jeopardy Clause's prohibition against multiple prosecutions `is that the State with all its resources and power should not be allowed to make repeated attempts to convict an individual for an alleged offense, thereby... enhancing the possibility that even though innocent he may be found guilty.'") (quoting Green, 355 U.S. at 187-88, 78 S.Ct. 221).
It is important to remember that our supreme court has not expressly decided this issue and that the Haddix court found that similar arguments had merit. Our holding in Haddix was based to a significant extent on an inference drawn from the supreme court's summary denial of Haddix's petition for writ of mandamus. Although that inference was reasonable, in my view it is a slender thread on which to hang an issue of constitutional dimension.
Cleary, however, has invoked the protections of the Indiana Constitution. Article 1, Section 14 of the Indiana Constitution states, "No person shall be put in jeopardy twice for the same offense." Based on this straightforward wording and common-sense notions of double jeopardy, most