FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
RICHARD D. MARTIN JEFFREY A. MODISETT
Frankfort, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
RANDI E. FROUG
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
JOSEPH W. IMPSON, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 12A02-9903-CR-208
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE CLINTON SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Kathy R. Smith, Judge
Cause No. 12D01-9708-DF-098
12D01-9807-DF-094
12D01-9609-DF-089
January 6, 2000
OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
RATLIFF, Senior Judge
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Defendant-Appellant Joseph W. Impson appeals his convictions of battery as a Class D
felony, battery as a Class A misdemeanor, and battery as a Class B
misdemeanor, Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1.
We affirm.
ISSUES
Impson raises four issues for our review, which we renumber and restate as:
I. Whether the deputy prosecutor committed prosecutorial misconduct by impeaching his own witness.
II. Whether the deputy prosecutor committed prosecutorial misconduct by referring to Domestic Violence Awareness
Month during closing argument.
III. Whether Impsons right to assistance of counsel was violated by the ineffectiveness of
trial counsel.
IV. Whether the State presented sufficient evidence to establish Impsons conviction of battery as
a Class B misdemeanor.
V. Whether the trial court deprived Impson of his constitutional right to bail.
FACTS
On July 4, 1998, Impson and his wife, Lori, engaged in a heated
argument when Lori canceled a family outing. The argument ended with Impson
leaving and Lori calling the police.
When police officers arrived at the family residence, Lori was crying and upset.
She told the officers that Impson had knocked her down and had
pushed her head into a wall. Lori rubbed her head as she
related the story of Impsons violence toward her. Officer Boyd Martin did
not see any marks on Loris head, but he did observe that her
knees were scraped. When asked about her knees, Lori stated that they
had been scraped when she hit the floor after Impson knocked her down.
Lori refused to sign an affidavit because she believed Impson would not
return to the marital residence.
Later the same day, Lori invited Jerry Cunningham and his cousins, David and
Larry Cunningham, to her home for a cookout. When the Cunninghams arrived
at the marital residence, Lori explained what had happened during the argument with
Impson.
Impson called the marital residence and spoke with Jerry. Impson then came
to the residence, kicked in the front door, entered the living room, and
angrily approached Larry. He made a smacking motion at Larrys head, knocking
Larrys glasses from his face.
Jerry stood to confront Impson. Impson crossed the room and punched Jerry
in the nose. The two exchanged punches, and Jerry eventually pinned Impson
on the floor. Jerry then let Impson go when it appeared that
he had cooled down. Impson got up off the floor, entered the
kitchen, obtained a chair, returned to the living room, and attempted to hit
Jerry with the chair. Jerry was able to push Impson out the
front door, where he was met by police officers who had been called
to the scene.
At this time, Lori told the officers that she wished to sign an
affidavit pertaining to the earlier battery. Lori then told the officers that
Impson had pushed her down onto the ground and had also pushed her
head into the wall. Officer Randy Emery wrote down exactly what Lori
told him about the incident in the battery affidavit. After Officer Emery
explained the affidavit to Lori, she signed it.
The State charged Impson with two counts of battery as a Class A
misdemeanor for his attacks against Lori and Jerry. It also charged him
with one count of battery as a Class B misdemeanor for his attack
on Larry. In a separate cause number, the State also alleged
that Impson had violated his probation by committing these offenses.
The battery and the violation of probation cases were tried together. A
jury found Impson guilty of all three batteries. The battery conviction for
the attack of Lori was elevated to a Class D felony because Impson
had a prior battery conviction. The trial court determined that Impson violated
his probation. Impson now appeals.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT IN IMPEACHING OWN WITNESS
Impson contends that the deputy prosecutor committed prosecutorial misconduct by calling Lori to
the stand for the sole purpose of impeaching her testimony through her affidavit
and the hearsay statements of the investigating officers, and by using the impeachment
evidence as substantive evidence of the offense charged. Impson bases his contention
on his belief that the deputy prosecutor acted in bad faith by calling
Lori as a witness when he knew that she would not testify against
Impson.
When reviewing an allegation of prosecutorial misconduct, this court makes two inquiries.
First, we determine by reference to case law and rules of conduct whether
the prosecutor engaged in misconduct. Second, we determine whether the alleged misconduct
placed the defendant in a position of grave peril to which he should
not have been subjected or evinced a deliberate attempt to improperly prejudice the
defendant.
Bellmore v. State, 602 N.E.2d 111, 120 (Ind. 1992), rehg denied.
Grave peril is determined by analyzing the probable persuasive effect of the
misconduct on the jurys decision. . . . Stevens v. State, 691
N.E.2d 412, 420 (Ind. 1997), cert. denied, 119 S.Ct. 550, 142 L.Ed.2d 457
(1998) (quoting Maldonado v. State, 265 Ind. 492, 355 N.E.2d 843, (Ind. 1976)).
See footnote
Impsons trial counsel did not object to the prosecutors questions of Lori.
Counsel also did not object to the prosecutors use of either the alleged
hearsay statements by the investigating officers or the battery affidavit. In order
to preserve error for our review, a defendant must properly object at the
time evidence is offered. White v. State, 687 N.E.2d 178, 179 (Ind.
1997). Failure to make such an objection constitutes a waiver of the
issue for appellate review. Id. However, because Impson also contends that
his trial counsel was ineffective for failure to object, we will follow our
supreme courts lead and address the issue on its merits. See Timberlake
v. State, 690 N.E.2d 243, 254 (Ind. 1997), cert. denied, 119 S.Ct. 808,
142 L.Ed.2d 668 (1999) (permitting review on the merits where the issue of
ineffective assistance of trial counsel was raised on appeal).
In the present case, the record discloses that in his opening statement the
prosecutor alerted the jury that Lori was very reluctant to testify today, noting:
You will see that reluctance. Its very obvious. But she told
the officers what happened that day and in fact after the second event
occurred Officer Emery said [sic] presented her with . . .whats called a
Battery Affidavit a formal complaint form describing what had happened in the earlier
incident and she agreed to sign that under oath she agreed to sign
that. Clearly stating that she had in fact had her head rammed
into the wall and that she had suffered an injury. Now shes
unwilling to say that today and so we will offer at least I
anticipate that she will be. Shes very reluctant to testify but you
are going to hear other evidence . . . .
(R. 199). The prosecutor called Lori as a witness, and although she
did acknowledge that she had argued with Impson, she denied that he hit
her or pushed her head into the wall. The prosecutor confronted Lori
with the battery affidavit, which stated that Impson did knowingly touch Lori Impson
in a rude, insolent and angry manner, to-wit: pounded head into wall, ripped
shirt[,] which touching resulting in bodily injury to Lori Impson. (R. 209).
Lori acknowledged that she had signed the affidavit, but stated that she
was too drunk at the time to understand what it said. The
prosecutor then offered the affidavit as evidence, and it was admitted without objection.
Thereafter, the prosecutor proceeded to, in effect, cross-examine Lori regarding her professed
lack of memory regarding the signing of the affidavit.
During the States case-in-chief, Officer Martin testified that immediately after the battery occurred,
Lori told him that Impson had knocked her down and rammed her head
into the wall. Officers McCullough and Emery testified that Lori was not
so intoxicated at the time she gave her statement for the affidavit that
she did not understand what was happening. Officer Emery also testified that
the portion of the affidavit stating pounded head into wall, ripped shirt was
a direct quote of what Lori had told him and that Lori told
him that Impson had pushed her head in the wall and threw her
on the ground on the first call. (R. 258-59). Jerry Cunningham
testified that when he arrived at Loris house about an hour after the
battery, Lori mentioned something about [Impson] busted a bottle or busted it on
her head or something like this. (R. 219).
During closing argument, the prosecutor stated that Loris memory on the day of
trial was very selective. He also stated that on the day the
battery occurred she was excited about these events . . . she didnt
have time to reflect or concoct some sort of story that might help
her husband out of a situation. (R. 304-05). He then stated
that it is very common in human nature to have someone who is
excited about a particular event not be able to lie about it at
that time [because] theres not enough reflection in what had happened. (R.
305). He concluded that Lori is not telling the truth today about
what happened. Shes not telling you what she really remembers about the
incidents because she, again she has fallen into that false feeling of safety.
(R. 305).
The impeachment of a witness is governed by Ind.Evid. Rule 607, which authorizes
a party to impeach the credibility of its own witness. Impson refers
us to Seventh Circuit cases which, in interpreting the federal counterpart of Evid.R.
607, have held that it would be an abuse of the rule for
a prosecutor to call a codefendant as a witness who he knew would
not give useful evidence, just so the prosecutor could introduce otherwise inadmissible hearsay
evidence against the defendant in the hope that the jury would miss the
subtle distinction between impeachment and substantive evidence--or, if it didnt miss it, would
ignore it.
U.S. v. Webster, 734 F.2d 1191, 1192 (7th Cir. 1984).
See also, U.S. v. Kane, 944 F.2d 1406, 1411 (7th Cir. 1991);
U.S. v. Medley, 913 F.2d 1248, 1257 (7th Cir. 1990). In determining
whether an abuse of the rule has occurred, we determine whether the prosecutor
examined the witness for the primary purpose of placing before the jury otherwise
inadmissible evidence. Rafferty v. State, 610 N.E.2d 880, 885 (Ind. Ct. App.
1993). If the State has a legitimate basis to call the witness,
then the placement of otherwise inadmissible evidence before the jury is proper.
Id.
We find
U.S. v. Gilbert, 57 F.3d 709 (9th Cir. 1995) to be
instructive. In Gilbert, the defendant went to the home of his estranged
wife, Tina, and put a gun to the head of her boyfriend, Suddeth.
Immediately following the incident, Tina and Suddeth gave statements that defendant had
been carrying the gun. However, at trial they both testified that they
had not seen a gun. The government impeached both witnesses with evidence
of their prior inconsistent statements through the testimony of Suddeths ex-wife and son.
The defendant contended that the government had violated Federal Rule of Evidence 607
by calling Tina and Suddeth for the sole purpose of introducing evidence of
prior unsworn inconsistent statements that the defendant had been carrying a gun.
The defendant argued that the government knew the witnesses would deny having seen
the defendant with a gun or having stated that they saw him with
a gun.
The court held that Tina and Suddeth were percipient witnesses whose testimonies were
essential to the governments case.
Id. at 711. The court further
held that if the government had not called these two witnesses, the jury
would have been left to ponder why the government was reluctant to question
these eye-witnesses. Id. at 712. The court ultimately held that the
government was allowed to impeach Tina and Suddeth. Id.
In the present case, the prosecutor suspected that Lori would not give testimony
that was consistent with her prior statements to the police. However, Lori
was the only percipient witness to the battery, and as the victim of
the battery, she was the essential witness to the States case. As
such, the prosecutors failure to call her as a witness would have left
the jury to ponder why the victim would not testify.
We cannot say that the prosecutor committed misconduct in calling the only witness
to the battery in the hope that she would provide some admissible evidence
of the attack upon her person. We also cannot say that the
prosecutor committed misconduct in impeaching Lori with her affidavit and her prior statements
to the investigating officers. We conclude that the prosecutor did not call
Lori for the primary purpose of placing inadmissible evidence before the jury.
See footnote
Furthermore, we note that statements by a percipient witness are admissible under Ind.Evidence
Rule 803(2) when the evidence shows that the statements (a) pertain to a
startling event or condition; (b) are made while the declarant was under the
stress or excitement caused by the event or condition; and (c) are related
to the event or condition.
Yamobi v. State, 672 N.E.2d 1344, 1346
(Ind. 1996). Here, Loris statements to Officer Martin pertained to the battery
upon her person. The statements were made immediately after the battery occurred,
while she was crying and still upset because of the stress of the
attack. Under the circumstances of this case, Officer Martin was permitted to
testify as to Loris excited utterances, and such utterances were admissible as substantive
evidence. The prosecutor did not commit misconduct by offering these statements as
both substantive and impeachment evidence.
See footnote
Finally, we note that Ind.Evidence Rule 803(5) provides an exception to the hearsay
rule for a memorandum or record if (a) the memorandum or record relates
to a matter about which a witness once had knowledge, (b) the witness
has insufficient recollection at trial to enable the witness to testify fully and
accurately, (c) the witness is shown to have made or adopted the memorandum
or record, (d) the memorandum or record was adopted when the matter was
fresh in the witnesss memory, and (e) the memorandum or record is shown
to reflect the witnesss knowledge correctly. Here, the battery affidavit relates to
the attack upon Lori by Impson. Loris denial at trial of the
specifics of the attack serves as the insufficient recollection required by (b) above.
See Miller, 13 Indiana Practice § 803.105, at 631 (1995) (citing 2
McCormick § 282, at 258 (4th ed. 1992) for the proposition that courts
have found insufficient memory when an apparently reluctant witness claims lack of memory
to evade a question). The signing of the affidavit on the same
day as the attack arguably shows a timely adoption of the statement while
the matter was fresh in Loris memory. Finally, the affidavits consistency with
the statements made by Lori to the investigating officers and to Jerry is
indicative that it reflects Loris knowledge correctly. See U.S. v. Porter, 986
F.2d 1014, 1017 (6th Cir. 1993), cert. denied, 114 S.Ct. 347, 126 L.Ed.2d
312 (court determined that prior statements detail and internal consistency established its accuracy).
See footnote
The prosecutor did not commit prosecutorial misconduct by calling attention to this
document.
II. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT IN CLOSING ARGUMENT
In closing argument, the prosecutor noted, without objection, that its very appropriate that
this month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and that you had the opportunity
to listen to this case this month. (R. 303). The prosecutor
also stated, without objection, that I ask you to go back and end
this month of Domestic Awareness [and] do the right thing. (R. 307-08).
See footnote
Impson contends that the prosecutors comments concerning Domestic Violence Awareness Month were improper
because they were intended both to inflame the prejudices of the jury to
persuade it to decide Impsons guilt for improper or irrelevant reasons and to
persuade the jury to convict Impson out of a duty to society.
Impson further contends that the prosecutors comments were improper because they were based
upon inadmissible evidence and facts not in evidence. Appellants Brief at 26.
It is misconduct for a prosecutor to request a jury to convict a
defendant for any reason other than guilt.
Maldonado, 355 N.E.2d at 848.
Here the prosecutors statements are ambiguous. The last statement was preceded
by a recitation of the evidence, and within that context, the statement could
refer to the importance of the jury to do the right thing by
considering all of the evidence. This would be a proper statement.
Conversely, the statements could refer to the importance of the jury to do
the right thing by capping off Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a conviction.
This would be an improper statement. However, even if the statement
was improper, we cannot say under the circumstances that the statement placed Impson
in grave peril, and we are therefore not constrained to reverse the conviction.
See Maldonado, 355 N.E.2d at 849 (holding that a prosecutors improper statement
that a conviction may be the most important thing youll ever do for
your community did not place the defendant in grave peril).
III. ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Impson contends that he was deprived of his right to effective assistance
of counsel under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Specifically,
he contends that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to (1)
Officer Martins testimony; (2) the use of the battery affidavit as substantive evidence;
(3) the prosecutors references to Domestic Violence Awareness Month during closing argument; and
(4) Jerry Cunninghams and Officer Emerys testimonies. Impson also intimates that trial
counsel performance was hindered by a violent act against her that occurred approximately
two months before trial on this matter.
Our standard of review for ineffective assistance of counsel claims is well-established.
There is a strong presumption that counsel rendered adequate assistance.
Brown v.
State, 691 N.E.2d 438, 446 (Ind. 1998). The burden is upon the
petitioner to rebut this presumption with strong and convincing evidence. Stevens v.
State, 701 N.E.2d 277, 281 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998). In order to
prevail, the petitioner must show first that counsels representation was deficient, and second
that the deficient performance so prejudiced him that he was deprived of
a fair trial. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-91, 104 S.Ct.
2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). In order to establish deficient performance, the
petitioner must show that, in light of the circumstances, counsels performance was outside
the wide range of professionally competent assistance. Id. In order to
establish prejudice, the petitioner must show that counsels performance rendered the trial fundamentally
unfair or unreliable. Id.; State v. Van Cleave, 674 N.E.2d 1293, 1298
(Ind. 1996), modified on rehg, 681 N.E.2d 181 (Ind. 1997), cert. denied, 118
S.Ct. 1060, 140 L.Ed.2d 121 (1998).
In order to prevail on a claim that counsel was ineffective for failing
to make an objection, it must be shown that a proper objection
would have been sustained by the trial court.
Vega v. State, 656
N.E.2d 497, 504 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995), rehg denied, trans. denied. As
we stated in Issue I, Officer Martins testimony regarding Loris excited utterances was
admissible. Accordingly, the trial court would not have sustained an objection by
trial counsel. Trial counsel was not ineffective for declining to object to
Officer Martins testimony.
As we also stated in Issue I above, the prosecutor did not commit
misconduct in calling attention to the battery affidavit. Although an objection to
the admission of the affidavit would have been sustained pursuant to Evid.R. 803(5),
the affidavit could have been read to the jury. Given the similarity
between Officer Martins testimony and the contents of the affidavit, we do not
find that the admission of the affidavit was prejudicial. Accordingly, Impson was
not deprived of his right to effective assistance of counsel.
As we stated in Issue II, the prosecutors comments on final argument, although
arguably improper, did not put Impson in a position of grave peril.
We likewise find that trial counsels failure to object was not prejudicial.
Therefore, Impson was not deprived of his right to effective assistance of counsel.
Our review of the record discloses that Loris statements to Jerry Cunningham and
Officer Emery were made after Lori apparently had calmed down enough from the
battery to call and invite friends over for a cookout.
See footnote
The statements
also were not made immediately after Lori perceived the event. Accordingly, the
statements were not admissible as excited utterances pursuant to Evid.R. 803(2) or present
sense impressions pursuant to Evid.R. 803(1), and timely objections to the respective testimonies
would have been sustained. However, because the statements are cumulative of both
the affidavit and Officer Martins testimony, there is no prejudice.
Our review of the record also discloses that trial counsel sought a continuance
because of an attack upon her person the weekend before the trial was
originally scheduled to start on September 9, 1998. The continuance was granted,
and the trial was postponed until October 21, 1998. Impson has presented
no evidence that the previous trauma had any effect on counsel on the
day of trial. Accordingly, he has failed to establish that he was
denied his right to effective assistance of counsel.
IV. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Impson contends that the State failed to present sufficient evidence to support
his conviction for the battery upon Larry Cunningham. He emphasizes that he
made no contact with Larrys body when he knocked Larrys glasses off of
his face.
In order to establish the commission of battery, the State is required to
show that a person knowingly or intentionally touched another person in a rude,
insolent, or angry manner. Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1. Any touching, however
slight, may constitute battery.
Scruggs v. State, 161 Ind.App. 666, 317 N.E.2d
807, 809 (1974). Indeed, a person may commit the touching necessary for
battery by touching anothers apparel. Stokes v. State, 233 Ind. 10, 115
N.E.2d 442, 443 (1953), rehg denied, 233 Ind. 10, 116 N.E.2d 296.
This is because a persons apparel is so intimately connected with the person
that it is regarded as part of the person for purposes of the
battery statute. Id.
Here, the State presented its case through Larry, who acknowledged that Impson did
not strike his face. However, he did testify that Impson angrily knocked
his glasses from his face by just light [sic] sort of like a
light smack, you know just enough to knocked [sic] them off. (R.
239-40).
For purposes of the battery statute, Larrys glasses are as intimately connected with
his person as the victims apparel in
Stokes. Accordingly, the States evidence
is sufficient to support the conviction.
V. RIGHT TO BAIL
Impson contends that the trial
court violated Ind. Const. art. I, § 17 when it refused to grant
bail in his violation of probation case. Impson raised this contention in
the violation of probation case after securing the trial courts permission to file
a belated appeal pursuant to Ind.Post-Conviction Rule 2(1). The State asserts that
the trial court did not have authority to grant Impsons motion to file
a belated appeal under P-C.R. 2(1). The State further asserts that this
court lacks jurisdiction to consider any issue arising from the violation of probation
case because Impson failed to timely file his praecipe.
The timely filing of a praecipe is a jurisdictional prerequisite to an appeal
and a precondition to the right to appeal.
Vaughn v. Schnitz, 673
N.E.2d 501, 502 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996). Effective January 1, 1994, an
amendment to P-C.R. 2(1) created a limited avenue for permitting the filing of
a belated praecipe. Neville v. State, 694 N.E.2d 296, 297 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1998). The amendment authorizes trial courts to permit the filing of
a belated praecipe, but only for a direct appeal of a criminal conviction.
Id. As such, P-C.R. 2(1) provides a method for seeking permission
for belated consideration of appeals addressing conviction, but does not permit belated consideration
of appeals of other post-judgment petitions. Greer v. State, 685 N.E.2d 700,
702 (Ind. 1997). The trial court erred in permitting the filing of
a late praecipe pursuant to P-C.R. 2(1), and we do not have jurisdiction
to decide the issue raised in this matter.
Impson contends that he was forced to request permission to file a belated
praecipe by the trial courts failure to give his appellate counsel written notice
of his appointment. We treat this contention as an application to this
court to exercise our inherent power to hear this appeal.
See Vaughn,
673 N.E.2d at 502. Such power will be exercised only in rare
and exceptional cases, such as in matters of great public interest, or where
extraordinary circumstances exist. Lugar v. State, 270 Ind. 45, 383 N.E.2d 287,
289 (1978) (citation omitted).
Our review of the record discloses that although the trial court failed to
give timely notice to appellate counsel, the court did give notice to Impson
in open court that his appellate counsel would be the same counsel who
was representing him in another appeal from a conviction in Clinton Circuit Court.
Impson subsequently failed to apprise counsel of his appointment in this action.
The record does not disclose the type of extraordinary circumstance which would
warrant equitable relief.
CONCLUSION
Impson was not deprived of a fair trial through either prosecutorial misconduct or
by ineffective assistance of trial counsel. In addition, the State presented sufficient
evidence to establish the offense of battery, a Class A misdemeanor. Furthermore,
we do not have jurisdiction to consider the issue Impson attempts to raise
from the revocation of probation action.
Affirmed.
FRIEDLANDER, J., concurs
SULLIVAN, J., concurring in result in part with separate opinion.
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
JOSEPH W. IMPSON, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 12A02-9903-CR-208
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee. )
SULLIVAN, Judge
, concurring in result in part
With respect to Issue I, I agree that the statement made by Lori
to the investigating officers was appropriately admitted. I do not, however,
agree that it was admissible pursuant to Ind. Evidence Rule 803(5).
The facts of this case demonstrate the dangers inherent in admitting a prior
inconsistent statement as a rule of necessity under the guise of an 803(5)
recorded recollection. See Williams v. State (1998) Ind.App., 698 N.E.2d 848, 852
et seq., (Sullivan J., dissenting).
With regard to Issue V, I believe it clear that Impson was entitled
to have a bond set upon the charge of probation violation. Therefore,
he was, perhaps erroneously, detained in custody from July 4, 1998, until the
date of his convictions upon the battery charges, in October, 1998. At
this juncture, however, there is no relief which can be afforded. The
denial of bail does not taint the battery convictions nor the probation revocation
itself.
Nevertheless, I disagree with the basis for the majoritys resolution of the
bail issue. The majority holds that Impson was not entitled to a
belated appeal from the probation revocation and that, therefore, the bail issue, which
is subsumed in the revocation judgment itself, is likewise precluded. The basic
premise is flawed.
The seminal case in this area is
Howard v. State (1995) Ind., 653
N.E.2d 1389 which held that a belated appeal from denial of post
conviction relief under P-C.R. 2(1) may only lie where the challenge is to
the conviction itself, i.e., a direct appeal. The decision, however, does not
purport to preclude belated appeals in every conceivable instance except for direct
criminal appeals. Accordingly, Greer v. State (1997) Ind., 685 N.E.2d 700,
cited by the majority here, must be read in the context of Howard.
The appeal at issue with respect to the bail issue, is a direct
appeal from a probation revocation and does not run afoul of
Howard, supra,
653 N.E.2d 1389. See Riffe v. State (1997) Ind.App., 675 N.E.2d 710,
trans. denied. However, as noted, the propriety of Impsons appeal does not
give rise to any relief which can be afforded for the erroneous bail
ruling.
Footnote:
We note that in Cox v. State, 696 N.E.2d 853, 859,
n. 6, Justice Boehm noted a distaste for the term grave peril.
Footnote:
We note that, except in extreme circumstances, a prosecutor will never
absolutely know that a domestic abuse victim will refuse to recall the events
she previously attested to in her statement. It is always possible that
the formal setting of a judicial proceeding in a courtroom, coupled with the
impetus of an oath to tell the truth, will motivate the victim to
testify consistently with her former statement. For this reason, we believe that
a prosecutor does not engage in misconduct in calling a domestic abuse victim
to the stand.
Footnote:
We address the admissibility of the testimonies of Jerry Cunningham and
Officer Emery in Issue III below.
Footnote:
Even if we assume that the battery affidavit is not admissible,
it is at worst cumulative evidence. As such, its erroneous admission could
not have placed Impson in grave peril.
Footnote:
Even though there was no objection to these statements, we consider
this issue on the same basis stated in Issue I above.
Footnote:
We reject the States argument that Loris excitement caused by the
batteries upon Larry and Jerry Cunningham was sufficient to render her statement to
Officer Emery about the previous attack on her person admissible under Evid.R. 803(2).