FOR PUBLICATION
APPELLANT PRO SE: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
WAYNE E. SINN JEFFREY A. MODISETT
Carlisle, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
JOHN B. HERRIMAN
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
WAYNE E. SINN, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 48A04-9612-CR-496
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
II. Whether the trial court properly granted his motion for return of
personal property "as to items that are returnable."
On September 8, 1996, Sinn filed a motion for return of personal property alleging
that $796.00 in cash, miscellaneous papers and photographs, two wallets, and clothing were
taken into custody during his arrest and have not been returned. The trial court granted the
motion "as to items that are returnable." (R. 10, vol. 3). Later, at a hearing on the motion,
the prosecutor said:
I would suggest that we have, ah, [defense counsel] call Detective Tracy, and
Randy's not that hard to work with. If he needs my input maybe we could do
it together from my office next Monday or something like that. Call Randy
and see if we can't make arrangements for it to be returned.
(R. 21-22, vol. 3). The State presented no evidence that the property was not owned by Sinn.
The trial court ordered "the State and defense counsel to make arrangements to compile a list
of property that should be properly returned to defendant and get with the police department
to obtain said property." (R. 27, vol. 3).
defendant . . . has been informed that if . . . the court accepts the plea[,] the court is bound
by the terms of the plea agreement." Ind. Code § 35-35-1-2(a). "If the court accepts a plea
agreement, it shall be bound by its terms." Ind. Code § 35-35-3-3(e) (emphasis added).
The concept of plea bargaining contemplates an explicit agreement between the State
and defendant which is binding upon both parties when accepted by the trial court. State ex
rel. Goldsmith v. Marion County Superior Court, 275 Ind. 545, 552, 419 N.E.2d 109, 114
(1981). Strict adherence to the agreement is essential. Id. Once an agreement is accepted,
the trial court is precluded from imposing any sentence other than that required by the plea
agreement. Pritshcer v. State, 675 N.E.2d 727, 732 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996). The State argues
that the imposition of restitution does not increase the sentence, and was not precluded by
the plea agreement. We disagree. The trial court "may not change the terms" of the
agreement. Disney v. State, 441 N.E.2d 489 (Ind. Ct. App. 1989).
In Gipperich v. State, 658 N.E.2d 946 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995), trans. denied, this court
held that the imposition of fines was improper when the plea agreement was silent on the
subject. More to the point, in Disney, this court held that it was "error for the court to include
restitution or reparation as a condition of probation when there was no mention of such in the
plea recommendation." 441 N.E.2d at 493. "[T]he court in effect increased the penalty by
imposing a reparation condition which was not a part of the original explicit plea agreement."
Id. (emphasis added). See also Antcliff v. State, 688 N.E.2d 166 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997)
(holding that imposition of home detention and restitution was within discretion of trial court
where plea agreement explicitly provided that "terms of probation, including restitution" was
left to court's discretion).
We hold that the trial court erred in ordering Sinn to pay restitution when the plea
agreement contained no provision allowing such an order. Accordingly, the portion of Sinn's
sentence requiring the payment of restitution is reversed.
(Emphasis added). The court, once its need for the property has terminated, has both the jurisdiction and the duty to return seized property. Conn v. State, 496 N.E.2d 604, 608 (Ind. Ct. App. 1986), trans. denied. Sinn testified that he was the owner of the property in question and the State put forth no evidence to the contrary. This raises a presumption that Sinn is the proper owner. See State v. Poxon, 514 N.E.2d 652, 654 (Ind. Ct. App. 1987), trans. denied.
In the absence of a showing that the property is stolen, Sinn is entitled to the return of the
property seized from his possession. Conn, 496 N.E.2d at 608.
The trial court twice ordered that Sinn's property be returned to him. One cannot
appeal a judgment in his favor unless he is in some manner aggrieved thereby. Nehi
Beverage Co., Inc. of Indianapolis v. Petri, 537 N.E.2d 78, 82 (Ind. Ct. App. 1989), trans.
denied. If Sinn is aggrieved, it is not because of the trial court's order, but because the order
has not been followed. Sinn's remedy is not to appeal the trial court's order, but to seek
enforcement of the order. Sinn may file a motion for rule to show cause, and the trial court
should hold a hearing if necessary to enforce its order. See Conn, 496 N.E.2d at 609. Sinn's
appeal of this issue is dismissed.
Reversed in part and dismissed in part.
HOFFMAN, J., and DARDEN, J., concur.
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