FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
THOMAS E. HASTINGS JEFFREY A. MODISETT
BROWN & HASTINGS Attorney General of Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
JAMES A. GARRARD
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
TED ALLEN BUZZARD, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 44A03-9805-CR-222
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
at the time of the offense falls at or near the dividing line between classes of felonies. Downs
v. State, 656 N.E.2d 849, 852 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995).
Specifically, Buzzard contends that the time period alleged in the complaint is so
broad that he could not present an effective alibi defense at trial. Moreover, he claims that
he could not defend against future prosecution by use of a double jeopardy defense.
However, we have held that it is the record, not just the indictment or the information,
which provides protection from subsequent prosecutions for the same offense. Phillips, 499
N.E.2d at 805. Imposition of two sentences for the same injury to the same victim inflicted
by the same act of the defendant violates the federal and state prohibitions against double
jeopardy. Id.
In the present case, the information alleged that the charged events took place from
approximately June 1, 1990 to December 16, 1991. At trial, the State conceded that Buzzard
was in Florida from March to September of 1990. Moreover, Buzzard claimed that his
bedridden father stayed in the trailer from January to June of 1991. The victims testified that
Buzzard's father was not in the trailer when they stayed with Buzzard. Therefore, the crimes
charged had to have occurred between September of 1990 to January of 1991, and June of
1991 to December 16, 1991. We find no fundamental error. See Thurston v. State, 472
N.E.2d 198, 201 (Ind. 1985) (two month period of weekly Thursday meetings lasting
approximately 3 hours each is sufficient); Merry v. State, 166 Ind.App. 199, 335 N.E.2d 249
(1975) (allegation that molestation occurred between December 5, 1970 and September 5,
1973 was sufficient); Phillips, 499 N.E.2d at 805 (allegation that molestation occurred
between February 15, 1985 and March 1, 1985 was sufficient).
HASTINGS: Judge we're going to object to any leading questions. The young
lady said she's testified to everything she knows and but, but with my
questions and also his questions.
COURT: So what's your objection?
HASTINGS: My objection is he's going to show her prior testimony ah in
order to lead her into an answer. If he, if he's got [a][sic]question he can ask
the question, if she can answer the question. But to show her her prior
question and answer on direct examination is not proper.
(R. 623-24). The trial court overruled the objection and then adjourned for the day.
The next day Buzzard requested that the trial court strike a portion of T.G.'s testimony
based upon my objection to essentially refresh her memory with her statement. (R. 626).
The trial court overruled the motion to strike a portion of T.G.'s testimony.
Buzzard cannot raise an argument on appeal which is different from the argument
raised at trial. Jones v. State, 536 N.E.2d 267, 274 (Ind. 1989), reh'g. denied. Because the
argument made here on appeal, lack of foundation, was not raised at the trial level, the issue
is waived on appeal. Ind. Appellate Rule 8.3(A)(7).
had engaged in brief digital penetration of T.G. Buzzard now contends that the trial court
erred by denying him the opportunity to re-re-cross-examine T.G. on this issue.
Buzzard's defense to the charge involving T.G. was that he did not touch her. T.G.
testified prior to re-re-direct examination that Buzzard had touched her. Thus, the issue
before the jury was one of credibility. The trial court's limitation of Buzzard's ability to re-
re-cross-examine T.G. was reasonable in light of the fact that Buzzard already had
challenged T.G.'s credibility during the two previous cross-examinations of her, and
penetration had no bearing on the charges against Buzzard as they related to T.G. We do not
find that Buzzard was prejudiced by the limitation on cross-examination exercised by the trial
court.
T.R. 59(J)(7) upon a determination that a jury verdict is clearly erroneous as contrary to or
not supported by the evidence. Id.
In the present case, Buzzard was charged with criminal deviate sexual conduct for
placing his penis in Ma.G.'s mouth on one occasion. Ma.G. did not testify to that incident.
However, Me.G. testified that on one occasion she saw Buzzard place his penis in Ma.G.'s
mouth, which was open, while Ma.G. was asleep.
Buzzard claims that Me.G.'s testimony was incredibly dubious, and that since hers
was the only testimony regarding Count I, that a judgment of acquittal should be entered.
The incredible dubiosity rule provides a court with the opportunity to impinge upon the
jury's duty to judge the credibility of witnesses when the testimony is inherently improbable,
or coerced, equivocal, or wholly uncorroborated. Tillman v. State, 642 N.E.2d 221, 223 (Ind.
1994). The rule applies to situations involving the testimony of a sole witness whose
inherently contradictory testimony is equivocal or the result of coercion. Id. The State
correctly points out that Me.G. never wavered in her testimony that Buzzard placed his penis
in Ma.G.'s mouth. The only discrepancy in her testimony centered around the duration of
the event to which she was testifying. There was no evidence of coercion.
The trial court was correct in denying Buzzard's T.R. 50 motion and by not entering
a judgment of acquittal pursuant to T.R. 59(J)(7).
authorized by statute will not be revised on appeal unless the sentence is manifestly
unreasonable. Id.
Buzzard alleges that the trial court erred by sentencing him to consecutive terms on
the four counts of child molesting. First, he contends that the court improperly considered
the victims' ages as an aggravating factor. The State correctly points out that initially the
trial court did consider the age of the victims as an aggravating factor during sentencing.
However, after the hearing on the motion to correct errors the trial court withdrew that factor
from its consideration in pronouncing Buzzard's sentence because the trial court recognized
that the age of the victims was an element of the offenses.
Second, Buzzard argues that while the court properly considered evidence of his prior
criminal history and that he held a position of trust with the victims, the trial court did not
state why these aggravators justified an enhancement of the sentences and imposition of
consecutive sentences.
One aggravating factor is sufficient to enhance the presumptive sentence and to
impose consecutive sentences. Davidson v. State, 558 N.E.2d 1077, 1092 (Ind. 1990). The
trial judge determines the weight to be given any aggravating or mitigating factors during
sentencing. Grund v. State, 671 N.E.2d 411, 418 (Ind. 1996).
In the present case the trial court foundSee footnote
1
Buzzard's history of criminal activity,
Buzzard's position of trust with the victims, and that the molestations occurred on a number
of occasions to be aggravating factors. Any one of those factors standing alone is sufficient
to both enhance the presumptive sentences and to justify an order that the sentences run
consecutively.
Buzzard argues that pursuant to Wright v. State, 665 N.E.2d 2, 6 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996),
when the trial court enhances a sentence, it must include a statement identifying all
significant aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the reasons supporting those
circumstances, and how such circumstances were balanced in determining the sentence
imposed. A sentence enhancement will be affirmed in spite of a trial court's failure to
specifically articulate its reasons if the record indicates that the court engaged in the
evaluative processes and the sentence imposed was not manifestly unreasonable. Id.
Consideration of mitigating factors is not mandatory and also lies within the court's
discretion. Id.
While it is unfortunate that the entire sentencing hearing was not recorded fully and
transcribed for our evaluation, the entry provided by the trial court is adequate to show that
the court engaged in the proper evaluation and weighing processes regarding the aggravating
and mitigating factors presented.
Buzzard contends that the trial court erred in sentencing him by failing to relate any
details to show that Buzzard was in need of treatment best provided by a penal facility.
Buzzard cites to Moore v. State, 569 N.E.2d 695, 699 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991), trans. denied, in
support of his position that the trial court should have related details concerning why Buzzard
needed treatment at a penal facility, and that the trial court should have used more than
conclusory language with regard to this factor. Here again, the malfunction of the recording
equipment during Buzzard's sentencing hearing is unfortunate. However, the court's entry
on sentencing reflects that the court considered the following:
. . .that the Defendant could best be treated in a penal facility as this removed
him from society and away from the children where he could not prey on
children while being treated. . . . .
(R. 824A). The entry reflects more than just conclusory language regarding this factor.
Buzzard's final contention regarding sentencing is that the trial court erred by failing
to find Buzzard's good behavior at the Indiana Department of Correction as a mitigating
factor. Buzzard claims that the trial court should have taken into consideration Buzzard's
good conduct. As previously stated, the trial court assigns the weight to be given any
aggravating or mitigating circumstances. Grund, 671 N.E.2d at 418.
In the present case, the record reflects that the trial court engaged in an evaluation of
the factors relevant to sentencing. With regard to Buzzard's behavior while incarcerated the
trial court found as follows:
. . .The Court did not find any mitigating factors notwithstanding the
Defendant's good record while in prison.
(R. 824A). Therefore, the record reflects that the trial court did consider Buzzard's conduct
while incarcerated. The trial court chose not to find the good conduct to be a mitigating
factor. This decision was within the trial court's discretion, and the sentence seems
reasonable under the facts of this case.
Judgment affirmed.
BAILEY, J., and NAJAM, J., concur.
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