FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
ALAN K. WILSON KAREN M. FREEMAN-WILSON
Muncie, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
JOSEPH A. SAMRETA
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
DANNY SAINTIGNON, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 18A02-0002-CR-88
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE DELAWARE SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Richard A. Dailey, Judge
Cause No. 18D02-9903-CF-24
September 12, 2000
OPINION-FOR PUBLICATION
BAKER, Judge
Appellant-defendant Danny Saintignon appeals the sentence imposed by the trial court for his
conviction for Residential Entry, a class D felony.
See footnote
Specifically, Saintignon contends that
1) the trial court failed to comply with the requirements for enhancing his
sentence because it did not sufficiently explain its reasons for the enhancement, and
considered an improper aggravating factor; and 2) the trial court incorrectly construed Ind.
Code § 35-50-2-2.1 (the Juvenile Suspension statute) to mean that the court could
not suspend any portion of his three year sentence.
FACTS
The facts most favorable to the judgment are that on March 18, 1999,
the State filed a delinquency petition alleging that seventeen-year-old Saintignon committed burglary, a
class C felony, if committed by an adult.
See footnote Thereafter, the juvenile
court waived Saintignon to adult court pursuant to the State's Petition for Waiver
of Jurisdiction. On October 15, 1999, the trial court held a hearing
at which the State amended the charge of burglary to residential entry, a
class D felony. Saintignon then pled guilty to that charge.
After accepting Saintignon's guilty plea, the trial court held a sentencing hearing on
January 20, 2000. Prior to sentencing, the trial court referred to Saintignon's
extensive juvenile record and determined that there was a risk that he would
commit another crime and that Saintignon needed a secure environment because previous attempts
at probation had been unsuccessful. In addition, the trial court determined that
Saintignon's history of criminal acts and the serious nature of the crime required
the imposition of the maximum sentence of three years.See footnote The court discussed
the meaning of the Juvenile Suspension statute with the prosecutor and defense counsel,
and concluded that it meant that the court could not suspend any part
of Saintignon's sentence. Specifically, the court determined that this statute applied here
because Saintignon had been adjudicated a delinquent in 1996 for committing two counts
of burglary, a class B felony if committed by an adult, and this
adjudication took place within three years of committing residential entry. Accordingly, Saintignon
was sentenced to a three-year term of imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution
in the amount of $11,650.00
In its written sentencing order, the trial court detailed the aggravating and mitigating
factors that the Court considered prior to sentencing. The trial court found
five aggravating circumstances: 1) Saintignon's history of criminal or delinquent behavior;
2) his need for correctional treatment that could best be provided by a
penal facility; 3) the depreciation of the seriousness of the offense if a
reduced sentence were imposed; 4) the high probability that Saintignon would commit another
offense; and 5) the great deal of planning and forethought that went into
the crime. In addition, the trial court found one mitigating factor,
Saintignon's age. Saintignon now appeals.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Enhancement of Presumptive Sentence
Saintignon contends that the trial court failed to comply with the requirements for
enhancing a presumptive sentence because it did not sufficiently explain its reasoning for
the enhancement. Specifically, he argues that the trial court was required to
identify the aggravating and mitigating circumstances at his sentencing hearing, not "after-the-fact" in
the court's written sentencing order. Appellant's brief at 14. Saintignon further
asserts that the trial court failed to set out the specific facts and
reasons that led the court to find the existence of such aggravating and
mitigating circumstances, and the court failed to articulate how these circumstances were evaluated
and balanced in determining that he should serve the maximum sentence. In
addition, Saintignon asserts that the trial court improperly considered as an aggravating circumstance,
that "[i]mposition of a reduced or suspended sentence would depreciate the seriousness of
the offense," because this factor should only be considered when a court is
evaluating whether to impose a sentence less than the presumptive sentence.
In reviewing Saintignon's claims we note that sentencing decisions rest within the sound
discretion of the trial court, and on appeal the court's decision will be
reversed only upon a showing of a manifest abuse of that discretion.
Ector v. State, 639 N.E.2d 1014, 1015 (Ind. 1994). This court will
revise a sentence authorized by statute only where the sentence is manifestly unreasonable
in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the
offender. Ind. Appellate Rule 17(B); Hurt v. State, 657 N.E.2d 112, 114
(Ind. 1995).
The trial court also has the discretion to determine whether a sentence will
be enhanced or mitigated due to aggravating or mitigating factors. Concepcion v.
State, 567 N.E.2d 784, 790 (Ind. 1991). Mitigating factors are not
a mandatory consideration in sentencing, and only one valid aggravating factor need be
shown to sustain the enhancement of a presumptive sentence. Id.
Where the trial court imposes a sentence other than the presumptive sentence, the
court will examine the record to ensure that the trial court explained its
reasoning for selecting the sentence it imposed. Archer v. State, 689 N.E.2d
678, 683 (Ind. 1997). The trial court's statement of reasons must include
1) an identification of the significant aggravating and mitigating circumstances; 2) specific facts
and reasons that led the court to find the existence of such circumstances;
and 3) an articulation demonstrating that the mitigating and aggravating circumstances have been
evaluated and balanced in determining the sentence. Harris v. State, 716 N.E.2d
406, 412 (Ind. 1999).
A. Trial Court's Identification of Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances
Saintignon first claims that the trial court did not properly identify the significant
aggravating and mitigating circumstances at the sentencing hearing. While Saintignon acknowledges that
the trial court set out these circumstances in its written sentencing order, he
argues that the trial judge was required to identify these factors in open
court. Appellant's brief at 14. We note that Saintignon provides no
authority to support this argument. Moreover, contrary to his assertion, this court
has stated that it is sufficient for the trial court to set out
its findings of aggravating and mitigating factors in its sentencing order. Gunter
v. State, 605 N.E.2d 1209, 1212 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993), trans. denied.
Thus, there was no error on the part of the trial court.
B. Finding and Articulation of Circumstances at Sentencing
Saintignon also claims that the trial court failed to set out the specific
facts and reasons that led it to find the existence of aggravating and
mitigating circumstances. Saintignon further argues that the trial court did not properly
articulate how these circumstances were evaluated and balanced in determining the sentence.
In response to these claims, we observe that if the trial court's reasons
for enhancement are clear from a review of the sentencing transcript, this is
sufficient to meet the requirements for enhancing a sentence. Mundt v. State,
612 N.E.2d 566, 568 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993), trans. denied. Moreover,
the trial court is not required to articulate whether aggravating factors outweighed mitigating
factors "where the record reveals that the court thoughtfully evaluated the facts and
circumstances before it, and the aggravating factors cited are supported by evidence." Peoples
v. State, 649 N.E.2d 638, 641 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995).
Here, our review of the transcript of the sentencing hearing reveals that the
trial court did set out its facts and reasons for finding three of
the aggravating circumstances, and the court also evaluated the circumstances before it in
determining that Saintignon should serve the maximum sentence. Specifically, the court found
that Saintignon had a history of criminal or delinquent behavior by referring to
Saintignon's juvenile or criminal record which contains an extensive history of criminal offenses,
including incorrigibility, being a runaway, criminal trespass, possession of marijuana, two counts
of burglary, and possession of a handgun. R. at 103-04. The
court determined that Saintignon was in need of correctional or rehabilitative treatment that
is best provided by a penal facility after observing that "probation is not
the best method of treatment" because while Saintignon was on probation for
one offense he committed another. R. at 104. In addition, the court
relied upon Saintignon's extensive criminal history and commission of another crime while on
probation, to determine that there was a high probability that he would commit
another offense. R. at 104. The court considered all of the
foregoing factors, together with the serious nature of the crime, in concluding that
it should impose a sentence of three years imprisonment. R. at 103-04.
In light of such considerations, it is apparent that the trial court properly
explained its reasons for selecting the sentence it imposed on Saintignon.
In response to Saintignon's assertion that the trial court improperly considered as an
aggravating circumstance that "[i]mposition of a reduced or suspended sentence would depreciate the
seriousness of the offense," we observe that the trial court was only required
to show one valid aggravating factor to sustain the enhancement of a presumptive
sentence. See Concepcion, 567 N.E.2d at 790. Accordingly, even if the
trial court improperly considered the foregoing factor, any one of the other
aggravating factors, such as Saintignon's criminal history, was sufficient to justify the court's
decision to impose an executed sentence. Thus, there was no error.
II. Suspension of Sentence
Saintignon next contends that the trial court incorrectly construed the Juvenile Suspension statute
to mean that the court could not suspend any portion of his sentence.
Specifically, Saintignon asserts that the statute is ambiguous and should be construed to
prohibit the court from suspending his minimum sentence, but allow the court to
suspend that portion of his sentence in excess of the minimum.
We initially note that the interpretation of a statute is a matter of
law which we review de novo. Clark v. Madden, 725 N.E.2d 100,
104 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000). The cardinal rule of statutory construction is to
determine and give effect to the true intent of the legislature. Superior
Constr. Co. v. Carr, 564 N.E.2d 281 (Ind. 1990). To do this
we interpret the statute according to the ordinary and plain meaning of the
language used, absent a clearly manifested purpose to do otherwise. T.W. Thom
Constr. v. City of Jeffersonville, 721 N.E.2d 319, 324 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999).
Given such rules of statutory construction, we now turn to the pertinent part
of the Juvenile Suspension statute:
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) or section 2 of this chapter;
See footnote
the court
may not suspend a sentence for a felony for a person
with a juvenile record when:
(1) the juvenile record includes findings that the juvenile acts, if committed by
an adult would constitute:
(A) one (1) Class A or Class B felony;
(B) two (2) Class C or Class D felonies; or
(C) one (1) Class C and one (1) Class D felony; and
(2) less than three (3) years have elapsed between the commission of the
juvenile acts that would be felonies if committed by an adult and the
commission of the felony for which the person is being sentenced.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the court may suspend any part of the sentence
for felony, except as provided in section 2 of this chapter, if it
finds that:
(1) the crime was the result of circumstances unlikely to recur:
(2) the victim of the crime induced or facilitated the offense;
(3) there are substantial grounds tending to excuse or justify the crime, though
failing to establish a defense; or
(4) the acts in the juvenile record would not be Class A or
Class B felonies if committed by an adult, and the convicted person is
to undergo home
detention under IC 35-38-1-21 instead of the minimum sentence specified
for the crime under this chapter.
I.C. § 35-50-2-2.1. (emphasis supplied).
As noted in the FACTS, the trial court declined to suspend any portion
of the sentence in light of Saintignon's 1996 burglary adjudications. Nonetheless, Saintignon
contends that because the Juvenile Suspension statute and the Sentence Suspension statute, cross-reference
each other, this compels the conclusion that they are in pari materia and
should be read together to permit the court to suspend that portion of
Saintignon's sentence in excess of the minimum sentence.
We reject Saintignon's argument, inasmuch as the Juvenile Suspension statute specifically states that
"the court may not suspend a sentence for a felony" where a person
has specific juvenile findings on his or her record. This language unequivocally
prohibits our trial courts from suspending any part of a sentence, not just
the minimum sentence. Had the legislature intended to limit its prohibition to
the minimum sentence, it could have incorporated such language into the statute as
it did in the Sentence Suspension statute. As a result, we decline
Saintignon's invitation to rewrite the statute, and conclude that the trial court did
not err in declining to suspend any portion of the three-year sentence.
See footnote
Conclusion
In conclusion, we find that the trial court 1) complied with the requirements
for enhancing Saintignon's sentence, and 2) correctly construed the Juvenile Suspension statute to
mean that the court could not suspend any portion of Saintignon's sentence.
Judgment affirmed.
SHARPNACK, C.J., and VAIDIK, J., concur.
Footnote:
Ind. Code § 35-43-2-1.5.
Footnote:
I.C. § 35-43-2-1.
Footnote:
The court noted that the presumptive sentence for a class D felony
is one and a half years, to which up to one and a
half years may be added for aggravating circumstances. R. at 103.
Footnote:
The reference to "section 2," in subsection (a) of the statute is
to I.C. § 35-50-2-2, (the Sentence Suspension statute), which provides in relevant part
as follows:
(a) The court may suspend any part of a sentence for a felony,
except as provided in this section or in section 2.1 of this chapter.
(b) With respect to crimes listed in this subsection, the court may suspend
only that part of the sentence that is in excess of the minimum
sentence[.]
Footnote:
In addition to our discussion above, we note that the suspension of
the sentence is discretionary with the trial court where the specific exceptions are
satisfied. Here, Saintignon has offered no evidence that the trial court even
considered suspending a portion of his sentence in light of the aggravating circumstances
that were found.