Kenneth Kennedy v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any FILED
court except for the purpose of establishing Feb 03 2017, 8:57 am
the defense of res judicata, collateral
CLERK
estoppel, or the law of the case. Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael G. Moore Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Jodi Kathryn Stein
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Kenneth Kennedy, February 3, 2017
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
49A05-1607-CR-1613
v. Appeal from the Marion Superior
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Helen W. Marchal,
Appellee-Plaintiff Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
49G15-1506-F6-21034
Bradford, Judge.
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Case Summary
[1] On June 12, 2015, Appellant-Defendant Kenneth Kennedy was brought to
Eskenazi Hospital by ambulance. At some point while at Eskenazi, Kennedy
became violent. During this violent episode, he encountered Marion County
Special Deputy Dennis Boyle and Marion County Sheriff Reserve Deputy
Joshua Tyler, both of whom were working at Eskenazi at the time within their
capacity as deputies for the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. Before
eventually being restrained, Kennedy hit and kicked at Deputies Boyle and
Tyler.
[2] Appellee-Plaintiff the State of Indiana (“the State”) subsequently charged
Kennedy with a number of counts, including two counts of Level 6 felony
battery. Following a jury trial, Kennedy was found guilty as charged. Kennedy
challenges the sufficiency to sustain his convictions for Level 6 felony battery
on appeal. Concluding that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the challenged
convictions, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[3] Kennedy was brought to Eskenazi by ambulance on June 12, 2015. Kennedy
was accompanied by paramedic Adam Foster. Due the nature of Kennedy’s
behavior, Foster believed that Kennedy might have been intoxicated, a fact of
which he informed the staff at the desk.
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[4] As Foster attempted to take Kennedy’s blood pressure, Kennedy stood up and
began to dance around in a non-threatening manner. Deputy Boyle and
security officer David Foust, who were stationed at the desk in the emergency
department, watched on. At the time, Deputy Boyle, who was wearing his full
special deputy uniform, was working in his capacity as a special deputy of the
Marion County Sheriff’s Department at Eskenazi and maintained the law
enforcement powers granted to him by the Marion County Sheriff.
[5] Deputy Boyle and Foust watched as Kennedy began “air-boxing” with his fists.
Tr. p. 73. They observed Kennedy’s demeanor change “in a split second” from
non-threatening to aggressive. Kennedy began pushing on Foster’s chest, at
which time Foster “was trying to get [Kennedy’s] hands off of [him] by bringing
them down, trying to keep him at an arms-length away from [him].” Tr. p. 21.
Kennedy’s behavior became increasingly aggressive and violent, with Kennedy
grabbing the collar of Foster’s shirt. After observing the change in Kennedy’s
demeanor, Deputy Boyle verbally ordered Kennedy to stop. Kennedy,
however, did not comply with this command.
[6] After Kennedy failed to comply with his command to stop, Deputy Boyle and
Foust approached Foster and Kennedy. Deputy Boyle and Foust then “moved
in towards” Kennedy. Tr. p. 78. Deputy Boyle “took control of [Kennedy’s]
right arm” and Foust “took control of [Kennedy’s] left.” Tr. p. 78. Deputy
Boyle informed Kennedy that “he needed to stop and stop touching [Foster]
and place his hands behind his back.” Tr. p. 78. Kennedy violently resisted
Deputy Boyle’s and Foust’s attempts to retain him, swinging and pulling his
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arms. While resisting Deputy Boyle and Foust, Kennedy also aggressively
lunged back toward Foster. Deputy Boyle and Foust then “attempted to regain
control” of Kennedy by executing “a defensive tactic that is taught to us in our
training known as an arm-bar takedown.” Tr. p. 79. Kennedy continued to
violently resist, punching Foust in the chest and kicking both Foust and Deputy
Boyle. During this encounter, Deputy Boyle repeatedly ordered Kennedy to
stop and called for backup assistance.
[7] Deputy Tyler arrived at the scene of the altercation as Deputy Boyle deployed
his Taser on Kennedy. Like Deputy Boyle, Deputy Tyler was working in his
capacity as a Marion County Sheriff Reserve Deputy at Eskenazi, was in his
deputy sheriff uniform, and maintained his law enforcement powers at the time.
Deputy Tyler began assisting Deputy Boyle, after which Kennedy hit and
kicked at both deputies. Kennedy also tucked both of his arms underneath his
body as Deputy Tyler attempted to handcuff him. Kennedy was eventually
restrained in handcuffs. Kennedy was subsequently chemically sedated by a
physician.
[8] On June 17, 2015, the State charged Kennedy with two counts of Level 6 felony
battery against a public safety official, Class A misdemeanor battery, and Class
A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. Kennedy was found guilty as
charged following a jury trial. The trial court subsequently sentenced Kennedy
to an aggregate term of 545 days, to be served in community corrections. This
appeal follows.
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Discussion and Decision
[9] Kennedy contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his convictions
under Counts I and II for Level 6 felony battery. Specifically, Kennedy argues
that the evidence is insufficient to prove the enhancing element, i.e., that he
committed the batteries at issue against public safety officials.
When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a
conviction, appellate courts must consider only the probative
evidence and reasonable inferences supporting the verdict. It is
the fact-finder’s role, not that of appellate courts, to assess
witness credibility and weigh the evidence to determine whether
it is sufficient to support a conviction. To preserve this structure,
when appellate courts are confronted with conflicting evidence,
they must consider it most favorably to the trial court’s ruling.
Appellate courts affirm the conviction unless no reasonable fact-
finder could find the elements of the crime proven beyond a
reasonable doubt. It is therefore not necessary that the evidence
overcome every reasonable hypothesis of innocence. The
evidence is sufficient if an inference may reasonably be drawn
from it to support the verdict.
Drane v. State, 867 N.E.2d 144, 146-47 (Ind. 2007) (citations, emphasis, and
quotations omitted). “In essence, we assess only whether the verdict could be
reached based on reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the evidence
presented.” Baker v. State, 968 N.E.2d 227, 229 (Ind. 2012) (emphasis in
original). Upon review, appellate courts do not reweigh the evidence or assess
the credibility of the witnesses. Stewart v. State, 768 N.E.2d 433, 435 (Ind.
2002).
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[10] Kennedy was charged under Counts I and II, respectively, as follows:
On or about June 12, 2015, Kenneth Kennedy did knowingly
touch Joshua D. Tyler, a public safety official, in a rude, insolent,
or angry manner, to-wit: hit at and against the person of Joshua
Tyler with hands, while said official was engaged in the official’s
official duty;
On or about June 12, 2015, Kenneth Kennedy did knowingly
touch Dennis Boyle, a public safety official, in a rude, insolent,
or angry manner, to-wit: hit at and against the person of Dennis
Boyle with hands, while said official was engaged in the official’s
official duty[.]
Appellant’s App. Vol. 2, p. 28. Generally, “a person who knowingly or
intentionally: (1) touches another person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner
…commits battery, a Class B misdemeanor.” Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1(b)(1)
(2014). However, the offense is a Level 6 felony if the offense “is committed
against a public safety official while the official is engaged in the official’s
official duty.” Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1(d)(2). “As used in this section, ‘public
safety official’ means: (1) a law enforcement officer[.]” Ind. Code § 35-42-2-
1(a)(1).
[11] In challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his convictions for
Level 6 felony battery, Kennedy concedes that the evidence is sufficient to
support his battery convictions as Class A misdemeanors, but argues that “the
State failed to prove that [Deputies] Boyle and Tyler were public safety officials
engaged in their official duties, which is necessary to enhance Counts I and II to
[L]evel 6 felonies.” Appellant’s Br. p. 7. We disagree.
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[12] Review of the record reveals that both Deputy Boyle and Deputy Tyler testified
that they were working as public safety officials engaged in their official duties
when they encountered Kennedy. Deputy Boyle testified that on the date in
question, he was employed full-time at Eskenazi as a “Marion County Special
Deputy Sheriff.” Tr. p. 67. Deputy Boyle received his police authority through
the Sheriff of Marion County and works to “provide a safe environment in the
public hospital.” Tr. p. 69. Deputy Boyle was working in this capacity and was
wearing his full special deputy uniform on the date in question when he
encountered Kennedy at Eskenazi. It is uncontested that Kennedy committed
the battery at issue during this encounter with Deputy Boyle.
[13] For his part, Deputy Tyler testified that he is a Reserve Deputy for the Marion
County Sheriff’s Department and that he works part-time at Eskenazi. While
working at Eskenazi, Deputy Tyler is working in his capacity as a sheriff’s
deputy and has the power to make arrests. He wears his full uniform while
working in his capacity as a Sheriff’s Deputy at Eskenazi. Deputy Tyler was
working in this capacity on the date in question when he encountered Kennedy
at Eskenazi. Again, it is uncontested that Kennedy committed the battery at
issue during this encounter with Deputy Tyler.
[14] Upon review we conclude that the testimony of Deputies Boyle and Tyler is
sufficient to prove that each was working in his capacity as a public safety
official at the time that Kennedy committed his battery on each of the deputies.
As such, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient to sustain Kennedy’s
convictions for Level 6 felony battery.
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[15] The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Vaidik, C.J., and Brown, J., concur.
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