Coreion Tae D. Gentry-Shelton v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2020 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
Jul 16 2020, 10:41 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Donald J. Frew Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Fort Wayne, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Megan M. Smith
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Coreion Tae D. Gentry-Shelton, July 16, 2020
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
19A-CR-2940
v. Appeal from the Allen Superior
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Frances C. Gull,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge
Trial Court Cause Nos.
02D05-1905-F3-29
02D04-1805-F6-576
Rucker, Senior Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 1 of 14
Case Summary
[1] After a trial by jury Coreion Tae D. Gentry-Shelton was convicted of robbery
1
and criminal confinement and sentenced to a total term of fourteen years. He
now appeals raising two issues which we rephrase as: (1) did the trial court
abuse its discretion by denying a defense motion for mistrial based on alleged
prosecutorial misconduct; and (2) is Gentry-Shelton’s sentence inappropriate in
light of the nature of the offense and the character of the offender. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] On March 19, 2019, Cheyenne Verschure was alone at the home of her
boyfriend, Alejandro Grajales, who was away at work. Sometime in the early
afternoon hours she heard a knock at the door. When Verschure opened the
door a person whom she did not know but would later identify from a photo
array and at trial as Gentry-Shelton asked for “Rondo” and said he had come to
“collect his effing money.” Tr. Vol. 2 p. 102. Verschure told Gentry-Shelton
that no one by that name lived there. Gentry-Shelton pushed open the door,
put a gun to Verschure’s head, and instructed her to move back into the house.
1
Under a separate cause number Gentry-Shelton was also found to have violated probation. Accordingly, he
was sentenced to an executed term to be served consecutive to the sentence imposed in this case. The
petition for revocation was based in part on the convictions that are the subject of this appeal. Thereafter
Gentry-Shelton filed his Notice of Appeal in both cases together with a Petition to Consolidate Appeals.
This Court issued an Order granting the petition. See Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 p. 224. However, in this
appeal Gentry-Shelton has raised no claim related to his probation revocation.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 2 of 14
Verschure went into the living room and sat on the couch while Gentry-Shelton
held the gun to her head.
[3] Three other men rushed into the home. Crying and hysterical Verschure
continued to complain that no one by the name Rondo lived there. Gentry-
Shelton repeatedly instructed her to shut up and stop talking or he was going to
shoot her. While Gentry-Shelton held the gun on Verschure the other men
ransacked the house. Among the items taken were Verschure’s cell phone, a
television set, and some game consoles. Verschure estimated that the intruders
were in the house between 15 and 20 minutes.
[4] The home was equipped with six video surveillance cameras that were designed
to send an alert to Grajales’ cellphone whenever motion was detected.
However, during the intrusion Grajales was working construction at a location
that did not have cellphone service and thus he was not able to see what
transpired in real time. Nonetheless, even though one of the intruders ripped
one of the cameras off the wall, the cameras still recorded the images of all four
men.
[5] Once the men left the house Verschure waited several minutes to ensure they
were not coming back. She then ran to a neighbor’s home and dialed 911.
Officers of the Fort Wayne Police Department arrived a few minutes later.
After Grajales arrived home he spoke with police and turned over his video
system to investigating officers.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 3 of 14
[6] On May 2, 2019 the State charged then nineteen-year-old Gentry-Shelton with
2 3
Count I Robbery as a Level 3 felony and Count II Criminal Confinement as a
Level 3 felony. At trial several of the videos recovered from the home were
introduced into evidence without objection. At least one of the videos – State’s
Exhibit 3 – depicted all four men, one of whom was sitting on a couch pointing
a handgun at Verschure’s head.
[7] During the course of the investigation Christopher Hawthorne, a Detective with
the Fort Wayne Police Department was asked to review Exhibit 3 to see if he
could identify any of the intruders. Detective Hawthorne testified that he was
able to identify each of the individuals and that he recognized them from
“personal experience.” Tr. Vol. 2 p. 177. After Detective Hawthorne testified
that he “had prior experiences with each individual that was involved,” the
State asked, “More than once?” Id. at 177-78. Detective Hawthorne
responded, “Yes, multiple.” Id. at 178. The State then asked “[h]ow many
times do you think you’ve met him in your life?” Id. At that point Gentry-
Shelton interjected, and the following exchange occurred:
[Defense Counsel]: I’m gonna object to this line of questioning.
He’s established that he’s met him a couple of times.
[State]: Considering that –
2
Ind. Code § 35-42-5-1 (2017).
3
Ind. Code § 35-42-3-3(b)(2)(A) (2014).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 4 of 14
[Defense Counsel]: Asked and answered.
[State]: Your Honor . . . If I might respond briefly?
THE COURT: Yes.
[State]: Considering that eyewitness identification is often
attacked, and I think in this case there’s been attempts at that, the
idea that he has had more experience than one meeting with the
Defendant is certainly valid information for the jury to determine
whether or not this person has the grounds to identify an
individual or not.
[Defense Counsel]: Your Honor, he’s already testified to that.
THE COURT: Sustained.
Id. at 178-79.
[8] When the State began to argue in rebuttal the trial court directed the parties to
approach the bench and held a side bar conference. During the course of which
Defense Counsel reiterated his objection and declared “I’d like that testimony
stricken at worst and mistrial [sic] at best. I think this is coming very close to
tainting my client.” Id. at 180. The trial court again sustained the “asked and
answered” objection but denied both the motion to strike and the motion for
mistrial. Id. at 181. At the close of trial, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on
both counts.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 5 of 14
[9] A combined sentencing and probation revocation hearing was held November
15, 2019. The trial court entered judgment of conviction on Count I Robbery
and Count II Criminal Confinement. Citing aggravating factors including
Gentry-Shelton’s criminal history the trial court imposed concurrent fourteen-
year sentences on both counts. The trial court ordered the sentences to run
consecutively to a two-year sentence imposed for the probation violation, all to
be served at the Indiana Department of Correction. The trial court also ordered
restitution in the amount of $3,100.00. This appeal followed. Additional facts
are set forth below.
Discussion
I. Motion for Mistrial
[10] Gentry-Shelton contends the trial court erred by denying his motion for mistrial
based on alleged prosecutorial misconduct. When faced with a circumstance
that a defendant believes might warrant a mistrial, generally the correct
procedure is to request an admonishment. Isom v. State, 31 N.E.3d 469, 482
(Ind. 2015). If counsel is unsatisfied with the admonishment or it is obvious
that the admonishment will not be sufficient to cure the error, then counsel may
move for mistrial. Id. A “failure to request an admonishment or move for a
mistrial results in waiver of the issue.” Id. (emphasis in original). In essence
“waiver occurs where there was neither a request for admonishment nor a
motion for mistrial.” Id. (emphasis in original). Here, whether Gentry-
Shelton’s motion to strike is tantamount to a request for admonishment is
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 6 of 14
debatable. In any event, because Gentry-Shelton sought a mistrial appellate
review of his claim has not been waived.
[11] A mistrial is an extreme remedy warranted only when no other curative
measure will rectify the situation. Donnegan v. State, 809 N.E.2d 966, 972 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2004), trans. denied. The grant of a mistrial is a determination within
the trial court’s discretion, and we will reverse its decision only for an abuse of
that discretion. Id. We give great deference to the trial court’s decision, as it is
in the best position to gauge the circumstances and the probable impact on the
jury. Id.[12] Further, appellate review of a claim of prosecutorial misconduct is a two-step
process. First, we consider whether the prosecutor engaged in misconduct.
Hand v. State, 863 N.E.2d 386, 393 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). If so, we then consider
whether the misconduct placed the defendant in a position of grave peril to
which he should not have been subjected. Id. at 394. The gravity of peril is
measured by the probable persuasive effect of the misconduct on the jury’s
verdict rather than the degree of impropriety of the conduct. Cooper v. State, 854
N.E.2d 831, 835 (Ind. 2006).
[13] According to Gentry-Shelton “[t]he questions from the Prosecutor regarding
prior contact with the Defendant by the Fort Wayne Police Officer justified
Defendant’s motion for mistrial.” Appellant’s Br. p. 16. He continues, “[t]he
Prosecutor’s remarks amounted to an impermissible effort to create the
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 7 of 14
perception with the jury that the Appellant had had multiple run ins and/or
arrests with the Fort Wayne Police Department.” Id.[14] Although not making the express claim, Gentry-Shelton essentially argues that
the prosecutor employed an evidentiary harpoon. An evidentiary harpoon
occurs when the prosecution places inadmissible evidence before the jury for
the deliberate purpose of prejudicing the jurors against the defendant and his
defense. Evans v. State, 643 N.E.2d 877, 879 (Ind. 1994). In certain
circumstances the injection of an evidentiary harpoon may constitute
prosecutorial misconduct requiring a mistrial. Roberts v. State, 712 N.E.2d 23,
34 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999) (citing Jewell v. State, 672 N.E.2d 417, 423 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1996), trans. denied), trans denied.
[15] It is certainly the case that the admission of evidence of prior arrests and/or
convictions is extremely prejudicial and will not be allowed unless a strong
showing of probative value can be made. Mote v. State, 775 N.E.2d 687, 689
(Ind. Ct. App. 2002)(citing Ind. Evidence Rule 404(b)), trans. denied; Henson v.
State, 514 N.E.2d 1064, 1066 (Ind. 1987). Indeed, “[e]vidence of other crimes
and bad acts is inherently prejudicial. There is always the fear that a jury will
convict the defendant solely because he is a bad actor. That is why we go to
such lengths to prevent such evidence coming before the jury.” Perez v. State,
728 N.E.2d 234, 238 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000) (Kirsch, J., dissenting) (agreeing to
the existence of an evidentiary harpoon where police officer witness offered
inadmissible evidence regarding prior convictions; but disagreeing any error
was harmless), trans. denied.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 8 of 14
[16] Here, the record shows that the Detective’s testimony concerning multiple
contacts with Gentry-Shelton did not inform the jury of any specific incident or
prior misconduct involving Gentry-Shelton. In fact, objecting to the State’s line
of questioning Gentry-Shelton declared “I think this is coming very close to
tainting my client.” Tr. Vol. 2 p. 180 (emphasis added). The trial court
apparently agreed it came close but did not cross the line. It noted for example
that the prosecutor had “gotten [the Detective] to [sic] he knows who these
people are, that’s not a problem, but I think the issue is getting into more of the
prior involvements, that was the concern I’ve sustained [the Defense] objection
on.” Id. at 181. The trial court acted well within its discretion in so concluding.
See Tompkins v. State, 669 N.E.2d 394, 399 (Ind. 1996) (recognizing that the trial
court could have determined that a witness’s statement did not clearly inform
the jury that the defendant had a criminal history); see also Clifton v. State, 499
N.E.2d 256, 258 (Ind. 1986) (police officer testimony referring to an earlier
investigation did “not refer to [defendant] as the subject of a criminal
investigation or give any indication of criminal activity on his part”).
[17] From the officer’s testimony, the jury could only infer that Gentry-Shelton had
some sort of contact with law enforcement in the past. This was not
impermissible. We thus cannot conclude that the prosecutor engaged in
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 9 of 14
misconduct and therefore we do not consider whether defendant was placed in
4
a position of grave peril. See Hand, 863 N.E.2d at 394.
II. Appropriateness of Sentence
[18] Gentry-Shelton seeks to reduce the sentence imposed for his convictions on
Count I and Count II pursuant to Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B) which provides
that this Court “may revise a sentence authorized by statute if, after due
consideration of the trial court’s decision, the Court finds that the sentence is
inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the
offender.”
[19] We independently examine the nature of Gentry-Shelton’s offense and his
character under Rule 7(B) with substantial deference to the trial court’s
sentence. See Satterfield v. State, 33 N.E.3d 344, 355 (Ind. 2015). “In conducting
our review, we do not look to see whether defendant’s sentence is appropriate
or if another sentence might be more appropriate; rather, the test is whether the
sentence is ‘inappropriate.’” Barker v. State, 994 N.E.2d 306, 315 (Ind. Ct. App.
2013) (emphasis in original), trans. denied. And our Supreme Court has
declared “whether we regard a sentence as inappropriate at the end of the day
4
In this appeal Gentry-Shelton also complains the prosecutor engaged in further misconduct by remarking in
front of the jury that “eyewitness identification is often attacked and [ I ] think in this case there has been
attempts at that.” Appellant’s Br. p. 19 (quoting Tr. Vol. 2 p. 179). According to Gentry-Shelton the
Prosecutor “is making an effort to characterize Defense counsel’s efforts as ‘attack’ rather than responsible
ethical cross examination which any defendant at jury is entitled to.” Id. at 19-20. Gentry-Shelton did not
object to this statement at trial nor seek an admonishment or request a mistrial. He is prohibited from raising
this claim for the first time on appeal. This issue is waived for review. See Isom, 31 N.E.3d at 482.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 10 of 14
turns on our sense of culpability of the defendant, the severity of the crime, the
damage done to others, and myriad other factors that come to light in a given
case.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008). The principal role
of appellate review should be to attempt to leaven the outliers, “not to achieve a
perceived ‘correct’ result in each case.” Id. at 1225. The burden is on the
defendant to persuade us that the sentence imposed by the trial court is
inappropriate. Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1080 (Ind. 2006).
A. Nature of the Offense
[20] We first observe “the advisory sentence is the starting point the legislature has
selected as an appropriate sentence for the crime committed.” Kunberger v.
State, 46 N.E.3d 966, 973 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). The advisory sentence for
Gentry-Shelton’s two Level 3 felony convictions is nine years with a range of
between three years and sixteen years. Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5 (2014). Gentry-
Shelton received concurrent sentences of fourteen years – above the advisory
sentence but less than the maximum permissible sentence.
[21] The nature of the offense refers to a defendant’s actions in comparison with the
elements of the offense. Cardwell, 895 N.E.2d at 1224. When determining the
appropriateness of a sentence that deviates from an advisory sentence, we
consider “whether there is anything more or less egregious about the offense
committed by the defendant that makes it different from the ‘typical’ offense
accounted for by the legislature when it set the advisory sentence.” Holloway v.
State, 950 N.E.2d 803, 806-07 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 11 of 14
[22] In this appeal other than acknowledging that the offenses for which he was
convicted “are serious,” Appellant’s Br. p. 21, Gentry-Shelton tells us nothing
about why the nature of the offenses justify a revision of his sentence. Instead
he asserts “that a fair appraisal of the nature of the offense in question, as well
as the consideration of the totality of the circumstances would have resulted in
a different sentence imposed.” Id. at 22.
[23] The record shows Gentry-Shelton was charged with robbery and criminal
confinement as Level 3 felonies because his acts were “committed while armed
with a deadly weapon.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 pp. 90, 92; see also Ind. Code
§§ 35-42-5-1 (robbery), 35-42-3-3(b)(3)(A) (criminal confinement). But he was
not just “armed with a deadly weapon.” Instead, Gentry-Shelton held that
weapon to the head of a crying and hysterical young woman threatening to
shoot her if she did not shut up. All the while his cohorts were ransacking the
home and destroying property. This conduct was egregious and went beyond
“the ‘typical’ offenses accounted for by the legislature when it set the advisory
sentence.” Holloway, 950 N.E.2d at 807. The nature of the offense does not
justify a revision of the sentence.
B. Character of the Offender
[24] The “character of the offender” standard in Appellate Rule 7(B) refers to the
general sentencing considerations and the relevant aggravating and mitigating
circumstances. Williams v. State, 782 N.E.2d 1039, 1051 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003),
trans. denied. “A defendant’s life and conduct are illustrative of his or her
character.” Morris v. State, 114 N.E.3d 531, 539 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018), trans.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 12 of 14
denied. When considering the character of the offender one relevant
consideration is the defendant’s criminal history. Rutherford v. State, 866 N.E.2d
867, 874 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). “The significance of a criminal history . . . varies
based on the gravity, nature, and number of prior offenses in relation to the
current offense.” Id. And we have held that “[e]ven a minor criminal record
reflects poorly on a defendant’s character.” Reis v. State, 88 N.E.3d 1099, 1105
(Ind. Ct. App. 2017).
[25] As with the nature of the offense prong of Rule 7(B), Gentry-Shelton likewise
tells us nothing about his character or why it justifies revision of his sentence.
We repeat for emphasis that the defendant bears the burden of persuading this
Court that his or her sentence is inappropriate. Childress, 848 N.E.2d at 1080.
[26] At the sentencing hearing the court found as aggravating circumstances Gentry-
Shelton’s juvenile and adult record, which included failed attempts at
rehabilitation, and the fact that he was on probation at the time of these
offenses. The trial court elaborated:
Your criminal record covers [a] period of time from 2011 to
2019, with informal adjustments through the juvenile court
system, with administrative probation, two (2) adjudications as
juvenile with operational supervision, the learning academy, the
detention alternative program with the anklet, and drug
treatment. As an adult you have one misdemeanor and three (3)
prior felony convictions with short jail sentences, longer jail
sentences, probation, treatment attempts, time in the Department
of Correction, and I note specifically an escalation of your
criminal offenses. I find that there are no mitigating
circumstances.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 13 of 14
Tr. Vol. 3 pp. 9-10.
[27] Although only nineteen years of age at the time of the current offenses, Gentry-
Shelton had accumulated two Juvenile adjudications, one of which would have
been a felony if committed as an adult, one misdemeanor conviction and three
felony convictions. See Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 pp. 174-76. Continuing to
commit crimes after frequent contacts with the judicial system is a poor
reflection on one’s character. Rutherford, 866 N.E.2d at 874; see also Conner v.
State, 58 N.E.3d 215, 221 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016) (continued crimes indicate a
failure to take full responsibility for one’s actions). Gentry-Shelton has not
persuaded us that the sentence imposed by the trial court is inappropriate in
light of his character.
Conclusion
[28] We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Baker, J., and Tavitas, J., concur.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CR-2940 | July 16, 2020 Page 14 of 14