David N. Templin v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2019 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be May 23 2019, 10:01 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
CLERK
court except for the purpose of establishing Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
the defense of res judicata, collateral and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Mark K. Phillips Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
PHILLIPS LAW, P.C. Attorney General of Indiana
Boonville, Indiana
Jesse R. Drum
Supervising Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
David N. Templin, May 23, 2019
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-CR-2447
v. Appeal from the Perry Circuit
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable M. Lucy Goffinet,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge
Trial Court Cause Nos.
62C01-1803-CM-187
62C01-1804-F6-305
62C01-1804-F6-310
Bailey, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2447 | May 23, 2019 Page 1 of 10
Case Summary
[1] David N. Templin (“Templin”) pleaded guilty to three charges: (1) Escape, a
Level 6 felony;1 (2) Impersonation of a Public Servant, a Class A misdemeanor; 2
and (3) Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor. 3 He now appeals.
[2] We affirm.
Issues
[3] Templin presents three issues, which we revise and restate as follows:
I. Whether, on direct appeal, Templin may seek to set aside
his plea of guilty by, inter alia, alleging procedural error
regarding the inquiry into his competency to stand trial.
II. Whether Templin received ineffective assistance of counsel
due to counsel’s purported failure to explore potential
mental health issues and adequately present those issues as
mitigating circumstances at sentencing.
III. Whether the trial court abused its sentencing discretion.
1
Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-4(b).
2
I.C. § 35-44.1-2-6(a).
3
I.C. § 35-44.1-3-1(a)(1).
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Facts and Procedural History
[4] In March 2018, the State charged Templin with (1) Impersonation of a Public
Servant, a Class A misdemeanor; (2) Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A
misdemeanor; (3) Unlawful Use of a Police Radio, a Class B misdemeanor; 4
and (4) Obstructing an Emergency Medical Person, a Class B misdemeanor. 5
He was released on bond and placed on electronic home monitoring. The State
later filed additional charges, alleging Templin committed two Level 6 felony
offenses while released: Escape and Residential Entry.6 Thereafter, Templin
moved for a competency examination. The court appointed a psychologist who
examined Templin and determined Templin was competent to stand trial.
[5] Templin and the State later reached a plea agreement whereby Templin would
plead guilty to three counts—Escape, Impersonation of a Public Servant, and
Resisting Law Enforcement—in exchange for dismissal of the other counts.
Under the plea agreement, Templin would serve an aggregate sentence length
of four years with placement left to the discretion of the trial court. Templin
4
I.C. § 35-44-.1-2-7(a)(1).
5
I.C. § 35-44.1-4-9(b).
6
I.C. § 35-43-2-1.5.
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pleaded guilty in August 2018, and the court accepted the plea. 7 The court held
a hearing, dismissed the agreed counts, and ordered a fully executed sentence.
[6] Templin now appeals.
Discussion and Decision
Decision to Plead Guilty
[7] Templin complains of procedural irregularity regarding the inquiry into his
competency to stand trial. He asserts—inter alia—entitlement to a competency
hearing. Yet, Templin elected to plead guilty and thereby waived his right to
trial. See Tumulty v. State, 666 N.E.2d 394, 395 (Ind. 1996). Templin suggests
further inquiry into his competency and mental health—whether by the trial
court or by counsel—might have led to (1) the court rejecting the plea or (2) a
viable defense that would have affected Templin’s decision to forgo trial and
plead guilty. At bottom, however, these lines of argument aim toward setting
aside the plea of guilty—and “[a] person who pleads guilty is not permitted to
challenge the propriety of that conviction on direct appeal.” Collins v. State, 817
N.E.2d 230, 231 (Ind. 2004). Rather, a defendant may challenge the validity of
his plea only through a petition for post-conviction relief. See Tumulty, 666
N.E.2d at 395; see also Ind. Code § 35-35-1-4 (specifying that “[a] motion to
7
In the written plea agreement, Templin purportedly waived his right to appeal his sentence. Yet, the trial
court told Templin that he had the right to appeal his sentence. Because “[t]he State is not contending that
Templin waived his right to challenge his sentence,” we need not explore this issue. Br. of Appellee at 8 n.1.
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vacate judgment and withdraw [a] plea . . . shall be treated . . . as a petition for
postconviction relief”); cf. Snyder v. State, 500 N.E.2d 154, 156 (Ind. 1986)
(denying post-conviction relief where the petitioner had pleaded guilty and
challenged his conviction on similar grounds, alleging lack of a competency
hearing and ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to advise of a defense).
[8] Templin argues the claims are proper on direct appeal, but we are unpersuaded
by his attempts to distinguish Tumulty. We conclude the claims are presently
barred. See Tumulty, 666 N.E.2d at 396 (identifying policy reasons for “[t]he
long-standing judicial precedent limiting the avenue of direct appeal for guilty
plea challenges,” noting that a plea “brings to a close the dispute between the
parties, much as settling civil parties do by submitting an agreed judgment”).
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
[9] Templin alleges ineffective assistance of counsel under the Sixth Amendment to
the United States Constitution, a claim we review under the two-part test
articulated in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). To prevail,
Templin must demonstrate (1) deficient performance, “meaning counsel’s
representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness as gauged by
prevailing professional norms,” Bobadilla v. State, 117 N.E.3d 1272, 1280 (Ind.
2019); and (2) resulting prejudice: “a reasonable probability (i.e. a probability
sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome) that, but for counsel’s
errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different,” McCary v. State,
761 N.E.2d 389, 392 (Ind. 2002) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694).
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[10] Templin argues trial counsel “fail[ed] to introduce evidence of mental disease or
defect at [the] sentencing hearing as a mitigating factor.” Br. of Appellant at 11.
Templin essentially contends that because the court-appointed psychologist
noted “a number of neurocognitive deficits” when evaluating Templin’s
competency to stand trial, counsel was put on notice to explore Templin’s
mental condition. Id. at 12. According to Templin, “[o]f significance here is
trial counsel’s failure to investigate two incidents of head trauma that Templin
sustained and what, if any, significance those injuries may have had on his
cognitive abilities or mental acuity.” Id. Templin argues “there is nothing in
the Record to indicate that Templin’s counsel made any attempt to use the
psychiatric evaluation for any purpose other than to satisfy his own curiosity as
to whether Templin was considered competent to stand trial.” Id. at 14.
Templin further asserts that there “were significant issues to be explored.” Id.
[11] Yet, Templin acknowledges that some claims of ineffective assistance “require
an investigation of facts far beyond the record, and sometimes beyond the
knowledge of either trial or appellate counsel.” Id. at 15. Templin suggests that
his claim of ineffective assistance “relate[s] to issues that are not visible in the
Record.” Id. at 14. It is puzzling, then, why Templin chose to pursue this
claim on direct appeal—with a limited record—instead of seeking factual
development through post-conviction proceedings. See Ind. Post-Conviction
Rule 1(5) (providing that “[a]ll rules and statutes applicable in civil proceedings
including pre-trial and discovery procedures are available” and that the court
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“may receive affidavits, depositions, oral testimony, or other evidence”). 8 We
nevertheless address the claim—that is, the alleged failure of trial counsel to
investigate and present evidence of mitigating circumstances at sentencing.
[12] Where a claim of ineffective assistance is based on “failur[e] to investigate,
establishing [the claim] . . . would require going beyond the trial record to show
what the investigation, if undertaken, would have produced. This is necessary
because success on the prejudice prong of an ineffectiveness claim requires a
showing of a reasonable probability of affecting the result.” Woods v. State, 701
N.E.2d 1208, 1214 (Ind. 1998), cert. denied. Here, Templin agreed to a fixed
sentence, so the only open issue at sentencing was where Templin would serve
his sentence. Thus, to obtain relief, Templin must demonstrate a reasonable
probability the trial court would not have ordered a fully executed sentence.
Indeed, “[t]he dispositive question . . . is what effect the totality of the omitted
mitigation evidence would have had on [the] sentence.” Coleman v. State, 741
N.E.2d 697, 702 (Ind. 2000), 741 N.E.2d at 702. Yet, Templin only speculates
he was prejudiced by the purported failure to investigate. Because of the limited
record, Templin is unable to identify what, if anything, a different investigation
would have uncovered. Moreover, to the extent Templin suggests trial counsel
failed to adequately apprise the court of mental-health considerations, counsel
8
To the extent Templin was concerned he would waive the claim by omitting it, “a Sixth Amendment claim
of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, if not raised on direct appeal, may be presented in postconviction
proceedings.” Woods, 701 N.E.2d at 1220. However, such a claim “is not available in postconviction
[proceedings] if the direct appeal raises any claim of deprivation of Sixth Amendment right to counsel.” Id.
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nevertheless argued for less-restrictive placement by—inter alia—arguing
Templin “want[ed] to obtain mental health counseling,” that he “does need
some supervision from perhaps a mental health facility,” and that he was not
taking a prescribed anti-depressant when he committed the offenses. Tr. Vol. 3
at 35. Moreover, counsel elicited testimony that medication made a “big
difference” in Templin, id. at 31, and he “was on medication and then . . . off of
it,” which was “part of the problem,” id. at 30. Thus, in light of the lack of
record development and the presentation of these mental-health matters at
sentencing, Templin has not demonstrated ineffective assistance of counsel. 9
Sentencing Challenge
[13] “[S]entencing is principally a discretionary function in which the trial court’s
judgment should receive considerable deference.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d
1219, 1222 (Ind. 2008). We regularly review sentencing decisions for abuse of
9
Templin also alleges ineffective assistance of counsel for the purported failure to investigate and advise of
potential defenses related to Templin’s mental health, apparently suggesting he might not have pleaded
guilty. Yet, because Templin merely speculates about a changed outcome, he cannot meet his burden on this
claim. See Woods, 701 N.E.2d at 1214. More basically, however, although some claims of ineffective
assistance of counsel are properly raised on direct appeal, see id. at 1219-20, the object of the instant claim is
to set aside a plea of guilty. Thus, for the reasons earlier discussed, this type of claim is available only in post-
conviction proceedings. See Tumulty, 666 N.E.2d at 395-96. Nevertheless, this claim is no longer available to
Templin because he raised a different claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on direct appeal. See Woods,
701 N.E.2d at 1220. Because of the risk of waiver—and other considerations—“a postconviction hearing is
normally the preferred forum to adjudicate an ineffectiveness claim.” Id. at 1219. Notably, though, there is a
procedure available to expedite a post-conviction claim of ineffective assistance without first exhausting
appellate remedies. See id. at 1219-20 (discussing the procedure articulated in Davis v. State, 368 N.E.2d 1149
(Ind. 1977), and later endorsed in Hatton v. State, 626 N.E.2d 442 (Ind. 1993)). “Although not to be used as a
routine matter in adjudicating the issue of trial counsel’s effectiveness,” id. at 1220, this alternative procedure
“may be appropriate” where—as here—“the claim asserted arguably requires a certain level of fact finding
not suitable for an appellate court,” id. (quoting Lee v. State, 694 N.E.2d 719, 721 n.6 (Ind. 1998), cert. denied).
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discretion, which “occurs if the decision is clearly against the logic and effect of
the facts and circumstances before the court.” Bethea v. State, 983 N.E.2d 1134,
1139 (Ind. 2013). Nevertheless, when an appellant has claimed an abuse of
sentencing discretion, we need not directly address the claim, and may instead
assume error—disposing of the claim under Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B). See
Windhorst v. State, 868 N.E.2d 504, 507 (Ind. 2007) (providing that where the
trial court has abused its sentencing discretion an appellate court may either
remand or conduct appellate review of the sentence); Mendoza v. State, 869
N.E.2d 546, 556 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (“[E]ven if the trial court is found to have
abused its discretion in the process it used to sentence the defendant, the error is
harmless if the sentence imposed was not inappropriate.”), trans. denied.10
[14] Appellate Rule 7(B) permits revision of a sentence “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.” Moreover,
“[t]he place . . . a sentence is to be served is an appropriate focus” for our
review. Biddinger v. State, 868 N.E.2d 407, 414 (Ind. 2007). In conducting
review under Appellate Rule 7(B), our inquiry is not whether a placement
10
In articulating a claim of abuse of sentencing discretion, Templin uses the phrase “presumptive sentence”
on three occasions, citing cases from 1986, 1996, and 1999. See Br. of Appellant at 11, 18, 19. We remind
counsel that Indiana no longer has a presumptive sentencing scheme. See Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482,
485-89 (Ind. 2007) (discussing the transition to advisory sentences), clarified on reh’g. We also direct counsel
to the standard of review for sentencing decisions articulated in Anglemyer. See id. at 491.
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would be more appropriate, but instead whether “the given placement is itself
inappropriate.” Fonner v. State, 876 N.E.2d 340, 344 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).
[15] Here, Templin—thirty-one years old with no prior convictions—pretended to
be a first responder, which led to his arrest. The trial court granted pre-trial
release, but Templin got angry when his case manager would not let him attend
a social function. Later that day, Templin removed his monitoring device and
left the county. When his case manager contacted him about the monitor,
Templin said to “come and get it.” Tr. Vol. 3 at 18. Law enforcement later
located Templin, who was driving a vehicle with three firearms inside of it.
Moreover, when Templin absconded, he was already placed on the most-
restrictive form of community corrections. Ultimately, although the record
contains some indication Templin would benefit from a regimen of medication
and that his rash of criminal activity was unusual, we cannot say incarceration
is an inappropriate placement. Indeed, when placed one step down from
incarceration, Templin was not compliant—boldly violating the conditions of
his pre-trial release. We therefore decline to disturb the selected placement.
[16] Affirmed.
Riley, J., and Pyle, J., concur.
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