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Summary of Opinion: Killian v. State, No. 4-683A179 (Ind. Ct. App. Sept. 5, 1984)

Factual and Procedural Background

Anthony Padgett, an inmate in the Tippecanoe County jail, was allegedly threatened and subjected to deviate sexual conduct by several fellow inmates on May 31, 1982. The defendants charged were Terry Webb, William Tubbs, Timothy Killian (appellant), and George Moore. Tubbs agreed to testify for the State in exchange for dismissal of charges against him. At trial, Tubbs, Padgett, and another inmate testified for the State. The trial court granted Moore's motion for judgment on the evidence as to him and removed the charges against Moore from the jury's consideration. Killian was convicted by a jury of deviate sexual conduct, a class B felony, and appeals the conviction.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Did the court err by limiting the three co-defendants to a total of ten jointly exercised peremptory challenges?
  2. Did the court err by excluding Killian's questions as to the charges against Anthony Padgett?
  3. Did the court err by excluding cross-examination of State's witness William Tubbs as to the number of years imprisonment he was avoiding by testifying?
  4. Was the evidence sufficient to sustain the conviction?
  5. Did the court err by ordering Killian not to comment on the acquittal of co-defendant George Moore during closing arguments?

Arguments of the Parties

Appellant's Arguments

  • The trial court erred by limiting the three co-defendants to a total of ten jointly exercised peremptory challenges (IC 35-37-1-3).
  • The court improperly excluded Killian from questioning Padgett about charges of child molesting (to impeach Padgett).
  • The court improperly prevented Killian from cross-examining Tubbs as to the exact number of years Tubbs avoided by agreeing to testify.
  • The evidence was insufficient to sustain Killian's conviction.
  • The court erred by forbidding Killian from commenting on Moore's acquittal in closing argument.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Hunt v. State, (1983) Ind., 455 N.E.2d 307 Support for limiting peremptory challenges among co-defendants. Cited as controlling authority; court declined appellant's invitation to re-evaluate prior holdings and found no error in limiting challenges.
Morris v. State, (1977) 266 Ind. 473, 364 N.E.2d 132 Support for limiting peremptory challenges among co-defendants. Cited as controlling authority supporting the court's limitation and practice.
Tewell v. State, (1976) 264 Ind. 88, 339 N.E.2d 792 Precedent on peremptory challenge rules and related procedure. Included among cases supporting the court's procedure.
Swininger v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 136, 352 N.E.2d 473 Precedent on peremptory challenge rules. Included among controlling cases cited to support the limitation.
Martin v. State, (1974) 262 Ind. 232, 314 N.E.2d 60 Precedent on peremptory challenge rules. Cited among authorities supporting the trial court's action.
McBrady v. State, (1984) Ind., 459 N.E.2d 719, 722 Validity of voir dire procedure that restricts later peremptory challenges where defendant heard examination and had opportunity to examine before passing juror. Used to reject appellant's contention about voir dire procedure; court found no merit.
Marsh v. State, (1979) 272 Ind. 178, 396 N.E.2d 883, 885 Same as McBrady on voir dire and regulation of peremptory challenges. Cited to support validity of the voir dire procedure and court regulation.
McDonald v. State, (1909) 172 Ind. 393, 88 N.E. 673, 675 Historical precedent supporting trial court regulation of peremptory challenges. Cited as part of the line of cases upholding regulation of peremptory challenges.
Cochran v. State, (1978) 269 Ind. 157, 378 N.E.2d 868, 869 Support for the proposition that the right to peremptory challenge is subject to reasonable regulation. Cited to support court's authority to regulate challenges.
Kelly v. State, (1983) Ind., 452 N.E.2d 907, 909 Interpreting IC 35-37-4-4: exclusion of victim's past sexual conduct unless fundamental right to cross-examine would be denied. Cited to support exclusion of Padgett's prior sexual conduct/charges absent denial of effective cross-examination.
Lagenour v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 441, 376 N.E.2d 475, 479 Same statutory interpretation regarding victim's past sexual conduct evidence. Cited in support of excluding such evidence under the statute.
Roberts v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 127, 373 N.E.2d 1103, 1107 Same statutory interpretation regarding exclusion of victim's sexual history. Cited to support exclusion under IC 35-37-4-4.
Acker v. State, (1959) 239 Ind. 466, 158 N.E.2d 790, 791 Right to cross-examine on matters showing interest, ulterior motive, or bias of a witness. Cited as authority that such impeachment is material and a right, not a mere privilege.
Pfefferkorn v. State, (1980) Ind. App., 413 N.E.2d 1088, 1089 Same principle regarding impeachment by showing interest or bias. Cited in discussion of right to cross-examine witnesses about motivation.
Haeger v. State, (1979) 181 Ind. App. 5, 390 N.E.2d 239, 242 Same principle on impeachment and cross-examination. Cited among authorities on scope of impeachment inquiry.
Denton v. State, (1983) Ind., 455 N.E.2d 905, 909 Fact witness had motive to exaggerate/falsify is material for credibility. Cited to underscore materiality of motive in credibility determinations.
McKinley v. State, (1984) Ind. App., 465 N.E.2d 742, at 746 Same as Denton on motive affecting credibility. Cited to support the materiality of motive evidence.
Bredemeier v. State, (1984) Ind. App., 463 N.E.2d 1138, 1140 Same principle on witness motive and credibility. Cited among cases addressing impeachment by motive.
Hossman v. State, (1984) Ind. App., 460 N.E.2d 975, 977 Same principle on motive affecting credibility. Cited as supporting authority.
Rinard v. State, (1979) 271 Ind. 588, 394 N.E.2d 160, 161 Only total denial of cross-examination on credibility amounts to constitutional denial; lesser restrictions reviewed for abuse of discretion. Cited to support standard that partial curtailment is discretionary and reviewed for abuse.
Lusher v. State, (1979) 181 Ind. App. 63, 390 N.E.2d 702, 704 Same as Rinard regarding constitutional limits on cross-examination. Cited to support discretion standard for curtailing cross-examination.
Duncanson v. State, (1979) 181 Ind. App. 370, 391 N.E.2d 1157, 1160 Same principle on total denial vs. regulation of cross-examination. Cited in discussing scope of permissible curtailment.
Borosh v. State, (1975) 166 Ind. App. 378, 336 N.E.2d 409, 412 Same principle regarding cross-examination limits. Cited among authorities on the rule.
Brooks v. State, (1973) 259 Ind. 678, 291 N.E.2d 559, 560 Regulation of cross-examination scope and review standard. Cited to support discretionary review standard.
Clifford v. State, (1984) Ind., 457 N.E.2d 536, 541 Supreme court rule that a jury should not be informed of penalties for commission of a crime. Cited to support denying jurors knowledge of potential sentences.
Burgess v. State, (1983) Ind., 444 N.E.2d 1193, 1195 Same principle that juries should not be informed of penalties. Cited to support exclusion of sentencing information from jury consideration.
Debose v. State, (1979) 270 Ind. 675, 389 N.E.2d 272, 276 Same principle regarding jury and penalty information. Cited in support of excluding penalty evidence.
Garland v. State, (1983) Ind., 444 N.E.2d 1180, 1183 Held trial court did not err by allowing jury to hear evidence of possible sentence as consideration for testimony by a co-defendant; admission discretionary, not mandatory. Cited to explain that disclosure of exact sentencing consequences is within trial court discretion.
Morrison v. State, (1984) Ind., 462 N.E.2d 72, 74 Standard for reviewing sufficiency of the evidence (view evidence in light most favorable to State). Cited as authority for the sufficiency review standard applied by the court.
Bean v. State, (1984) Ind., 460 N.E.2d 936, 945 Same sufficiency-of-evidence standard. Cited to support the appellate standard of review.
Elliott v. State, (1983) Ind. App., 450 N.E.2d 1058, 1061 Same sufficiency-of-evidence standard. Cited in the sufficiency analysis.
Underhill v. State, (1981) Ind., 428 N.E.2d 759, 769 Waiver of issues not included in motion to correct errors. Cited to find appellant waived the claimed error about the jury instruction regarding Moore because it was not in the motion to correct errors.
Bluitt v. State, (1978) 269 Ind. 438, 381 N.E.2d 458, 465 Same principle on waiver of appellate issues. Cited to support waiver ruling.
McVey v. State, (1982) Ind. App., 438 N.E.2d 770, 775 Same principle on waiver and procedural preservation. Cited to support finding of waiver.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

Issue I — Peremptory challenges and voir dire procedure: The court noted appellant offered no authority to overturn existing precedent. Citing Hunt, Morris, and related cases, the court found no error in limiting the three co-defendants to ten joint peremptory challenges under IC 35-37-1-3. The court also rejected appellant's challenge to the voir dire procedure (that a passed juror cannot later be peremptorily challenged), citing McBrady, Marsh, McDonald, and Cochran to hold such procedures valid where the defendant heard the examination and had opportunity to examine before passing the juror. The court further held that whether the statute requires or permits the limit was immaterial because the judge's limitation accorded with statute and precedent.

Issue II — Cross-examination as to charges against Padgett: The court held IC 35-37-4-4 bars introduction of a victim's past sexual conduct or reference to it before the jury except as provided; subsection (e) permits impeachment only by prior felony convictions. Padgett had not been convicted of child molesting at trial, so questions about those charges were excluded. The court cited Kelly, Lagenour, and Roberts, and found Killian was not denied adequate and effective cross-examination because he was able to show Padgett had been arrested and incarcerated and to extensively cross-examine both Padgett and Detective Pope.

Issue III — Cross-examination of Tubbs on avoided sentence years: The court recognized cross-examination to show interest or bias is generally a right and cited Acker and related cases. It also noted established authority that juries ordinarily should not be informed of penalties (Clifford, Burgess, Debose) but that Garland permits disclosure of possible sentence reductions in consideration for testimony as discretionary. Killian elicited from Tubbs that Tubbs faced the same charges and, due to the agreement, faced no punishment on those charges; the trial court only precluded questioning as to the exact number of years Tubbs might have avoided, reasoning such testimony would disclose the sentence faced by Killian. The court found no abuse of discretion in that limited restriction.

Issue IV — Sufficiency of the evidence: Applying the standard of viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State (Morrison, Bean, Elliott), the court declined to reweigh evidence or judge credibility. It found the evidence sufficient: Killian, Webb, and Tubbs threatened Padgett leading to deviate sexual acts, and later Killian engaged in sodomy with Padgett in Killian's cell.

Issue V — Commenting on Moore's acquittal and related instruction: The court held Killian's claim regarding the jury instruction on dismissal of charges against Moore was waived because it was not included in the motion to correct errors, citing Underhill, Bluitt, McVey, and Appellate Rule 8.3(A)(7).

Holding and Implications

AFFIRMED.

Direct effect: The appellant's conviction for deviate sexual conduct is affirmed and the trial court's rulings (peremptory challenge limitation, exclusion of certain cross-examination, limitation on questioning about exact sentence avoided by a witness, sufficiency finding, and waiver of the instruction issue) are upheld. The opinion does not announce any new rule of law; it applies existing statutory provisions and precedent to the facts of this case.

TIMOTHY KILLIAN, APPELLANT-DEFENDANT, v. STATE OF INDIANA, APPELLEE-PLAINTIFF.

CONOVER, Judge.

Appellant Timothy Killian (Killian) appeals his conviction by a jury for deviate sexual conduct, a class B felony, IND. CODE 35-42-4-2(a).

Affirmed.

ISSUES

Killian presents five issues, which we have restated, for our review:

Killian, in his Motion to Correct Errors and brief, presented six issues but in his argument combined numbers 5 and 6; therefore, we have combined them in our statement of issues.

1. Did the court err by limiting the three co-defendants to a total of ten jointly exercised peremptory challenges?

2. Did the court err by excluding Killian's questions as to the charges against Anthony Padgett?

3. Did the court err by excluding cross-examination of State's witness William Tubbs as to the number of years imprisonment he was avoiding by testifying?

4. Was the evidence sufficient to sustain the conviction?

5. Did the court err by ordering Killian not to comment on the acquittal of co-defendant George Moore during closing arguments?

FACTS

Anthony Padgett (Padgett) was incarcerated in Tippecanoe County jail May 24, 1982. On May 31, inmates Killian, Terry Webb (Webb), and William Tubbs (Tubbs) entered Padgett's cell and threatened him, demanding sexual favors. A blanket was placed over the cell doors and Killian and Webb left the cell. Padgett attempted fellatio with Tubbs but became ill. Tubbs then performed sodomy with Padgett. Tubbs left the cell and Webb reentered. Threatening Padgett further, Webb performed sodomy with him. Killian did not reenter Padgett's cell. Later that day, Padgett went to Killian's cell and Killian engaged in sodomy with Padgett.

The next day Tubbs, Webb, and Killian moved Padgett's personal belongings to the cell of George Moore (Moore) and told Padgett to go to Moore's cell. That evening, after lockup, Moore performed various sex acts with Padgett. Moore did not threaten Padgett directly.

Webb, Tubbs, Killian, and Moore were charged with deviate sexual conduct, a class B felony. Prior to trial, Tubbs agreed to testify as a State's witness in exchange for dismissal of the charges against him. Padgett, Tubbs, and William Fleeman, another inmate, testified for the State.

During cross-examination of Tubbs, the trial court permitted Killian to inform the jury Tubbs had agreed to testify for the State in exchange for immunity but did not permit Killian to question Tubbs as to the possible sentence Tubbs avoided. At the close of the State's case-in-chief, Moore moved for judgment on the evidence which was granted as to him. In its final instructions the court informed the jury the charges against Moore were removed from their consideration. The court refused to inform the jury of Moore's acquittal or to permit Killian to comment on the acquittal in his closing argument.

I.

Killian first contends the trial court erred by granting a total of ten peremptory challenges to be exercised jointly by the three co-defendants pursuant to IC 35-37-1-3. However, Killian cites no authority, and we find none, to support his contentions. Indeed, he cites several controlling cases which decide this issue in the State's favor, but asks us to reevaluate the previous holdings. Hunt v. State, (1983) Ind., 455 N.E.2d 307; Morris v. State, (1977) 266 Ind. 473, 364 N.E.2d 132, cert. denied, 434 U.S. 972, 98 S.Ct. 526, 54 L.Ed.2d 462; Tewell v. State, (1976) 264 Ind. 88, 339 N.E.2d 792; Swininger v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 136, 352 N.E.2d 473; Martin v. State, (1974) 262 Ind. 232, 314 N.E.2d 60; cert. denied, (1975) 420 U.S. 911, 95 S.Ct. 833, 42 L.Ed.2d 841. We decline Killian's invitation and find no error.

Killian further complains the trial court's voir dire procedure wherein once a juror is passed he cannot later be peremptorily challenged is violative of his rights. We find no merit to this contention. Our supreme court consistently has held such voir dire procedures valid where, as here, the defendant has heard the examination by his opponent and has had an opportunity to conduct his own examination before passing the juror. McBrady v. State, (1984) Ind., 459 N.E.2d 719, 722; Marsh v. State, (1979) 272 Ind. 178, 180, 396 N.E.2d 883, 885; McDonald v. State, (1909) 172 Ind. 393, 396, 88 N.E. 673, 675. The right to challenge peremptorily is subject to reasonable regulation by the trial court. McBrady at 722; Marsh 396 N.E.2d at 885; Cochran v. State, (1978) 269 Ind. 157, 159, 378 N.E.2d 868, 869.

In the alternative Killian argues IC 35-37-1-3 does not specifically require the co-defendants be limited to ten joint challenges. Assuming, arguendo, Killian is correct in his contention, it is of no consequence to this case. Whether the limit of ten challenges to be exercised jointly is required or merely permitted by our statute is irrelevant. Where the trial judge limits the challenges in accord with the statute and previous holdings, there is no error. See Hunt, supra, 455 N.E.2d 307; Morris, supra, 266 Ind. at 484, 364 N.E.2d at 139.

II.

The right to impeach Padgett, the victim, includes the right to put before the jury the fact Padgett was charged with child molesting, Killian opines. We disagree.

Introduction of the charges against Padgett is precluded by IC 35-37-4-4 which provides in pertinent part:

Sec. 4. (a) In a prosecution for a sex crime as defined in IC 35-42-4:
(1) evidence of the victim's past sexual conduct;
. . . may not be admitted, nor may reference be made to this evidence in the presence of the jury, except as provided in this chapter.
. . . (e) This section does not limit the right of either the state or the accused to impeach credibility by a showing of prior felony convictions.

Killian argues the statute is inapplicable where it bars the admission of the victim's past sexual conduct which is contained within his legal history. However, under IC 35-37-4-4(e), only the victim's felony convictions may be introduced. At the time of trial, Padgett had not been found guilty of child molesting. Thus, the cross-examination of Padgett as to those charges did not fall within the exception created by IC 35-37-4-4(e).

Our supreme court has held reference to the victim-witness's past sexual conduct for impeachment purposes is properly excluded under this statute unless the defendant's fundamental right to adequate and effective cross-examination will be denied thereby. Kelly v. State, (1983) Ind., 452 N.E.2d 907, 909; Lagenour v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 441, 445, 376 N.E.2d 475, 479; Roberts v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 127, 133, 373 N.E.2d 1103, 1107. Killian argues the State put Padgett's character in question during the testimony of Detective Daniel Pope (Pope). The statute was used to preclude Killian from cross-examination as to Padgett's character thus denying him adequate and effective cross-examination, he opines. The record indicates otherwise. Killian extensively cross-examined both Pope and Padgett. He was able to show Padgett had been arrested and incarcerated on a criminal charge, and Pope testified he had not intended on direct examination to imply Padgett was of good character.

Although not allowed to elicit the nature of the charge against Padgett, Killian was not denied his right to adequate and effective cross-examination. The trial court properly excluded evidence of Padgett's child molesting charge.

III.

Killian next contends the trial court erred by not allowing him to question Tubbs regarding the possible sentence he avoided by turning State's evidence. Killian argues the sentence to be avoided by the terms of the agreement is part of the consideration which must be viewed by the jury to evaluate Tubbs's credibility. We disagree.

Any fact tending to impair the credibility of a witness which shows his interest, ulterior motive, or bias is a material matter regarding which cross-examination is a right and not a mere privilege. Acker v. State, (1959) 239 Ind. 466, 467, 158 N.E.2d 790, 791; Pfefferkorn v. State, (1980) Ind. App., 413 N.E.2d 1088, 1089; Haeger v. State, (1979) 181 Ind. App. 5, 9, 390 N.E.2d 239, 242. The fact a witness had a motive to exaggerate or falsify his testimony is material in determining his credibility. Denton v. State, (1983) Ind., 455 N.E.2d 905, 909; McKinley v. State, (1984) Ind. App., 465 N.E.2d 742, at 746; Bredemeier v. State, (1984) Ind. App., 463 N.E.2d 1138, 1140; Hossman v. State, (1984) Ind. App., 460 N.E.2d 975, 977. However, only total denial of cross-examination as to a witness's credibility will amount to a constitutional denial of the right to cross-examine. Rinard v. State, (1979) 271 Ind. 588, 590, 394 N.E.2d 160, 161; Lusher v. State, (1979) 181 Ind. App. 63, 64, 390 N.E.2d 702, 704; Duncanson v. State, (1979) 181 Ind. App. 370, 372, 391 N.E.2d 1157, 1160; Borosh v. State, (1975) 166 Ind. App. 378, 383, 336 N.E.2d 409, 412. Any lesser curtailment by the trial court is a regulation on the scope of cross-examination and is reviewable only for abuse of discretion. Rinard 394 N.E.2d at 161; Duncanson 391 N.E.2d at 1160; Lusher 390 N.E.2d at 704; Brooks v. State, (1973) 259 Ind. 678, 680, 291 N.E.2d 559, 560.

Our supreme court has held a jury should not be informed of the penalties for commission of a crime, Clifford v. State, (1984) Ind., 457 N.E.2d 536, 541; Burgess v. State, (1983) Ind., 444 N.E.2d 1193, 1195; Debose v. State, (1979) 270 Ind. 675, 676, 389 N.E.2d 272, 276. However, it has also held the trial court did not err by allowing the jury to hear evidence of the possible sentence which was consideration for testimony by a co-defendant. Garland v. State, (1983) Ind., 444 N.E.2d 1180, 1183. Garland, however, does not make admission of such evidence mandatory. If the defendant is permitted to cross-examine the witness as to the existence of a plea agreement and its effect upon his sentence, whether to permit cross-examination as to the exact number of years the witness's sentence would be reduced in consideration of his testifying as a State's witness is a matter addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court.

Killian cross-examined Tubbs and established he was testifying in exchange for dismissal of charges against him by the State. Killian continued to question Tubbs at length as to the terms of this agreement. Tubbs admitted being charged with the same two class B felony charges as Killian and as a result of his agreement he faced no punishment whatsoever on those charges. The court precluded Killian from questioning Tubbs only as to the exact number of years he possibly avoided as a result of his agreement to testify. The court reasoned testimony on this point would disclose to the jurors the sentence faced by Killian. Under these circumstances, we find no abuse of discretion in this regard.

IV.

Killian next argues the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction.

In reviewing a sufficiency question we will neither reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the witnesses. We examine the evidence in a light most favorable to the State and logical and reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. We affirm if there is substantial evidence of probative value to support the conviction. Morrison v. State, (1984) Ind., 462 N.E.2d 72, 74; Bean v. State, (1984) Ind., 460 N.E.2d 936, 945; Elliott v. State, (1983) Ind. App., 450 N.E.2d 1058, 1061.

Killian's argument, in sum, merely invites us to reweigh the evidence and judge the credibility of the witnesses. We decline the invitation. The evidence most favorable to the State clearly shows Killian, Webb, and Tubbs went to Padgett's cell and threatened him. Then Padgett, in fear, engaged in deviate sexual acts with Webb and Tubbs. Later, Killian engaged in sodomy with Padgett in Killian's cell. The evidence is sufficient to sustain Killian's conviction.

V.

Killian finally argues an instruction to the jury dealing with the dismissal of charges against Moore was improper. However, Killian's motion to correct errors does not contain such issue. It is, therefore, waived. Underhill v. State, (1981) Ind., 428 N.E.2d 759, 769; Bluitt v. State, (1978) 269 Ind. 438, 449, 381 N.E.2d 458, 465; McVey v. State, (1982) Ind. App., 438 N.E.2d 770, 775; Ind.Rules of Procedure, Appellate Rule 8.3(A)(7).

Affirmed.

MILLER, P.J., concurs.

YOUNG, J., concurs in result.

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KILLIAN v. STATE
(Sep 5, 1984)