Hoage v. State

• Decision Date: 11 July 1985
• Docket Number: No. 2-484A99,2-484A99
• Citation: 479 N.E.2d 1362
• Parties: Donald Lea HOAGE, Appellant (Defendant Below), v. STATE of Indiana, Appellee (Plaintiff Below).
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court

Page 1362

479 N.E.2d 1362

Donald Lea HOAGE, Appellant (Defendant Below), v.STATE of Indiana, Appellee (Plaintiff Below).

No. 2-484A99.

Court of Appeals of Indiana Second District.

July 11, 1985.

Ronald K. Smith, Muncie, for appellant.

Linley E. Pearson, Atty. Gen., Richard C. Webster, Deputy Atty. Gen., Indianapolis, for appellee.

SULLIVAN, Judge.

After a trial to the court, Donald Lea Hoage was convicted of battery, a class A misdemeanor.¹Hoage received a one year sentence to the Indiana State Farm, all of which was suspended except for thirty days to be served in the Delaware County Jail.Additionally, Hoage was placed on five years "informal probation" and fined $300 and court costs.Hoage appeals and contests the sentence as well as the duration of the probation imposed.

We first note that our scope of review is set forth in Rules for the Appellate Review of Sentences, Rule 2:

(1) The reviewing court will not revise a sentence authorized by statute except where such sentence is manifestly unreasonable in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the offender.

(2) A sentence is not manifestly unreasonable unless no reasonable person could find such sentence appropriate to the particular offense and offender for which such sentence was imposed.

The first question is whether the sentence was authorized by law.Indiana Code 35-50-3-2(Burns CodeEd.1985) provides that "[a] person who commits a class A misdemeanor shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of not more than one year; in addition, he may be fined not more than five thousand dollars [$5,000]."This section clearly authorizes the imposition of the one year sentence.Indiana Code 35-50-3-1(Burns CodeEd.1985) provides:

"(a)The court may suspend any part of a sentence for a misdemeanor.

(b) Whenever the court suspends a sentence for a misdemeanor, it may place the person on probation under I.C. 35-7[currently I.C. 35-38] for a fixed period of not more than one year."

This section authorizes the suspension of the eleven months of the prison sentence but limits the possible probationary period to no more than one year.While a trial court judge has great discretion in sentencing, that discretion is limited by its grant of statutory authority.Rife v. State (1981) 3d Dist., Ind.App., 424 N.E.2d 188.

The state argues that I.C. 35-38-2-2(Burns CodeEd.1985) provides the statutory authorization for the five year probationary period.That provision is as follows:

"(a) As conditions of the probation, the court may require the person to do any combination of the following:

* * *

* * *

(14) Satisy any other conditions reasonably related to his rehabilitation."

A general rule of statutory construction requires that courts implement the specific provisions of statutes over those of a general nature.Higgins v. Hale (1985) Ind., 476 N.E.2d 95.The "any other conditions" language is as general as could be conceived and does not supersede the one year limit on misdemeanor probation contained in I.C. 35-50-3-1.

The state next argues that we should uphold the five year probation because Hoage orally agreed to it at the sentencing hearing.A review of the record reveals that it was the trial court judge who proposed the four year extension of probation and that Hoage's "agreement" to the same was equivocal at best.However, even if Hoage had undeniably accepted such terms, the trial court was without authority to impose a sentence greater than allowable by law.Morgan v. State (1981) 4th Dist., Ind.App., 417 N.E.2d 1154.A defendant's consent to a probationary period exceeding the statutory maximum obtained in the coercive setting in which the court has the power to imprison the defendant and not place him on probation at all, is without effect.United States v. Rodriguez, 682 F.2d 827(9th Cir., 1982).Therefore, that part of the judgment which places Hoage on probation beyond the one year statutory limit is not authorized by law and must be set aside.We sua sponte note that Hoage was placed on "informal probation."While probation may be unsupervised, the sentencing court must state upon the record the conditions of the probation [I.C. 35-38-2-1(a) ] and provide the defendant with a written statement of these conditions.I.C. 35-38-2-2(b).This procedure was not followed and constitutes an additional defect in the sentencing process.

Our next inquiry is whether the sentence which was authorized by law was manifestly unreasonable in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the offender.The record reveals that Hoage accosted and beat his estranged wife requiring several stitches in her head.Under the circumstances, a one year suspended sentence with 30 days executed and a one year probationary period is not manifestly unreasonable.

The inquiry into Hoage's character also demonstrates that the sentence received was not manifestly unreasonable.Hoage is a lawyer and a former deputy prosecuting attorney in Madison County.At the sentencing hearing the prosecuting attorney, a former associate of Hoage, argued for a one year executed sentence and a $5,000 fine.The prosecutor argued that Hoage had been given "every break in the world" but was never able to accept responsibility.In the particular episode with his wife, she was only able to stop the beating by telling him that she was considering a reconcilation and that she didn't blame him for anything.The record also reveals that Hoage had been convicted of assault and battery in California in 1978, and that subsequent to the instant offense Hoage was convicted of disorderly conduct in Washington, D.C. for urinating in a federal park.Additionally, Hoage was arrested for driving under the influence in that city and was under a court order to attend a "diversion" program or a driving school.

Hoage contends that there were "overwhelming mitigating circumstances" which were not considered by the trial court and which make his sentence manifestly unreasonable.These circumstances include the fact that his California conviction was later "dismissed", that his DUI arrest was his first arrest for driving under the influence and that he was under a great deal of stress at the time he beat his wife and had subsequently undergone psychotherapy.

Hoage has made numerous contentions concerning the trial court's consideration, or lack thereof, of aggravating and mitigating circumstances.The record does not reflect whether the trial court found any aggravating or mitigating circumstances.The court made no written statement finding such circumstances and, because this was a misdemeanor and not a felony conviction, it was not required to do so.SeeI.C. 35-38-1-3(Burns Code Ed.1985).Indiana Code 35-38-1-7 sets forth the criteria for sentencing.The court is obligated to consider only:

"(1) The risk that the person will commit another crime;

(2) The nature and circumstances of the crime committed;

(3) The person's:

(A) Prior criminal record;

(B) Character; and

(C) Condition; and

(4) Whether the victim of the crime was 65 years of age or older."

The court is permitted, but not required, to consider many additional enumerated factors as aggravating or mitigating circumstances.We are convinced that the trial court did in fact consider the mandatory factors.We are not convinced that Hoage's assertion of mitigating factors compelled a different sentence.

Hoage's argument with regard to his mental/emotional state is unavailing.Although we do not know what weight, if any, the court gave to Hoage's evidence of mitigating circumstances, it was not obligated to credit or attach great weight to it.Perry v. State (1983) Ind., 447 N.E.2d 599.Hoage's contention that he was not given an opportunity to explain the circumstances of his previous assault and battery conviction and his subsequent disorderly conduct and DUI charges is likewise without merit.The record reveals that Hoage was given ample opportunity to explain the presentence report and at one point told the judge that the report was correct.

Hoage further contends that the trial court: (1) improperly considered an ex parte statement made by a witness who was...