MEMORANDUM DECISION FILED
Feb 14 2017, 10:07 am
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this CLERK
Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
precedent or cited before any court except for the and Tax Court
purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata,
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Kimberly A. Jackson Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Katherine Modesitt Cooper
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Kenneth M. Jordan, February 14, 2017
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Cause No.
44A03-1603-CR-503
v.
Appeal from the Lagrange
State of Indiana, Superior Court
Appellee-Plaintiff. The Honorable Lisa M.
Bowen-Slaven, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
44D01-1408-F4-12
Riley, Judge.
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STATEMENT OF THE CASE
[1] Appellant-Defendant, Kenneth Jordan (Jordan), appeals his conviction for
Count I, dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony, I.C. § 35-48-4-1.1(a)
(2014); Count II, possession of methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony, I.C. § 35-
48-4-6.1(b)(2) (2014); Count III, possession of precursors, a Level 6 felony, I.C.
§ 35-48-4-14.5(e) (2014); Count IV, maintaining common nuisance, a Level 6
felony, I.C. § 35-48-4-13(b)(1) (2014); and Count V, possession of
paraphernalia, Class A misdemeanor, I.C. § 35-48-4-8.3(a)(1) (2014).
[2] We affirm.
ISSUES
[3] Jordan raises four issues on appeal, which we restate as the following five
issues:
(1) Whether the trial court abused its discretion in admitting some of the State’s
exhibits;
(2) Whether the search conducted at Jordan’s home violated Jordan’s rights
under Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution;
(3) Whether the trial court abused its discretion in admitting Jordan’s
statements regarding the existence of a methamphetamine lab absent Miranda
warnings;
(4) Whether there was sufficient evidence to support Jordan’s conviction; and
(5) Whether Jordan’s conviction for dealing in methamphetamine, possession
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of methamphetamine, and possession of precursors violated the prohibition
against double jeopardy under the Indiana Constitution.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
[4] On August 7, 2014, the Noble County Probation Department decided to
conduct a routine probation search of Jordan’s home because Jordan had failed
a drug test and had missed several appointments with his probation officer,
John Wheeler (Wheeler). During that time in question, Jordan was on
probation for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia through
the Noble Superior Court. According to Wheeler, Jordan had provided the
probation department with his parents’ address as his place of abode; however,
when Wheeler and another probation officer, Samantha Hammond
(Hammond), arrived at Jordan’s parents’ home, Jordan was not present.
Jordan’s parents allowed the probation officers to search the house, but there
was nothing suspicious there. Officer Tyler Randol (Officer Randol) and
Officer Nate Sprunger (Officer Sprunger) of the Noble County Police
Department, who were assisting with the probation search, were radioed
Jordan’s correct address—8375 East 800 South, LaGrange County, Indiana.
The officers communicated Jordan’s new location with Wheeler and
Hammond.
[5] Officer Randol and Officer Sprunger were first to arrive at Jordan’s residence,
where they encountered Aleshia Messer (Messer) standing in the driveway.
According to Messer, she “was there to get a bag of clothes that were at
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[Jordan’s].” (Transcript p. 87). Messer indicated that earlier that day, around
the garage area, she had observed Jordan shaking a “pop bottle.” (Tr. p. 88).
At the officers’ request, Messer knocked on Jordan’s front door and requested
Jordan to step outside of his house. Jordan did not come out right away, and
when he did exit, he appeared nervous and spoke fast. The officers explained
that they were there assist to Wheeler and Hammond with their probation
search.
[6] Jordan was excited and moving around. For safety reasons, the officers
temporarily restrained Jordan in handcuffs and subsequently conducted a safety
sweep of Jordan’s home ahead of the probation search. During the search of
Jordan’s home, the probation officers discovered items associated with the
manufacture of methamphetamine, including a smoking device containing a
white powdery substance, foil with burnt residue, small plastic baggies, and a
salt grinder. In the presence of the officers, Jordan volunteered information
about the existence of a methamphetamine lab inside his garage. Jordan led the
officers to the garage where the officers recovered a clear plastic bottle with a
bubbling substance situated in an old radio box. Due to the presence of the
methamphetamine lab, the officers read Jordan his Miranda rights. In turn,
Jordan requested Officer Randol to “get the stuff out here.” (Tr. p. 69). When
Officer Randol asked Jordan if he wanted the officers to go inside his home and
remove the meth-related items found during the probationary search, as well as
the clear plastic bottle located in the garage, Jordan stated “yes . . . get them out
of the house.” (Tr. p. 69).
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[7] Due to what he perceived as an active methamphetamine lab in Jordan’s
garage, Officer Randol contacted the Indiana State Police to process the scene
and safely dispose of the items. A subsequent search by Indiana State Trooper
Andrew Smith (Trooper Smith) yielded other items associated in the
manufacture of methamphetamine, including a half-full 32 oz. bottle of
Coleman fuel, a meat grinder containing water softener salt pellets, a short pink
plastic straw with a white powdery substance, a canister of sea salt, two burnt
foils, numerous small plastic baggies, a burnt glass pipe, a plastic measuring cup
with residue in it, pliers, several burnt lithium battery casings that were cut in
half, an ammonia reaction vessel, a 20 oz. bottle of sulfuric acid drain cleaner, a
white granular substance that tested as ammonia sulfate, two small plastic
Ziploc bags containing an off-white substance that tested positive for lye and
ammonia nitrate, coffee filters, a large digital scale, three packaged needles, and
hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, through a field test, Trooper Smith
determined that the plastic bottle located in the garage served as the vessel for
an active one-pot methamphetamine lab. In addition, the Indiana State Police
Laboratory established that a white substance recovered from Jordan’s home
was methamphetamine weighing 0.54 grams.
[8] On August 8, 2014, the State charged Jordan with Count I, dealing in
methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony; Count II, possession of
methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony; Count III, possession of precursors, a
Level 6 felony; Count IV, maintaining a common nuisance, a Level 6 felony;
and Count V, possession of paraphernalia, a Level 6 felony. On October 29,
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2015, Jordan, through counsel, filed a motion for a speedy trial. Accordingly,
the matter was set for a two-day jury trial beginning on December 17, 2015;
however, due to Jordan’s motion for waiver of jury trial on December 11, 2016,
the matter was set for a bench trial.
[9] Jordan’s bench trial was held on December 17, 2015. During trial, Jordan
objected to the admission of the probation order from Noble Superior Court for
his prior drug offenses; however, the trial court admitted the order pursuant to
the business record exception under Indiana Evidence Rule 803(6). Jordan also
objected to the admission of the statements he made to the officers during the
search, claiming that he had not been advised his Miranda rights. On that issue,
the trial court denied Jordan’s objection indicating that Jordan was not in
custody nor was he interrogated when he uttered the statements. Additionally,
Jordan objected to the search of his residence and he moved to suppress the
photographs taken by Trooper Smith based on grounds that the search violated
his rights under Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution, all of which
the trial court denied. Over Jordan’s objection, the trial court admitted the
Indiana State Police Laboratory certificate of lab analysis, depicting that a
white substance recovered from Jordan’s home was 0.54 grams of
methamphetamine. At the close of the parties’ arguments, the trial court took
the matter under advisement. On December 31, 2015, the trial court entered
findings of facts and legal conclusions finding Jordan guilty of Counts I through
IV, and guilty of Class A misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia, the lesser
included offense of Count V. Jordan’s sentencing hearing was held on
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February 1, 2016. At the close of the evidence, the trial court sentenced Jordan
to ten-years with two years suspended to probation for Count I. On Count II,
Jordan was sentenced to four years. As for Counts III, IV and V, Jordan was
sentenced to concurrent one-year sentences. Counts I and II were to run
consecutively; and Counts III, IV and V were to run concurrently with Count
II.
[10] Jordan now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Admission of Evidence
[11] A trial court has broad discretion in ruling on the admissibility of evidence, and,
on review, we will disturb its ruling only on a showing of abuse of discretion.
Sparkman v. State, 722 N.E.2d 1259, 1262 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000). When
reviewing a decision under an abuse of discretion standard, we will affirm if
there is any evidence supporting the decision. Id. A claim of error in the
admission or exclusion of evidence will not prevail on appeal unless a
substantial right of the party is affected. Ind. Evidence Rule 103(a). In
determining whether error in the introduction of evidence affected a defendant’s
substantial rights, we assess the probable impact of the evidence on the jury.
Sparkman, 722 N.E.2d at 1262.
A. Business Records Exception
[12] Jordan first challenges the trial court’s admission of State’s Exhibit 1, his
probation order from Noble Superior Court. He argues that State’s Exhibit 1
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was hearsay, and therefore should not have qualified for admission under the
business records exception.
[13] Hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered into evidence to prove the truth of
the matter asserted. Indiana Evidence Rule 801(c). Hearsay is inadmissible
unless it falls under a recognized exception. Evid. Rule 802. One such
exception exists for records that satisfy the requirements of Evid. Rule 803(6),
which provides, in part,
The following are not excluded by the rule against hearsay, regardless
of whether the declarant is available as a witness:
....
(6) Records of a Regularly Conducted Activity. A record of an act,
event, condition, opinion, or diagnosis if:
(A) the record was made at or near the time by—or from information
transmitted by—someone with knowledge;
(B) the record was kept in the course of a regularly conducted activity
of a business, organization, occupation, or calling, whether or not for
profit;
(C) making the record was a regular practice of that activity;
(D) all these conditions are shown by the testimony of the custodian or
another qualified witness, or by a certification that complies with Rule
902(11) or (12) or with a statute permitting certification; and
(E) neither the source of information nor the method or circumstances
of preparation indicate a lack of trustworthiness.
[14] It is well established that the reliability of business records stems from the fact
that the organization depends on them to operate, from the sense that they are
subject to review, audit, or internal checks, from the precision engendered by
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the repetition, and from the fact that the person furnishing the information has
a duty to do it correctly. Stahl v. State, 686 N.E.2d 89, 92 (Ind. 1997).
Therefore, the proponent of a business record can satisfy the requirements of
Evidence Rule 803(6) “by calling a witness who has a functional understanding
of the record keeping process of the business with respect to the specific entry,
transaction, or declaration contained in the document.” Rolland v. State, 851
N.E.2d 1042, 1045 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). “The witness need not have
personally made or filed the record or have firsthand knowledge of the
transaction represented by it in order to sponsor the exhibit.” Id. Moreover, a
sponsoring witness is not required to testify that he knows the person who
recorded the information had personal knowledge of the transactions. Payne v.
State, 658 N.E.2d 635, 645 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995), trans. denied. Records kept in
the regular course of business are presumed to have been created by someone
with knowledge, unless there is a showing to the contrary. Id.
[15] In the instant case, during the State’s case-in-chief the State presented Wheeler,
Jordan’s probation officer, with a document which was yet to be marked as
State’s Exhibit 1. Jordan, through counsel, objected to the admission of that
exhibit on the basis that Wheeler did not prepare, or seemed to have had
personal knowledge of the document. In an effort of establishing the
foundational requirements prior to the admission of State’s Exhibit 1 under the
business record exception, the following exchange occurred.
Q. Are those [] records kept in the common course of business at your
Probation Department?
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A. Which records [?]
Q. That.
A. Yes.
Q. This record?
A. Yes. That is kept in their probation file. We have intake officers
who do intakes on probation. Those days rotate. It looks like the
intake was done by [] probation officer Jason White on January 30th
of 2014.
(Tr. p. 22). Jordan, through counsel, maintained that that the statements
contained in the exhibit was hearsay and that the State did not present the
necessary evidence to have them admitted under the business records exception
to the hearsay rule. After hearing the parties’ arguments, the trial court offered
its ruling stating that:
Well, I think [] my ruling has been that this is a probation officer in a
department, that this is a document that is commonly prepared by all
of the officers in that department. It is [] a routine document that all of
the officers are familiar with, and that it does fall within the business
records exception, which is an exception to the hearsay rule. So my
ruling is that your objection is overruled. There has been an offer to
admit the document. I will show it admitted into evidence. State’s
Exhibit One is admitted into evidence.
(Tr. p. 25). Jordan’s argument on appeal is that Wheeler did not specifically
state that the document was a probation order and further claims that Wheeler
“merely testified that an unidentified record was kept in the usual course of
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business at the probation department. [] Neither Wheeler nor the prosecutor
specified” that “State’s Exhibit 1 was that document.” (Appellant’s Amended
Br. p. 19) (internal citation marks omitted). Notwithstanding Jordan’s
assertion, it is apparent from the record that Wheeler was presented with State’s
Exhibit 1 before testifying, and after viewing at it, he appeared to have had a
functional understanding of the document. Through Wheeler’s testimony, the
State established that State’s Exhibit 1 was kept in the regular course of the
Noble County Probation Department business, and the information contained
in that exhibit was compiled and placed in the probation file by an intake officer
who had personal knowledge of the transaction and who had a duty to generate
accurate information. Accordingly, we conclude that the State laid a proper
foundation for the admission of State’s Exhibit 1 and the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in admitting it under the business record exception.
B. Chain of Custody
[16] Jordan also contests the admission of State’s Exhibit 4, a certificate of lab
analysis from the Indiana State Police Laboratory establishing that a white
powdery substance recovered from Jordan’s home was methamphetamine.
According to Jordan, the State failed to establish a sufficient chain of custody
for the methamphetamine.
[17] To establish a proper chain of custody, the State must give reasonable
assurances that the evidence at issue remained in an undisturbed condition.
Troxell v. State, 778 N.E.2d 811, 814 (Ind. 2002). The State bears a higher
burden to establish the chain of custody of fungible evidence whose appearance
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is indistinguishable to the naked eye. Id. However, the State need not establish
a perfect chain of custody, and once the State strongly suggests the exact
whereabouts of the evidence, any gaps in the chain of custody goes to the
weight of the evidence, not its admissibility. Id. Moreover, there is a
presumption of regularity in the handling of evidence by officers, and there is a
presumption that officers exercise due care in handling their duties. Id. To
mount a successful challenge to the chain of custody, one must present evidence
that does more than raise a mere possibility that the evidence may have been
tampered with. Id.
[18] Jordan argues that there is a gap in the chain of custody because Officer Randol
did not explicitly state the original location of the clear plastic bag containing
the methamphetamine. Jordan adds that there was no evidence that the plastic
bag was sealed prior to its submission to the Indiana State Police Laboratory for
testing. We find that Jordan’s argument regarding an alleged gap in the chain
of custody goes to the weight of the evidence, and not to its admissibility.
McCotry v. State, 722 N.E.2d 1265, 1267 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000). Further, when
the evidence is handled by public officers, there is a presumption that they use
due care and that the evidence is handled with regularity. Id. Turning to the
record, Officer Randol testified that he offered a plastic bag containing white
powdery residue to the State lab for testing. Although Officer Randol could not
recall the specific location of where he seized the bag, he indicated that it was
recovered in the home that “was searched on August 7th.” (Tr. p. 154).
Notably, there were no irregularities specified in the certificate of lab analysis.
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Specifically, the reported stated, “sealed plastic bag containing a small ziplock
[sic] plastic bag containing an off white chunky substance.” (State’s Exh. 4).
Here, we find that Officer Randol’s testimony provided a reasonable assurance
that the clear plastic bag containing the methamphetamine remained
undisturbed as it passed from his custody to the State lab for testing. As noted,
the State is under no obligation to establish a perfect chain of custody, and
Jordan has offered no evidence to overcome the presumption of regularity and
due care exercised in the handling of the evidence. Accordingly, we conclude
that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the
methamphetamine into evidence.
[19] To the extent that Jordan now claims that the trial court abused its discretion in
admitting State’s Exhibit 4 because it was not connected to this case, he has
waived this argument on appeal. At trial, Jordan only objected to the
admission of State’s Exhibit 4 on grounds that the State had failed to establish
chain of custody and that he was denied a right to cross-examine the witness.
As a general rule, the failure to object at trial results in a waiver of an issue on
appeal. Bruno v. State, 774 N.E.2d 880, 883 (Ind. 2002). The rule of waiver in
part protects the integrity of the trial court in that the trial court cannot be found
to have erred as to an argument that it never had an opportunity to consider.
T.S. v. Logansport State Hosp., 959 N.E.2d 855, 857 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011), trans.
denied. Moreover, a defendant cannot object on one ground at trial and then
present a different claim of error on appeal. See Lyons v. State, 976 N.E.2d 137,
141 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012).
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II. Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution
[20] Jordan contends that the probationary and law enforcement search conducted
at 8375 East 800 South property violated his rights under Article 1, Section 11
of the Indiana Constitution. 1, 2 We initially note that the purpose of Article 1,
Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution “is to protect from unreasonable police
activity those areas of life that Hoosiers regard as private.” State v. Quirk, 842
N.E.2d 334, 339-40 (Ind. 2006). “The provision must receive a liberal
construction in its application to guarantee the people against unreasonable
search and seizure.” Id. at 340. Under the Indiana Constitution, the legality of
1
Although Jordan argues that the search also violated his rights under the Fourth Amendment of the United
States Constitution, he appears to have abandoned his Fourth Amendment challenge on appeal since he only
provides an analysis under the Indiana Constitution. It is well established that failure to make a cogent
argument constitutes waiver of the issue on appeal. See Ind. Appellate Rule 46(A)(8).
2
Jordan claims that the search was illegal because the State failed to prove that he resided at 8375 East 800
South, LaGrange County, Indiana. To the extent that Jordan denies living at the searched house, it might
bring about a potential standing issue, and in essence without standing he would not have been allowed to
challenge the search under the Indiana Constitution. Our supreme court has held that to challenge a search
under the Indiana Constitution, “a defendant must establish ownership, control, possession, or interest” in
the premises searched. Campos v. State, 885 N.E.2d 590, 598 (Ind. 2008) (quoting Peterson v. State, 674 N.E.2d
528, 534 (Ind. 1996)). In the instant case, the record is replete with references establishing that Jordan did
exercise exclusive control over the house at 8375 East 800 South, in LaGrange County; therefore, it gave him
standing to challenge the search. At trial, Officer Randol testified that when he arrived at the 8375 East 800
South Property, he encountered Messer standing in the driveway, and Messer stated that she “was there to
get a bag of clothes that were at [Jordan’s].” (Tr. p. 87). In addition, at the officers’ instruction, Messer
requested Jordan to exit the house. When the officers encountered Jordan, Jordan offered information
regarding the existence of a meth lab thus depicting that he was familiar with the layout of the property.
Here, the evidence leads us to the conclusion that Jordan had control, possession or interest of the home
located at 8375 East 800 South, LaGrange County, Indiana. Accordingly, Jordan’s argument that he did not
reside at said property therefore fails.
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a search depends on whether government conduct was reasonable under the
totality of the circumstances. Tuggle v. State, 9 N.E.3d 726, 735 (Ind. Ct. App.
2014), trans. denied.
[21] In response to Jordan’s contention that the search was unconstitutional, the
State claims that the search conducted on August 7, 2014, was authorized
because Jordan was on probation at the time, and it further directs us to
Condition 6 of Jordan’s probation order, stating:
You shall waive your right against search and seizure, and permit a
Probation Officer or any law enforcement acting on your Probation
Officer’s behalf to search your person, residence, motor vehicle, or any
location where your personal property may be found to ensure
compliance with probation.
(State Exh. 1). Notwithstanding the State’s response, Jordan contends that
“[U]nder the circumstances, even if the State proved” that he was on probation,
“it was still required to establish it had reasonable suspicion” for the search.
(Appellant’s Amended Br. p. 36) (emphasis added).
[22] Most recently, in State v. Vanderkolk, 32 N.E.3d 775, 779 (Ind. 2015), a Fourth
Amendment case, our supreme court very broadly held that probationers “who
have consented or been clearly informed that the conditions of their probation .
. . unambiguously authorize warrantless and suspicionless searches, may
thereafter be subject to such searches during the period of their probationary . . .
status.” In the instant case, the State maintains that the search complied with
these constitutional dictates and that the need for reasonable suspicion was
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obviated because Jordan waived his rights as to search and seizure and agreed,
by virtue of the terms and conditions of his probation, to warrantless and
suspicionless searches of his property. We recognize that
the crux of the Vanderkolk holding is that a probation search need not
be supported by reasonable suspicion and may be predicated solely
upon a valid search condition contained in the conditions of probation.
Thus, a probationer’s argument that a probation search lacked
reasonable suspicion is unequivocally no longer a legitimate objection
under the Fourth Amendment and Vanderkolk. Instead, only the
method of execution, and not the scope, of the search would be subject
to a reasonableness challenge.
Hodges v. State, 54 N.E.3d 1055, 1059, (Ind. Ct. App. 2016) (internal citations
omitted).
[23] While the language of Article 1, section 11 is virtually identical to its Fourth
Amendment counterpart, our supreme court has “made an explicit point to
interpret and apply Section 11 independently from federal Fourth Amendment
jurisprudence.” Mitchell v. State, 745 N.E.2d 775, 786 (Ind. 2001). Generally,
under Indiana law, the reasonableness of a search or seizure turns on the
“totality of the circumstances” and a balance of: (1) the degree of concern,
suspicion, or knowledge that a violation has occurred; (2) the degree of
intrusion the method of the search imposes on the citizen’s ordinary activities;
and (3) the extent of law enforcement needs. Litchfield v. State, 824 N.E.2d 356,
361 (Ind. 2005).
[24] However, in light of Vanderkolk’s expansive endorsement of warrantless and
suspicionless probation searches, this court in Hodges clarified that a separate
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Litchfield analysis was unnecessary and further specified that it “would have
made little sense for our Supreme Court to pen such a broad holding if the
Court had simply intended to continue a requirement of prior reasonable
suspicion for any probation-related search.” Hodges, 54 N.E.3d at 1060. In
keeping with the Vanderkolk analysis, which established that lack of reasonable
suspicion is no longer a legitimate objection to the constitutionality of Indiana
probationary searches, we conclude that the search in the instant case did not
violate Jordan’s rights under Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution.
III. Advisement of Miranda Rights
[25] In addition, Jordan interjects a Fifth Amendment claim concerning the
statements he made to the officers at the scene. Jordan maintains that the
statements were offered after he was placed in handcuffs and prior to the
administration of Miranda warnings. Miranda prohibits the introduction at trial
of any statement “whether exculpatory or inculpatory, stemming from custodial
interrogation of the defendant unless it demonstrates the use of procedural
safeguards effective to secure the privilege against self-incrimination.” Miranda
v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444 (1966). These protections are applicable only if
the defendant has been subjected to custodial interrogation, which is
“questioning initiated by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken
into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant
way.” Id.
[26] In the present case, when the officers arrived at Jordan’s property and informed
Jordan that they were there to assist the probation officers with the routine
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search, Jordan became excited and was “moving around.” (Tr. p. 65). Based
on Jordan’s movements, the officers temporarily restrained Jordan for their
own safety. While handcuffed, Jordan volunteered information indicating the
presence of a methamphetamine lab in his garage. At trial, Jordan argued that
he should have been advised of his Miranda rights since he was in custody at the
time he offered the statements. In allowing Jordan’s statements into evidence,
the trial court ruled that “there was no interrogation which enveloped the
necessity to provide [Jordan] with his Miranda [r]ights.” (Tr. p. 65). The trial
court further added that although Jordan was restrained at the time, the
confinement was done for the officers’ safety.
[27] We note that the police have the legal right to take reasonable steps to stabilize
a situation such as this during the course of their investigation. Williams v.
State, 959 N.E.2d 357, 359 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011), trans. denied. This includes
placing an individual in handcuffs to enable the officers to conduct their
investigation and ensure their own safety or the safety of others. Safety
concerns of a police officer are a legitimate and weighty justification for such an
intrusion. Delatorre v. State, 903 N.E.2d 506, 508 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). Here,
based on Jordan’s conduct of moving around, the officers temporarily
handcuffed Jordan for the purpose of protecting themselves.
[28] Notwithstanding the officers’ concern for safety, its arguable that under the
circumstances, Jordan’s freedom was restrained such that Miranda warnings
were required. When determining whether a person was in custody or deprived
of his freedom, “the ultimate inquiry is simply whether there is a ‘formal arrest
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or restraint on freedom of movement’ of the degree associated with a formal
arrest.” Luna v. State, 788 N.E.2d 832, 833 (Ind. 2003) (quoting California v.
Beheler, 463 U.S. 1121, 1125 (1983)). This is determined by examining whether
a reasonable person in similar circumstances would believe he is not free to
leave. Id. (citing Cliver v. State, 666 N.E.2d 59, 66 (Ind. 1996), reh’g denied).
“Only when the officer, by means of physical force or show of authority, has in
some way restrained the liberty of a citizen may we conclude that a ‘seizure’
has occurred.” Id. (citing Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 433-434 (1991)). That
said, we have held that an officer’s knowledge and beliefs are only relevant to
the question of custody if conveyed—through either words or actions—to the
individual being questioned. King v. State, 844 N.E.2d 92, 97 (Ind. Ct. App.
2005). A police officer’s “unarticulated plan has no bearing on the question” of
custody. Loving v. State, 647 N.E.2d 1123, 1125 (Ind. 1995) (quoting Berkemer v.
McCarty, 468 U.S. 420, 442 (1984)).
[29] In this case, despite the officers’ testimony that Jordan was not in formal
custody at the time he made the voluntary statements about the existence of a
meth lab in the garage, their testimony had no bearing on how Jordan perceived
their actions. The safety concerns issues were not articulated to Jordan, nor was
Jordan informed that he was free to leave at any point in time. Applying the
objective test to the facts of the case, a reasonable person would believe to be
restrained in a manner similar to a formal arrest and that Miranda warnings
were therefore required. When Jordan made the statements, there is no doubt
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that he was in custody; he had been handcuffed and Miranda warnings were
therefore necessary.
[30] However, we find that Jordan’s statements were not subject to an interrogation.
The term interrogation has been defined as ‘“express questioning and words or
actions on the part of the police that the police know are reasonably likely to
elicit an incriminating response from the suspect.”’ White v. State, 772 N.E.2d
408, 412 (Ind. 2002). Notably, the concept of custodial interrogation does not
operate to extend the Miranda safeguards to spontaneous voluntary statements
made in the presence of police officers which are not in response to questions
posed by law enforcement officers. Gregory v. State, 540 N.E.2d 585 (Ind. 1989).
This is true even though a defendant is in custody of law enforcement officers at
the time. Id. Turning to the facts of the case, when the officers explained to
Jordan their reason for visiting, Jordan became excited and began moving
around. The officers temporarily restrained Jordan and what followed was
Jordan’s impulsive statement indicating the presence of a meth lab in the
garage. Because the record is absent of any evidence of the officers probing
Jordan, it supports the notion that Jordan was under no compulsion to speak
and therefore his statements were not made in violation of his Miranda
warnings. Accordingly, we find no error here.
V. Sufficiency of the Evidence
[31] Next, Jordan contests that the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of
law finding him guilty of the charged offenses as being unsupported by the
evidence. We observe that “in a criminal case the trial court is not required to
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make either findings of fact or conclusions of law.” Dozier v. State, 709 N.E.2d
27, 30 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999) (citing Nation v. State, 445 N.E.2d 565, 570 (Ind.
1983)). Thus, the focus of our inquiry is not upon the remarks the trial court
makes in a bench trial after having reached the conclusion that a defendant is
guilty. Id. Rather, the question is whether the evidence presented to the trial
court as fact-finder was sufficient to sustain the conviction. Id. We neither
reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of witnesses. Id. (citing Johnson v.
State, 671 N.E.2d 1203, 1209 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996), trans. denied). Instead, we
examine only the evidence most favorable to the State along with all reasonable
inferences to be drawn therefrom. Id. If there is substantial evidence of
probative value to sustain the conviction, then it will not be set aside. Id.
[32] Jordan was convicted of a Level 4 felony, dealing in methamphetamine; a Level
5 felony, possession of methamphetamine; a Level 6 felony, possession of
precursors; a Level 6 felony, maintaining a common nuisance; and a Class A
misdemeanor, possession of paraphernalia. We will address each offense in
turn.
A. Dealing in Methamphetamine
[33] Indiana Code section 35-48-4-1.1, provides, in part, that a person who:
(1) knowingly or intentionally:
(A) manufactures;
(B) finances the manufacture of;
(C) delivers; or
(D) finances the delivery of;
methamphetamine, pure or adulterated; or
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(2) possesses, with intent to:
(A) manufacture;
(B) finance the manufacture of;
(C) deliver; or
(D) finance the delivery of;
methamphetamine, pure or adulterated;
commits dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony, except as
provided in subsections (b) through (e).
(b) A person may be convicted of an offense under subsection (a)(2)
only if:
(1) there is evidence in addition to the weight of the drug that the
person intended to manufacture, finance the manufacture of, deliver,
or finance the delivery of the drug; or
(2) the amount of the drug involved is at least twenty-eight (28) grams.
(c) The offense is a Level 4 felony if:
(1) the amount of the drug involved is at least one (1) gram but less
than five (5) grams; or
(2) the amount of the drug involved is less than one (1) gram and an
enhancing circumstance applies.
With respect to Jordan’s Level 4 dealing in methamphetamine offense, the
record shows that when the officers arrived at 8375 East 800 South in
LaGrange County, Indiana, they encountered Messer in the driveway who
stated that she was there to get a bag of clothes from Jordan’s house. Messer
relayed to the officers that she had observed Jordan shaking a pop bottle near
the garage area earlier that day. The probationary search of Jordan’s home
yielded items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine—a
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smoking device containing a white powdery substance, foil with burnt residue,
small plastic baggies, and a salt grinder. Prior to the arrival of the probation
officers, Jordan advised the officers that there was a meth lab on the property
and he directed them to its location. In the garage, the officers located a clear
plastic bottle with a bubbling substance situated in an old radio box. Trooper
Smith testified that the plastic bottle recovered in the garage served as the vessel
for an active one-pot methamphetamine lab. The State also introduced
evidence of all the precursors and items necessary in manufacturing
methamphetamine located throughout Jordan’s garage and house. Mindful of
the testimony and evidence presented at trial, we conclude that the State proved
beyond reasonable doubt that Jordan was dealing in methamphetamine.
B. Possession Counts
[34] With regards to Jordan’s Level 5 felony, possession of methamphetamine,
Indiana Code section 35-48-4-6.1 provides, in part:
(a) A person who, without a valid prescription or order of a
practitioner acting in the course of the practitioner’s professional
practice, knowingly or intentionally possesses methamphetamine (pure
or adulterated) commits possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6
felony, except as provided in subsections (b) through (d).
(b) The offense is a Level 5 felony if:
(1) the amount of the drug involved is at least five (5) grams but less
than ten (10) grams; or
(2) the amount of the drug involved is less than five (5) grams and an
enhancing circumstance applies.
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The certificate of lab analysis from the Indiana State Police Laboratory
established that a plastic bag containing a white substance recovered from
Jordan’s home was methamphetamine, weighing 0.54 grams. In addition, an
enhancing circumstance existed pursuant to Indiana Code section 35-48-1-16.5
(5) the existence of a one-pot ammonia reaction meth lab and items associated
in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Here, we conclude that there was
sufficient evidence to find that Jordan possessed the methamphetamine.
[35] Turning to Jordan’s Level 6 felony, possession of precursors, the State was
required to prove that Jordan knowingly or intentionally possessed two or more
chemical reagents or precursors with the intent to manufacture a controlled
substance. I.C. § 35-48-4-14.5(e). During the search, Trooper Smith seized
several ingredients necessary for manufacturing methamphetamine, including
Coleman fuel, sulfuric acid drain cleaner, ammonia sulfate, sodium hydroxide,
lithium metal, and hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, we conclude that sufficient
evidence existed to support Jordan’s conviction for possessing precursors.
[36] Lastly, to prove that Jordan committed Class A misdemeanor, possession of
paraphernalia, the State was required to prove that he knowingly or
intentionally possessed an instrument he intended to use to introduce a
controlled substance into his body. I.C. § 35-48-4-8.3(a). The State presented
evidence of a pink straw covered in residue and several hypodermic needles that
were found in Jordan’s house. Trooper Smith testified that the straw and
needles could be used to introduce methamphetamine into a person’s body.
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Here, we conclude that was sufficient evidence that Jordan possessed
paraphernalia.
C. Maintaining a Common Nuisance
[37] As for Jordan’s Level 6 felony, maintaining a common nuisance, the State was
required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Jordan knowingly or
intentionally maintained a building, structure, vehicle or other place that was
used by Jordan for unlawfully manufacturing, keeping, offering for sale, selling,
delivering, or financing the delivery of a controlled substance. I.C. § 35-48-4-
13(b)(1) (2014). Much of Jordan’s arguments are concentrated on his mistaken
belief that the State failed to prove that he resided at the 8375 East 800 South
property. As discussed above, the State provided ample evidence to
demonstrate that Jordan lived at the 8375 East 800 South property. Moreover,
we note that a person in control of a residence “may be found in control of any
drugs” or other contraband “discovered therein.” Allen v. State, 798 N.E.2d
490, 501 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). At Jordan’s bench trial, Officer Randol testified
that when he arrived at the 800 South property, he encountered Messer
standing in the driveway, and Messer stated that she “was there to get a bag of
clothes that were at [Jordan’s].” (Tr. p. 87). In addition, Jordan was inside the
house when the officers arrived and Messer requested Jordan to exit the house.
The search that was conducted at Jordan’s premises yielded several precursors
used to manufacture methamphetamine. From this, the trial court could have
reasonably concluded that Jordan actually possessed the precursors and was
using his residence to manufacture methamphetamine.
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VI. Double Jeopardy
[38] Last but not least, Jordan claims that his convictions for dealing in
methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of
precursors violate Indiana’s prohibition against double jeopardy. The Indiana
Constitution provides that “[n]o person shall be put in jeopardy twice for the
same offense.” IND. CONST. art. 1, § 14. “Indiana’s Double Jeopardy Clause . .
. prevent[s] the State from being able to proceed against a person twice for the
same criminal transgression.” Hopkins v. State, 759 N.E.2d 633, 639 (Ind. 2001)
(quoting Richardson v. State, 717 N.E.2d 32, 49 (Ind. 1999)). The Indiana
Supreme Court has held that “two or more offenses are the ‘same offense’ in
violation of Article I, Section 14 of the Indiana Constitution, if, with respect to
either the statutory elements of the challenged crimes or the actual evidence
used to convict, the essential elements of one challenged offense also establish
the essential elements of another challenged offense.” Richardson, 717 N.E.2d
at 49.
[39] “An offense is the same as another under the actual evidence test when there is
a reasonable possibility that the evidence used by the fact-finder to establish the
essential elements of one offense may have been used to establish the essential
elements of a second challenged offense.” Id. The Indiana Supreme Court
clarified this test in Spivey v. State, 761 N.E.2d 831, 833 (Ind. 2002), where the
court held that the test is not whether the evidentiary facts used to establish one
of the essential elements of one offense may also have been used to establish
one of the essential elements of a second challenged offense; rather, the test is
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whether the evidentiary facts establishing the essential elements of one offense
also establish all of the elements of a second offense. If the evidentiary facts
establishing one offense establish only one or several, but not all, of the essential
elements of the second offense, there is no double jeopardy violation. Id.
[40] The charging Information for dealing in methamphetamine alleged, in pertinent
part, that on or about August 7, 2014, Jordan “did knowingly or intentionally
manufacture, deal, sell, give, barter or trade METHAMPHETAMINE at the
location of: 8375 E 800 S, County of LaGrange, State of Indiana . . . . Further,
the aggregate weight of said METHAMPHETAMINE was LESS than three (3)
grams.” (Appellant’s App. Vol II, p. 42).
[41] With regards to Jordan’s possession of methamphetamine offense, the State
averred that on or about August 7, 2014, Jordan “did knowingly or
intentionally possess METHAMPHETAMINE at the location of: 8375 E 800
S, County of LaGrange, State of Indiana, and [Jordan] did not have a valid
prescription of the said substance. Further, the aggregate weight of said
METHAMPHETAMINE was OVER 5 grams and less than 10 grams.”
(Appellant’s App. Vol II, p. 44).
[42] Lastly, the charging information relating to Jordan’s offense of possessing
precursors stated, in part, that on or about August 7, 2014, “at 8375 E 800 S”
Jordan “did possess two (2) or more chemical reagents or precursors with intent
to manufacture a controlled substance.” (Appellant’s App. Vol II, p. 46).
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[43] Jordan first claims that the half gram of methamphetamine was used to convict
him for dealing and possessing the methamphetamine. A person who ...
knowingly or intentionally . . . manufactures . . . methamphetamine, pure or
adulterated ... commits dealing in methamphetamine. I.C. § 35-48-4-
1.1(a)(1)(A). Indiana Code section 35-48-1-18 defines manufacture as
the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion,
or processing of a controlled substance, either directly or indirectly by
extraction from substances of natural origin, independently by means
of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical
synthesis, and includes any packaging or repackaging of the substance
or labeling or relabeling of its container.
[44] Jordan was also charged and convicted of possession of chemical reagents or
precursors. In addition to proving that Jordan “possess[ed] two or more
chemical reagents or precursors”, the State was required to prove, as with the
dealing charge, that he did so “with the intent to manufacture a controlled
substance.” See I.C. § 35-48-4-14.5.
[45] Aside from the element of the intent to manufacture methamphetamine,
separate and distinct facts were required and relied upon by the State to prove
the two offenses. Here, we find that the State’s evidence that the clear plastic
bottle which Trooper Smith identified as a one-pot vessel for an active
methamphetamine lab, established the dealing charge. Jordan’s actual
possession of one or more chemical reagents or precursors, including Coleman
fuel, sulfuric acid drain cleaner, ammonia sulfate, sodium hydroxide, lithium
metal, and hydrogen peroxide, established the possession of precursors charge.
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As such, we conclude that there was no reasonable possibility that the trial
court considered the same evidence to establish all of the elements of both
offenses. There is no double jeopardy violation.
[46] Lastly, Jordan argues that his convictions for dealing in methamphetamine and
possession of methamphetamine subjected him to double jeopardy. As noted,
for the dealing charge, the charging information alleged that Jordan did
knowingly or intentionally manufacture methamphetamine. Manufacturing
includes the “production, preparation . . . or processing of a controlled
substance. . .” I.C. § 35-48-1-18. We have held that convictions for
manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine may be
sustained, specifically with the finished product supporting the possession
conviction and the unfinished product supporting the manufacturing
conviction. Storey v. State, 875 N.E.2d 243, 248-50 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). It has
also been established that the evidence need only show that the manufacturing
process has begun to sustain a conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine.
Dawson v. State, 786 N.E.2d 742, 747-48 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). In this case
Jordan was found in possession of 0.54 grams of methamphetamine. The
officers also found numerous accoutrements in the residence that were used to
manufacture additional methamphetamine. As such, the trial court could have
reasonably concluded that Jordan was in possession of methamphetamine and
was in the process of manufacturing an additional amount of the drug. As a
result, we reject Jordan’s argument that convicting him of both dealing in
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methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine violated the
prohibition against double jeopardy.
CONCLUSION
[47] Based on the foregoing, we conclude that (1) the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in admitting some of the State’s Exhibits; (2) pursuant to his
probation order, Jordan consented to the search and therefore his rights under
Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution were not violated; (3) Miranda
warnings prior to Jordan’s voluntary statements to the officers were not
required; (4) there was sufficient evidence to convict Jordan of his charged
offenses; and (5) Jordan’s conviction for dealing in methamphetamine,
possession of methamphetamine, and possession of precursors did not violate
double jeopardy principles under the actual evidence test.
[48] Affirmed.
[49] Crone, J. and Altice, J. concur
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