MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Oct 19 2018, 9:45 am
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Brooke N. Russell Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Caryn N. Szyper
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Rondell Goe, October 19, 2018
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-CR-850
v. Appeal from the Ripley Circuit
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Ryan J. King,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
69C01-1701-F5-2
Riley, Judge.
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STATEMENT OF THE CASE
[1] Appellant-Defendant, Rondell Gene Goe (Goe), appeals his sentence following
his guilty plea to attempted possession of child pornography, a Level 5 felony,
Ind. Code §§ 35-41-5-1(a); -42-4-4(b).
[2] We affirm.
ISSUES
[3] Goe presents two issues on appeal, which we restate as follows:
(1) Whether the trial court abused its discretion at sentencing; and
(2) Whether the Goe’s sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the
offense and his character.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
[4] On October 11, 2016, a woman went to the Indiana State Police post in Ripley
County, Indiana, and reported to Detective Brent Miller (Detective Miller) that
seventy-seven-year-old Goe had molested her daughters—eight-year-old L.H.
and five-year-old K.H. On the same day, L.H. and K.H. were taken to the
Region 15 Child Advocacy Center for a forensic interview. Detective Miller
was present during the interview. Eight-year-old L.H. alleged that Goe had
“touched her private [part] on her skin” and also, one time while staying at
Goe’s house after her tonsils surgery, Goe lifted “her shirt and sucked on and
rubbed her boobs.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 21). Five-year-old K.H. stated
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that Goe had used his hands to touch her “private parts” on more than one
occasion. (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 21).
[5] Later that day, Detective Miller went to Goe’s residence to talk to Goe. Goe
agreed to talk to Detective Miller inside his police vehicle. While seated in the
front passenger seat and engaging in small talk, Goe’s “arm hit the door lock.
[Detective Miller] told [Goe] that he could unlock the door and could get out of
the car anytime he wanted.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 33). Shortly
thereafter, Goe agreed to having his conversation taped.
[6] Goe informed Detective Miller that he has known L.H. and K.H. since birth,
that the girls often visited his home, and the girls referred to him as “Papa
Gene,” and his wife as “Nana Joy.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 34). Goe
stated that October 10, 2016, he had “touched the girls vagina’s a few times,
especially K.H. to see if she was wet in her pants or not.” (Appellant’s App.
Vol. II, p. 22). Also, on October 10, 2016, Goe admitted asking L.H. to pull up
her shirt so that he could see her new bra. Goe added that on another occasion,
he asked L.H., “let me see those[?]” and when L.H. lifted her sweater, he used
his tongue to lick L.H.’s “nipples.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 22). Goe
informed Detective Miller that he was “fascinated by the girls growing up.”
(Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 22). Goe furthermore stated that he had once
touched L.H.’s vagina while they “were on the tractor and he stopped when
[L.H.] told him that it made her feel uncomfortable. [Goe] said his hand was
there because they crossed a large ditch and he did not want [L.H.] to fall” from
the tractor. (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 22).
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[7] On October 18, 2016, Detective Miller and another officer went to Goe’s home
to arrest Goe. Detective Miller handcuffed Goe and sat him in the front
passenger seat of his vehicle. On the way to the Ripley County Jail, Detective
Miller and Goe engaged “in small talk,” and Goe stated that “whatever
happened” he “was done helping people and baby sitting [sic] for people.”
(Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 34). Goe additionally stated that he had been “a
photographer for the church and had photographed [L.H.] on the day she was
brought home from the hospital after being born.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p.
34).
[8] On October 19, 2016, a Family Case Manager (FCM) with the Indiana
Department of Child Services contacted Detective Miller and informed him
that she had spoken with Goe at the Ripley County Jail. Goe informed the
FCM that the incident when he licked L.H.’s breasts, he was just “curious to
see what would happen.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 35). Goe also informed
the FCM that he had “taken thousands of pictures” of L.H. and K.H., but “had
deleted them all.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 35). The FCM reported that
Goe saved the “photographs . . . on a separate drive in his personal computer.”
(Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 35).
[9] On October 20, 2016, Detective Miller executed a search warrant at Goe’s
residence. Other items, including Goe’s personal computer, were seized during
the search. On October 25, 2016, Detective Miller handed over Goe’s
computer to Sergeant Matt Simmons (Sgt. Simmons) for a forensic
examination. On December 5, 2016, Sgt. Simmons returned Goe’s computer,
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and he also issued Detective Miller a report on his findings. According to the
report, there were “several images of child porn in the computers [sic]
thumbnail cache and in the hard drives deleted space. These images depicted
small nude children engaged in sexual acts.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 37).
According to the report, Goe’s internet searches included “underground
underage girl images, xhasmter/underage nudist, prenudist children, outlaw
nude preteen girls, and xhamster/[A]sian preschool girl tutored sex.”
(Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 37).
[10] On December 8, 2016, Detective Miller, accompanied by another detective,
went to Goe’s house to return some previously seized items, except for Goe’s
computer. Detective Miller informed Goe that he had found “some things on
his computer,” and he asked Goe if would freely talk. (Appellant’s App. Vol.
II, p. 37). Goe agreed, and he got into the front passenger seat of Detective
Miller’s vehicle. Detective Miller sat in the driver’s seat, and the other detective
sat in the back seat. Goe explained to the detectives that while working for his
former employer, “one of the boss’ sons, who was also an employee[], was
accused of viewing child porn while at work.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 37).
Goe asserted that he was instructed to investigate the accusations. Goe stated
that he “would remember the [websites] the son was viewing[,] and he would
research them at home.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 37). Goe then “cited one
of the websites as purenudist.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 37). Goe admitted
that he still explores “the websites even though he is no longer employed for the
company.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 37). Goe admitted that he personally
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searched for “adult porn,” but the other searches relating to “child porn were
made for research.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 37). The detectives afterward
left Goe’s home. During the course of his investigation, Detective Miller
learned from Goe’s former employer that Goe was employed from January 3,
1994, through March 3, 2006. After that, Goe worked part-time until March
31, 2014.
[11] On January 12, 2017, the State filed an Information, charging Goe with one
Count of attempted possession of child pornography, a Level 5 felony, and one
Count of possession of child pornography, a Level 5 felony. On January 19,
2017, the State amended the Information, adding a third Count, Level 6 felony
attempted possession of child pornography. On January 24, 2018, ahead of his
jury trial, Goe pleaded guilty by an agreement, to the Level 5 felony attempted
possession of child pornography, with sentencing left open to the trial court. In
exchange, the State agreed to dismiss the remaining two Counts. The trial
court took Goe’s plea under advisement and ordered preparation of a Pre-
sentence Report (PSI).
[12] On March 21, 2018, the trial court conducted Goe’s sentencing hearing. At the
start of the hearing, the trial court accepted the plea agreement and entered
judgment of conviction. The trial court then asked Goe whether he wanted to
make any changes or corrections to the PSI and the Supplemental PSI. The
only error cited was Goe’s address on the PSI. During the hearing, the trial
court reviewed the PSI, the Supplement PSI, a letter written by Goe, and
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several letters sent from Goe’s family members and friends. Goe, Nana Joy,
and Detective Miller, testified.
[13] At the close of the evidence, the trial court ultimately found three aggravating
factors: that Goe’s character is that of a person with a high propensity to
reoffend; Goe’s lack of remorse; and the facts and circumstance of the crime go
far beyond what is necessary to prove the offense. The trial court identified one
mitigating factor—Goe had pleaded guilty to his crime. Nevertheless, the trial
court concluded that the “aggravators substantially outweighed the
mitigator[].” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 78). Consequently, the trial court sentenced Goe
to five years in the Department of Correction.
[14] Goe now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Sentencing
[15] Goe argues that the trial court abused its discretion at sentencing by “relying on
three unsupported aggravating factors to enhance” his sentence to five years.
(Appellant’s Br. p. 10). Sentencing decisions “rest within the sound discretion
of the trial court and are reviewed on appeal only for an abuse of discretion.”
Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482, 490 (Ind. 2007), clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d
218 (Ind. 2007). “An abuse of discretion occurs if the decision is clearly against
the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before the court, or the
reasonable, probable, and actual deductions to be drawn therefrom.” Id.
(quotations and citation omitted). A trial court may abuse its discretion by
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failing to enter a sentencing statement, entering findings of aggravating and
mitigating factors unsupported by the record, omitting factors clearly supported
by the record and advanced for consideration, or giving reasons that are
improper as a matter of law. Id. at 490-91. “Under those circumstances,
remand for resentencing may be the appropriate remedy if we cannot say with
confidence that the trial court would have imposed the same sentence had it
properly considered reasons that enjoy support in the record.” Id. at 491.
A. High Risk to Reoffend
[16] In the written sentencing statement, the trial court found:
a. [Geo’s] character is that of a person with a high propensity to
reoffend. First, [Goe] has also been charged with 3 [C]ounts of
[c]hild [m]olest[ing], which are currently pending. As it relates to
those allegations, the State presented a taped statement wherein
[Goe] admitted to placing his tongue on the nipple of an [eight-
year-old-girl]. Second, the facts herein show that [Goe]
consistently pursued child pornography; searches found on just
the first page of the supplement to the presentence investigation
include “young incest tube,”, “[C]hinese schoolgirl tutor sex”,
“young teen forced rape”, and “cute Asian preteen schoolgirl
thumbs”. These factors show that [Goe] is sexually attracted to
children and has the character of someone that is likely to act
upon his deviant sexual attraction. This is a significant
aggravating factor of great weight.
(Appellant’s App. Vol. III, pp. 48-49). Goe argues that before his taped
statement, he was not given his Miranda warnings. Goe therefore contends that
the trial court abused its discretion in admitting his taped confession. In
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response, the State contends that the “strict rules of evidence do not apply in
sentencing hearings.” (Appellees’ Br. p. 17).
[17] “Indiana Evidence Rule 101(c) explicitly states that the rules of evidence, other
than those with respect to privileges, ‘do not apply in . . . [p]roceedings relating
to . . . sentencing.” Hines v. State, 856 N.E.2d 1275, 1281 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006),
trans. denied. The rationale for the relaxation of evidentiary rules is that, in a
trial, the issue is whether a defendant is guilty of having engaged in certain
criminal conduct, and the rules of evidence limit the evidence to that strictly
relevant to the crime charged. Thomas v. State, 562 N.E.2d 43, 47 (Ind. Ct. App.
1990). At sentencing, however, the evidence is not confined to the narrow issue
of guilt. Id. Rather, the task is to determine the type and extent of punishment.
Id. “This individualized sentencing process requires possession of the fullest
information possible concerning the defendant’s life and characteristics.” Id.
Nevertheless, the defendant is entitled to be sentenced only on the basis of
accurate information, and the defendant retains the right to refute any
inaccurate or improper information. Dillon v. State, 492 N.E.2d 661, 663 (Ind.
1986). The sentencing process should be fair to each individual defendant, and
a sentence based on materially untrue assumptions violates due process. Id.
(citations omitted).
[18] Turning to his contention, Goe did not object to the admission of his taped
statement at sentencing, as such, his claim is waived on appeal. See Durden v.
State, 99 N.E.3d 645, 651 (Ind. 2018) (“A party’s failure to object to an alleged
error at trial results in waiver.”). Aside from his waiver, we find that Goe’s
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taped statements devoid of Miranda warnings, was relevant at sentencing. At
his sentencing, despite pleading guilty to the Level 5 felony attempted
possession of child pornography, Goe testified “I have no sexual desire towards
children.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 32). In response, the State introduced Goe’s taped
statement, to rebut Goe’s attempt at preserving a notion that he lacked sexual
desire for children.
[19] Goe further asserts the admission of the Supplemental PSI, which included his
lengthy internet search history of child pornography, did not “authenticate,
validate, or explain any or all of the supposed searches made on [his] computer
. . . Therefore, reliance on this spreadsheet is misplaced, speculative and an
abuse of discretion.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 15). Goe failed to make that very
same argument at sentencing, therefore, he waives this issue on appeal. See
Durden, 99 N.E.3d at 651. Notwithstanding his waiver, we address his claim.
Here, the Supplemental PSI entailing Goe’s numerous child pornography
searches accessed on his personal computer, was related to the nature of Goe’s
offense and his character. Under the relaxed rules of sentencing hearings, the
Supplemental PSI was properly admitted for the trial court’s consideration.
B. Lack of Remorse
[20] Goe challenges the trial court’s determination that he lacked remorse at
sentencing. A trial court may find a defendant’s lack of remorse to be an
aggravating factor. Rogers v. State, 878 N.E.2d 269, 272 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007),
trans. denied. A defendant lacks remorse when he displays disdain or
recalcitrance, the equivalent of “I don’t care.” Id. This has been distinguished
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from the right to maintain one’s innocence, i.e., “I didn’t do it.” Id. Although
lack of remorse is a proper aggravator, it is not a weighty aggravator, and
instead is considered an aggravator of only modest significance. See Georgopulos
v. State, 735 N.E.2d 1138, 1145 (Ind. 2000).
[21] At his sentencing hearing, Goe apologized to his family “for the situation [he
had] created.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 29). On cross-examination, the State confronted
Goe with a letter he had written to the trial court nine days before the
sentencing hearing. Goe wrote: “I Rondell Gene Goe, accept responsibility for
the computer where child pornography is alleged to exist. However, I at NO
time deliberately attempted to access, download or possess child pornography
for personal reasons.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. III, p. 78). In the letter, Goe
blamed the presence of child pornography internet search history on a
“malicious virus.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. III, p.78). Instead of taking
ownership of his actions, Goe’s tactic at sentencing involved shifting the blame
to a malicious virus as the source of the child pornography located on his
computer. Indeed, the trial court correctly construed Goe’s letter lacking any
remorse to a crime to which he had already pleaded guilty.
[22] Further, we note that ahead of sentencing, Goe had requested his friends and
family to write letters to the trial court. The trial court stated, “the tenor of
these letters suggest that this is just an allegation and they believe you to be
innocent. I don’t know where they would reach that sort of predisposition, had
they not been informed, uh, [] inaccurately.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 73). For instance,
one letter read, “[Goe] has always expressed great disdain against anyone that
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has harmed any child. It is because of his character and his protective attitude
toward children that I find it hard to believe that [Goe] could engage in the
charges of attempted possession of child pornography.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 74).
Reacting to that letter, the trial court stated
Again, the way I read this is this is someone who doesn’t
understand that this is a conviction and you’re here for
sentencing. Up until a few days ago or your statement that you
just gave, uh, there was no real responsibility taken. Certainly, a
lack of remorse. And it’s further shown a lack of responsibility
and remorse from all those letters and then the letters also have
this over-arching belief that somehow this was something that
just popped up on your computer, it was some accident and there
are a thousand (1,000) searches here and this is no accident. It’s
easily verifiable it’s not an accident, that’s why the case pled.
(Tr. Vol. II, p. 74). Indeed, those letters confirmed the trial court’s belief that
Goe lacked remorse. We give substantial deference to the trial court’s
evaluation of remorse because the trial court has the ability to directly observe
the defendant and is in the best position to determine whether the remorse is
genuine. Corralez v. State, 815 N.E.2d 1023, 1025 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004).
Accordingly, the trial court was justified in finding Goe’s lack of remorse as an
aggravating factor.
B. Nature and Circumstances of the Crime.
[23] Our supreme court has found the “nature and circumstances of a crime [to be] a
proper aggravating circumstance” where the defendant’s conduct extends
beyond the material elements of the offense. Gomilla v. State, 13 N.E.3d 846,
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853 (Ind. 2014). Turning to the facts of this case, the State tendered a
Supplemental PSI which consisted of a 21-page excel spreadsheet showing a
total of 1,405 internet searches on Goe’s personal computer. While some
searches were benign, most of them related to child pornography. On the first
page of the excel spreadsheet, the trial court selected a couple of sites and read
them aloud: “‘I Cream Pied My Daughter’, ‘Young Incest Tube’, ‘Tiny Teen
with Big Mound’, ‘Preteen Girls Clothing Panties’, ‘Nineties School Girl Tutor
Sex’, ‘Preteen Nudist Family’, ‘Young Teen Forced Rape’, ‘Cute Asian Preteen
School Girl Thumbs’”. (Tr. Vol. II, p. 76). One image located in Goe’s
computer depicted a “four-year-old being penetrated by an adult male.” (Tr.
Vol. II, p. 78). In the sentencing statement, the trial court found that particular
photo the “most egregious depiction imaginable.” (Appellant’ App. Vol. III, p.
79). Here, we conclude that based on the Supplemental PSI, the trial court did
not abuse its discretion in identifying the nature and circumstances of Goe’s
crime to be a proper aggravating circumstance.
II. Inappropriate Sentence
[24] Goe additionally contends that his five-year sentence is inappropriate in light of
the nature of the offense and his character. Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B)
empowers us to independently review and revise sentences authorized by
statute if, after due consideration, we find the trial court’s decision
inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the
offender. Reid v. State, 876 N.E.2d 1114, 1116 (Ind. 2007). The “nature of
offense” compares the defendant’s actions with the required showing to sustain
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a conviction under the charged offense, while the “character of the offender”
permits a broader consideration of the defendant’s character. Cardwell v. State,
895 N.E.2d 1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008); Douglas v. State, 878 N.E.2d 873, 881 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2007). An appellant bears the burden of showing that both prongs of
the inquiry favor a revision of his sentence. Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073,
1080 (Ind. 2006). Whether we regard a sentence as appropriate at the end of
the day turns on our sense of the culpability of the defendant, the severity of the
crime, the damage done to others, and a myriad of other considerations that
come to light in a given case. Cardwell, 895 N.E.2d at 1224. Our court focuses
on “the length of the aggregate sentence and how it is to be served.” Id.
[25] The advisory sentence is the starting point the legislature has selected as an
appropriate sentence for the crime committed. Abbott v. State, 961 N.E.2d 1016,
1019 (Ind. 2012). A Level 5 felony carries a possible sentence of one to six
years, with an advisory sentence of three years. I.C. § 35-50-2-6(b). Here, the
trial court sentenced Goe to five years.
[26] The nature of the offense is found in the details and circumstances of the
commission of the offense and the defendant’s participation. Croy v. State, 953
N.E.2d 660, 664 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). As noted, the police found “images of
child porn in [Goe’s] computer[] thumbnail cache and in the hard drives deleted
space.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 37). “These images depicted small nude
children, who appeared to be less than twelve (12) years of age, engaged in
sexual acts. One image appeared to be a naked female toddler with an adult
male penis near her vagina. Another image depicted a young girl who appeared
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to be approximately 8 (eight) years of age being vaginally penetrated by an adult
male.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 20). The trial court called attention to the
fact that Goe’s Level 5 felony attempted possession of child possession charge
“could’ve been proven by one search.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 77). According to the
Supplemental PSI, there were approximately 1,405 internet searches, and most
of those searches related to child pornography.
[27] As for his character, Goe claims that he “is a [seventy-seven-year-old] man who
has no prior criminal history.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 19). He adds that he is also
“a veteran who was active in his community, church, and has the support of his
friends and family. [] He has worked all of his adult life, and an aggravated
sentence is an undue hardship on [his] family.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 19). While
Goe presents himself as a stalwart member of the community, it is evident that
Goe was not leading the sterling life he describes. At sentencing the trial court
found that Goe’s internet searches relating to child pornography had
surreptitiously occurred “over a period of time.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 77). Also,
during the investigation of the instant offense, Goe admitted to inappropriately
touching two girls, and he has three pending charges of child molesting against
him.
[28] Even after pleading guilty to the instant offense, Goe continued to show poor
character by attempting to evade responsibility by stating that child
pornography located on his home computer was a result of a malicious virus.
The trial court aptly noted that it was evident from the letters submitted on
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Goe’s behalf that Goe continued to claim innocence among his close circle of
family and friends, despite pleading guilty to the charged offense.
[29] After due consideration of the sentencing decision, we cannot say that the five-
year sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of Goe’s offense or his
character.
CONCLUSION
[30] Based on the above, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion
while sentencing Goe, and Goe’s sentence is not inappropriate in light of the
nature of the offense and his character.
[31] Affirmed.
[32] Vaidik, C. J. and Kirsch, J. concur
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