Robert Bowen v. State of Indiana

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Mark K. Leeman Gregory F. Zoeller Logansport, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana Michael Gene Worden Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana ______________________________________________________________________________ In the Jun 14 2013, 9:30 am Indiana Supreme Court _________________________________ No. 08S02-1306-CR-423 ROBERT BOWEN, Appellant (Defendant below), v. STATE OF INDIANA, Appellee (Plaintiff below). _________________________________ Appeal from the Carroll Circuit Court No. 08C01-1007-FB-8 The Honorable Donald E. Currie, Judge _________________________________ On Petition To Transfer from the Indiana Court of Appeals, No. 08A02-1206-CR-504 _________________________________ June 14, 2013 Per Curiam. After a jury trial, Robert Bowen was convicted of several offenses (and sentenced to advisory terms) as follows: unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon (10 years), dealing in a controlled substance (4 years), possession of a controlled substance (1.5 years) and possession of marijuana (1 year). The trial court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently, except the 4-year sentence was ordered to be served consecutively, for a total executed term of 14 years. The trial court did not state its reasons for imposing this sentence, either in writing or from the bench, and did not identify any reason for consecutive sentences. Noting that the pre- sentence investigation report disclosed an extensive criminal history and that the trial court had considered the report, the Court of Appeals inferred that Bowen’s criminal history was the reason the trial court had imposed consecutive sentences. See Bowen v. State, No. 08A02-1206- CR-504 (Ind. Ct. App. Feb. 18, 2013) (mem. dec.). Precedent requires that a trial court “include a reasonably detailed recitation of the trial court's reasons for imposing a particular sentence,” Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482, 490-91 (Ind. 2007), including the reasons for imposing consecutive sentences, see, e.g., Ortiz v. State, 766 N.E.2d 370, 377 (Ind. 2002); Smith v. State, 474 N.E.2d 71, 73 (Ind. 1985); see also Ind. Code § 35-50-1-2. We choose to remand to the trial court for clarification of its sentencing decision and preparation of a new sentencing order. See Windhorst v. State, 868 N.E.2d 504, 507 (Ind. 2007), reh’g denied. Accordingly, we grant transfer and remand this case to the trial court with instructions to issue an amended sentencing order that complies with the law, without a hearing. See Sanchez v. State, 938 N.E.2d 720, 723 (Ind. 2010). The decision of the Court of Appeals is summarily affirmed in all other respects. See App. R. 58(A). Subject only to the rules governing rehearing, this opinion concludes this appeal of the convictions and the original sentencing order. Dickson, C.J., and Rucker, David, Massa, and Rush, JJ., concur. 2