ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Mark Olivero
Fort Wayne, Indiana
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Karen M. Freeman-Wilson
Attorney General of Indiana
Eileen Euzen
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
__________________________________________________________________
IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF INDIANA
__________________________________________________________________
JOHN D. FARRIS, )
)
Appellant (Defendant Below), )
)
v. ) Indiana Supreme Court
) Cause No. 02S00-0006-CR-386
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee (Plaintiff Below). )
__________________________________________________________________
APPEAL FROM THE ALLEN SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Frances C. Gull, Judge
Cause No. 02D04-9903-CF-141
__________________________________________________________________
ON DIRECT APPEAL
__________________________________________________________________
August 28, 2001
BOEHM, Justice.
John Farris was convicted of aiding the murder of Nicole Barrone and
aiding the aggravated batteries of Ronald Foreman, Janice Foreman, and
Brenda Washington. He was sentenced to an aggregate term of 155 years. On
direct appeal, Farris presents six issues for review, which we restate as
five: (1) whether the prosecution of Farris following a mistrial violated
the prohibition against double jeopardy; (2) whether the trial court erred
in permitting the introduction of a prior deposition; (3) whether the trial
court erred in denying Farris’ motion for a directed verdict and whether
the convictions were based on sufficient evidence; (4) whether the trial
court erred in finding that aiding murder and aiding aggravated battery are
“crimes of violence” and therefore subject to consecutive sentencing; and
(5) whether the trial court’s sentencing order constituted cruel and
unusual punishment. We affirm the trial court.
Factual and Procedural Background
In June 1997, John Farris and Richie Foreman were arrested and
charged with the robbery of Tom’s Super Value Store in Fort Wayne. Farris
was released on bond and Richie cooperated with police and planned to
testify against Farris in a trial set for late January 1998.[1]
Dorothy Foreman was Farris’ girlfriend and Richie’s sister. On
January 16, 1998, Brenda Washington, Richie’s ex-wife, and Dorothy were at
a bingo parlor when Farris arrived with his nephew, Sonny Woods, and
ordered Dorothy at gunpoint to accompany him to Farris’ apartment. Later
that night, Danny Littlepage arrived at the apartment. Farris told
Littlepage that he wanted him to go to the Foreman family home, where
Richie lived, and “take care of” Richie and Washington because of the
problems they had caused Farris. Farris handed Littlepage a handgun and
threatened to shoot Littlepage if he did not complete this assignment.
Littlepage and Woods then drove to Foreman’s house and parked in an alley
approximately one block away.
Around midnight, nine people were in Foreman’s living room:
Washington and her three children, Washington’s niece Nicole Barrone,
Richie’s brother Ronald, Richie’s mother Janice, and Dorothy’s two
children. Richie was not home. Littlepage, cloaked in a blue bandana but
still identifiable to the victims, burst through the door and ordered
everyone to the floor. Littlepage then fired four shots, hitting Ronald in
the neck, Washington in the neck, Barrone in the stomach, and Janice in the
face. Ronald, Washington, and Janice survived, but after three painful
operations, Barrone died.
Littlepage and Woods returned to Farris’ apartment and Littlepage
gave the gun to Woods to return to Farris. The next day, Farris told
Dorothy that her mother, Janice, had been shot, but refused to allow her to
leave his apartment to check on her mother or her children.
A. The Investigation and Arrest
After Farris learned that he was a suspect in the shootings, he
called the detective investigating the case to deny his involvement in the
incident and to deny forcing Dorothy to come with him on the night of the
shootings. Farris also said that he had “a cap” for Richie. A week later,
Farris again called the police station, this time to criticize the
detective for releasing Littlepage from custody. Farris also said that
Littlepage’s days were “numbered.” After the detective warned Farris that
if anything happened to Littlepage, he would be the prime suspect, Farris
laughed and said that he was not returning to Fort Wayne. He added that he
had friends and family who would take care of Littlepage for him.
On March 19, 1998, Farris was pulled over in a traffic stop north of
South Bend. A license check revealed a warrant for his arrest. When he
was ordered out of the car, Farris drove off and led police on a high speed
car chase into South Bend. Ultimately, Farris crashed his car, attempted
to escape on foot, and was apprehended. After his arrest, Farris gave a
videotaped statement to police in which he admitted giving the gun to
Littlepage on the night of the shootings but claimed that Littlepage asked
for the weapon and that he did not know what Littlepage planned to do with
it.
B. Farris’ First Trial
The information charged Farris with one count of “aiding murder,”
three counts of “aiding aggravated battery,” and being a habitual
offender.[2] On the second day of Farris’ trial, the State called
Littlepage to the stand. The following exchange then occurred in the
presence of the jury:
The Court: Would you raise your right hand for me, sir? Do you
solemnly swear the testimony you shall give shall be the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Littlepage: I don’t feel like testifying. I had already told the
prosecutor.
The Court: All I’m asking you, sir, is whether or not, if you do
testify, you’re going to testify truthfully.
Littlepage: No.
The trial court then dismissed the jury and convened a bench hearing to
determine if Littlepage would testify.
During the hearing, Littlepage said that he understood that he was
under subpoena and that his plea agreement required him to testify
truthfully against Farris, but he nonetheless was invoking his Fifth
Amendment right because he was afraid of being killed in prison for being a
snitch.[3] Farris moved for a mistrial, arguing that the prosecutors knew
that Littlepage would not testify and still called him to the stand.
Farris argued that Littlepage’s declaration in front of the jury that he
would not testify placed Farris in “grave peril” and was therefore
reversible error. The prosecutor responded that he did not expect
Littlepage to refuse to testify. The prosecutor said he had met with
Littlepage several times before trial to review his testimony and only on
the morning of trial had Littlepage indicated that he would not implicate
Farris in the shooting. The prosecutor stated that he had believed that
Littlepage would testify to the facts of the incident but would not say
that Farris had threatened him or that the threat had caused him to commit
these crimes.
The trial court found that the prosecutor did not know that
Littlepage would invoke the Fifth Amendment. Nevertheless, the trial court
ruled that his doing so in front of the jury required a mistrial. Farris’
second trial was scheduled to begin the next week. At no time did Farris
object that the second trial would be barred by double jeopardy.
C. Farris’ Second Trial
The day before the second trial, the trial court held a hearing to
determine whether Littlepage would testify. When Littlepage again claimed
a Fifth Amendment right, the trial court ordered him to testify, he
refused, and the trial court found him in contempt. At this hearing,
Farris asked Littlepage if his pretrial statements to police were true and
Littlepage disclaimed all statements that he had given regarding the case.
The prosecutor then asked the trial court to declare that Littlepage was an
unavailable witness and asked to offer Littlepage’s sworn deposition
testimony into evidence pursuant to Indiana Rule of Evidence 804(a)(2).
Farris objected on the ground that he was not personally present at the
deposition, even though his counsel was present. The trial court found
that Farris was given the opportunity to examine Littlepage at the
deposition and that Littlepage was an “unavailable” witness. The court
then ruled that Littlepage’s deposition and any prior inconsistent
statements would be admitted at the trial.
On the second day of Farris’ second trial, in the presence of the
jury, the State called Littlepage as a witness, asked that he be declared
unavailable, and asked permission to enter Littlepage’s deposition into
evidence pursuant to Indiana Rule of Evidence 804(a)(2). Farris renewed
his objection based on his lack of ability to confront Littlepage at the
deposition. The trial court overruled Farris’ objection and allowed the
State to read Littlepage’s deposition into evidence.
The jury convicted Farris of aiding murder and three counts of aiding
aggravated battery. The jury also found that Farris was a habitual
offender. The trial court sentenced Farris to sixty-five years for aiding
murder, enhanced by thirty years for being a habitual offender, and three
twenty-year sentences for each of the aiding aggravated battery
convictions. Although each of the crimes took place in a single criminal
episode, the trial court found that the crimes of aiding murder and aiding
aggravated battery are “crimes of violence” under Indiana Code section 35-
50-1-2, and could be imposed consecutively. An aggregate sentence of 155
years imprisonment resulted.
I. Double Jeopardy
Farris alleges that the prosecutor knew that Littlepage would invoke
his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if called to the stand
but nevertheless called Littlepage to expose the jury to the claim of
privilege. From this factual premise, Farris contends that his second
trial violated the double jeopardy provision of the United States
Constitution.
The Fifth Amendment provides that no person shall “be subject for the
same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” U.S. Const.
amend. V. Although a defendant’s motion for a mistrial constitutes “a
deliberate election on his part to forgo his valued right to have his guilt
or innocence determined before the first trier of fact,” United States v.
Scott, 437 U.S. 82, 93 (1978), the United States Supreme Court has provided
a narrow exception that bars a second trial after a mistrial “where the
governmental conduct in question is intended to ‘goad’ the defendant into
moving for a mistrial.” Oregon v. Kennedy, 456 U.S. 667, 676 (1982). The
subjective intent of the prosecutor is the dispositive issue. Wilson v.
State, 697 N.E.2d 466, 472 (Ind. 1998). Although a trial court’s
determination of prosecutorial intent is not conclusive for purposes of
appellate review, its determination is “very persuasive.” Id. at 473. “It
is a factual determination that we review under a clearly erroneous
standard.” Butler v. State, 724 N.E.2d 600, 604 (Ind. 2000).
When Littlepage refused to testify, the prosecutor maintained that
Littlepage had given him no forewarning and, in several interviews, had
been forthcoming with details of the crimes and Farris’ involvement.
Littlepage confirmed that he had repeatedly told prosecutors that he would
testify. The prosecutor further stated that on the morning of the trial,
after Littlepage had indicated that he would not implicate Farris in the
shootings, it was still necessary to call Littlepage to the stand to
establish the narrative of the crimes and the fact that Littlepage had
pleaded guilty. The trial court found that the prosecutor did not know
that Littlepage planned to plead the Fifth Amendment, and therefore did not
intentionally produce a mistrial. Farris offers nothing but speculation to
challenge this view. He does not demonstrate that the trial court’s
finding was clearly erroneous. Because Farris’ legal theory depends on
this factual premise, his contention fails.
II. Testimony from Deposition
Farris argues that the trial court erred in admitting Littlepage’s
deposition into evidence because: (1) the State did not lay a proper
foundation to declare Littlepage unavailable; (2) the introduction of
Littlepage’s deposition violated his confrontation rights; and (3) the
deposition was not admissible under Indiana Rule of Evidence 804(b)(3). At
trial, Farris objected to admission of the deposition only on the basis
that it violated his right to confront witnesses. He raises improper
foundation and Rule 804(b)(3) for the first time in this appeal. “It is
well settled that a party may not raise one ground before the trial court
and a different ground on appeal.” Wurster v. State, 715 N.E.2d 341, 347-
48 (Ind. 1999). “The changing of theories is substantially
indistinguishable from having never raised the issue in the first
instance.” 4A Kenneth M. Stroud, Indiana Practice § 3.2 (2d ed. 1990).
Farris has waived review of his claims of erroneous admission based on
improper foundation and Rule 804(b)(3).
Farris correctly points out that, although criminal defendants
generally have no constitutional right to attend depositions, Jones v.
State, 445 N.E.2d 98, 99 (Ind. 1983), depositions taken in the absence of
defendants may not be admissible if the deponent is later unavailable for
trial, Miller v. State, 517 N.E.2d 64, 71-73 (Ind. 1987). However, where
defense counsel takes the deposition of a witness and actively participates
in it, the defendant has waived his right of confrontation at trial. State
v. Owings, 622 N.E.2d 948, 952 (Ind. 1993); Ingram v. State, 547 N.E.2d
823, 826 (Ind. 1989). That doctrine applies here because, although Farris
was not present at Littlepage’s deposition, the proceeding was conducted by
Farris’ attorney. The trial court correctly overruled Farris’ objection
that admission of the deposition violated his Sixth Amendment right to
confrontation.
III. Motion for Directed Verdict and Sufficiency of Evidence
Farris argues that the trial court erred when it denied Farris’
motion for a directed verdict. When a defendant moves for judgment on the
evidence, the court is required to withdraw the issues from the jury if:
(1) the record is devoid of evidence on one or more elements of the
offense; or (2) the evidence presented is without conflict and subject to
only one inference, which is favorable to the defendant. Ind. Trial Rule
50(A); Cutter v. State, 725 N.E.2d 401, 407 (Ind. 2000). Farris contends
that there was no substantive evidence to support the findings by the jury
that Farris, by his threat, caused Littlepage to commit the shootings or
that Farris supplied Littlepage with the handgun used in the crime.
After the trial court denied Farris’ motion for a directed verdict,
Farris introduced two defense exhibits into evidence and read a portion of
Littlepage’s testimony from the January 31, 2000, hearing in which
Littlepage stated that he was revoking all prior statements implicating
Farris. Farris then rested his case. Because the defendant presented
evidence on his own behalf following the trial court’s denial of his motion
for judgment on the evidence at the close of the State’s case-in-chief, we
will not review that ruling but rather will treat the issue as one of
general insufficiency of the evidence. Chubb v. State, 640 N.E.2d 44, 47
(Ind. 1994); Kuchel v. State, 570 N.E.2d 910, 915 (Ind. 1991). Our
standard of review for sufficiency claims is well settled. We will not
reweigh the evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses. Rather, we
look to the evidence and reasonable inferences drawn therefrom that support
the verdict and will affirm the conviction if there is probative evidence
from which a reasonable jury could have found the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. Taylor v. State, 681 N.E.2d 1105, 1110 (Ind. 1997).
Littlepage testified in his deposition that Farris gave him the gun
and instructed Littlepage to shoot the adults at the Foreman house.
Additionally, Littlepage testified in his deposition that Farris told him
that if Littlepage did not carry out this task, Farris would shoot
Littlepage. Other evidence is consistent with Littlepage’s claim that
Farris supplied the gun used in the shooting. Farris’ videotaped statement
to the investigating detective was admitted into evidence. On that tape,
Farris admitted that he gave a handgun to Littlepage just before the
shootings occurred, but denied that he knew what Littlepage planned to do
with the gun. A firearms examiner with the Indiana State Police testified
that the bullet casings found at the scene were consistent with the
ammunition that would be fired from the handgun.
Farris points out that both Woods and Dorothy gave testimony at trial
that conflicted with their earlier statements to investigating officers.
Additionally, Farris points to Littlepage’s testimony at the January 31
hearing that attempted to “revoke” all statements that he had previously
given in the case. These inconsistencies in testimony were before the
jury. The credibility of these witnesses was for the jury to determine.
There was sufficient evidence to support Farris’ convictions.
IV. “Crimes of Violence”
Farris argues that the trial court erred when it imposed the maximum
sentence on each of the four counts and ordered that they be served
consecutively. Indiana Code section 35-50-1-2 limits a trial court’s
ability to impose consecutive sentences for multiple crimes which arise out
of a single “episode of criminal conduct.” This limitation does not apply
to a defined list of “crimes of violence.” Farris notes that, although
murder and aggravated battery are expressly defined as “crimes of
violence,” aiding murder and aiding aggravated battery are not. Because he
was charged with murder and aggravated battery as an accomplice, Farris
argues that the trial court improperly imposed consecutive sentences.
The legislature defined by name and citation the crimes that are
“crime[s] of violence” for the purposes of Indiana Code section 35-50-1-2.
Ellis v. State, 736 N.E.2d 731, 737 (Ind. 2000). This Court recently held
that, because attempted murder is not among those listed in the statute, it
is not a “crime of violence.” Id. at 736-38. That reasoning does not
apply to murder committed by an accomplice. The crime of attempted murder
receives singular treatment in the Indiana Code. An attempted crime,
unlike aiding the crime, is the product of the attempt statute in concert
with the statute defining the elements of the offense. Id. at 741 (citing
Ind. Code § 35-41-5-1(a) (1998)). In contrast, Indiana Code section 35-41-
2-4 provides that “[a] person who knowingly or intentionally aids, induces,
or causes another person to commit an offense commits that offense.” There
is no distinction between the accessory and the perpetrator of the crime.
Rather, both commit the offense, and a person who aids another person to
commit a crime is as guilty of the principal offense as the actual
perpetrator. Sanquenetti v. State, 727 N.E.2d 437, 439 (Ind. 2000).
Murder and aggravated battery are clearly “crimes of violence” and
subject to consecutive sentencing. The statute does not treat those crimes
differently if a conviction is based on a theory of accomplice liability.
The trial court did not err in ordering Farris to serve consecutive
sentences.
V. Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Farris asserts that his aggregate sentence of 155 years constitutes
cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment of the
United States Constitution and Article I, Section 16 of the Indiana
Constitution. Farris also claims that his sentence was disproportionate
because there was a single episode of criminal conduct, Farris was
convicted under the accomplice liability statute, and, pursuant to a plea
agreement, the triggerman received a sentence of only fifty-five years.
The Indiana Constitution requires that a sentence be proportionate to the
nature of the offense. The constitutional requirement that a sentence be
proportionate to the offense does not require us to compare, as Farris
would have us do, his sentence to the sentence of others convicted of the
same crime. Gambill v. State, 675 N.E.2d 668, 678 (Ind. 1996). Farris
provided Littlepage with a gun and instructed him to “take care of” two
people, one of whom angered Farris by cooperating with the State in a
separate criminal proceeding against Farris. At Farris’ behest, Littlepage
opened fire on a group of people, including five children. Three victims
were seriously wounded and one person died. Farris’ sentence is not
disproportionate to the nature of his offense.
Farris presents no case authority or argument to support his simple
assertion that his sentence violates the constitutional prohibition against
cruel and unusual punishment found in the Eighth Amendment and Article I,
Section 16. Accordingly, Farris has waived review of this issue. Former
Ind. Appellate Rule 8.3(A)(7) (now App. R. 46(A)(8)); Dunlop v. State, 724
N.E.2d 592, 596 n.6 (Ind. 2000) (failure to cite to authority supporting
constitutional claim forfeits the claim on appeal).
Conclusion
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
SHEPARD, C.J., and DICKSON, SULLIVAN, and RUCKER, JJ., concur.
-----------------------
[1] At some point, Richie pleaded guilty to aiding robbery. The date of
that plea agreement is not in the record.
[2] Throughout Farris’ trials, the counts against him were referred to as
“aiding murder” and “aiding aggravated battery.” The information makes
clear that Farris was actually charged with violations of both Indiana Code
sections 35-42-1-1 and 35-41-2-4 on count one, and Indiana Code sections 35-
42-2-1.5 and 35-41-2-4 on counts two, three and four. In other words, he
was charged with one count of murder and three counts of aggravated battery
based on accomplice liability.
[3] Prosecutor: So if I ask you any questions, what are you going to
say?
Littlepage: Plead the Fifth.
Prosecutor: Plead the Fifth? You’re already pled guilty in this
case.
Littlepage: I know. I pled guilty to this case, but still, I stand on,
you know, not testifying.