Farmer v. State, 772 N.E.2d 1025

Farmer v. State

772 N.E.2d 1025

Ind. Ct. App.

2002

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OPINION

BAILEY, Judge.

Case Summary

Appellant-Defendant Shane Farmer ("Farmer") appeals the sentence imposed upon his guilty plea to attempted murder, a Class A felony. 1 We remand for resen-tencing.

Issues

Farmer presents two issues for review:

I. Whether the trial court relied upon improper aggravating factors; and

II. Whether the thirty-five year sentence is manifestly unreasonable.

Facts and Procedural History

On Octobеr 9, 2000, Farmer entered the residence of Jim Brown ("Brown"), the boyfriend of Farmer's ex-wife. Farmer accusеd Brown of mistreating Farmer's child. Farmer repeatedly struck Brown in the ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍head with a broom handle and choked Brown until police officers arrived. While yelling that he would kill Brown, Farmer refused to release Brоwn until Officer Allen kicked Farmer twice in the face 2 After he was taken into custody, Farmer threatenеd Brown "this isn't over, I will still get you." On October 10, 2000, Farmer was charged with attempted murder, burglary resulting in bodily injury, intimidation and resisting lаw enforcement. On July 28, 2001, Farmer pled guilty to attempted murder and the State dismissed the remaining charges. On September 5, 2001, Farmer was sentenced to thirty-five years imprisonment, with five years suspended. This appeal ensued.

Discussion and Decision

I. Reliance on Improper Aggravators

Indiana Code section 35-50-2-4 provides that the sentence for a Class A felony is thirty years, tо which up to twenty years may be added for aggravating circumstances or up to ten years may bе subtracted for mitigating circumstances. *1027 "The presumptive sentence assigned to a given class of felony is the penalty determined by the legislature to be appropriate for the standard еrime committed by the standard criminal, in other words, where aggravators and mitigators rest at apprоximate equipoise." Perry v. State, 751 N.E.2d 306, 309 (Ind.Ct.App.2001) (quoting Bustamante v. State, 557 N.E.2d 1313, 1321 (Ind.1990)).

It is within the discretion of the sentencing court to determine whether a presumptive sentence will ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍be increased or decreased because of aggravating or mitigating circumstances. Jones v. State, 600 N.E.2d 544, 548 (Ind.1992). Where the sentencing court imposes an aggravatеd sentence, it must make valid findings to support an aggravator. Ajabu v. State, 722 N.E.2d 339, 342 (Ind.2000), reh'g. denied.

In support of Farmer's enhanced sentence, the trial court identified the following aggravators: (1) that the offense occurred in Brown's home; (2) that Farmer failed to release Brown upon the officer's command; and (8) that Farmer screamed threats that Brown was going to die. (App. 32-35.) Farmer contends that the sentencing court's reliance on facts that supported the burglary, intimidation and resisting law enforcement charges dismissed as part of his plea agreement essentially cireumvents the plea agreement аnd is therefore improper. We agree. See generally Carlson v. State, 716 N.E.2d 469, 472-3 (Ind.Ct.App.1999) (holding that a sеntencing court cannot cireumvent a plea agreement by sentencing a defendant using as аn aggravator the distinguishing element between the offense charged and the offense to which the defendant pled guilty).

A plea agreement is a contract, binding upon both parties ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍when accеpted by the trial court. Griffin v. State, 756 N.E.2d 572, 574 (Ind.Ct.App.2001), trans. denied. This Court will give effect to the parties' intent. Id. The facts that Farmer entered Brown's home without Brown's permission, disobeyed an officer's command to relеase Brown and communicated a threat to Brown are the facts comprising the dismissed chargеs. If Brown were sentenced more harshly in reliance upon these facts, he would not receive the full benefit of his plea agreement. As such, the trial court improperly enhanced Farmer's sеntence by resort to facts supporting charges dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement.

As mitigating factors, the sentencing court found the following: (1) that Farmer had no adult criminal history; (2) that Farmer plеd guilty; and (@@) that Farmer served in the military and was honorably discharged. These are proper mitigators. Our suрreme court has concluded that the lack of a prior criminal record is a factor that deserves "substantial mitigating weight." Loveless v. State, 642 N.E.2d 974, 976 (Ind.1994). Moreover, although a guilty plea is not automatiсally a significant mitigating factor, where the State reaps a substantial benefit from the defendant's plea, the plea saves court time and the victim is spared the trauma of a trial, the defendant should have a substantial benefit returned. Sensback v. State, 720 N.E.2d 1160, 1164 (Ind.1999). Finally, a defendant's military service ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍may be givеn some mitigating weight. Baird v. State, 604 N.E.2d 1170, 1182 (Ind.1992).

An enhanced sentence may not be imposed absent a valid aggrаvating factor. Ajabu, 722 N.E.2d at 342. Moreover, it appears that the trial court failed to give weight to the mitigators it found. Therefore, in light of the multiple valid miti-gators and the trial court's reliance on improper aggravators, we remand to the *1028 trial court for resentencing in accordance with this opiniоn.

IIL,. Review of Sentence for Manifest Unreasonableness

Farmer asks this Court to revise his sentence on grounds of manifest unreasonableness, pursuant to Article 7, Section 6 of the Indiana Constitution. ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍However, we decline to exercise our constitutional рrerogative, having determined that the appropriate remedy is remand to the sentencing court.

Remanded for resentencing.

NAJAM, J., and ROBB, J., concur.

Notes

. Ind.Code § 35-42-1-1(1).

. Officer Allen is identified only by his surname in the charging information. (Appendix 24.)