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Date: 07-07-2016
Case Style: Bradley Arndt v. State of Indiana
Case Number: 46A05-1509-CR-1536
Judge: Patricia A. Riley
Court: COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Plaintiff's Attorney: Karl M. Scharnberg, Deputy Attorney General
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Arndt, born on October 22, 1967, and his two older brothers, Jeff Arndt1 and
Thomas Arndt (Thomas), grew up in Trail Creek, LaPorte County, Indiana.
The Arndt brothers had a “hard” childhood—with a father who “drank a lot
and took it out on the kids.” (Tr. p. 188). Arndt, in particular, struggled as he
was “picked on” by students at school and other children in his neighborhood.
(Tr. p. 188). In addition, Arndt and his brothers never had a “normal, regular
brotherly relationship.” (Tr. p. 189). Rather, there was “lots of yelling and
screaming and threatening each other.” (Tr. p. 190).
1 In 1992, Jeff Arndt was involved in a car accident and has been residing in a nursing home ever since.
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[5] During Arndt’s childhood, other families in the neighborhood observed that
Arndt appeared to suffer from mental health issues. As one neighbor, Tony
Thomas (Tony), described,
[W]e would call him weirdly, because he one minute was just a kid walking down the street and the next minute he’d walk and make the faces and we would see him. He would stand in his yard and pretend to do karate or Tai chi or something, and then next minute he’s wandering being himself.
(Tr. p. 231). Additionally, in the middle of conversations with his neighbors,
Arndt would appear to lose touch with reality. During these episodes, Arndt
would get a glazed look in his eyes, and his demeanor “would just change.”
(Tr. p. 243). Arndt would express his beliefs that “the police [were] after him
all the time” and would also talk about “dating porn stars and going and
walking down the street and getting picked up by rock bands.” (Tr. p. 215).
Arndt also experienced severe mood swings and episodes of rage. During his
angry outbursts, he would punch holes in walls and get into physical fights. As
a teenager, Arndt began hearing strange voices in his head.
[6] Even after he reached adulthood, Arndt never moved out of his parents’ home.
In 2001, Thomas and Arndt’s father died, and in 2006, their mother died. On
September 12, 2006, Thomas contacted Adult Protective Services (APS) and
reported that Arndt “is mentally unstable and physically handicap[ped] with leg
and back trouble.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p. 1). Thomas reported that their
mother had just passed away, and she had always cared for Arndt. Thomas
asked APS “what kind of help he can get [for Arndt], as he has no means to
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support him.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p.1). The next day, APS conducted a
home visit. Arndt stated to APS that his physical pain prevents him from
working, and that his pain is the result of “chicks put[ting] him on the back of
their motorcycles and throw[ing] him off.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p. 2). Arndt
further stated that “people are out to get [him]” and that “people like to run into
[his] legs with their cars.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p. 2). Following his interview
with APS, Arndt was in agreement that Thomas would make an appointment
and take him to a mental health facility for an intake assessment. It is unclear
whether Arndt ever obtained a mental health assessment.
[7] Following their mother’s death, Thomas inherited her house, which was not
subject to a mortgage. For the next eight years, Arndt lived in the house alone
while Thomas paid for the utilities. Thomas would visit Arndt “quite often[,]”
during which times there was always “[l]ots of yelling and fighting.” (Tr. p.
191). For a few years, Arndt worked at a fast-food restaurant, but he was
largely unemployed. As Arndt was denied social security disability benefits, his
sole income consisted of $195 per month in food stamps.
[8] On August 14, 2014, Thomas contacted APS and reported that Arndt “is
delusional and states that everyone is out to get him.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p.
6). Thomas indicated that he had not visited Arndt for several months because
Arndt “is usually pretty upset and yells at him.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p. 6).
When Thomas did finally visit, he found both the home and Arndt to be filthy.
A water heater leak had caused the floors to flood and buckle. In addition,
when Thomas visited, Arndt “was irritable and irate with [him].” (Defendant’s
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Exh. A, p. 7). Thomas informed APS that “he always carries his gun when he
visits [Arndt] because he never knows how [Arndt] will react or what [Arndt] is
capable of doing[,]” and Arndt “has threatened [Thomas] and [Thomas’ wife,
Nikki Arndt (Nikki),] with harm in the past.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p. 7).
Finally, Thomas reported that he was concerned that Arndt would lose his
housing because the real estate taxes had not been paid in several years. APS
concluded that its involvement did not “seem beneficial or appropriate” at the
time and that it “would be a potentially dangerous situation for [APS]
investigators.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p. 7). Thus, APS instructed Thomas that
he should request that the police conduct a welfare check.
[9] In September of 2014, Thomas could no longer afford to pay for the utilities for
Arndt. As a result, Thomas had the utility services disconnected. In addition,
Thomas had not paid the property taxes and believed that the house would
soon be put up for a tax sale. Thomas wanted to sell the house, and he had
“[m]any” discussions with Arndt about finding a new place to live because they
were going to sell the house. (Tr. p. 303). Thomas intended to give the
proceeds of the sale to Arndt, and although Thomas found an interested buyer,
the sale was never completed because Arndt refused to vacate the house.
[10] In November of 2014, the temperature dropped to below freezing, and Arndt
was living in the house without any heat. In order to keep his feet warm, Arndt
wrapped them with alternating layers of plastic bags and socks. Arndt’s
neighbor, Tony, provided Arndt with extra blankets, food, water, and batteries.
On November 19, 2014, Tony called APS to report that Arndt “is mentally ill
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and living in a home with no heat or water.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p. 12).
Tony stated that he was “very worried that something bad is going to happen to
[Arndt] if he continues to stay in the home.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p. 12).
[11] On November 20, 2014, APS—with the assistance of Trail Creek Police
Department Chief Marshal Steven Dick (Marshal Dick)—conducted another
home visit. Upon APS’ arrival, Arndt explained that even though he had no
income to pay for utilities, “he was fine and no one needed to be concerned
about him.” (Tr. p. 420). However, the home inspection revealed deplorable
living conditions. The house was filled with a smoky haze from a lack of
ventilation; there was mold on the walls; the floors were buckled and squishy;
there were dishes on the counter that were covered with mold; the water heater
was sinking through the floor; and “there was an odor of sewage in the house.”
(Tr. p. 161). There were four “very dirty” mattresses stacked up in the living
room, which is where Arndt had been sleeping. (Tr. p. 422). In the bathroom,
there was a garbage can placed on top of the toilet, which Arndt described that
he had been “us[ing] to go to the bathroom and he just hadn’t emptied it yet.”
(Tr. p. 162). Marshal Dick explained to Arndt that it was unsafe for him to
continue living there, and they discussed his options for staying at a homeless
shelter.
[12] Based on Arndt’s complaints of pain in his back, shoulder, and leg, an
ambulance was summoned. When the paramedics arrived, Arndt stripped the
layers of socks and bags off his feet. His feet were extremely white, and the
smell was so foul that Marshal Dick was forced to exit the room. Arndt agreed
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to go to Saint Anthony Memorial Hospital in Michigan City, Indiana, for an
examination. At the hospital, Arndt was treated for frostbite and cellulitis.
Marshal Dick left a message for Thomas to inform him that Arndt had been
taken to the hospital and advised to sleep at a homeless shelter.
[13] Following the welfare check, APS concluded that Arndt “was alert and oriented
and appeared able to direct his own care. [Arndt] may have some mental
illness, but [he] denied any mental health diagnosis.” (Defendant’s Exh. A, p.
14). Ultimately, APS determined that Tony’s allegation of self-neglect was
“unsubstantiated as [Arndt] does not appear to be an endangered adult.”
(Defendant’s Exh. A, p. 14). Furthermore, during his hospital stay, Arndt
received a mental health consultation. Dr. Robert Raster, a psychiatrist,
concluded that Arndt, although suffering from “mild paranoia[,]” “most likely
has more of a chronic personality disorder with apparent personality flavor. He
does not have any outright psychotic symptoms and has no desire to take
psychotropic medication. He is not dangerous, threatening himself or others.”
(State’s Exh. 141). On November 22, 2014, Arndt was discharged from the
hospital. Contrary to the advice of social workers to avail himself of a homeless
shelter, Arndt returned to his house.
[14] On November 23, 2014, Thomas and Nikki—believing that Arndt had been
instructed not to return home—planned to secure the house. Before arriving at
the house, Thomas and Nikki learned that Arndt had, in fact, gone home.
Anticipating a confrontation, Nikki offered to call the police, but Thomas
indicated that they would wait to see if Arndt got “riled up” before involving
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the police. (Tr. p. 325). When Thomas and Nikki pulled into the driveway,
they observed Arndt standing in the open doorway. Thomas grabbed his gun
out of the console and put it in his pocket. Thomas approached the house, and
Nikki heard Thomas inform Arndt that “it’s time to go, this is ending. I got to
get rid of this house, it’s going up for tax sale.” (Tr. p. 313). Arndt retreated
into his house, only to return a few moments later with a samurai sword.
Without any hesitation, Arndt plunged the sword into Thomas’ body,
repeatedly stabbing him in the neck, chest, abdomen, and forearm. Thomas
stumbled to the ground, and as Arndt stood over him with the sword, “his eyes
were all glazed.” (Tr. p. 200). Arndt was also reportedly growling.
[15] Several neighbors were outside at the time, and they witnessed the entire event.
One neighbor heard Thomas yell that “he’s stabbing me” and immediately
contacted the police. (Tr. p. 274). After realizing that the brothers’ argument
had escalated, Tony had rushed over and pulled Arndt away from Thomas.
Tony also restrained Nikki after she retrieved the gun from Thomas’ pocket and
was aiming it at Arndt. As Arndt walked away from Thomas, he had a smirk
on his face but subsequently “went to a flat affect and then walked away.” (Tr.
p. 339). At one point, Arndt turned the sword in a manner indicating that he
intended to stab himself, but Tony convinced him to put the weapon down.
Arndt acquiesced and stuck the sword into the ground. Arndt then sat down on
the ground, with the glazed look still in his eyes. According to Tony, after
Arndt sat down, his face began returning to normal, at which point he started
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“rocking back and forth” and asked, “[W]hat did I do? I don’t remember, what
[did] I do?” (Tr. p. 219).
[16] Nikki’s mother, a registered nurse, had driven by the house during the
altercation, and she rushed to render aid to Thomas. Thomas was bleeding
significantly, and Nikki’s mother attempted to hold pressure on his wounds
until the paramedics arrived. The stab to Thomas’ neck caused injuries to the
thyroid gland, trachea, and left jugular vein. The sword also sliced through the
abdominal cavity and cut into the left kidney. When Arndt plunged the sword
into Thomas’ flank to a depth of twenty-four inches, it cut through the aorta,
the inferior vena cava, the right kidney, and the colon. Finally, the stab to the
forearm dislocated Thomas’ elbow and cut through the brachial artery and vein
before exiting Thomas’ upper arm. Thomas was transported to a hospital,
where he succumbed to his injuries.
[17] On November 24, 2014, the State filed an Information, charging Arndt with
murder, a felony. Within a few weeks after arriving at the LaPorte County Jail,
Arndt expressed some suicidal thoughts and was accordingly placed on suicide
watch. The jail’s physician examined Arndt and thought he was “possibl[y]
bipolar and . . . fairly stable at [the] time.” (Tr. p. 540). The doctor prescribed
medications to treat Arndt’s depression and anxiety. The doctor explained that
the antidepressants prescribed to Arndt may also be “used for other mood
stabilization” issues. (Tr. p. 545).
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[18] On January 16, 2015, Arndt filed a Motion for Determination of Competency
to Stand Trial, which the trial court granted the same day. The trial court
subsequently appointed two psychologists, Dr. Clifton Titus (Dr. Titus) and Dr.
John Heroldt (Dr. Heroldt), to conduct a “comprehensive evaluation” of Arndt
regarding his competency to stand trial. (Appellant’s App. pp. 26, 28). On
March 26, 2015, Arndt filed notice with the court of his intent to rely on “the
defense of mental disease or defect as set out in [Indiana Code section] 35-41-3
6.” (Appellant’s App. p. 35). On May 21, 2015, the trial court requested that
Dr. Titus and Dr. Heroldt also “make a comprehensive evaluation of [Arndt]
regarding whether he had a mental disease or defect at the time of the
commission of the crime, whereby he would be unable to appreciate the
wrongfulness of his conduct at the time of the offense (sanity/insanity).”
(Appellant’s App. pp. 27, 29). In addition, on July 8, 2015, the trial court
appointed a psychiatrist, Dr. Kumud Aggarwal (Dr. Aggarwal), “to evaluate
[Arndt] and whether he was legally insane at the time he committed the
murder.” (Appellant’s App. p. 88).
[19] On June 17, 2015, Arndt filed a motion to suppress the statements he made
during his videotaped police interview following his arrest, arguing that the
interrogation violated his Miranda rights. On July 17, 2015, the trial court held
a hearing on the motion. The Stated indicated that it did not object, and the
trial court granted Arndt’s motion to suppress his police interview.
[20] On July 20 through 23, 2015, the trial court conducted a jury trial. Following
the State’s and Arndt’s cases-in-chief, the trial court’s expert witnesses—i.e., Dr.
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Titus, Dr. Aggarwal, and Dr. Heroldt—testified. All three doctors concluded
that Arndt was competent to stand trial. Dr. Titus and Dr. Aggarwal both
diagnosed Arndt with paranoid schizophrenia. According to Dr. Titus, at the
time of his examination, Arndt knew that it was wrong to kill Thomas because
it was not justified by self-defense, and Arndt specifically stated that he “didn’t
mean for him to die.” (Tr. p. 581). Although Dr. Titus opined that Arndt’s
schizophrenia “probably played a role in what happened that night[,]” Dr. Titus
could not conclude with any certainty whether Arndt knew right from wrong at
the time of the killing. (Tr. p. 585). Similarly, Dr. Aggarwal stated that Arndt
knew that “murder is wrong, [except] when it is in self-defense and [he said
that] it was not self-defense.” (Tr. p. 677). Arndt had a “complete recollection”
of the incident, and Arndt very clearly stated that his intent was not to kill, but
rather to “maim,” Thomas. (Tr. p. 664). While Arndt indicated that he knew
right from wrong at the time, Dr. Aggarwal stated that “you can never know for
sure[] because we don’t have a crystal ball.” (Tr. p. 683). Dr. Heroldt
determined that Arndt “was not insane at the time of the offense.” (Tr. p. 729).
In fact, although Dr. Heroldt stated that he was not asked to diagnose Arndt, he
indicated that he did not believe that Arndt suffered from a mental illness on
November 23, 2014.
[21] In response to the experts’ opinions as to Arndt’s mental state at the time he
stabbed Thomas, Arndt sought to introduce his videotaped police interview as
rebuttal evidence. The State objected, arguing that it was improper rebuttal
evidence and that Arndt should have admitted the video during his case-in
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chief. Furthermore, in light of the fact that Arndt had successfully moved for
the suppression of the interview prior to trial, the State contended that Arndt
was “trying a backdoor, which basically prevented the State from cross
examining these experts as to this evidence.” (Tr. p. 761). The trial court
denied Arndt’s request to admit the evidence, finding that the videotape “could
have been presented, because it is [Arndt’s] burden of proof to present that
evidence during [his] case. [He] failed to do that.” (Tr. p. 772). The trial court
also indicated that its admission would be an “unfair surprise on the State.”
(Tr. p. 777). At the close of the evidence, the jury rejected Arndt’s insanity
defense, instead returning a verdict of guilty, but mentally ill at the time of the
offense. The trial court entered a judgment of conviction on the same. On
August 27, 2015, the trial court held a sentencing hearing and ordered Arndt to
serve sixty years in the Indiana Department of Correction, fully executed, “after
being treated by the Indiana Department of Mental Health.” (Appellant’s App.
p. 278).
[22] Arndt now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Admission of Evidence
[23] Arndt first claims that the trial court abused its discretion by denying the
introduction of his videotaped police interview into evidence. Trial courts are
vested with broad discretion in determining whether to admit or exclude
evidence. Satterfield v. State, 33 N.E.3d 344, 352 (Ind. 2015). A trial court’s
decision to admit or exclude certain evidence is subject to review only for an
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abuse of discretion. Id. On appeal, “[w]e consider all the facts and
circumstances surrounding the trial court’s decision to determine whether it is
‘clearly against the logic and effect’ of what those facts and circumstances
dictate.” Id. (quoting Blount v. State, 22 N.E.3d 559, 564 (Ind. 2014)). We
“‘may affirm a trial court’s judgment on any theory supported by the
evidence.’” Id. (quoting Clark v. State, 808 N.E.2d 1183, 1188 (Ind. 2004)).
Even if we find that the trial court abused its discretion by excluding evidence,
such error will be “disregarded as harmless error” unless it “affect[s] the
substantial rights of a party.” Hubbell v. State, 754 N.E.2d 884, 890 (Ind. 2001).
[24] Arndt contends that his police interview should have been admitted as rebuttal
evidence to the court’s mental health witnesses. Because Arndt raised an
insanity defense, the court-appointed experts were statutorily required to testify
“follow[ing] the presentation of the evidence for the prosecution and for the
defense, including the testimony of any mental health experts employed by the
state or by the defense.” I.C. § 35-36-2-2(c). Thereafter, “[t]he mental health
witnesses appointed by the court may be cross-examined by both the
prosecution and the defense, and each side may introduce evidence in rebuttal
to the testimony of a mental health witness.” I.C. § 35-36-2-2(e). It is well
established that “[r]ebuttal evidence ‘is limited to that which tends to explain,
contradict, or disprove evidence offered by the adverse party.’” Schwestak v.
State, 674 N.E.2d 962, 964 (Ind. 1996) (quoting Isaacs v. State, 659 N.E.2d 1036,
1041 (Ind. 1995), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 879 (1996)).
[25] Arndt specifically asserts that the police interview
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was offered to rebut the [c]ourt’s mental health witnesses’ testimony by showing [Arndt’s] state of mind at or near the time of the offense which had been called into question by those witnesses. The evidence was also offered to rebut the testimony of Dr. Agg[a]rwal as to whether [Arndt] understood what he was doing at the time of the offense considering he remembered everything.
(Appellant’s Br. p. 10) (citation omitted). Arndt further argues that the police
interview
would have been the jury’s best evidence as to [Arndt’s] paranoid schizophrenia in close proximity to the incident prior to being medicated, it would have shown his confusion and would have explained why it was necessary for Dr. Agg[a]rwal and Dr. Titus to have additional information from the time of the offense to consider in the evaluation process. It would also have contradicted Dr. Heroldt’s findings that [Arndt] did not have a mental illness at the time of the incident.
(Appellant’s Br. p. 11). As noted by Arndt, the trial court excluded his rebuttal
evidence “without ever reviewing what was contained in the video-taped
statement to determine its relevance.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 12). Instead, the trial
court excluded Arndt’s police interview based simply on the fact that Arndt
failed to present the evidence during his case-in-chief, as well as because the
evidence had been suppressed, upon Arndt’s motion, prior to trial and its
admission would be an “unfair surprise on the State.” (Tr. p. 777).
[26] We disagree with the trial court that Arndt was necessarily required to present
the police interview as evidence of his insanity during his case-in-chief. Rather,
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Arndt had a statutory right to present evidence specifically intended to “explain,
contradict, or disprove” the experts’ opinions. Schwestak, 674 N.E.2d at 964
(quoting Isaacs, 659 N.E.2d at 1041); see I.C. § 35-36-2-2(e). Arndt posits that in
the police interview, he described delusional incidents of
being run over by a vehicle, being shot up with drugs twice to blot out his memory, dating a girl who was Terry Bradshaw’s (former NFL quarterback) daughter and a confrontation with LaPorte police officers where they taunted him, calling him a cripple. This evidence clearly contradicts Dr. Heroldt’s findings that [Arndt] did not have a mental illness at the time of the incident, the testimony of Dr. Agg[a]rwal as to whether [Arndt] understood what he was doing at the time of the offense considering he remembered everything[,] and the evidence presented by the [c]ourt’s mental health witnesses regarding [Arndt’s] state of mind at or near the time of the offense which had been called into question.
(Appellant’s Reply Br. p. 2) (citation omitted).2 Accordingly, we find that the
trial court should have considered whether the proffered evidence served to
contradict the experts’ testimony prior to excluding it. Nevertheless,
notwithstanding the State’s alternate contention that the trial court properly
excluded the evidence based on the fact that it would have constituted an unfair
2 Arndt also contends that the trial court should have admitted the police interview because it “was similar to” the lay witness testimony of Tony and another neighbor, “who testified that [Arndt] had a glazed look in his eyes at the time of the incident or was in a daze or a fog similar to when he was delusional.” (Appellant’s Reply Br. 3). We find no merit in this argument. To the extent that Arndt sought to admit the evidence to strengthen the credibility of the lay witness testimony, it should have been done in his case-in-chief as it would not serve to “explain, contradict, or disprove” the experts’ opinions as rebuttal evidence. Schwestak, 674 N.E.2d at 964 (quoting Isaacs, 659 N.E.2d at 1041).
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surprise on the State, we find that any error in the trial court’s exclusion of the
evidence amounts to harmless error.
[27] “Harmless error is an error that does not ‘affect the substantial rights of a
party.’” Littler v. State, 871 N.E.2d 276, 278 (Ind. 2007) (quoting Thomas v.
State, 774 N.E.2d 33, 36 (Ind. 2002)). When considering whether an error is
harmless, we consider “the likely impact of the evidence on the jury.’” Id.
(quoting Witte v. Mundy, 820 N.E.2d 128, 135 (Ind. 2005)). Here, we find that
the evidence contained in the recorded interview actually provides additional
support for the jury’s verdict of guilty, but mentally ill at the time of the murder.
[28] Throughout his interview, Arndt discussed numerous paranoid delusions with
the interviewing officers. It is apparent that Arndt believed himself to be the
target of a number of conspiracies that involved the police and his brother,
Thomas. For example, Arndt stated that Thomas has instructed people to “run
[him] down” with their vehicles and has “had crazy women” give Arndt
motorcycle rides, only for him to be thrown off the back. (Defendant’s Exh. C,
4:49, 5:16). Arndt also believed that, in one instance, he was run over by a
vehicle and was subsequently “shot up with drugs twice” in an attempt to erase
his memory of the event. (Defendant’s Exh. C, 35:40). Arndt further claimed
to have been caught in the middle of a child pornography scandal as a child,
which he believed to be the catalyst for all of his subsequent troubles in life.
[29] Despite his delusional ramblings, Arndt clearly discussed the events
surrounding Thomas’ stabbing during his police interview. Arndt explained
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that when Thomas arrived at the house that day, they “were talking normally at
first.” (Defendant’s Exh. C, 30:30). Arndt recalled Thomas speaking about the
fact that “the county and the state was getting on his ass about the property and
. . . the property taxes . . . .” (Defendant’s Exh. C, 30:30-31:00). However,
when Arndt tried to discuss the matter of his ongoing unemployment, Thomas
instead yelled, “I don’t wanna hear about that shit . . . you’re just going, you’re,
you’re out of here.” (Defendant’s Exh. C, 46:20). Arndt stated that he “had no
idea where [he] was gonna go.” (Defendant’s Exh. C, 46:20). When Arndt
considered Thomas’ threat of eviction, in combination with “all this stuff from
the past[,]” Arndt claimed that he “just snapped”; “just lost it”; and “just went
berserk.” (Defendant’s Exh. C, 6:30, 39:54, 44:15, 46:20). He went inside and
retrieved the sword that he kept at his bedside. When he returned, Arndt did
not say anything to Thomas; he “just started stabbing” and kept “going at him.”
(Defendant’s Exh. C, 39:59, 40:04). Arndt remembered that after he cut
Thomas’ hand, Thomas “swung a fist at me. He did pop at me. . . . Of course
he’s gonna fight back, I mean I got a weapon, you know.” (Defendant’s Exh.
C, 42:38). Arndt stated that he stopped stabbing Thomas “[c]uz he went down,
I mean. I didn’t want to see him with all the blood,[3] and I just looked and I
thought, I thought what I’d done.” (Defendant’s Exh. C, 40:31). When asked
3 We note that this portion of the video is difficult to hear. Upon the court’s review, it sounds as though Arndt said that he “didn’t want to see him with all the blood”; whereas, the State heard him say, “I seen all the blood.” (State’s Br. p. 18).
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if he had comprehended what he had done, Arndt answered, “Yes.”
(Defendant’s Exh. C, 40:46).
[30] Arndt explained that after Thomas had fallen, he stuck the sword in the ground.
He recalled that “Nikki had that gun. I almost was gonna charge at her. Just
so she could blow me away. I almost don’t wanna live anymore. What I’ve
been through in my life, I, I just feel as though I don’t wanna live anymore.”
(Defendant’s Exh. C, 41:21). When he turned the sword on himself in a
suicidal motion, Arndt recognized that it was Tony who “talked [him] down.”
(Defendant’s Exh. C, 41:56). Arndt repeatedly indicated that he had “done a
horrible thing,” and he was aware that he was “gonna be punished for it.”
(Defendant’s Exh. C, 12:35). Arndt began crying as he stated that he “might of
killed” Thomas, knowing that he had stabbed him “in the side and the throat.”
(Defendant’s Exh. C, 31:59, 33:58). Arndt, still in tears, insisted that “[i]t
wasn’t intentional. But it became that as something within me that just the, the
rage that just caught, came out of me. Driven to kill. Or attempt to.”
(Defendant’s Exh. C, 44:15). Arndt admitted that he had a lifelong hatred of
Thomas, but that he’s “never been a person . . . to attack anybody for no
reason. That’s for sure. I’ve never been. But uh all my life I’ve had a reason to
do something like that. But I should’ve just swung fists with the . . . peckerhead
is what I shoulda done.” (Defendant’s Exh. C, 31:34).
[31] Accordingly, we find that Arndt’s police interview supports, rather than
contradicts, Dr. Aggarwal’s testimony that Arndt had a clear recollection of
events. According to Dr. Aggarwal, this is an indication that Arndt likely knew
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right from wrong at the time of the murder because people who have psychotic
breaks from reality “[u]sually [do] not” have a clear memory of the event. (Tr.
p. 695). The primary issue for the jury to decide was whether Arndt knew right
from wrong at the time of the murder, and not once during his interview did he
indicate that he did not know what he was doing or that he believed his actions
were justified. Rather, Arndt unmistakably stated that he had comprehended
his actions; that he had been overcome with rage; and that he did not intend for
Thomas to die. Furthermore, Arndt described many of the same delusions
during his police interview as in his interviews with Dr. Titus and Dr.
Aggarwal; thus, even without the admission of the video, the jury was aware of
Arndt’s delusional thoughts and was able to consider them in rendering its
verdict. Dr. Titus and Dr. Aggarwal diagnosed Arndt with paranoid
schizophrenia but also clarified that Arndt’s diagnosis did not inexorably
preclude him from appreciating the wrongfulness of his conduct at the time of
the event. Moreover, it is clear that, even in the absence of the video, the jury
discredited Dr. Heroldt’s opinion that Arndt was not suffering from any mental
illness at the time of the event, as demonstrated by the fact that the jury found
Arndt to be guilty, but mentally ill at the time of the murder. Therefore, we
conclude that the admission of the police interview would not have impacted
the jury’s verdict; thus, any error in its exclusion was harmless.
II. Sentencing
[32] Arndt also claims that the trial court abused its discretion by imposing a
sentence beyond the advisory term of fifty-five years. See I.C. 35-50-2-3(a).
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Sentencing decisions are reserved to the sound discretion of the trial court, and
we will uphold a trial court’s sentence unless it is an abuse of discretion.
Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482, 490, clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 218 (Ind.
2007).
Circumstances under which a trial court may be found to have abused its discretion include: (1) failing to enter a sentencing statement, (2) entering a sentencing statement that includes reasons not supported by the record, (3) entering a sentencing statement that omits reasons clearly supported by the record, or (4) entering a sentencing statement that includes reasons that are improper as a matter of law.
Healey v. State, 969 N.E.2d 607, 616 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (citing Anglemyer, 868
N.E.2d at 490-91), trans. denied.
[33] Arndt contends that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to consider
the factors outlined in Weeks v. State, 697 N.E.2d 28, 30 (Ind. 1998), for
determining “what mitigating weight to accord the evidence of mental illness.”
(Appellant’s Br. p. 12). In Weeks, our supreme court “emphasized that a [guilty
but mentally ill] defendant ‘is not automatically entitled to any particular credit
or deduction from his otherwise aggravated sentence’ simply by virtue of being
mentally ill.” Weeks, 697 N.E.2d at 30. However, the Weeks court noted that,
although the trial court is under “no obligation to give the evidence the same
weight the defendant does[,]” the following “considerations . . . bear on the
weight, if any, that should be given to mental illness in sentencing”: “(1) the
extent of the defendant’s inability to control his or her behavior due to the
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disorder or impairment; (2) overall limitations on functioning; (3) the duration
of the mental illness; and (4) the extent of any nexus between the disorder or
impairment and the commission of the crime.” Id. (citing Archer v. State, 689
N.E.2d 678, 685 (Ind. 1997)).
[34] Here, the trial court did consider Arndt’s mental illness in its determination of
mitigating and aggravating circumstances, acknowledging that Arndt “has a
history of undiagnosed mental illness and angry mood swings.” (Tr. p. 910).
The trial court elaborated, “At best, according to Dr. H[e]roldt, [Arndt] did not
possess any mental disease or defect at the time of the offense. At worst,
according to Dr. Titus and Dr. Agg[a]rwal, a diagnosis of paranoia
schizophrenia was appropriate. Given the testimony of [APS] and a multitude
of exhibits, including APS investigations of unstable behavior, the [j]ury found
[Arndt] guilty of murder, but mentally ill.” (Tr. pp. 910-11). Ultimately, the
trial court concluded that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the
mitigating circumstances. In accordance with the Weeks factors, Arndt now
posits that the trial court “did not give weight to Dr. Titus’ conclusion that had
[Arndt] not been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia the incident probably
would not have happened, the testimony from neighbors that he has been
suffering from mental health issues since he was young, as well as his living
conditions at the time of the offense.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 13).
[35] Nine years after Weeks was decided, our supreme court made it clear that a trial
court cannot “be said to have abused its discretion in failing to ‘properly weigh’
[aggravating and mitigating] factors.” Anglemyer, 868 N.E.2d at 491.
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Accordingly, Arndt’s claim that the trial court improperly weighed his proffered
mitigating factor “is not available for appellate review.” Id. at 494. We
therefore affirm Arndt’s sixty-year sentence.
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