Dustin A. Lane v. State of Indiana

Summary

The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed Lane's aggregate 3,000-day sentence for ten misdemeanor invasions of privacy arising from letters he sent to his former partner in violation of a no-contact order. The Court held that the sentence was not inappropriate under Appellate Rule 7(B), emphasizing Lane's extensive violent criminal history, continued offending while imprisoned, and the risk that his conduct would perpetuate domestic abuse. The Court also clarified that a defendant may establish inappropriateness through either the nature of the offense or the character of the offender, although a strong showing on one prong must overcome contrary evidence on the other.