Man’s 85-year sentence for murder will stand, COA rules

The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a man’s 85-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of shooting an individual in the face at a party and killing him.

While attending a party at a Fort Wayne apartment complex in 2017, Bryan Flowers fatally shot Deandre Voss in the face following an argument and fled the scene.

Flowers was later charged with murder after a witness admitted to seeing the shooting. A jury ultimately convicted Flowers of murder, and the trial court found no mitigating circumstances, sentencing him to 65 years for murder, enhanced by 20 years for his use of a firearm. The trial court also ordered Flowers to make restitution to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for funeral expenses amounting to $5,000.

The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed in Bryan L. Flowers v. State of Indiana, 19A-CR-00322,

first finding that because Flowers did not make an argument regarding the state’s motion to continue before the trial court, he waived the argument for consideration on appeal.

The COA additionally found that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence, specifically, the apartment’s surveillance footage as well as testimony from a police sergeant. As for restitution, the appellate court concluded that there was no abuse of discretion in ordering Flowers to pay $5,000 to the victim’s family for his funeral expenses.

Lastly, the appellate court concluded that Flowers’ aggregate 85-year sentence was not inappropriate based on the nature of the offense and his character.