State of Tennessee v. Ralph Taylor Hopson

Defendant, Ralph Taylor Hopson, was indicted by the Grand Jury of Claiborne County for one count of second degree murder and one count of attempted second degree murder. Prior to trial, Defendant stated his desire to waive his right to representation by counsel and requested to proceed pro se. Four days later, the trial court conducted an inquiry into Defendant’s ability to represent himself and granted his request. Following a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of the offenses charged. The trial court subsequently sentenced Defendant to twenty-five years for the second degree murder conviction and ten years for the attempt conviction, to be served concurrently. In this appeal, Defendant challenges both convictions on the ground that the waiver of his right to counsel was not knowingly and intelligently made. In addition, Defendant contends that his sentence for the second degree murder conviction is excessive. After a review of the record and applicable law, we conclude that Defendant did not knowingly and intelligently waive his right to counsel and that the trial court erred in determining Defendant’s sentences. Accordingly, we reverse the judgments of the trial court and remand this matter for a new trial.