COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

James Robert Crawford v. State of Tennessee
E2002-01535-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lillie Ann Sells

The defendant, indicted on counts of especially aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, theft over $1,000.00, and evading arrest, entered pleas of guilt to aggravated robbery and theft over $1,000.00. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of ten years. There was no appeal. Later, the defendant filed a petition for post-conviction relief and the trial court granted a delayed appeal. The issues presented for our review are as follows: (1) whether the guilty plea was knowingly and voluntarily entered; (2) whether trial counsel was ineffective by failing to file a direct appeal or by failing to timely file a motion to reduce the sentence; (3) whether the trial court properly modified an illegal sentence; and (4) whether the sentence imposed was excessive. The judgment is affirmed.

Cumberland Court of Criminal Appeals

Javonni Jones v. State of Tennessee
M2001-01322-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge John H. Gasaway, III

The petitioner, Javonni Jones, appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief as being barred by the statute of limitations. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

James E. Jackson v. State of Tennessee
M2001-02005-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

The petitioner, James E. Jackson, appeals the trial court's denial of his petitions for writ of error coram nobis and post-conviction relief from his conviction for first degree murder. In regard to the petition for writ of error coram nobis, the petitioner claims that newly discovered evidence entitles him to a new trial. In regard to the petition for post-conviction relief, he contends that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel because his trial attorney failed to call certain witnesses to testify and did not investigate and present a diminished capacity defense. We affirm the trial court's denial of the petitions.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Timothy Maurice Reynolds
M2001-00900-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jim T. Hamilton

A Giles County jury convicted the defendant, Timothy Maurice Reynolds, of aggravated robbery, and the trial court sentenced the defendant to twenty years as a Range II multiple offender. On direct appeal, the defendant raises the following issues: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction for aggravated robbery; (2) whether the trial court erred in prohibiting defense counsel, during cross-examination and closing arguments, from referring to the United States Attorney General's comments on eyewitness identification; and (3) whether the trial court erred in finding the defendant to be a Range II multiple offender. We affirm the conviction; however, because essential exhibits relating to sentencing are missing from the record without fault of the parties, we remand for resentencing.

Giles Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Shirley Mason
M2002-00121-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lee Russell

The defendant pled guilty to delivery of cocaine under .5 grams. The trial court imposed a Range II eight-year sentence in the Department of Correction. The defendant appeals her sentence, arguing it was excessive and she should have received alternative sentencing. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Clark Douglas Lively
M2002-00666-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Allen W. Wallace

The defendant pled guilty to attempted second degree murder, and the trial court imposed a ten-year sentence. He appeals his sentence, arguing he should have received the minimum sentence of eight years with alternative sentencing. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Cheatham Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Paul Hayes
W2001-02637-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris B. Craft

The Appellant, Paul Hayes, appeals his convictions by a Shelby County jury for aggravated burglary and two counts of aggravated robbery. In this appeal as of right, Hayes raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred by prohibiting defense counsel from addressing the jury during entry of the plea; (2) whether the trial court erred by denying Hayes' motion for a mistrial following a detective's testimony that Hayes was a suspect in uncharged similar crimes; (3) whether the trial court committed plain error by limiting the scope of cross-examination of a co-defendant testifying for the State; (4) whether the evidence was sufficient as a matter of law to support the convictions; and (5) whether the cumulative effect of all errors amounted to a denial of due process of law. After a review of the record, we hold that Hayes' issues are without merit and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Randolph Scott Jennings
E2001-02118-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Douglas A. Meyer

Randolph Scott Jennings appeals from his Hamilton County conviction of aggravated robbery. He was found guilty by a jury of his peers and sentenced by the trial court to a seventeen-year, Range II term in the Department of Correction. In this direct appeal, he alleges error in the trial court's (1) denial of his motion to suppress evidence of a "showup" identification and admission of the subsequent in-court identification of him as the perpetrator of the crime, (2) denial of motions to compel production of clothing the defendant wore at the time of his arrest, or alternatively, to dismiss the charged based upon the state's inability to produce the clothing, and (3) application of enhancement factors, imposition of a Range II sentence, and order of consecutive sentencing. Because we are unpersuaded of error, we affirm.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Mark E. Conner
E2002-00038-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Leon C. Burns, Jr.

The Defendant, Mark E. Conner, was convicted by a jury of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, a Class D felony. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant argues four issues: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain his conviction, (2) whether the trial court erred by denying the Defendant's motion to exclude the testimony of witnesses Sherri Conner, the Defendant's wife and former co-defendant, and Gloria Whitehead, the Defendant's mother-in-law, (3) whether the trial court erred by denying the Defendant's motion to require the State to provide the Defendant with any statement, arrest history, and prior convictions of the State's witnesses, and (4) whether the trial court erred by denying the Defendant's motion to exclude the State's photographs and the Defendant's request to introduce at trial the remaining photographs that were provided to the Defendant during discovery. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Cumberland Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Colin Reed Wells
E2001-02612-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz

The defendant, Colin Reed Wells, was convicted by a Knox County Criminal Court jury of carjacking (Class B felony), robbery (Class C felony), aggravated assault (Class C felony), resisting arrest (Class B misdemeanor), violation of driver's license law (Class B misdemeanor), evading arrest (Class A misdemeanor), evading arrest (Class D felony), and assault (Class A misdemeanor). Following his convictions, the trial court merged some convictions and imposed an effective sentence of 32 years as a multiple offender in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he claims his carjacking conviction is infirm because the prosecution failed to disclose exculpatory evidence. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennesse v. Ann Marie Thornton Kelly
M2001-01054-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert L. Jones

The appellant, Ann Marie Thornton Kelly, was indicted by the Giles County Grand Jury on twenty counts relating to incidents involving the sexual abuse of her children. She was ultimately convicted of two counts of rape of a child, three counts of criminal responsibility for rape of a child, one count of aggravated sexual battery, one count of criminal responsibility for aggravated sexual battery, and one count of incest. The trial court imposed a total effective sentence of sixty-two years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the State concedes that the appellant was not competent to stand trial. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we reverse the judgments of the trial court.

Giles Court of Criminal Appeals

Randy Caldwell & Stevie W. Caldwell v. State of Tennessee
M2001-00334-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Charles D. Haston, Sr.

The petitioners, brothers, were tried and convicted, jointly, of first degree murder, aggravated arson, and conspiracy to commit arson against personal property. They filed petitions for post-conviction relief, which the post-conviction court denied. After careful review, we affirm the decision of the post-conviction court.

White Court of Criminal Appeals

Anthony Hodges v. State of Tennessee
M2001-03068-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

The Defendant, Anthony Hodges, was convicted by a jury of first degree felony murder and aggravated child abuse. He was sentenced to concurrent sentences of life without parole and twenty-five years, respectively, to be served in the Department of Correction. The Defendant's convictions and sentences were affirmed on direct appeal. See State v. Hodges, 7 S.W.3d 609 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998). The Defendant subsequently petitioned for post-conviction relief, which the trial court denied. The Defendant now appeals, alleging that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and that his due process rights were violated by the trial court's failure to instruct the jury on second degree murder; by the State's employment of inconsistent theories of guilt at his and his co-defendant's separate trials; and by the denial of his right to testify. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Barry C. Melton v. State of Tennessee
E2001-02689-CCA-MR3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Rex Henry Ogle

The petitioner appeals the denial of post-conviction relief, arguing: (1) his "best interest" plea was not entered voluntarily and intelligently; and (2) trial counsel was ineffective in representing him at sentencing. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Sevier Court of Criminal Appeals

Ricky Lee Netherton v. State of Tennessee
E2001-02989-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lillie Ann Sells

The petitioner, Ricky Lee Netherton, was convicted by a jury in the Criminal Court of Cumberland County of especially aggravated robbery, a Class A felony. The trial court sentenced the petitioner as a violent offender to twenty-four years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction to be served at one hundred percent (100%). Following an unsuccessful appeal of his conviction, the petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging, among other grounds, ineffective assistance of counsel. The petitioner now brings this appeal challenging the post-conviction court's denial of his petition. After reviewing the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Cumberland Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jerome F. Sawyers
M2001-02878-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Walter C. Kurtz

The defendant, Jerome F. Sawyers, pled guilty on July 16, 2001, to possession of cocaine less than .5 grams for resale and felony possession of a firearm and was sentenced, respectively, to six years and two years as a Range I, standard offender, with both sentences to be served concurrently. A violation of probation warrant was issued on August 8, 2001, alleging that he had violated probation by being in possession of a weapon and failing to report to his probation officer as ordered. Following a hearing, the trial court revoked the defendant's probation; and he timely appealed, arguing that the proof was insufficient that he had violated the terms of his probation. We conclude that the evidence supports the revocation of probation.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jeffrey Dana York
M2001-02956-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Charles Lee

The defendant was charged with twenty-four separate counts including one count of driving under the influence, nine counts of reckless endangerment involving a deadly weapon, one count of reckless driving, eight counts of aggravated assault, two counts of failure to give notice of an accident, two counts of evading arrest creating a risk of death, and one count of false imprisonment. Eight of the reckless endangerment and reckless driving counts merged with other charges. The defendant entered guilty pleas to the other sixteen counts. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed an effective sentence of thirty years and six months. The defendant appealed the sentence as excessive, arguing that the trial court erred in calculating his total sentence. After review of the record, we affirm the judgments of conviction but remand for entry of corrected judgments.

Marshall Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Andre D. Kimbrough
M2001-02149-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

Defendant, Andre Kimbrough, appeals his conviction in the Davidson County Criminal Court for second degree murder. Defendant argues that the trial court erred by: 1) failing to act as a thirteenth juror; 2) permitting the State to impeach the Defendant using prior bad acts without giving proper notice to the Defendant; and 3) not applying certain mitigating factors in sentencing Defendant. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Ruben Joseph Knight, Jr.
E2001-02874-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.

The defendant, Ruben Joseph Knight, Jr., appeals the Blount County Circuit Court's revocation of his community corrections sentence. Following our review of the record, the parties' briefs, and the applicable law, we affirm.

Blount Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jody Lane Orr - Concurring
W2001-02075-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge C. Creed McGinley
I concur with most of the majority opinion. I respectfully disagree with its conclusion that enhancement factor (5), regarding exceptional cruelty, does not apply. I believe that being duct taped, blindfolded, tied up, and made to wear a New Year’s party hat reflect mental abuse and degradation that goes above and beyond that inherently necessary for any aggravated rape. Although I do not believe that the weight of the two enhancement factors applied by the majority opinion should result in a maximum sentence of twenty-five years, I conclude that the sentence is appropriate because of the application of enhancement factor (5), as well.

Carroll Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jody Lane Orr
W2001-02075-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge C. Creed McGinley
The Appellant, Jody Lane Orr, was convicted by a Carroll County jury of aggravated burglary, aggravated rape, and class E felony theft. He received an effective twenty-five-year sentence. On appeal, Orr raises the following issues for review: (1) whether the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress; (2) whether the State lost and/or mishandled a blood sample drawn by law enforcement after his arrest; (3) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the verdicts; and (4) whether his sentence was proper. After a review of the record, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Carroll Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Adrian Lumpkin
W2002-00648-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett

The Defendant, Adrian Lumpkin, was indicted for aggravated assault. He pled guilty and agreed to a sentence of three years with the manner of service to be determined by the trial court. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court granted the Defendant judicial diversion subject to several conditions. In this appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred by placing unreasonable conditions on its grant of judicial diversion. We conclude that the trial court had no legal authority to impose a term of incarceration as a condition of judicial diversion. However, with respect to the remaining conditions, we dismiss the Defendant's appeal because a defendant to whom judicial diversion was granted has no appeal as of right.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. David L. Baker
M2001-02025-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge John J. Maddux

The defendant, David L. Baker, was convicted of driving under the influence, fourth offense, and sentenced to eleven months, twenty-nine days, with 210 days to be served in the county jail and the balance on supervised probation. He was ordered to pay a fine of $1100 and to complete an alcohol education safety program, and his driver's license was suspended for four years. He timely appealed, presenting as the single issue his claim that the evidence presented was insufficient to support the verdict. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of conviction.

Putnam Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Ronnie K. Daniel and Jessica J. Echols
M2001-03092-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald P. Harris

A Williamson County jury convicted the defendants of DUI, first offense. Defendant Daniel was sentenced to eleven months and twenty-nine days, all suspended except for 90 days incarceration. Defendant Echols' eleven-month and twenty-nine day sentence was suspended after 30 days incarceration. The sole issue on appeal is whether their sentences are excessive. We find the defendants failed to file their notices of appeal within 30 days of the trial court's orders overruling their motions for new trial; therefore, their appeal is dismissed.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

Lloyd E. Ferrell and Debra L. Ferrell v. State of Tennessee
W2001-01465-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge C. Creed McGinley

The Appellants, Lloyd E. Ferrell and Debra L. Ferrell, appeal the denial of post-conviction relief by the Hardin County Circuit Court. On appeal, both contend that the post-conviction court erred by not finding ineffective assistance of counsel. In addition, Debra Ferrell asserts: (1) that she should be granted a new trial because the State failed to provide Brady/Bagley material: (2) that the postconviction court erred by not making written findings of fact on each issue raised in the petition, and (3) that the cumulative effect of all errors at trial, in addition to counsel’s ineffectiveness, deprived her of a meaningful defense. After review, we affirm the dismissal of the petitions.

Hardin Court of Criminal Appeals