COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Earl Dewayne Cole
W2000-02029-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

The appellant, Earl Dewayne Cole, was convicted by a Madison County jury of the offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced as a Range II offender to a term of seven (7) years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. In this appeal the appellant claims the trial judge failed to adequately respond to a jury question regarding the need for unanimity in their verdict, that the written jury instructions showed the victim's name and weapon only under the main charge, and that the trial judge should have considered a lesser offense at sentencing. We find that all of these alleged errors have been waived by the failure of the appellant to enter a contemporaneous objection to them, by the failure to raise these issues in the motion for a new trial, and by the failure of the appellant on appeal to cite to any relevant authority supporting his arguments. Moreover, we find that none of these alleged errors constitute plain error. We therefore affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Christopher D. Lanier
W2001-00379-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Arthur T. Bennett

The defendant, Christopher D. Lanier, was convicted by a Shelby County jury of possession of one-half gram or more of cocaine with intent to deliver, and the trial court sentenced him as a Range I offender to incarceration for nine years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and the trial court's decision to not require a police officer who testified for the state to reveal the identity of a confidential informant. Finding no error warranting reversal, we affirm.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Melvin Peacock v. State of Tennessee
M2001-00831-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

Through his 2000 post-conviction petition, Melvin Peacock seeks to avoid his 1996 Davidson County jury convictions of possession of cocaine for resale and felony possession of a weapon, for which he received an effective sentence of 20 years. After appointing post-conviction counsel and holding an evidentiary hearing on the petitioner's single issue of whether he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel, the lower court denied post-conviction relief. Because the record supports the court's decision, we affirm.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Charles Randall Elrod
M2001-01125-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer

The defendant was convicted at a bench trial of three counts of aggravated assault and received an effective sentence of ten years. In this appeal, the defendant contends (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain the convictions; (2) he was denied the right to testify; and (3) the sentence was excessive. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Clifford Coleman, Sr.
M2000-01916-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert L. Jones

The defendant, Clifford Coleman, Sr., was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. In this appeal of right, the defendant argues as follows: (1) The evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for first degree murder; (2) the trial court erred by denying his requested jury instruction on deliberation; (3) the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on the lesser included offenses of reckless homicide and criminally negligent homicide; (4) the trial court erred by failing to grant a mistrial after dismissing a juror; and (5) the trial court erred by failing to grant a mistrial after a witness was allowed to testify in violation of the rule of sequestration. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Giles Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Melvin E. Beard
M2000-02207-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter

After being indicted for aggravated perjury, the defendant, Melvin E. Beard, filed a motion for a bill of particulars. In response, the state filed two bills of particulars, one on January 22, 1999 and one on August 5, 1999. At the conclusion of a jury trial, which was held on March 8-9, 2000, the jury convicted the defendant of aggravated perjury. The trial court sentenced the defendant as a Range II multiple offender to serve five years in confinement. The defendant now brings this appeal challenging his conviction and sentence on several grounds. Following a thorough review, we find none of the issues raised warrant relief and we therefore affirm the conviction and sentence.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jimmy M. Millican
M2000-02298-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

A Davidson County jury convicted the defendant of aggravated vehicular homicide and driving on a revoked license. He was sentenced to 25 years for aggravated vehicular homicide and a concurrent six months for driving on a revoked license. The defendant contends in this appeal that (1) the evidence was not sufficient to support his convictions; (2) a facially invalid judgment for a prior DUI conviction was used to enhance his conviction to aggravated vehicular homicide; and (3) his sentence is excessive. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Michael M. Taylor v. State of Tennessee
M2000-03205-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

The petitioner, Michael M. Taylor, has filed a petition for post-conviction relief to challenge his 1997 second degree murder conviction imposed after a jury trial in the Davidson County Criminal Court. The petition alleges the ineffective assistance of trial counsel and two trial court errors. After the appointment of counsel and counsel's amendment of the post-conviction petition, the post-conviction court conducted an evidentiary hearing. Subsequently, the post-conviction court made findings of fact and on November 13, 2000 entered an order denying post-conviction relief. The petitioner filed a notice of appeal on February 23, 2001. Because the notice of the appeal was untimely and because the record contains no for basis for excusing the untimely filing of notice of appeal, we dismiss the appeal.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Dedonnas R. Thomas
W2000-01465-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph B. Dailey

The defendant was tried by jury in the Shelby County Criminal Court on two counts of felony possession of marijuana arising from a single episode. The jury acquitted the defendant of possession of marijuana with intent to sell but convicted him of possession with intent to deliver. The trial court ordered a two-year workhouse sentence. On appeal, the defendant questions the sufficiency of the evidence, and he complains that erroneous evidentiary rulings, inadequate jury instructions, and prosecutorial misconduct during closing arguments require a new trial. Based upon our review, we affirm the conviction.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Jose D. Holmes v. State of Tennessee
W2000-02600-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bernie Weinman

The petitioner, Jose D. Holmes, appeals the denial of post-conviction relief by the Criminal Court of Shelby County from his conviction of especially aggravated robbery. In this appeal, the petitioner claims that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Following a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Larry Halliburton
W2001-00755-CCA-R3-CO
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald H. Allen

A claim that a guilty plea was not knowingly and voluntarily entered because of coercion is not cognizable in a habeas corpus proceeding. We affirm the trial court's denial of the writ.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Connie Lee Arnold
E2001-00618-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lynn W. Brown

The defendant, Connie Lee Arnold, appeals from the Carter County Criminal Court's denial of his motion for return of property by the state in its prosecution of him and for return of property and files in the possession of his former trial attorney. The trial court concluded that it had no jurisdiction to rule in the matter. The state agrees with the defendant that the trial court has jurisdiction to act on the motion relative to evidence used in the case and otherwise seized and possessed by the state, but it asserts that property and files possessed by the defendant's former attorney should be addressed by the Board of Professional Responsibility or a civil court. Although we hold that the trial court had jurisdiction relative to evidence presented in the case, we affirm the trial court.

Carter Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Keena D. Mathes
E2001-00753-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Cupp

The defendant was convicted by a jury of reckless aggravated assault, a Class D felony, for cutting the victim's face with a razor blade. The trial court granted her judicial diversion, sentencing her as a Range I, standard offender to two years incarceration, but suspending the sentence and placing her on three years of probation under the supervision of the Department of Correction, including among the conditions that she pay restitution for the victim's medical bills and lost wages. Following extensive testimony as to the defendant's limited financial resources, the trial court ordered as a condition of probation that she legitimate her nine-month-old daughter to ensure that she could meet her financial obligations, including payment of restitution to the victim. In a timely appeal to this court, the defendant raises the sole issue of whether the trial court erred by requiring her to legitimate the younger of her two illegitimate children and seek child support payments for that child. We conclude that the legitimation requirement is a valid condition of probation. However, since a judgment of conviction, although not to be entered following judicial diversion, was entered in this matter, we remand for withdrawal of the judgment, the trial court to then clarify whether the defendant is to be sentenced with the sentence suspended or to be granted judicial diversion.

Washington Court of Criminal Appeals

Donald Blair, Jr. v. State of Tennessee
E2001-00947-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ray L. Jenkins

Petitioner failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he was denied effective assistance of counsel. We affirm the trial court's denial of petitioner's petition for post-conviction relief.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Harold Leonard White
E2000-01888-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Richard R. Baumgartner

The Defendant was arrested in September 1996 for aggravated assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and fleeing. His case was not set for trial until July 2000. The Defendant moved for dismissal of the charges on the ground that he had been denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial. The trial court granted the Defendant's motion, and the State now appeals as of right. Concluding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the Defendant was prejudiced by the delay, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

Elisa Cochran v. State of Tennessee
E2000-02795-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge R. Steven Bebb

The Petitioner was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison. This Court affirmed the conviction on direct appeal. The Petitioner subsequently filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that her trial attorney was ineffective. The post-conviction court denied relief, and this appeal ensued. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court denying relief.

McMinn Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Miko T. Burl
W2000-02074-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Otis Higgs, Jr.

The Appellant, Miko T. Burl, was convicted by a Shelby County jury of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, and especially aggravated robbery. Burl received an effective twenty-five year sentence. On appeal, Burl raises the following issues: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the verdicts; (2) whether the trial court erred in not suppressing the photographic identification; (3) whether the trial court erred in rejecting his special jury instruction relating to the suggestiveness of the photo identification procedure; and (4) whether his sentence was proper. After a review of the record, we find Burl's issues are without merit. We find, however, as plain error, that Burl's convictions for both aggravated assault and especially aggravated robbery violate double jeopardy principles. The conviction for aggravated assault is, therefore, vacated. The judgment of the trial court in all other respects is affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. James Hall Schlegel
W2000-02597-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Julian P. Guinn
The defendant, James Hall Schlegel, was convicted by a Henry County jury of kidnapping. The trial court imposed a four-year sentence, with one year to be served in confinement and the remainder to be served in the Community Corrections program. On appeal, the defendant raises the following issues: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support his conviction; (2) whether the trial court erred by failing to charge the lesser-included offense of false imprisonment; and (3) whether the defendant's sentence was proper. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Henry Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Avis Neal
W2001-00374-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Fred Axley
The Defendant, Avis Neal was convicted by a Shelby County jury of one count of rape of a child. After a sentencing hearing, he was sentenced as a Range I standard offender to twenty years in the Department of Correction. In this appeal, the Defendant contends that (1) the trial court erred in admitting testimony concerning statements made by the victim to her mother, (2) the trial court's reasonable doubt instruction was deficient, (3) the State failed to make a proper election, (4) the evidence is insufficient to support a verdict of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and (5) the trial court erred in denying the Defendant's motion for new trial due to the Defendant's out of court contact with a juror. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Derrann William Estill
M2001-01859-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lee Russell

The Defendant was convicted of theft of property valued between $1,000 and $10,000, a Class D felony, and criminal trespass. The trial court sentenced him as a Range II, multiple offender to six years incarceration for the theft conviction and to thirty days incarceration for the criminal trespass conviction, with the sentences to be served concurrently. The Defendant argues that insufficient evidence was presented at trial to convict him of theft or criminal trespass. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jerry Breeding
M2001-00043-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Leon C. Burns, Jr.

The defendant appeals his conviction of aggravated robbery for the armed robbery of the Union Bank and Trust in Rickman, Tennessee. We conclude that the defendant did not prove his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel and the record supports the trial court's finding that the defendant personally waived his right to testify. Furthermore, the record reveals that the defendant introduced evidence about an uncharged crime in order to impeach testimony by a witness for the state and, therefore, cannot challenge the introduction of such evidence on appeal. The trial court properly fulfilled its duty to act as a thirteenth juror. In addition, there is sufficient evidence to support the defendant's conviction for aggravated robbery. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Overton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Khanh Le
W1998-00637-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Fred Axley
On November 10, 1997, the appellant, Khanh V. Le, was convicted by a jury in the Shelby County Criminal Court of one count of first degree premeditated murder. The trial court sentenced the appellant to a term of life imprisonment in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The appellant filed an appeal, and this court affirmed the judgment of the trial court on March 9, 2000.  Accordingly, the appellant filed an application for permission to appeal to our supreme court pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 11. The supreme court granted the appellant’s application for the sole purpose of remanding the case to this court for reconsideration in light of the recent case of State v. Ely, 48 S.W.3d 710 (Tenn.), cert. denied, __ U.S. __, 122 S. Ct. 408 (2001). Upon reconsideration, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand this case for a new trial.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Khanh Le - Concurring
W1998-00637-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Fred Axley
Consistent with my conclusion when this case was originally before our court, I concur that it was reversible error for the trial court to not charge the jury with the lesser-included offense of second degree murder. Along with Judge Welles, I disagree with the statement in the lead opinion by Judge Ogle that “a failure to instruct a jury on lesser-included offenses will only be found harmless beyond a reasonable doubt under the circumstances presented” in State v. Williams, 977 S.W.2d 101, 106 (Tenn. 1998). There may be other circumstances, not presently before our court, where the erroneous failure to charge a lesser-included offense would be harmless error.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. LaKeisha Jones
W2000-02962-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Mark Agee
A Haywood County Circuit Court jury convicted the defendant, Lakeisha Jones, of second degree murder, and the trial court sentenced her as a violent offender to fifteen years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The defendant appeals, contending that the evidence is insufficient to support her conviction and that the trial court failed to instruct the jury as to mutual combat. We affirm the judgment of conviction.

Haywood Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jessie James Austin
W2001-00120-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree

The defendant, Jessie James Austin, appeals as of right his convictions by a Weakley County Circuit Court jury for two counts of aggravated assault, a Class C felony. The trial court sentenced him as a Range III, persistent offender to twelve years in the Department of Correction for each count to be served concurrently. The defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to prove either count of aggravated assault and that the trial court should have instructed the jury on the lesser included offense of reckless aggravated assault. We affirm the trial court's judgments of conviction.

Weakley Court of Criminal Appeals