State of Tennessee v. Tommy G. Benham - Dissenting
Because I believe the majority opinion essentially reduces the requirements of Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-202 (a) to a superfluity, I must respectfully dissent. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Alda Michelle Paetz
The Defendant entered a plea of nolo contendere to vehicular homicide by reckless driving. Pursuant to her plea agreement, the Defendant received a four-year sentence, with the manner of service of the sentence to be determined by the trial court. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered that the Defendant serve her entire four-year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The Defendant now appeals, arguing that she should have received some form of alternative sentencing. We conclude that the record supports the trial court's denial of alternative sentencing and therefore affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Cheatham | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Ross Burger
Defendant appeals the trial court's denial of placement in the Community Corrections Program. Denial of placement in Community Corrections Program for untruthfulness and failure to report to begin sentence of incarceration was not abuse of discretion. We affirm. |
Bradley | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Carolyn Wheeler
The appellant was sentenced on November 24, 1997 for two convictions, theft of property valued in excess of $10,000 and forgery. Two concurrent three year sentences were imposed with incarceration for one year followed by two years of community corrections. Restitution was not ordered until the appellant's sentenced had expired, and she brings this appeal maintaining that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to impose restitution following the expiration of her sentence. The State concedes that the restitution order in this case was entered following the expiration of the appellant's sentence and is therefore in contravention of Tennessee Code Annotation section 40-35-304(g)(2). We agree and reverse the order of restitution entered in this case. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Carolyn A. Wooster
The defendant, Carolyn A. Wooster, was convicted of aggravated child abuse and neglect, a Class A felony. The trial court imposed a sentence of 15 years. In this appeal, the defendant asserts that (1) the evidence was insufficient to support her conviction and (2) the trial court’s failure to give an augmented unanimity instruction was reversible error. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. |
Dickson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Antonio Coach
The Appellant, Antonio Coach, appeals from the Lake County Circuit Court's denial of his pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus. On appeal, Coach asserts that the trial court's summary dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus without requiring the State to file a responsive pleading was error. Coach further asserts that his sentence is void because the juvenile court failed to make findings of fact before his transfer to circuit court. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Lake | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Larry Ammons
The defendant was convicted in 1993 of three counts of aggravated burglary, and the trial court imposed three concurrent three-year sentences. In 1995, the defendant was convicted of one count of burglary and five counts of aggravated burglary. The trial court imposed a four-year sentence for the burglary count and six-year concurrent sentences for each of the aggravated burglary counts. The defendant's latter sentences were to be served consecutively to his previous three-year sentence, with probation granted as to all sentences. Subsequently, a petition to revoke the defendant's probation was filed, alleging that the defendant had failed to report to his probation officer and failed to pay restitution as ordered. Following a hearing, the court revoked the probation, and the defendant timely appealed. On appeal, the defendant claims that there was insufficient evidence to revoke his probation, that his due process rights were violated, and that he received ineffective assistance of counsel during his probation revocation hearing. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court but remand for entry of a corrected order revoking probation only as to Docket No. 6112. |
Lauderdale | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Rodney M. Butler
The Defendant, Rodney M. Butler, was indicted by a Madison County grand jury for one count of unlawfully driving or being in physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, one count of unlawfully driving or controlling a motor vehicle with a blood or breath alcohol concentration of .10% or more, and one count of driving under the influence, fourth offense. The Defendant was convicted on all three counts. The trial court merged counts one and two into count three, and, after a sentencing hearing, sentenced the Defendant as a Range II offender to four years in the Department of Correction and reduced the jury-imposed fine of $15,000 to $10,000. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to prove that he was in physical control of the motor vehicle and also contends that he was improperly sentenced. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Madison | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Timmy Fulton v. State of Tennessee
The Appellant, Timmy Fulton, appeals from the Lauderdale County Circuit Court's dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. In October of 1996, Fulton was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to twenty-two years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, Fulton contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial based upon: (1) trial counsel's failure to investigate and determine his competency to stand trial or to investigate a diminished capacity defense; and (2) trial counsel's failure to adequately investigate the facts and interview material factual witnesses "in preparation of a possible factual defense." After review, we affirm. |
Lauderdale | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Roger Neal James and George Osborne Wade
Following a consolidated trial, an Obion County Jury convicted Defendant Roger Neal James of the delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school. The jury convicted Defendant George Osborne Wade of the sale of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school. The trial court sentenced Defendant James to twenty-five years incarceration and Defendant Wade to twenty-three years incarceration. Both Defendants now appeal. Defendant James contests the sufficiency of the convicting evidence, the admission at trial of evidence concerning a second drug transaction that took place after the transaction in this case, and the length of his sentence. Defendant Wade also contests the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. In addition, he argues that the trial court erred by refusing to grant a continuance of the case and that the Drug-Free School Zone Act is unconstitutional as applied to his case. After review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Obion | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Raymond Griffin - Concurring and Dissenting
I agree with the majority opinion except that I would hold that the defendant’s dual convictions for the especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery of Larry Smith do not violate due process. I would, therefore, affirm the especially aggravated kidnapping conviction. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Alfonzo Williams
The defendant was indicted for one count of first degree murder during the perpetration of an attempted robbery and one count of premeditated first degree murder. A Shelby County jury found the defendant guilty of felony murder in count one and the lesser-included offense of second degree murder in count two. The trial court merged the second degree murder conviction into the conviction for felony murder, and the defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment. In this appeal, the defendant alleges: (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his convictions; (2) the trial court erroneously neglected to charge the jury on the offenses of second degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, and criminally negligent homicide as lesser-included offenses of felony murder; and (3) the trial court failed to perform its duties as the "thirteenth juror." After a thorough review of the record, we conclude the trial court erred by failing to charge lesser-included offenses of felony murder. We affirm the guilty verdict for second degree murder; we reverse the conviction for felony murder and remand that count for a new trial with special instructions relating to the second degree murder verdict. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Mack A. O'Baner
The Defendant, Mack A. O'Baner, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence presented at trial is insufficient to support a finding of guilty of first degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Raymond Griffin
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Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Jaxie Raymond Jones
In these consolidated appeals, the Appellant, Jaxie Raymond Jones, has appealed from orders of the criminal courts of Washington County and Johnson County. His "Motion For Order Directing Joe C. Crumley, 1st Judicial District Attorney General To Produce To Jaxie Raymond Jones, A Copy Of The Entire Case File Of Case No. 14189" was denied. Subsequently, a motion to "alter or amend judgment" was also denied, with the trial court imposing sanctions pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated sections 41-21-801 through -818. Upon review of the entire record, we affirm the judgments of each trial court insofar as each order denies the motion. However, we reverse the order of the Johnson County Criminal Court insofar as it imposes sanctions pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated sections 41-21-801 through -818. |
Johnson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Quantreal Underwood v. State of Tennessee
The appellant, Quantreal Underwood, was convicted of second degree murder and two counts of aggravated robbery. He received a Range I sentence of twenty-five years for the murder conviction and two concurrent eight year terms for the robbery convictions. His convictions and sentences were affirmed by this Court on direct appeal. State v. Quantreal Underwood, No. 02C01-9604-CR-00120, 1997 Tenn. Crim. App. Lexis 1018 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Jackson Oct. 9, 1997). The appellant filed a post-conviction petition in May, 1999, wherein he alleged that his trial counsel was ineffective and thus deficient within the meaning of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. That petition was denied, and the appellant now brings the instant appeal. We have reviewed the record and find no error. Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Cynthia C. Warren
A Shelby County jury found the defendant guilty of driving under the influence. In this appeal, the defendant alleges (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain her conviction; (2) the trial judge erroneously allowed the arresting officer to opine the defendant's blood alcohol level was greater than .10%; and (3) the trial court erroneously failed to charge adult driving while impaired as a lesser-included offense of DUI. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Donald Richard Harmon, Jr., and Charles Leonard Golden
The defendants, Donald Richard Harmon, Jr., and Charles Leonard Golden were convicted of theft over $1,000.00 but less than $10,000.00. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-14-103, 105(3).The trial court imposed Range I, two-year sentences for each defendant. Each has appealed, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and alleging as error the limitation of cross-examination of a state witness. The defendant Harmon argues that he should have been granted an alternative sentence. The cause is remanded as to the sentencing of the defendant Harmon; otherwise, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed. |
Greene | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Ralph Thompson, Jr. v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that he received effective assistance of trial counsel. The complaints against trial counsel were as to their alleged failure to prepare adequately for trial, to interview and present certain witnesses, and to present an adequate defense. After a careful review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court dismissing the petition. |
Cocke | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Eric Brooks v. State of Tennessee
The Defendant, Eric Brooks, pled guilty to the sale of a controlled substance and received a sentence of twelve years to be served on Community Corrections. The Defendant was subsequently arrested and his case officer filed an affidavit indicating that his arrest constituted a violation of his Community Corrections program. A hearing was held, at which the Defendant was represented by counsel, and the trial judge revoked the Defendant's Community Corrections sentence, re-sentencing him to fourteen years in the Department of Correction. The Defendant subsequently filed a petition for post-conviction relief, which the trial court eventually dismissed summarily. The Defendant now appeals from that dismissal. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. James Noble Page
The juvenile defendant, fifteen-year-old James Noble Page, was tried as an adult for second degree murder and convicted as charged by a Montgomery County jury. The specific issue in this appeal is whether the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the "knowing" mens rea element of second degree murder. The trial court instructed the jury that the "knowing" element of second degree murder could be established by defendant's awareness "(1) that his conduct is of a particular nature; or (2) that a particular circumstance exists; or (3) that the conduct was reasonably certain to cause the result." (Emphasis added). The state concedes the instruction was error but contends it was harmless. We conclude second degree murder is a result-of-conduct offense; allowing the jury to convict based upon awareness of the nature of the conduct or circumstances surrounding the conduct erroneously lessens the state's burden of proof for this offense; the error in the jury charge was not harmless under the facts of this case; and the conviction must be reversed and the case remanded for a new trial. |
Montgomery | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Nelson Troglin
The defendant, Nelson Troglin, was convicted of second degree murder following a jury trial in the Bledsoe County Circuit Court. The trial court subsequently imposed a sentence of twenty-three years. In this appeal, Defendant raises the following issues: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support his conviction; (2) whether the trial court erred by ruling that Defendant's statement to the police was admissible as evidence during his trial; (3) whether comments made by the trial court during curative instructions to the jury constituted impermissible expressions of bias toward Defendant, effectively depriving him of his right to a fair trial; (4) whether the trial court erred when it excluded evidence that a person, not Defendant, had assaulted the victim on the day of his death, and when it allowed an expert to testify concerning evidence which was not revealed to Defendant during regular discovery; (5) whether the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offenses of reckless homicide and criminally negligent homicide; and (6) whether the sentence imposed by the trial court was excessive. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Bledsoe | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. John David White
The defendant, John David White, was convicted by a jury in the Rutherford County Circuit Court for aggravated burglary, theft of property valued over $1,000, felony evading arrest, vandalism, and driving while his license was suspended. He was sentenced to a total of twenty-one years in the Department of Correction as a career offender. In this appeal, the defendant contends (1) that the trial court should have suppressed evidence obtained from the stop of his truck and (2) that the trial court erred in instructing the jury relative to flight from crime. We affirm the trial court. |
Rutherford | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Charles E. Robinson v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Charles E. Robinson, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post- conviction relief as time-barred. The petitioner asserts that, because he was unilaterally denied the opportunity for second-tier review of his conviction, due process requires tolling of the statute of limitations. The judgment of the trial court is reversed and remanded. |
Williamson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Theodore R. Pointer, III v. James Dukes, Warden
The petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, alleging that the Department of Correction had wrongfully altered two judgment forms so as to require service of his sentences in prison rather than in the county workhouse. The trial court summarily denied the petition. Because the petitioner has failed to allege grounds that would warrant habeas corpus relief, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals |
