COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Fabian Claxton
W2009-01679-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris Craft

Following a jury trial, the Defendant, Fabian Claxton, was convicted of four counts of attempted first degree murder, a Class A felony, and unlawful possession of a handgun while at a public place, a Class A misdemeanor. The Defendant was sentenced to consecutive sentences of 22 years for each of the four attempted first degree murder convictions and a concurrent sentence of 11 months and 29 days for the unlawful possession of a handgun while at a public place conviction, for a total effective sentence of 88 years. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant contends that (1) the evidence is insufficient to sustain his convictions; (2) the trial court erred in instructing a witness to identify the Defendant; and (3) the trial court improperly imposed consecutive sentences. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Lawrence David Ralph, Jr.
M2010-00195-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Larry Stanley, Jr.

A Warren County Circuit Court jury convicted the appellant, Lawrence David Ralph, Jr., of violating a habitual traffic offender order; reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon; driving on a revoked license, fifth offense; evading arrest; and reckless driving. After a sentencing hearing, the appellant received an effective eight-year sentence. On appeal, he contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for reckless endangerment and that his sentence is excessive. We conclude that the appeal must be dismissed because we lack jurisdiction in the case.

Warren Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Stanley Wade Rowe
M2009-01423-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

The appellant, Stanley Wade Rowe, was found guilty by a Davidson County Criminal Court Jury of burglary and theft of property valued over $500 but less than $1000. Following his convictions, the trial court imposed a total effective sentence of twelve years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions, the trial court’s denial of the appellant’s request for a jury instruction on the lesser-included offenses of attempted burglary and attempted theft, and the length of the sentence imposed by the trial court. Upon review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Terry Dwight Mooningham, Jr.
M2010-00178-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Franlin L. Russell

The Defendant, Terry Dwight Mooningham, Jr., was found guilty by a Bedford County Circuit Court jury of driving under the influence (DUI), fourth offense, a Class E felony; evading arrest, a Class D felony; driving with a revoked license, a Class A misdemeanor; and violation of the implied consent law, a Class A misdemeanor. See T.C.A. §§ 55-10-401 (2006) (amended 2011), 39-16-603 (2010), 55-50-504 (2006), 55-10-406 (2006). He was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender to four years’ confinement for the DUI conviction, eight years’ confinement for evading arrest, eleven months and twenty-nine days’ confinement for driving with a revoked license, and six months’ confinement for violation of the implied consent law. The DUI and evading arrest convictions were ordered to be served consecutively for an effective twelve-year sentence. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his DUI conviction and that his sentences are excessive. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. James Ray Bullard
M2009-02134-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

The Defendant, James Ray Bullard, pled guilty to evading arrest, a Class E felony, and four counts of theft of $500 or less, a Class A misdemeanor. See T.C.A. §§ 39-16-603, 39-14- 103, 39-14-105(1) (2010). He was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender to three years, six months’ incarceration for the evading arrest conviction and to eleven months, twenty-nine days’ incarceration for each of the theft convictions, with all sentences to be served consecutively. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred by imposing a sentence of confinement. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Robert T. Henry v. State of Tennessee
E2010-01749-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Rebecca J. Stern

The Petitioner, Robert T. Henry, appeals the Hamilton County Criminal Court’s dismissal of his petition for habeas corpus relief from his 1978 conviction for robbery. He claims his conviction is void because the law applicable at the time of his conviction has since been repealed and current law renders his indeterminate sentence illegal. The State has moved the court to affirm the trial court by memorandum opinion pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The State’s motion is granted, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Dennis Neil Bizzoco
E2009-00768-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Don W. Poole

The appellant, Dennis Neil Bizzoco, pled guilty to vehicular homicide by intoxication, reckless homicide, vehicular assault, and driving under the influence (DUI). He received a total effective sentence of eight years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant challenges the trial court’s denial of his request for alternative sentencing and the denial of his Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 35 motion. Additionally, the appellant argues that his convictions for DUI, vehicular homicide by intoxication, and vehicular assault violate double jeopardy. We conclude that the appellant’s double jeopardy claim has merit; therefore, we vacate his conviction for DUI. However, we affirm the appellant’s remaining convictions and sentences.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Ronnie Wayne Blair
M2009-01987-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge John D. Wooten, Jr.

A Williamson County jury convicted the Defendant, Ronnie Wayne Blair, of Driving Under the Influence (“DUI”), first offense. The trial court sentenced him to eleven months and twenty-nine days, all of which was suspended after the service of four days. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court improperly limited his cross-examination of the arresting officer by preventing use of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) manual and that the trial court improperly commented on the evidence. The State counters that this appeal should be dismissed because the Defendant failed to timely file his notice of appeal. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we conclude that the interests of justice require waiver of the Defendant’s untimely filing of his notice of appeal. However, upon our consideration of the merits of the Defendant’s issues, we conclude the Defendant is not entitled to relief. The judgment of the trial court is, therefore, affirmed.

Wilson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Stephano L. Weilacker
M2010-00497-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge Michael R. Jones

Appellant, Stephano L. Weilacker, was indicted by the Montgomery County Grand Jury for aggravated robbery and especially aggravated kidnapping for his role in the robbery of Triangle Kwik Stop in Montgomery County, Tennessee. At the conclusion of a jury trial, Appellant was found guilty of both offenses. Appellant was sentenced by the trial court to ten years for aggravated robbery and twenty years for especially aggravated kidnapping, to be served concurrently. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively to an elevenyear sentence for aggravated robbery in another case. Appellant filed a motion for extension of time in which to file a motion for new trial more than thirty days after the entry of the judgments. The trial court granted the motion. Appellant filed a motion for new trial. After a hearing, the trial court denied the motion. On appeal, Appellant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support the convictions; that the trial court failed to properly charge the jury with lesser included offenses; and that the trial court improperly ordered consecutive sentencing. After a review of the record as a whole, we determine that the trial court improperly ruled on an untimely motion for new trial. Therefore, Appellant has waived all issues on appeal with the exception of sufficiency of the evidence, sentencing, and issues that would result in the dismissal of the prosecution. Because the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions and the trial court properly sentenced Appellant, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Benjamin Randolph Hubard
E2010-00999-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Rex Henry Ogle

The Defendant, Benjamin Randolph Hubard, pled guilty to driving under the influence (DUI), first offense, a Class A misdemeanor, and violation of the implied consent law. The trial court merged the convictions and sentenced the Defendant to 11 months and 29 days with 100 percent service of his sentence. The trial court also ordered the Defendant to pay a $350 fine, complete DUI school, and to perform 24 hours of community service in the form of litter removal. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant contends (1) that the trial court erred in setting the length of his sentence and (2) that the trial court erred in ordering the additional penalties. Following our review, we conclude that the trial court erred in ordering the Defendant to complete DUI school and to perform 24 hours of community service. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed in part and reversed in part. The case is remanded.

Sevier Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Dawn Davidson
W2009-02313-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J.C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

A Chester County jury convicted the defendant, Dawn Kathleen Davidson, of attempted first degree murder, a Class A felony, and the trial court sentenced her as a Range I, standard offender to twenty-three years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) the trial court erred by denying her motion for a bill of particulars; (2) the trial court erred by preventing her attorney from fully cross-examining the state’s witnesses; and (3) her sentence was excessive because the trial court incorrectly applied an enhancement factor and erroneously failed to apply any mitigation factors. Following our review, we conclude that the defendant waived all issues other than sentencing. Finding no reversible error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Chester Court of Criminal Appeals

Larry J. Noel v. State of Tennessee
W2010-00088-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

The petitioner, Larry J. Noel, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, raising the following four issues on appeal: (1) whether his pretrial transfer of custody to the Department of Correction subjected him to double jeopardy and violated his due process rights; (2) whether he was incompetent to stand trial due to a stroke he suffered less than a month prior to trial; (3) whether he was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial and on appeal; and (4) whether the post-conviction court erred by denying his motion for a continuance due to the unavailability of witnesses. Following our review, we affirm the denial of the petition for post-conviction relief.

Lauderdale Court of Criminal Appeals

Nesha Newsome v. State of Tennessee
W2009-01114-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge John P. Colton, Jr.

The Petitioner, Nesha Newsome1, filed in the Shelby County Criminal Court a petition for post-conviction relief from her convictions for especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and robbery. The Petitioner contended that her trial counsel were ineffective by failing to object to the trial court’s definition of “aiding” in response to the jury’s question regarding the criminal responsibility jury instruction, failing to argue that her convictions violated due process, and failing to have the Petitioner undergo a pretrial mental evaluation. The post-conviction court denied the petition, and the Petitioner now appeals. In addition to the foregoing issues, the Petitioner also asserts that the supreme court’s denial of funding for a forensic psychologist violated her federal and state due process rights. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Issac Scott v. State of Tennessee
W2009-01256-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lee V. Coffee

The petitioner, Issac Scott, appeals the post-conviction court’s denying his petition for postconviction relief from his conviction for first degree premeditated murder and resulting life sentence. On appeal, he contends that he received the ineffective assistance of trial counsel and that the post-conviction court’s denial of funding for him to hire a forensic pathologist violated his constitutional rights. Based upon the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Raymond E. McNeil v. State of Tennessee
M2010-00671-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jeffery S. Bivens

Following a jury trial, the Petitioner, Raymond E. McNeil, was convicted of Class D felony evading arrest and driving on a revoked license, a Class B misdemeanor. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-16-603(b)(3), 55-50-504(a)(1). This Court affirmed his convictions on direct appeal. See State v. Raymond McNeil, No. M2007-01566-CCA-R3-CD, 2008 WL 4170330 (Tenn. Crim. App., Nashville, Sept. 10, 2008), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. Feb. 17, 2009). The Petitioner filed a timely petition for post-conviction relief. Following an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief. In this appeal, the Petitioner raises the following issues for review: (1) Trial Counsel was ineffective for putting a police officer’s unredacted incident report on the overhead projector; (2) Trial Counsel was ineffective for acquiescing in the admission of the incident report into evidence; and (3) The trial court erred when it allowed the entire incident report into evidence. After our review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of relief.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

Shakir Adams v. State of Tennessee
W2010-00217-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge James M. Lammey, Jr.

The petitioner, Shakir Adams, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his first degree premeditated murder conviction, arguing that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel. Following our review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of the petition.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Torian Dillard v. State of Tennessee
W2010-00306-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge James M. Lammey, Jr.

The petitioner, Torian Dillard, appeals the post-conviction court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief for failure to prosecute, arguing that the court abused its discretion by not appointing new counsel after the petitioner’s appointed counsel was allowed to withdraw and by requiring the petitioner to proceed with his petition pro se. Following our review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s dismissal of the petition.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Travis King
W2010-00127-CCA-R34-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Mark Ward

The defendant, Travis King, was convicted of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony, and sentenced as a Range I, standard offender to ten years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Joe McKnight
W2010-00688-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Otis Higgs, Jr.

The defendant, Joe McKnight, was convicted by a Shelby County Criminal Court jury of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony, and sentenced to ten years as a Range I offender in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he argues that (1) the trial court erred in allowing the State to question defense witness, Dr. Joseph Angelillo, about the defendant’s prior criminal history; (2) the trial court erred in allowing the State to lead its witness, Stanley Johnson; (3) the trial court erred in admitting co-defendant Stanley Johnson’s statement to authorities into evidence; and (4) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Juan Manuel Coronado, II
E2010-01058-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge David R. Duggan

Upon finding a violation of probation, the trial court revoked the probationary sentence the appellant, Juan Manuel Coronado, II, was serving for a rape conviction and ordered him to serve his original eight-year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant contends that the trial court erred in revoking his probation and in ordering him to serve his sentence in confinement. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Blount Court of Criminal Appeals

Raymond E. McNeil v. State of Tennessee
M2010-00671-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jeffery S. Bivins

Following a jury trial, the Petitioner, Raymond E. McNeil, was convicted of Class D felony evading arrest and driving on a revoked license, a Class B misdemeanor. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-16-603(b)(3), 55-50-504(a)(1). This Court affirmed his convictions on direct appeal. See State v. Raymond McNeil, No. M2007-01566-CCA-R3-CD, 2008 WL 4170330 (Tenn. Crim. App., Nashville, Sept. 10, 2008), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. Feb. 17, 2009). The Petitioner filed a  timely petition for post-conviction relief. Following an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief. In this appeal, the Petitioner raises the following issues for review: (1) Trial Counsel was ineffective for putting a police officer’s unredacted incident report on the overhead projector; (2) Trial Counsel was ineffective for acquiescing in the admission of the incident report into evidence; and (3) The trial court erred when it allowed the entire incident report into evidence. After our review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of relief.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

Antonio D. Richardson v. State of Tennessee
M2009-01542-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve Dozier

Petitioner, Antonio D. Richardson, appeals from the trial court’s order denying his petition for post-conviction relief. Petitioner asserts that his counsel provided constitutionally ineffective assistance. After a thorough review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Joann Williamson
E2009-02363-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge E. Shayne Sexton

The Defendant, Joann Williamson, pled guilty to facilitation of the manufacture of methamphetamine, a Class C felony, and two counts of child abuse and neglect, a Class D felony. See T.C.A. § 39-17-417 (2010); T.C.A. § 39-15-401 (Supp. 2008) (amended 2009). She was sentenced as a Range I, standard offender to six months’ incarceration and three years, six months’ probation for the facilitation conviction and four years’ probation for each of the child abuse convictions, to be served consecutively to the facilitation conviction for an effective twelve-year sentence. The Defendant’s plea agreement reserved a certified question of law regarding the legality of the warrantless search of her home. The Defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying her motion to suppress evidence and that the State should not be allowed to rely on more than one exception to the warrant requirement. The State contends that the Defendant did not properly reserve the certified question. We hold that the Defendant’s certified question was not properly reserved. The appeal is dismissed.

Campbell Court of Criminal Appeals

Timothy D. McGlory v. State of Tennessee
M2009-01220-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Don Ash

Petitioner, Timothy D. McGlory, was convicted following the entry of his guilty pleas to attempted second degree murder and possession of a Schedule I drug for resale. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Petitioner was sentenced to 12 years for his attempted second degree murder conviction and eight years for the drug offense, and his sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, for an effective sentence of 12 years. Petitioner now appeals from the post-conviction court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief, in which he alleged that his guilty pleas were involuntarily entered; that the prosecution failed to disclose evidence favorable to Petitioner; and that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. After a careful review of the record, we conclude that Petitioner is not entitled to relief and affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Rutherford Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Joseph John Borger
M2010-01910-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert Crigler

The Defendant, Joseph John Borger, pled guilty to multiple offenses stemming from his driving while intoxicated, and the trial court sentenced him as a Range II Offender to an effective sentence of seven years. On appeal, the Defendant contends that his sentence is excessive. After a thorough review of the record and applicable authorities, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Marshall Court of Criminal Appeals