COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Allen Jean Stephens
M2004-00531-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree, Jr.

Following a jury trial, Defendant, Allen Jean Stephens, was convicted of one count of possession of more than .5 grams of cocaine with intent to sell, a Class B felony, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range III, persistent offender, to twenty-three years for the felony drug conviction, and eleven months, twenty nine days for his misdemeanor conviction. The trial court ordered Defendant’s sentences to run concurrently, for an effective sentence of twenty-three years. Defendant does not appeal the length of his sentences or the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. Defendant argues however, that the trial court erred in denying Defendant’s motion to suppress the crack cocaine found at his house during the execution of a search warrant; and that the trial court erred in ruling admissible certain evidence about a prior sale of crack cocaine, an offense for which Defendant was not charged.  Following a review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Weakley Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Travis Young
W2004-01752-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Otis Higgs, Jr.

Following a jury trial, Defendant was convicted in case no. 03-05457 of two counts of aggravated assault, a Class C felony, two counts of reckless aggravated assault, a Class D felony, and one count of evading arrest, a Class D felony . Defendant was convicted in case No. 03-05459 of two counts of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony, and one count of aggravated assault, a Class C felony, against victim Christopher Bridges. The trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range II, multiple offender, to six years for each of his Class C and Class D felony convictions. The trial court merged Defendant’s aggravated robbery convictions in counts one and two in case No. 03-05459, and
sentenced Defendant as a Range I, standard offender, to ten years for the aggravated robbery conviction. The trial court ordered Defendant’s sentences in case No. 03-05457 to be served concurrently. The trial court ordered Defendant’s sentences in case No. 03-05459 to be served concurrently with each other and consecutively to Defendant’s sentence in case No. 03-05457, for an effective sentence of sixteen years. On appeal, Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and the imposition of consecutive sentencing. Defendant does not challenge the length of his sentences. Following our review of the record, we affirm Defendant’s convictions.  We remand for a new sentencing hearing because the trial court failed to make specific findings justifying the imposition of consecutive sentencing, failed to identify and support the enhancement factors used to enhance Defendant’s sentences for his Class D and Class B felony convictions; and failed to identify which specific convictions it was relying upon to classify Defendant as a multiple offender for sentencing him for his Class D and Class C felony convictions.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

David Johnson v. State of Tennessee
W2004-02017-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree, Jr.

Petitioner, David Johnson, appeals the dismissal of his pro se petition for post-conviction relief. On appeal, Petitioner argues that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel when he failed to interview or call a witness who could have provided an alibi for Petitioner on the night of
the offenses. After a review of the record in this matter, we affirm the post-conviction court’s dismissal of the petition.

Obion Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Carlos Weeks
W2004-02235-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett

The defendant, Carlos Weeks, was indicted in Shelby County for four counts of aggravated robbery. Two of the four counts were alternative charges. The defendant was convicted of all four counts and the trial court merged the alternative counts into two convictions. The trial court imposed a concurrent, Range I sentence of ten years for each of the two offenses. In this appeal as of right, the defendant asserts that there is a material variance between the indictment and the evidence presented at trial and that the evidence is insufficient to support either conviction. The judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Robert Gamble v. State of Tennessee
W2004-00977-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Fred Axley

Following a jury trial, Petitioner, Robert Gamble, was convicted of two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of fraudulent use of a credit card, and one count of theft of property over five hundred dollars. Petitioner’s conviction and sentence were affirmed by this Court on direct appeal,
and Petitioner’s Rule 11 application was denied by the Supreme Court. Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, which was subsequently amended. Following a hearing, the post-conviction court dismissed Petitioner’s amended petition for post-conviction relief. In this appeal, Petitioner argues that the court erred when it dismissed his petition for post-conviction relief because he received ineffective assistance of counsel at his trial. After a thorough review of the record, we find that the lower court properly dismissed the petition. As such, the judgment of the post-conviction court is affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Alice Smotherman
M2004-01724-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jim T. Hamilton

The Defendant, Alice Smotherman, pled guilty to possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance for resale, a Class D felony, after the trial court denied her motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to a search warrant. As part of the plea agreement, she reserved the right to appeal a certified question of law pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 37(b)(2)(i). The certified question reserved for review was "whether or not the affidavit in the search warrant is sufficient to establish truthfulness, reliability and veracity of information that [an] unnamed third party conveyed to affiant which established probable cause for the issuance of the search warrant; and whether or not the search warrant complied with Rule 41(c) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure." Because the record on appeal is incomplete, we must conclusively presume the ruling of the trial court was correct. Accordingly, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

Wayne Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Patricia Marie Jenson
M2003-02848-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

The appellant, Patricia Marie Jenson,2 was convicted by a jury in the Davidson County Criminal Court of child neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia. She received a total effective sentence of four years, to be served on community corrections. On appeal, the appellant challenges the
sufficiency of the evidence supporting her conviction for child neglect and the sentence imposed by the trial court on that offense. Upon our review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Patricia Marie Jenson - Dissenting
M2003-02848-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

I respectfully disagree with the majority opinion’s upholding the conviction. I do not believe the evidence is sufficient to convict the defendant of child neglect as that offense is described in State v. Mateyko, 53 S.W.2d 666 (Tenn. 2001). In Mateyko, our supreme court held that “a mere risk of harm” was insufficient and that the state was required to show “that the defendant’s neglect produced an actual, deleterious effect or harm upon the child’s health and welfare.” Id. 53 S.W.3d at 671-72.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Daylon Roberts v. State of Tennessee
E2004-02965-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Cupp

The petitioner, Daylon Roberts, appeals from the trial court's order denying his petition for writ of habeas corpus. The state has filed a motion requesting that this court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The petitioner has failed to establish a cognizable claim for habeas corpus relief. Accordingly, the state's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Johnson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Daniel Blake
W2004-01253-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris B. Craft

The defendant, Daniel Blake, stands convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide, attempt to leave the scene of an accident, and driving on a revoked or suspended license, and he is serving an effective sentence of 25 years. He has appealed his aggravated vehicular homicide conviction and claims that the state failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his blood-alcohol content was above .20 percent and that he had previously been convicted of DUI. After thoroughly reviewing the record and applicable authorities, we find sufficient evidence to support the conviction and affirm
the judgment.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Daniel Blake
W2004-01253-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris B. Craft

The defendant, Daniel Blake, stands convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide, attempt to leave the scene of an accident, and driving on a revoked or suspended license, and he is serving an effective sentence of 25 years. He has appealed his aggravated vehicular homicide conviction and claims that the state failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his blood-alcohol content was above .20 percent and that he had previously been convicted of DUI. After thoroughly reviewing the record and applicable authorities, we find sufficient evidence to support the conviction and affirm the judgment.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Qawi Nur, (a/k/a Darrius James)
W2004-01259-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris B. Craft

Defendant, Qawi Nur, a/k/a/ Darrius James, was indicted on one count of first degree felony murder and one count of first degree premeditated murder. The State filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. Following a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of first degree felony murder in count one and second degree murder in count two. The trial court merged Defendant’s second degree murder conviction into his first degree felony murder conviction. The jury sentenced Defendant to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for his first degree murder conviction. The sole issue raised on appeal challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Clarence Carnell Gaston v. State of Tennessee
W2004-01703-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree, Jr.

The petitioner, Clarence Carnell Gaston, appeals the Obion County Circuit Court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief, in which he challenged his 2001 convictions of first degree felony murder, second degree murder, and conspiracy to commit second degree murder. See State v. Clarence Carnell Gaston, No. W2001-02046-CCA-R3-CD (Tenn. Crim. App., Jackson, Feb. 7, 2003) (affirming the petitioner’s convictions and sentences), perm. app. denied (Tenn. 2003). After appointing counsel, the post-conviction court conducted a hearing on May 24, 2004. Following the hearing, the court denied post-conviction relief. We affirm the post-conviction court’s judgment.

Obion Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Eddrick Johnson
W2004-01250-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. C. Mclin

The defendant, Eddrick Johnson, originally charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, was convicted of two counts of facilitation of aggravated robbery. The trial court merged the convictions and imposed a Range II sentence of seven years. In this appeal of right, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence and argues that he was improperly sentenced as a Range II offender. The judgment is affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Patrick John Marshall
W2004-01593-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roger A. Page

The defendant, Patrick John Marshall, entered pleas of guilt to one count of possession of cocaine with intent to sell and one count of possession of marijuana in exchange for an effective sentence of twelve years, to be served on community corrections. The trial court later revoked the community corrections sentence and, after a sentencing hearing, imposed a Range II sentence of twenty years' incarceration. In this appeal, the defendant asserts that the sentence is excessive. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Rickie Reed v. State of Tennessee
W2004-01878-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bernie Weinman

The petitioner, Rickie Reed, appeals from the trial court's denial of post-conviction relief. The single issue presented for review is whether the petitioner was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial. The judgment is affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Kent Ousley v. David Mills, Warden
W2004-02078-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

The petitioner, Kent Ousley, appeals the trial court’s denial of his petition for habeas corpus relief.  The single issue presented for review is whether the petition was properly dismissed. The judgment is affirmed.

Lauderdale Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. LeShaun Norwood
M2003-00541-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stella L. Hargrove

A Maury County Circuit Court jury found the appellant, LeShaun Norwood, guilty of second degree murder, and the trial court sentenced him to twenty-five years in the Department of Correction (DOC). In this appeal, the appellant claims (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction, (2) that the trial court erred by refusing to suppress his confession to police, and (3) that the trial court erred by admitting prejudicial photographs into evidence. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Maury Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Joseph Wilson
M2003-02151-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Michael R. Jones

Defendant was indicted for evading arrest, a Class E felony, in count one; for carjacking, a Class B felony, in count two; for reckless endangerment of Officer Billy Moyer, a Class E felony, in count three; for reckless endangerment of Officer Joe MacLeod, a Class E felony, in count four; for driving on a canceled, suspended or revoked license, subsequent offense, a Class A misdemeanor, in count five; and resisting arrest, a Class B misdemeanor, in count six. Following a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of Class E felony evading arrest, carjacking, reckless endangerment of Officer Moyer, and driving on a revoked license in counts one, two, three and five. Defendant was found not guilty of reckless endangerment of Officer MacLeod and resisting arrest in counts four and six. The trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range II, multiple offender, to two years for the felony evading arrest conviction, twelve years for the carjacking conviction, two years for the reckless endangerment conviction, and eleven months, twenty-nine days for the driving on a revoked license conviction. The trial court ordered Defendant to serve his sentences concurrently for an effective sentence of twelve years. On appeal, Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for carjacking and reckless endangerment, and that the trial court erred in not instructing the jury on robbery and theft of property as lesser included offenses of carjacking. Following a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Robertson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Wesley Earl Brown
M2003-02804-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

The defendant, Wesley Earl Brown, was convicted of two counts of rape of a child, a Class A felony, and three counts of aggravated sexual battery, a Class B felony, and was sentenced to twenty-five years for each rape conviction, to be served consecutively, and ten years for each sexual battery conviction, to be served concurrently but consecutively to the rape convictions, for a total effective sentence of sixty years. On appeal, he argues: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; (2) the trial court erred in admitting evidence of prior bad acts; and (3) the trial court erred in sentencing. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Tyrone D. Conley v. State of Tennessee
E2004-02480-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lynn W. Brown

The petitioner, Tyrone D. Conley, pled guilty in the Washington County Criminal Court to second degree murder, and he was sentenced to twenty years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Subsequently, the petitioner filed a "Constitutional Challenge to Vacate Invalid Sentence." The trial court dismissed the petition, finding that if the document was a petition for post-conviction relief, it was time-barred. Further, the trial court determined that if the document was a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, the petitioner did not allege that his judgment was void. On appeal, the petitioner contests the trial court's dismissal of his petition. Upon our review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Washington Court of Criminal Appeals

Gregory Christopher Fleenor v. State of Tennessee
E2004-00943-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge R. Jerry Beck

The petitioner, Gregory Christopher Fleenor, pled guilty in the Sullivan County Criminal Court to first degree felony murder and especially aggravated robbery, and the trial court sentenced him to concurrent sentences of life and fifteen years respectively. Subsequently, the petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging (1) that he received the ineffective assistance of trial counsel and (2) that his guilty pleas were not knowingly and voluntarily entered. After an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court dismissed the petition, and the petitioner now appeals. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

Michael D. McDade v. State of Tennessee
M2004-02493-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. O. Bond

The petitioner, Michael D. McDade, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that his guilty plea was unknowing and involuntary and he was denied the effective assistance of trial counsel. Following our review, we affirm the post-conviction court's denial of the petition.

Wilson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Cecil E. Anderson
M2004-02100-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald P. Harris

The defendant was indicted on one count of aggravated robbery (a Class B felony). Following a jury trial, he was convicted of the lesser included offense of robbery (a Class C felony) and was sentenced as a career offender to fifteen years in the Department of Correction. Upon the grant of a delayed appeal, the defendant challenges: (1) the sufficiency of the identification evidence; and (2) whether his confession was sufficiently corroborated so as to establish the corpus delicti. After careful review of the record, the briefs, and applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

Raymond A. Clark v. State of Tennessee
W2004-02503-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Arthur T. Bennett

The Petitioner, Raymond A. Clark, appeals the trial court's denial of his motion to reopen his post-conviction petition/petition for habeas corpus relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal
Appeals. Because Petitioner has failed to allege a ground for relief which would render the judgment void, we grant the State's motion and affirm the judgment of the lower court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals