COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

Torian Dillard v. State of Tennessee
W2015-00579-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Glenn Wright

The petitioner, Torian Dillard, was convicted in 2006 of aggravated kidnapping and sentenced to twenty years. His conviction was affirmed on direct appeal. State v. Torian Dillard, No. W2007-00911-CCA-R3-CD, 2008 WL 3342952, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. Aug. 11, 2008), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Feb. 2, 2009). He then filed a timely petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that trial counsel had been ineffective in that counsel failed to properly investigate the facts of the case or to provide a sufficient reason to dismiss a prospective juror and that the trial court erred in allowing the victim to sit facing the jury, with her back to the petitioner. After an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief; and, following our review, we affirm that order.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Anthony Harville
M2015-02116-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge John D. Wootten, Jr.

Defendant, Anthony Harville, was convicted of three counts of the sale of a Schedule II controlled substance and received an effective sentence of fifteen years.  Defendant appeals his convictions, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and his sentence.  After a review, we affirm the convictions and sentences.

Smith Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Mandricuss Lashon Robertson
M2015-01935-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

Defendant, Mandricuss Lashon Robertson, pled guilty to twelve counts of aggravated burglary and an agreed-upon effective sentence of twenty years as a Range II, multiple offender in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining twenty-three counts of the presentment.  The trial court denied an alternative sentence after a lengthy sentencing hearing.  Defendant now appeals.  After a review, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in imposing a sentence involving incarceration.  Accordingly, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Randall Boaz
M2015-01532-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge Russell Parkes

Defendant, Randall Boaz, appeals his Giles County conviction for reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.  His single issue on appeal is a claim of insufficient evidence that he used his vehicle as a deadly weapon.  Upon our review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Giles Court of Criminal Appeals

Shango Aton Ramsey v. State of Tennessee
E2015-01464-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ben W. Hooper, II

Shango Aton Ramsey (“the Petitioner”) appeals the Cocke County Circuit Court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The Petitioner contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with his guilty plea and that the State withheld evidence pursuant to Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1962). Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Cocke Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Rodney Love
M2015-02074-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

The Appellant, Rodney Love, appeals as of right from the Davidson County Criminal Court’s denial of his Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1 motion to correct an illegal sentence.  The Appellant contends that the trial court erred in concluding that Rule 36.1 relief was not available because the alleged illegal sentence had long ago expired.  Following our review, we affirm the trial court’s denial of the Appellant’s Rule 36.1 motion.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Kari Diane Speck
M2016-00254-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge Gary McKenzie

Appellant, Kari Diane Speck, appeals the denial of her motion to correct an illegal sentence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1.  Because Appellant has failed to state a colorable claim that her sentences are illegal, the decision of the trial court is affirmed.

Putnam Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Edward Allen Carter
E2015-01212-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steven W. Sword

The defendant, Edward Allen Carter, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to sell within a drug-free zone, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of an item with a defaced serial number, evading arrest, and driving on a suspended license, and he reserved certified questions of law relative to the validity of the city ordinance that formed the basis of the traffic stop which led to his arrest. Because the certified questions are overbroad and fail to meet specificity requirements, the appeal is dismissed.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Marcus Hampton
W2015-00780-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lee V. Coffee

The Defendant, Marcus Hampton, appeals from the Shelby County Criminal Court’s denial of his petition to suspend the remainder of his effective four-year workhouse sentence for his convictions of aggravated assault and evading arrest. Because he has failed to show facts supporting an alteration of the sentence in the interest of justice, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Bryant M. Hunt
W2015-02249-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald H. Allen

The defendant, Bryant Montrell Hunt, pled guilty to one count each of arson, aggravated burglary, and vandalism of property over $500. The plea agreement provided the defendant would be sentenced as a Range I, standard offender. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court denied the defendant’s request for alternative sentencing and imposed the maximum sentences of six years for arson, six years for aggravated burglary, and two years for vandalism over $500, to be served concurrently in confinement. On appeal, the defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion for alternative sentencing. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Adrian Delk v. State of Tennessee
W2015-01246-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Robert Carter, Jr.

Petitioner, Adrian Delk, appeals from the post-conviction court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief and from its dismissal as time-barred of his petition for writ of error coram nobis based on newly discovered evidence. Following a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the post-conviction court and remand for entry of a corrected judgment in Case No. 13-05543 to reflect the correct code sections.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Terron Kinnie
W2015-00943-CCA-R9-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

Defendant, Terron Kinnie, was indicted by the Madison County Grand Jury for two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, and one count each of aggravated burglary and aggravated assault. Defendant filed a motion to suppress a statement he gave to the police, arguing that his statement was not voluntarily given. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court granted Defendant's motion to suppress, finding that Defendant's statement was coerced. The State filed a motion seeking permission to file an interlocutory appeal under Rule 9 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, and it was granted. Upon a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee David Allen Jackson
E2015-02033-CCA-R9-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge James F. Goodwin, Jr.

The Defendant, David Allen Jackson, was arrested without a warrant for driving under the influence (DUI), a Class A misdemeanor; failure to exercise due care while driving, a Class C misdemeanor; and failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility, a Class C misdemeanor. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-8-136, -10-401, -12-139. Over a year after the Defendant's arrest, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing and agreed to have his case bound over to the grand jury. The grand jury subsequently indicted the Defendant for the misdemeanor offenses listed above as well as two counts of reckless aggravated assault, a Class D felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-102. After the grand jury returned the indictment, the Defendant filed a motion in Sullivan County Criminal Court seeking to dismiss the misdemeanor charges. The Defendant argued that the affidavit of complaint filed following his arrest was void and that prosecution had not commenced with respect to the misdemeanor charges until after the applicable statute of limitations had expired. The trial court granted the Defendant's motion to dismiss the misdemeanor charges. The State sought and was granted an interlocutory appeal of the trial court's decision. On appeal, the State contends that the fact that the affidavit of complaint was sworn before a notary public rather than a qualified judicial officer was a mere “technical defect” that should not render it void. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

Tommy L. Harris v. State of Tennessee
W2015-02132-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Robert Carter Jr.

The pro se petitioner, Tommy L. Harris, appeals the post-conviction court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief and/or his petition for a corrected judgment, arguing that the court erred by summarily dismissing the petition without an evidentiary hearing or the appointment of counsel. Following our review, we affirm the dismissal of the petition.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Anthony Dewayne Blaylock v. State of Tennessee
W2015-01560-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

The petitioner, Anthony Dewayne Blaylock, 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. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court denying the petition.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jeffrey Lynn Whitehead
M2016-00160-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jill B. Ayers

The defendant, Jeffrey L. Whitehead, appeals the order of the Montgomery County Circuit Court denying his motion to waive costs.  Because this court lacks jurisdiction of the defendant’s claim, the appeal is dismissed.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Brian J. Bledsoe
W2015-02252-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Clayburn L. Peeples

The defendant, Brian J. Bledsoe, was convicted by a Gibson County Circuit Court jury of assault, a Class B misdemeanor, and sentenced to six months in the county jail suspended after service of sixty days. On appeal, the defendant challenges the sentence imposed by the trial court. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. However, we remand for entry of a corrected judgment, reflecting that the defendant’s sentence is suspended after service of sixty days.

Gibson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Alexander Jackson
W2015-01741-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge James C. Beasley, Jr.

The defendant, Alexander Jackson, was convicted by a Shelby County Criminal Court jury of two counts of rape, which the trial court merged and sentenced him to a term of nine years. On appeal, he argues that his right against self-incrimination was violated by a statement of the prosecutor during closing argument which he asserts amounts to plain error. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Deborah Jean Weston
E2015-01530-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Tammy M. Harrington

In this appeal as of right, the State challenges the order of the trial court granting the defendant's motion to suppress the evidence obtained during the stop of the defendant and dismissing the driving under the influence charge in this case. Because the community caretaking exception does not apply in this case and because reasonable suspicion did not otherwise justify the stop of the defendant's vehicle, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Blount Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Hollis Fisk, Jr.
M2015-01552-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge Larry B. Stanley, Jr.

This is Defendant’s, Hollis Fisk, Jr., direct appeal of his robbery conviction and accompanying eight-year sentence in confinement.  He argues that the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction and that the trial court abused its discretion in determining the length of his sentence and by denying an alternative sentence.  We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Warren Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Norman McDowell
W2015-01762-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris Craft

The defendant, Norman McDowell, was sentenced to twenty years in confinement by the trial court for the merged convictions of aggravated rape and rape. On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court improperly enhanced his aggravated rape sentence from the minimum fifteen years to twenty years in violation of the purposes and principles of the Tennessee Criminal Sentencing Reform Act. Following our review of the briefs, the record, and the applicable law, we affirm the twenty year sentence.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Anthony Jackson
W2015-01403-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lee V. Coffee

The defendant, Anthony Jackson, was indicted for attempted first degree premeditated murder, employing a firearm with intent to commit a felony, and convicted felon in possession of a firearm. After trial, a jury found the defendant guilty of the lesser-included offense of attempted voluntary manslaughter, employing a firearm with intent to commit a felony, and convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The trial court subsequently held a sentencing hearing and imposed sentences of twelve years for attempted voluntary manslaughter, fifteen years for employing a firearm with intent to commit a felony, and fifteen years for convicted felon in possession of a firearm with all sentences to be served consecutively for an effective sentence of forty-two years. On appeal, the defendant argues that there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions, and the trial court imposed an excessive sentence. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Gregory L. Hatton v. State of Tennessee
M2015-00225-CCA-R3-ECN
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stella L. Hargrove

Nearly four decades after pleading guilty to rape, armed robbery, burglary, kidnapping, grand larceny, and assault with intent to commit murder, Petitioner, Gregory L. Hatton, filed a petition for writ of error coram nobis.  The trial court summarily dismissed the petition as time-barred.  However, the Tennessee Supreme Court has recently determined that a writ of error coram nobis is not an available procedural mechanism to collaterally attack a guilty plea.  Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the trial court on the separate grounds discussed herein.

Giles Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Prince Dumas
W2015-01026-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Mark Ward

The defendant, Prince Dumas, entered a guilty plea to one count of a first offense for driving under the influence (“DUI”), a Class A misdemeanor. As part of the plea, the defendant reserved a certified question of law. The defendant asserts that police initiated a seizure without reasonable suspicion and that because all of the evidence stems from this seizure, he is entitled to have the indictment dismissed. We conclude that the defendant's certified question, as drafted, is not dispositive of the case, and we are accordingly constrained to dismiss the appeal.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Andrew Lorenze Allen
E2015-01778-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lisa N. Rice

The defendant, Andrew Lorenze Allen, appeals his Washington County Criminal Court jury convictions of aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect, claiming that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Washington Court of Criminal Appeals