COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

Eddie Howard Pittman v. State of Tennessee - Dissenting
W2002-02892-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roger A. Page

Although I agree with many of the conclusions set forth in the majority opinion, I respectfully disagree with its primary conclusion that the petitioner did not establish ineffective assistance of counsel. In my view, he established deficiency and prejudice. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984).

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Bill L. Williams
W2003-00785-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bernie Weinman

Following a jury trial, Defendant, Bill L. Williams, was convicted of theft of property over $10,000 in value, a Class C felony. He was sentenced as a Range II multiple offender to serve six years in the Shelby County Workhouse. In his sole issue on appeal, Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his conviction. After a thorough review of the record and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. John Chris Elrod
M2003-01600-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Larry B. Stanley, Jr.

The defendant, John Chris Elrod, was indicted by the Warren County Grand Jury on one count of aggravated kidnapping, a Class B felony, and one count each of assault and vandalism under $500, both Class A misdemeanors. He pled guilty to the Class A misdemeanors of false imprisonment, assault, and vandalism under $500 and was sentenced to eleven months, twenty-nine days at 75% on each count with counts one and two consecutive and count three concurrent with count one. In this appeal as of right, the defendant contends that the trial court abused its discretion in imposing consecutive sentences for two misdemeanors arising from the same episode. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Warren Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Tammy Boyd, Tosha Lovell, Sandra Culps and Kenneth Culps
W2003-02444-CCA-R9-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roger A. Page

In this Rule 9 interlocutory appeal, the State appeals the circuit court’s ruling that the defendants are entitled to the underlying search warrant affidavit at the general sessions level. We conclude that the defendants are entitled to the affidavit at the preliminary hearing in order to effectively challenge probable cause. The judgments of the circuit court are affirmed.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Sherman T. Mason, Jr.
E2003-01037-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ray L. Jenkins

The trial court revoked the probation of the appellant, Sherman T. Mason, Jr., as a result of his second probation violation warrant. Consequently, he was ordered to serve the balance of his effective twenty-year sentence. On appeal, the appellant argues that the trial court erred in revoking his probation and ordering him to serve out the remainder of his sentence in confinement. We affirm the decision of the trial court.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Robert Dennis Heisinger
M2002-01217-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Special Judge John H. Peay

The appellant, Robert Dennis Heisinger, was convicted by a jury of one count of theft of property valued at $10,000 or more but less than $60,000. He was sentenced as a Range II offender to an eight-year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, he challenges the length of his sentence and the failure of the trial court to grant him alternative sentencing. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Amy Jo Blankenship
M2002-01878-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge John W. Rollins

The appellant, Amy Jo Blankenship, entered pleas of guilty to counts of burglary, theft, and failure to appear. After the trial court imposed sentences on each guilty plea, the appellant filed a motion to set aside the judgments claiming that she was coerced into pleading guilty. She later filed a motion to withdraw the guilty pleas under Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(f). The trial court denied both motions. This appeal follows. We affirm the decision of the trial court.

Coffee Court of Criminal Appeals

Yourl Lee Bass, Jr., pro se v. State of Tennessee
M2003-01235-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft

The Petitioner, Yourl Lee Bass, Jr., appeals the trial court's denial of his petition for post-conviction 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. The Petitioner fails to assert a colorable claim for post-conviction relief. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Sumner Court of Criminal Appeals

Gregory Lynn Hollingsworth, pro se, v. State of Tennessee
M2003-01384-CCA-R3-CO
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway

The Petitioner, Gregory Lynn Hollingsworth, appeals the trial court's denial of his 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. The Petitioner fails to assert a cognizable claim for which habeas corpus relief may be granted. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Wayne Court of Criminal Appeals

Steven Loach, pro se. v. Kevin Myers, Warden
M2003-02085-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway

The Petitioner, Steven T. Loach, appeals the trial court's denial of his 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. The Petitioner fails to assert a cognizable claim for which habeas corpus relief may be granted. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Wayne Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. William James Wheeler
M2002-02905-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge Leon C. Burns, Jr.

The Appellant, William James Wheeler, appeals the sentencing decision of the White County Circuit Court. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Wheeler pled guilty to reckless homicide, a class D felony, and arson, a class C felony, and received an agreed six-year sentence. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered that the six-year sentence be served in the Department of Correction. On appeal, Wheeler argues that he should have received a non-incarcerative sentence. After review, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

White Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. William Burt Smith
M2002-02988-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Buddy D. Perry

The defendant was found guilty of one count of selling a Schedule II controlled substance, a Class C felony, and sentenced to eight years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The defendant contends on appeal that the trial court erred in not appointing another attorney and requiring the defendant to proceed pro se at the motion hearing and trial after several attorneys were allowed to withdraw. We conclude that the defendant has failed to provide this Court with a record of all relevant court dealings. Therefore, we presume that the whole record justifies the trial court's decisions. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Franklin Court of Criminal Appeals

Samuel David Land v. State of Tennessee
M2003-00468-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter

Petitioner, Samuel David Land, appeals from the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. Petitioner was convicted by a jury for felony evading arrest and driving on a revoked license, second offense, a misdemeanor. For his felony conviction, Petitioner was sentenced as a career offender to twelve years in confinement. Petitioner was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days for the misdemeanor conviction. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently with each other, but consecutive to a six-year sentence that Petitioner was already serving as a result of a probation violation in a prior case. This Court affirmed Petitioner's convictions on direct appeal. State v. Land, 34 S.W.3d 516 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied post-conviction relief. Having reviewed the record on appeal, the applicable law, and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

Arnold Carter v. State of Tennessee
E2003-02887-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge R. Steven Bebb

The petitioner, Arnold Carter, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court dismiss the appeal or, in the alternative, affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The petitioner has not established a valid claim for habeas corpus relief. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Monroe Court of Criminal Appeals

Corey A. Kennerly, pro se., v. Kevin Meyers, Warden and State of Tennessee
M2003-02270-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway

The Petitioner, Corey A. Kennerly, appeals the trial court's denial of his 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. The Petitioner fails to assert a cognizable claim for which habeas corpus relief may be granted. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Wayne Court of Criminal Appeals

Thurman Pete Rolland, pro se v. State of Tennessee
M2002-02709-CCA-R3-CO
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

The Petitioner, Thurman Pete Rolland, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his third petition for post conviction 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. The Petitioner had no authority to file a third petition for post-conviction relief, and the statute of limitations had expired. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jacob Campbell
M2003-00597-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

A Davidson County jury convicted the defendant, Jacob Edward Campbell, of premeditated first degree murder, felony murder, and robbery, and the trial court merged the two murder convictions into a single offense of first degree murder. Thereafter, the jury sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole for first degree murder, and the trial court imposed a ten-year sentence for the robbery conviction to be served consecutively to the defendant's life sentence. On appeal, the defendant contends that: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; (2) the trial court erred by admitting into evidence crime scene photographs of the murder victim; (3) the trial court erred by admitting into evidence testimony regarding pills found on the defendant when he was arrested; (4) the trial court erred by allowing a State's witness to read to the jury a summary of the witness's pre-trial statement to police; (5) the trial court erred by denying the defendant's request to introduce a prior recorded statement of an unavailable witness to impeach a State's witness; (6) the trial court erred by not clarifying its jury charge that the jury could not consider evidence introduced at trial concerning the co-defendant; and (7) the trial court erred by ordering that the sentence for robbery run consecutively to the defendant's life sentence. Finding no reversible error, we affirm the trial court's judgments.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Lenzo Sherron A/K/A Salaam Shabazz
W2003-01222-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lee Moore

The defendant was convicted of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony, and sentenced to ten years as a standard offender. The defendant has filed a pro se appeal of right of his conviction, posing the following issues for our review: 1) Whether the evidence was sufficient beyond a reasonable doubt to support the defendant’s conviction for aggravated robbery; 2) Whether the State improperly withheld exculpatory and impeachment evidence; and 3) Whether the trial court failed to investigate a conflict of interest before appointing new counsel. After careful review, we affirm the conviction.

Dyer Court of Criminal Appeals

Odean Cooper v. State of Tennessee
W2003-01518-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

The petitioner appeals the lower court’s denial of his post-conviction relief petition following his guilty plea to possession of less than .5 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver. On appeal, the petitioner contends: (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel; and (2) he did not knowingly and voluntarily enter his guilty plea. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Lauderdale Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Christopher Michael Schmidt
W2003-02121-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jon K. Blackwood

This matter is before the Court upon the State’s motion to affirm the judgment of the trial court pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Appellant, Christopher Michael Schmidt, appeals the trial court’s denial of a writ of habeas corpus. The only issue for this Court’s review is whether the trial court committed error by its order of transfer of the Appellant to the temporary custody of the State of Delaware. Finding no error committed by the trial court, this Court concludes that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.

Hardeman Court of Criminal Appeals

Quincy Henderson v. State of Tennessee
W2002-02541-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Otis Higgs, Jr.

The petitioner, Quincy Henderson, appeals the Shelby County Criminal Court’s dismissal of his post-conviction petition, in which he claimed that his second degree murder conviction was constitutionally infirm because of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Upon our review of the record, the parties’ briefs, and the applicable law, we affirm the denial of post-conviction relief.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Thelisa Emery and Maurice Emery
W2002-02698-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Clayburn L. Peeples

The defendants, Thelisa Emery and Maurice Emery, sister and brother, were each convicted in a joint jury trial of possession with intent to sell .5 grams or more of cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. On appeal, Thelisa Emery claims that the convicting evidence is insufficient and that the trial court erred in not severing the defendants’ trials, in allowing testimony about Thelisa Emery’s use of cocaine, in allowing evidence of her prior sale of cocaine, and in instructing the jury as to her guilt via criminal responsibility for the acts of Maurice Emery. Maurice Emery raised some of the same issues, but because he failed to file a timely motion for new trial, appellate review of his convictions is limited to the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. Discerning no reversible error with respect to either defendant, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Gibson Court of Criminal Appeals

Ricco Saine v. State of Tennessee
W2002-02805-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Otis Higgs, Jr.

Aggrieved that the lower court denied post-conviction relief following an evidentiary hearing, the petitioner, Ricco Saine, appeals and claims that his aggravated burglary conviction resulted from ineffective assistance of counsel and an involuntary guilty plea. We affirm the denial of post-conviction relief.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Anthony D. McDaniel, pro se., v. Bruce Westbrooks
W2003-00801-CCA-R3-CO
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

The Petitioner, Anthony D. McDaniel, appeals the trial court's denial of his 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. The Petitioner fails to assert a cognizable claim for which habeas corpus relief may be granted. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Lauderdale Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. James Stacy Carroll
W2003-01182-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge C. Creed McGinley

The defendant, James Stacy Carroll, appeals from his Carroll County Circuit Court conviction of driving a vehicle in violation of a motor vehicle habitual offender order. He challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. We hold that the evidence is sufficient to support the conviction and affirm the conviction.

Carroll Court of Criminal Appeals