COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

Issac Earl Edgin v. State of Tennessee
M2001-02667-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge L. Terry Lafferty
Trial Court Judge: Judge John H. Gasaway, III

Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, claiming: (1) the trial judge, at petitioner's original trial, should have recused himself from hearing the trial under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10, Canon 3(E); and (2) the public defender, at the original trial, rendered ineffective assistance of counsel in violation of the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 9 of the Tennessee Constitution. At the conclusion of an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief. Based upon our review of the entire record and applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Adrian Patterson
M2001-01991-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge John H. Gasaway, III

The Appellant, Adrian Patterson, appeals the decision of the Montgomery County Circuit Court revoking his two community corrections sentences and resentencing him to the Department of Correction. On appeal, Patterson argues: (1) that his sentences were actually sentences of probation rather than community corrections and, as such, the trial court was without authority to enlarge his sentences; (2) that the evidence was insufficient to support two of the alleged violations of his Community Corrections Behavioral Contract; and (3) that allowing a cooperating individual to testify about Patterson’s drug activity in a pending federal drug case impaired his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination at the revocation proceeding. Finding no merit to Patterson’s claims, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jonathan Blanchard
E2001-00314-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge James E. Beckner

The Appellant, Jonathan Blanchard, was convicted in 1988 of the sale or delivery of cocaine and sentenced to seven years in prison. Following the successful completion of his sentence, the Appellant was granted a pardon by the governor of Tennessee. The Appellant subsequently petitioned for an expungement of all public records relating to his arrest and conviction. The trial court denied the Appellant's petition and the Appellant appealed as of right. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Greene Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Shirley Spina
E2001-02933-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Phyllis H. Miller

The Defendant, Shirley Spina, was indicted in Sullivan County for custodial interference. On the morning of trial, the trial court dismissed the charge for lack of venue. The State now appeals. We reverse the ruling of the trial court and remand this cause for further proceedings.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Edward Buck Franklin
M2001-02303-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft

Defendant, Edward Buck Franklin, pled guilty to two counts of attempted rape and one count of aggravated burglary. He received a sentence of three years for each conviction, with two of the sentences to be served concurrently with each other but consecutive to the sentence for the third conviction, for an effective sentence of six years. After receiving credit for time previously served in jail, his sentences were suspended and he was placed on probation. Thereafter, three probation violation warrants were filed against him. Following a hearing on the third warrant, the trial court revoked Defendant's probation and ordered that he serve his sentence in the Department of Correction. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Sumner Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. James Michael Scott
M2001-02000-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft
The defendant contests the sentences he received for his convictions of aggravated burglary (six years), aggravated assault (five years), and theft over $10,000 (four years). The court ordered the burglary and assault convictions to run consecutively to each other. We conclude upon de novo review that, although the trial court misapplied certain enhancement factors, those remaining were properly applied and justified the sentences. Additionally, the fact that this offense was committed while on probation justified the imposition of consecutive sentences. We affirm the judgments.

Sumner Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. James Ray Bartlett - Order
M2001-02419-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley

Defendant appeals the circuit court judgments denying him probation on two misdemeanor counts of passing worthless checks. We affirm pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Lincoln Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Allen Prentice Blye
E2001-01227-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge R. Jerry Beck
The Defendant, Allen Prentice Blye, was convicted by a jury of aggravated burglary and aggravated rape. The trial court sentenced the Defendant as a Range III, persistent offender to fifteen years for the aggravated burglary, and as a Range II, violent offender to forty years for the aggravated rape.  The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively in the Department of Correction, for an effective sentence of fifty-five years. The Defendant now appeals as of right, alleging that the trial court erred in refusing to suppress evidence; erred in admitting certain testimony at trial concerning DNA evidence; that the evidence is not sufficient to support his convictions; that the trial court erred in refusing to grant him the services of a psychological expert for sentencing purposes; and that the trial court erred in its application of enhancement and mitigating factors in setting the length of his sentences. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Allen Prentice Blye - Concurring
E2001-01227-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge R. Jerry Beck
I write separately to express my concern over utilizing the ex parte search warrant process rather than an adversarial hearing to secure a blood sample from a defendant after adversarial proceedings have begun where there are no exigent circumstances. To my knowledge, this issue has not been addressed by our state supreme court.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. James A. Mellon
E1999-01505-CCA-R3-DD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz

The defendant, James A. Mellon, pled guilty to first degree felony murder and especially aggravated robbery and waived his right to a trial by jury. As part of the plea agreement, the State agreed to recommend concurrent sentences on these charges of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole and twenty-five years imprisonment, respectively, in exchange for the defendant's agreement to testify truthfully and consistent with his previous statement at the trials of his codefendants. Thereafter, the defendant refused to testify as required by his plea agreement, instead, moving to withdraw his guilty pleas. That motion was denied, the State withdrew its sentencing recommendation, and a sentencing hearing was held. The jury, at the sentencing hearing, found the statutory aggravating circumstance that the defendant had previously been convicted of a felony involving violence to the person and sentenced the defendant to death. For the conviction of especially aggravated robbery, the defendant was sentenced to a consecutive term of twenty-five years imprisonment. He then filed a timely appeal. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court and the imposition of the death penalty.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Rodney Williams
W2001-02606-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris B. Craft

The defendant, Rodney Williams, appeals his Shelby County Criminal Court conviction for aggravated robbery. He challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and insists that the trial court erred in failing to suppress the victim's pretrial and in-court identification. We affirm.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Stacey Renee Moore
E2001-01905-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Cupp
The appellant, Stacey Renee Moore, entered guilty pleas to two counts of theft over five hundred dollars ($500), Class E felonies; one count of theft under five hundred dollars ($500), a Class A misdemeanor; and one count of failure to appear, a Class E felony. For each felony conviction, the appellant received a one-year sentence, with the sentences to be served consecutively. Additionally, the appellant received an eleven month and twenty-nine day sentence for the misdemeanor conviction to be served concurrent to the felony convictions. The trial court denied the appellant's request for alternative sentencing and sentenced the appellant to an effective sentence of three years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant contends that the trial court erred by denying alternative sentencing. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Washington Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jonathan Omar Echevarria
M2001-02703-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

The Appellant, Jonathan Omar Echevarria, appeals from the sentencing decision of the Davidson County Criminal Court imposing a sentence of four years incarceration. The sentence arose from a guilty plea entered by Echevarria to one count of attempted aggravated robbery. In this appeal, Echevarria raises the issue of whether the trial court erred by ordering a sentence of total confinement rather than a less restrictive alternative. After review, we find no error. Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Michael A. Carter v. State of Tennessee
M2001-03065-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Seth W. Norman

The petitioner originally pled guilty to aggravated robbery on June 1, 2000. He sought post-conviction relief alleging he received ineffective assistance of counsel which led to an involuntary guilty plea. Following a hearing, the trial court dismissed the petition. We affirm.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Corey Lamont Radley v. State of Tennessee
M2001-03066-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

In this appeal from the denial of post-conviction relief, the sole issue is whether petitioner was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel in proceedings that led to his conviction for first degree murder with a resulting life sentence. We find no merit to his arguments and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Randal Wayne Faulk
M2001-02423-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Frank G. Clement, Jr.

The defendant was convicted by a Davidson County jury of driving under the influence, third offense, and driving on a revoked license. He appeals only his DUI conviction, arguing the evidence was insufficient to support a finding that he was under the influence. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

John David Neblett v. State of Tennessee
M2001-02450-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge John H. Gasaway, III

The petitioner originally pled guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, and second offense driving on a revoked license. The trial court sentenced him to an effective sentence of twenty-four years. The effective sentence was affirmed on direct appeal. The petitioner sought post-conviction relief, alleging an unknowing guilty plea and ineffective assistance of counsel. The post-conviction court denied relief. In this appeal, the petitioner contends the post-conviction court erred in summarily dismissing the petition based solely upon the guilty plea transcript. We disagree and affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v.Vasile Cavopol
M2001-01034-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

Apparently serving probationary terms on judicial diversion, Vasile Cavopol attempts to appeal from the Davidson County Criminal Court. He claims (1) that the lower court should have dismissed the vandalism and resisting arrest cases against him when the state's witnesses did not appear for trial on two occasions and (2) that the evidence insufficiently supports the determinations of guilt. Because the defendant who was granted judicial diversion has no rightful appeal, we dismiss this appeal.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Kevin Island
W2001-02171-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bernie Weinman

Kevin Island appeals from his Shelby County conviction of robbery. He claims that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to sustain the conviction. We disagree and affirm.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Asata Lowe
E2000-01591-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.

A Blount County jury convicted the Defendant of two counts of first degree premeditated murder and imposed concurrent sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The jury also convicted the Defendant of especially aggravated robbery, and the trial court sentenced the Defendant to twenty-five years incarceration, to be served consecutive to the two sentences for first degree premeditated murder. The Defendant now appeals, raising the following issues: (1) whether the trial court properly instructed the jury on all lesser-included offenses raised by the evidence, (2) whether the trial court erred by refusing to instruct the jury on duress, necessity and accessory after the fact, (3) whether the trial court erred by allowing into evidence testimony regarding the Defendant's pending aggravated assault trial, (4) whether the trial court erred by allowing into evidence a magazine clip confiscated from the Defendant by police two months before the murders, (5) whether the trial court erred by refusing to find the sentencing provisions of the Tennessee homicide laws to be unconstitutional, (6) whether the Defendant's convictions for especially aggravated robbery and theft violated his right against double jeopardy, (7) whether the indictment was constitutionally defective on its face, and (8) whether there was sufficient evidence to convict the Defendant of the charged offenses. We affirm the judgment of the trial court, but remand for entry of a corrected judgment form in Count III of indictment number 11329.

Blount Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jason Howard Copely
E2002-00468-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz

The Defendant pled guilty to facilitation of attempt to commit especially aggravated robbery. The trial court sentenced the Defendant as a Range II multiple offender to seven years in the Tennessee Department of Correction, with eleven months of the sentence to be served in the Knox County jail followed by probation for the remainder of the sentence. A probation violation warrant was subsequently issued against the Defendant, alleging that the Defendant had violated his probated sentence by leaving his residence without permission and by removing his electronic monitor. An amended probation violation warrant was later filed alleging that the Defendant had also violated his probation by committing misdemeanor theft. Following a hearing, the trial court revoked the Defendant's probation and ordered him to serve his sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction. This appeal ensued. After reviewing the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Ronnie Watson
W2001-03084-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge L. Terry Lafferty

Convicted of aggravated robbery, Ronnie Watson appeals the Gibson County Circuit Court’s denial of his motion to suppress the statements he gave to a law enforcement officer shortly after the commission of the crime. We hold that the issue has been waived by Watson’s failure to include it in his motion for new trial.

Gibson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. William R. McLeod, Jr.
M2001-03070-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald P. Harris

The defendant, William R. McLeod, Jr., pled guilty in the Williamson County Circuit Court to two counts of aggravated sexual battery, a Class B felony. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the defendant received an eight-year sentence for each conviction with the issue of concurrent or consecutive sentencing to be decided by the trial court. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered that the defendant serve his sentences consecutively for an effective sentence of sixteen years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The defendant appeals, claiming that the trial court erred in ordering consecutive sentences. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Earley Story
W2001-00529-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge John P. Colton, Jr.

The appellant, Earley Story, was convicted in the Shelby County Criminal Court of one count of selling not less than one-half ounce nor more than ten pounds of marijuana, a Class E felony. The appellant was sentenced to one year of incarceration in the Shelby County Jail, which sentence was immediately probated. On appeal, the appellant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred in failing to conduct a hearing on the appellant's pro se motion alleging a failure to afford him a speedy trial; (2) whether the trial court wrongly forced the appellant to trial with unwanted counsel, which counsel were appointed without any evidence that the appellant was unable to employ counsel of his choosing; and (3) whether the trial court erred in admitting purported transcripts of tape recordings. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Carlos Bierner
E2001-01857-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.

Defendant, Carlos Bierner, was charged with aggravated sexual battery. After his trial had commenced, but prior to its conclusion, Defendant entered a plea of guilty to the lesser charge of attempted aggravated sexual battery, a Class C felony. In accordance with the negotiated plea agreement, Defendant received a sentence of eight years, as a multiple Range II offender, with the manner of service to be determined by the trial court. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court denied probation or any other form of alternative sentencing and ordered that Defendant serve the eight years in confinement, at thirty-five percent eligibility. In this appeal, Defendant argues that the trial court erred by ordering a sentence of continuous confinement. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Blount Court of Criminal Appeals