State vs. Michael Wayne Perry M1999-01832-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: J. O. Bond
The defendant, Michael Wayne Perry, was convicted by a Wilson County jury of second degree murder and first degree felony murder committed during the perpetration of, or attempted perpetration of, rape. The trial court sentenced Defendant to life without parole for the first degree murder conviction, twenty years as a standard Range I offender for the second degree murder conviction, and then merged the two counts into a single conviction for first degree murder. Defendant appeals his convictions and presents the following issues: 1) whether the trial court erred in admitting Defendant's recorded confession; 2) whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence obtained from the vehicle that Defendant drove on the night of the murder; 3) whether the trial court erred in admitting photographs of the victim's body; 4) whether the trial court's instructions to the jury were proper; 5) whether the evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find Defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; and 6) whether the conduct of law enforcement officials in the case "shocks the conscience." Based upon a careful review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Wilson
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Lonnie Turner M1999-01127-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: James K. Clayton, Jr.
The defendant appeals from his convictions for first degree felony murder and aggravated rape, for which he received consecutive sentences of life and twenty-two years, respectively. The defendant contests the sufficiency of the evidence, whether certain statements which he made to investigators were taken in violation of his rights, the validity of the search warrant for samples of his hair and blood, certain evidentiary and procedural rulings of the trial court, the ordering of consecutive sentences, and the denial of his motion for a new trial based upon newly discovered evidence. We affirm the judgments of conviction.
Rutherford
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Carl Preston Durham E1999-02640-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Stephen M. Bevil
The defendant, Carl Preston Durham, was indicted for two counts of first degree murder (premeditated and felony), aggravated robbery, and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery in connection with the murder of the victim, Rene Earl Cabirac, Sr. After a nine-day trial, verdicts of guilt were rendered on all four charges. At the conclusion of the guilt phase of the trial, the trial court merged the defendant's two first degree murder convictions and the jury sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The trial court found the defendant to be a career offender and imposed a concurrent sentence of 30 years for the aggravated robbery and a consecutive sentence of 15 years for the conspiracy. The effective sentence is, therefore, life without the possibility of parole plus fifteen years. Because there was no prejudicial error, the convictions and sentences are affirmed; however, because the trial court failed to indicate on the judgment form a merger of the felony murder and the premeditated murder, the judgment is modified to reflect a single conviction for first degree murder.
Hamilton
Court of Criminal Appeals
Ross Gunter vs. State E2000-00747-CCA-R3-CD
Trial Court Judge: Carroll L. Ross
The petitioner, Ross Gunter, pled guilty in the McMinn County Criminal Court to second degree murder and was ordered to serve one hundred percent (100%) of his fifteen year sentence in confinement. The petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief alleging fault in the plea agreement, and the post-conviction court denied relief. On appeal, the petitioner raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the post-conviction court erred in not granting the petition for post-conviction relief based on the State's breach of the plea agreement, and (2) whether the post-conviction court erred in not granting the petition for post-conviction relief because the petitioner did not knowingly and voluntarily enter a guilty plea. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
The defendant, Jesse C. Goodman, Jr., was convicted by a Hickman County jury of one count of aggravated assault, a Class C felony, three counts of reckless endangerment, a Class E felony, and one count of assault, a Class A misdemeanor. All counts arose out of a single incident of domestic violence, with ramifications that included a four-hour standoff between the defendant and five law enforcement officers. The defendant was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender to nine years for aggravated assault; two years for each of the reckless endangerment convictions; and eleven months and twenty-nine days for assault. The sentences for aggravated assault and reckless endangerment were ordered to be served consecutively, and the misdemeanor conviction was ordered to be served concurrently as to the other sentences, for an effective sentence of fifteen years in confinement. In this appeal as of right, the defendant presents two issues: (1) Whether the evidence was sufficient to convict him of either aggravated assault or assault; and (2) Whether the sentences were appropriate, both as to length of the aggravated assault sentence and the consecutive manner of service of the aggravated assault sentence and the reckless endangerment sentences. We conclude that the convicting evidence was sufficient, both as to the aggravated assault charge and the assault charge. We further conclude that the nine-year sentence for aggravated assault was appropriate, as was the consecutive manner of service of the sentences for aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Jeffrey Bivens appeals from the Madison County Circuit Court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. Although the petition was filed outside the one year limitations period, the post-conviction court excused the "late-filed" petition "in the interest of justice." Following a hearing upon the merits of the petition, the court denied post-conviction relief. Because the petition was time-barred, the post-conviction court was without jurisdiction to conduct a hearing on the merits. For this reason, dismissal of the petition is affirmed.
Madison
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Johnnie Bell, Jr. E1999-00819-CCA-R9-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Phyllis H. Miller
Sullivan
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Johnnie Bell, Jr. E1999-00819-CCA-R9-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Phyllis H. Miller
Sullivan
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Jason Beeler W1999-01417-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: William B. Acree
The defendant appeals from jury trial convictions for reckless homicide, felony murder, aggravated burglary, and two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping. In this appeal, the defendant alleges insufficient evidence, errors in admitting certain evidence, prosecutorial misconduct, improper instructions, and error in denying his writ of error coram nobis. Concluding that it was reversible error to not instruct on the lesser-included offenses of felony murder, we remand for a new trial on the felony murder count. We affirm the remaining convictions.
Obion
Court of Criminal Appeals
Alvin Vonner vs. State M2000-00566-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Timothy L. Easter
The petitioner, Alvin Vonner, appeals the Hickman County Circuit Court's summary dismissal of his petition for habeas corpus relief and alleges that his 60 year second degree murder sentence has expired. Because the record fails to establish that the sentence has expired, we affirm the dismissal of the petition.
Hickman
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Vance Shelton E2000-01632-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: James E. Beckner
Defendant was convicted of rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery. The defendant was sentenced to twenty-five years for rape of a child and twelve years for aggravated sexual battery, to run consecutively to each other and consecutively to a prior four-year sentence. In this appeal, the defendant makes the following allegations: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; (2) the trial court erred in failing to grant a mistrial due to a variance between the indictment and the state's proof at trial; (3) the trial court erred in ruling his prior convictions for arson would be admissible if he testified; and (4) his sentences are excessive. Upon our review of the record, we remand for modification of the judgment for aggravated sexual battery to reflect the proper date of the offense, but affirm the judgments in all other respects.
Greene
Court of Criminal Appeals
Darrick Edwards vs. State E1999-01204-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Douglas A. Meyer
The petitioner, Darrick Edwards, appeals the trial court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. Because the petitioner was provided the effective assistance of counsel and knowingly and voluntarily entered his pleas of guilt to first degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, aggravated robbery, and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, the judgment is affirmed.
Hamilton
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. DeWayne Greene E1999-01288-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: O. Duane Slone
Defendant, Dewayne Greene, was convicted by a guilty plea of simple assault, resisting arrest, evading arrest, and reckless endangerment in Hamblen County Circuit Court. The trial court sentenced Defendant to eleven months and twenty-nine days, with three-hundred days to be served in confinement. Defendant was also indicted by the Jefferson County Grand Jury for two counts of aggravated assault arising from incidents involving the same victim as those which generated the Hamblen County indictments. Defendant pled guilty in the Jefferson County Circuit Court with the condition that the trial court "reserve an entry of conviction" until the court heard Defendant's motion to dismiss on grounds of double jeopardy. After the trial court heard and denied Defendant's motion, it sentenced Defendant as a Range I offender to concurrent terms of six years for each count of aggravated assault. In this appeal, Defendant argues that (1) double jeopardy bars the Jefferson County convictions because Defendant's previous Hamblen County convictions were based upon the same conduct, and (2) Defendant's sentence for the aggravated assault convictions is excessive. After a thorough review of the record, we find that only Defendant's sentencing issue is properly before this Court. Defendant failed to properly reserve the double jeopardy issue as a certified question of law for appellate review. We affirm the sentence of six years for count 1 and reduce the sentence for count 2 to five years; the total effective sentence remains at six years.
Jefferson
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Deborah Graham & Denice Smith E1999-02248-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Rex H. Ogle
After a jury trial, a Cocke County jury found the Defendants, Deborah Graham and Denice Smith, guilty of the first degree murder of Aaron Smith. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced both Defendants to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. In this appeal as of right, the Defendants raise the following issues: 1) whether the trial court erred in not dismissing the indictments because of the State's failure to provide the Defendants with a speedy trial; 2) whether the trial court erred by allowing the State to decide not to consolidate Alexandro Rivera's case with the Defendants' case, because of a potential Bruton problem, without first granting the Defendants an opportunity to be heard on the issue; 3) whether the trial court erred in failing to sever Defendant Smith's case from Defendant Graham's case; 4) whether the trial court erred in consolidating Defendant Graham's case with Defendant Smith's case; and 5) whether the evidence was sufficient to convict each of the Defendants of first degree murder. After a thorough review of the evidence and the applicable law, we affirm the decision of the trial court.
State vs. Danny Harold Ogle E2000-00421-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Defendant entered a best interest plea of guilty to vehicular homicide by recklessness. The plea attempted to reserve a certified question of law relating to the destruction of evidence; namely, the victim's vehicle. Specifically, defendant contends the destruction of the vehicle while it was under state control deprived him of due process, and the trial court should have dismissed the indictment. Upon our review of the record, we conclude that we have no jurisdiction to address the certified question. The appeal is dismissed.
Sevier
Court of Criminal Appeals
State s. Ricky Eugene Cofer E2000-00532-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: E. Eugene Eblen
Defendant was indicted for aggravated robbery, and a Roane County jury found him guilty of the lesser offense of simple robbery, a Class C felony. The trial court sentenced him to six years as a Range II, multiple offender, to be served consecutively to a prior Anderson County sentence. In this appeal, defendant makes the following allegations: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction; (2) the jury foreman impermissibly interjected extraneous information into the jury deliberations; and (3) consecutive sentences were not warranted. Upon our review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Roane
Court of Criminal Appeals
State of Tennessee v. Harold L. Green E2000-00616-CCA-R10-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr.
Anderson
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Jeffrey Dwight Whaley E2000-00646-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner
The trial court dismissed defendant's DUI presentment, finding a denial of the right to a preliminary hearing. Upon the state's appeal, we find no evidence of bad faith by the state. Accordingly, we reverse and remand to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Knox
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Ernest B. Eady E2000-00722-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner
The defendant appeals from his conviction for second degree murder, contesting the sufficiency of the evidence, the timeliness of the state's disclosure of a potentially exculpatory witness, and the trial court's failure to declare a mistrial. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Knox
Court of Criminal Appeals
Stephen L.Carey vs. State E2000-00847-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner
This is a post-conviction appeal. The petitioner is currently serving life as an habitual criminal plus a consecutive 105 years for other offenses, all imposed in 1987. The petitioner timely filed three petitions for post-conviction relief challenging his guilty pleas for offenses occurring in 1969, 1981, and 1983, all of which were subsequently used to establish his habitual criminal status. The petitioner attempted to amend his petitions for post-conviction relief by challenging two of his 1987 convictions, but it was denied as untimely. All petitions were dismissed by the trial court after a hearing. In this appeal as a matter of right, the petitioner contends (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel and inadequate advice of his constitutional rights from the trial court, thereby rendering his guilty pleas involuntary and unknowing; and (2) the post-conviction court erroneously dismissed his amendment to the petition for post-conviction relief. After a thorough review of the record, we conclude that the post-conviction court correctly denied post-conviction relief.
Knox
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Sonya Gosnell & Bronzo Gosnell, Jr . E1999-00603-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: James E. Beckner
A jury convicted both defendants of second degree murder. Bronzo Gosnell and Sonya Gosnell were sentenced to 25 years and 20 years, respectively. In this appeal as a matter of right, both defendants challenge the introduction of recorded conversations made while detained in a police cruiser. Sonya Gosnell further challenges the introduction of certain pretrial statements, the administration of a polygraph examination, the denial of her motion for severance, and the denial of expert assistance. Bronzo Gosnell further challenges the trial court's limitation of his cross-examination of a witness and his maximum sentence of 25 years. Our review of the issues presented by the defendants reflects no reversible error. Accordingly, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Greene
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Leon Hurd E1999-01341-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr.
Anderson
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Leon Hurd E1999-01341-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr.
Anderson
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Tracie Kirkland E1999-01344-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Carroll L. Ross
Defendant was convicted by a Monroe County jury of first degree premeditated murder and given a life sentence. In this appeal, defendant makes the following allegations of error: (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain her conviction; (2) the trial court erred in denying a continuance; (3) the trial court improperly charged the jury on criminal responsibility for the conduct of another; and (4) the trial court erred in refusing to grant a new trial based upon newly discovered evidence. Upon our review of the record, we conclude the evidence was not sufficient to support a conviction for first degree premeditated murder, and defendant's sentence should be reduced to second degree murder. The other allegations of error are without merit. Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is modified to reflect a conviction for second degree murder, and the case is remanded to the trial court for a new sentencing hearing.
