State vs. James Christopher Lewis E1999-00802-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: R. Jerry Beck
The defendant entered an Alford plea to one count of attempted rape and two counts of sexual battery. He received a sentence of eight years as a Range II offender for the attempted rape and two years, as a Range I offender, for each of the sexual battery charges. All sentences were to be served concurrently. The defendant's request for a suspended sentence was denied after a lengthy hearing, and he raises that denial as the sole issue on appeal. Based upon our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Sullivan
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Larry Burks E1999-00571-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: J. Curtis Smith
The mobile home, which was the residence of the defendant and his wife, was searched, pursuant to a search warrant, and certain illegal substances were found. The defendant filed a motion to suppress, contesting the adequacy of the description of the place to be searched. Following a hearing on the motion and the trial court's upholding the validity of the search warrant, the defendant entered a plea of guilty to a drug offense, reserving as certified questions of law the adequacy of the portion of the search warrant describing the place to be searched and whether the search warrant sufficiently established the reliability of the confidential informant. Based upon our review, we affirm the finding of the trial court that the description of the premises was adequate. Our consideration of the second certified question of law is waived because this issue was not pursued on appeal.
Bledsoe
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Samuel Wayne Loveday E1999-01090-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Ray L. Jenkins
The defendant, who was convicted of attempted aggravated rape, aggravated sexual battery, and aggravated assault, appealed these convictions, presenting as issues whether the out-of-court showup identification of the defendant was impermissibly suggestive and whether the subsequent in-court identification was tainted as a result. Based upon our review, we conclude that these issues are without merit and, thus, affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Knox
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Larry E. Scales M1998-00142-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Charles D. Haston, Sr.
The defendant, Larry E. Scales, appeals his conviction of theft over $500 and his six-year sentence as a career offender. Because the trial court erroneously instructed the jury on the possible range of punishment, the judgment is reversed and the defendant is granted a new trial.
Warren
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Robert C. Copas M1999-00841-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Trial Court Judge: Jane W. Wheatcraft
The defendant, Robert C. Copas, was indicted by a Sumner County Grand Jury for one count of aggravated rape. After discovering that the recording of the defendant's preliminary hearing was inaudible, the defendant moved to dismiss the indictment and remand for a new preliminary hearing pursuant to rule 5.1 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure. Following a hearing, the trial court did not dismiss the indictment, but remanded for a new preliminary hearing. The state then moved to dismiss the indictment, arguing that case law requires dismissal of the indictment under these circumstances. The court agreed and dismissed the indictment but the state then brought this appeal. Because the trial court's dismissal of the indictment and remand for a new preliminary hearing was an appropriate remedy for a violation of the Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5.1 (a) the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Sumner
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Justin Victory M2000-00015-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge L. Terry Lafferty
Trial Court Judge: Steve R. Dozier
The defendant, Justin Victory, entered a plea of guilty to the offense of aggravated burglary before the Davidson County Criminal Court. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the defendant was to receive a sentence of four (4) years, with the manner of service to be determined by the trial court. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court denied the defendant's request for an alternative sentence and ordered the defendant to serve the sentence in the Davidson County CCA. Also, the trial court advised the defendant that upon completion of the Life Lines Substance Abuse Program, the trial court would suspend the balance of the sentence and determine proper restitution. In this appeal of right, the defendant complains that the trial court erred in denying him supervised probation. After a review of the record, the briefs of parties and applicable law, we modify the manner of the service of the defendant's sentence to 214 days incarceration with the remainder served on supervised probation.
Davidson
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Jerry D. Carney M1999-01139-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Cheryl A. Blackburn
The appellant, Jerry D. Carney, appeals his conviction by a jury in the Davidson County Criminal Court of first degree murder. Pursuant to his conviction for first degree murder, the trial court sentenced the appellant to life in prison in the Tennessee Department of Correction, with the possibility of parole. The appellant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether there was sufficient evidence of premeditation to support his conviction of first degree murder; (2) whether the State violated Brady by failing to disclose audio taped statements made by the police of witnesses the day after the shooting; and (3) whether the trial court erred in precluding the appellant's cross-examination of the police officers who were testifying at trial about their training regarding self-defense and the application of deadly force. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Davidson
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Barry Waters Rogers M1999-01358-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Robert L. Jones
The defendant, Barry Waters Rogers, was indicted for arson, conspiracy to commit arson, and vandalism. The jury acquitted the defendant on the charge of conspiracy to commit arson but, on the arson charge, returned a guilty verdict on the lesser included offense of facilitation of arson. Although the jury also returned a guilty verdict for facilitation of vandalism, the trial court later set that aside. The trial court imposed a Range I sentence of three and one-half years in the Department of Correction, with probation to be granted after the first year of service. In this appeal of right, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence and complains that he was improperly sentenced. We find no error and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
State vs. Retha Smith W1999-00607-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Julian P. Guinn
The defendant appeals her jury conviction and sentence for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. She received a sentence of three years with one year to be served in confinement and the remainder to be served on community corrections. The defendant raises the following issues for review: (1) whether the evidence is insufficient to sustain her conviction; (2) whether the prosecuting attorney made improper remarks during his closing argument; and (3) whether her sentence is excessive. Upon a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court but remand for the assessment of the fine.
Henry
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. James Starnes W1999-01854-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Julian P. Guinn
The petitioner appeals from a denial of post-conviction relief, claiming his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance. We conclude the record is insufficient for proper appellate review. Thus, we remand to the trial court for an additional hearing.
Henry
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Donaven Brown W1999-00629-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Joseph H. Walker, III
The defendant and the victim were both maximum security inmates at the Corrections Corporation of America facility in Clifton, Tennessee. After the victim, his hands and feet restrained, had been released from his cell to use a telephone, the defendant asked to be released from his cell take a shower. After his hands, but not his feet had been restrained, he pushed a correctional officer aside and ran from his cell, confronting the victim near the telephones. "Bad blood" had existed between the victim and the defendant, both of whom had armed themselves that day with shanks, or homemade prison knives. The victim received six knife stab wounds, two of which were potentially fatal. The defendant was then charged with first degree murder and felony possession of a weapon in a penal institution and, following his convictions of both offenses, sentenced to life without parole and three years, respectively, the sentences to be served concurrently. He timely appealed, presenting as issues whether the trial court erred in allowing proof that he had asserted his right to remain silent and requested an attorney and whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain the conviction for first degree murder. Based upon our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
State vs. Matthew Leonard & Bernie Evans E1999-02724-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Lynn W. Brown
The appellants, Matthew W. Leonard and Bernie J. Evans, each pled guilty in the Criminal Court for Washington County to three counts of kidnapping, a class C felony, three counts of aggravated assault, a class C felony, one count of escape, a class E felony, and one count of theft over $10,000, a class C felony. The appellants requested that the trial court grant them full probation. After a probation hearing, the trial court denied the appellants' request. The appellants present the following issue for our review: whether the trial court erred in denying the appellants full probation. After a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Washington
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Henry Marshall Jr. W1999-01159-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Defendant Henry Marshall, Jr. was convicted of reckless aggravated assault following a jury trial in the Madison County Circuit Court. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range I Standard Offender to a term of two years, with the Defendant to serve eleven months and twenty-nine days in the local jail, and the remaining one year and one day on supervised probation. The Defendant challenges his conviction and his sentence, raising the following issues: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying Defendant's request for an instruction on self-defense, (2) whether the trial court erred in denying Defendant's request for an instruction on the lesser-included offense of simple assault and (3) whether the trial court correctly sentenced the defendant. After a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court as modified herein.
Madison
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. John Palmer W1999-01310-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Dick Jerman, Jr.
Defendant, John David Palmer, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and especially aggravated robbery following a jury trial in Gibson County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to serve three years for voluntary manslaughter and twenty years for especially aggravated robbery with the sentences to be served concurrent with each other. He does not appeal the voluntary manslaughter conviction or sentence. However, regarding the conviction for especially aggravated robbery, Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the conviction and argues that the trial court committed reversible error by not instructing the jury on the lesser-included offense of theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle, i.e., joyriding. After review, we reverse and remand for a new trial on the offense of especially aggravated robbery.
Gibson
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Edward Mitchell W1999-01314-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Carolyn Wade Blackett
The defendant, Edward Mitchell, appeals as of right from his conviction by a jury in the Shelby County Criminal Court for two counts of aggravated assault, a Class C felony. His sole issue on appeal is whether the trial court erred by denying him a continuance because of the unavailability of a witness. After a review of the record, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for a new trial.
Shelby
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Ronnie Bradfield W1999-02344-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: James C. Beasley, Jr.
Petitioner, Ronnie Bradfield, was convicted by a jury in the Shelby County Criminal Court of three counts of attempt to commit second degree murder, which this Court affirmed on direct appeal. Petitioner subsequently filed a pro se petition together with an amended and supplemental petition for post-conviction relief alleging, primarily, ineffective assistance of counsel. The post-conviction judge denied relief following an evidentiary hearing which took place over numerous days. Petitioner now appeals the judgment of the post-conviction court denying his petition. We affirm.
Shelby
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Willie Boyland W1999-00634-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Jon K. Blackwood
Following a jury trial in the Hardeman County Circuit Court, Defendant was convicted of the offense of casual exchange of marijuana. On appeal, Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the conviction. He also asserts that the trial court erred by prohibiting Defendant from questioning a state witness about a civil warrant and judgment against the witness and that the trial court erred by overruling his objection to the State eliciting testimony from its primary witness regarding the witness' employment. We have reviewed the record on appeal and the briefs of the parties and find no reversible error. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Hardeman
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Joshua Dailey E1999-01342-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
The Defendant, Joshua Dailey, pled guilty to two counts of the Class E felony offense of violation of the Habitual Motor Vehicle Offender Act. The trial court sentenced Defendant to two years for each conviction, to be served consecutively. Furthermore, the trial court ordered the first sentence to be served in split confinement, with 300 days incarceration in the county jail followed by placement in Community Corrections. The Defendant appeals, challenging the length of the total effective sentence and arguing that he should serve the entire sentence in Community Corrections. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Blount
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. James M. Loveday E1999-02072-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Vance
Following a jury trial, Defendant, James M. Loveday, was convicted of one count of attempted first degree murder, four counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of reckless endangerment. The trial court sentenced him to twenty-five (25) years for the attempted first degree murder conviction, six (6) years for each of the four aggravated assault convictions, and two (2) years for each of the reckless endangerment convictions. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively to each other for a total sentence of fifty-three (53) years. On appeal, he challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the convictions of attempted first degree murder and aggravated assault, and argues that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of prior bad acts, improperly considered victim impact letters in the presentence report, and argues that the sentences are excessive and that the trial court erred by ordering consecutive sentencing. After a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court as modified herein.
Sevier
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Jack North W1999-01301-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: C. Creed Mcginley
The appellant, Jack Jay North, Jr., was convicted of first degree murder by a Hardin County jury and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. On appeal, he asserts that the post-conviction court erred in finding trial counsel's performance to be effective during the sentencing phase of trial. Specifically, the appellant contends that trial counsel was ineffective for (1) failing to offer mitigating proof at the sentencing phase; (2) for failing to request funds for a mitigation specialist; and (3) for not objecting to comments made by the State during closing arguments of the sentencing phase. After review, we affirm the judgment of the Circuit Court of Hardin County.
Hardin
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Julius Parker W1999-01327-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Joseph B. Brown
Because the petitioner, Julius Parker, who was convicted of aggravated robbery and felony murder, received the effective assistance of counsel at trial, he is not entitled to post-conviction relief.
Shelby
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Mark Williams W1999-01456-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Chris B. Craft
The defendant, Mark Williams, was indicted for attempted first degree murder. After being convicted for attempted second degree murder, he was sentenced, as a Range I offender, to 12 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. In this appeal of right, the defendant contends that because the indictment did not allege an overt act, the conviction is void. He further asserts that the jury charge on attempted second degree murder was erroneous in that it did not require the jury to find that he intended to kill the victim. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
