COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Joseph Shaw, Jr.
W2009-02326-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roger A. Page

The defendant, Joseph Shaw, Jr., was convicted by a Madison County jury of one count of rape, a Class B felony, and one count of sexual battery, a Class E felony. The trial court merged the sexual battery conviction into the rape conviction and sentenced the defendant as a Range I offender to eleven years at 100% in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence and argues that the trial court erred by admitting a prior consistent statement of the victim without issuing a limiting instruction and by imposing an excessive sentence. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Terry Lynn Craft
W2009-02049-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roger Page

Following a jury trial, the Defendant, Terry Lynn Craft, was convicted of two counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, a Class B felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. _ 39-13-213(b)(2). In this direct appeal, he contends that: (1) the State presented evidence insufficient to convict him; and (2) the trial court violated the hearsay rule in admitting a recording of a 911 call. After our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Jose Holmes v. Howard Carlton, Warden
E2009-01960-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lynn Brown

The Petitioner, Jose Holmes, appeals pro se the trial court's summary dismissal of his petition for habeas corpus relief from his conviction for especially aggravated robbery, a Class A felony, for which he was sentenced as a Range III, career offender to sixty years in the Department of Correction. The petitioner contends that the judgment is void because the State failed to file a notice of intent to seek enhanced punishment at least ten days before the trial. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Johnson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Donnie Edward Braddam, alias Eddie Braddam
E2009-02178-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Barry A. Steelman

The Defendant, Donnie Edward Braddam, appeals the Hamilton County Criminal Court's order revoking his probation for aggravated burglary, a Class C felony, and ordering him to serve the balance of his three-year sentence in the Department of Correction. We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion, and we affirm its judgment.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Derek Alton Badger
M2009-01295-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert Crigler

Following a jury trial, the Defendant, Derek Alton Badger, was convicted of one count of aggravated sexual battery, a Class B felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. _ 39-13-504(b). In this appeal, he contends that the State presented evidence insufficient to convict him. After our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Edward Lee Adkins
M2009-00528-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Curtis Smith

On the evening of May 25, 2007, Appellant, Edward Lee Adkins, was arrested at the hospital for driving under the influence ("DUI"). This arrest occurred after Trooper Brandon Hunt was called to the scene of an accident where he found a truck registered to Appellant upside down in a ditch. When Trooper Hunt arrived at the hospital, he smelled alcohol and ordered a blood alcohol test. Appellant's blood alcohol level was found to be 0.19 percent by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation ("TBI") Crime Laboratory. The Franklin County Grand Jury indicted Appellant for two counts of DUI, one count of DUI, third offense, one count of reckless driving, and one count of violation of the registration law. After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of both counts of DUI, reckless driving, and violation of the registration law. The trial court held a bench trial and determined that Appellant was guilty of DUI, third offense. Appellant was sentenced to an effective sentence of eleven months and twenty-nine days, with one hundred and twenty days to be served in jail and the remainder to be served on probation. On appeal, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in admitting the two convictions used to support his conviction for DUI, third offense because they were not self-authenticating. Appellant also argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for DUI, third offense and reckless driving. After a thorough review of the record, we conclude that both issues are without merit. Therefore, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Franklin Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Stephen James Thompson
M2009-02122-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Senior Judge Allen Wallace

The State appeals the trial court's dismissal of the charge of driving under the influence ("DUI") against Appellee, Stephen James Thompson. The trial court dismissed the charge after finding that the statute of limitations had expired before the Maury County Grand Jury indicted Appellee. On appeal, we determine that the trial court improperly dismissed the charges because Appellee waived his preliminary hearing and agreed to allow the case to be bound over to the grand jury prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations. Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and remanded for reinstatement of the indictment against Appellee for DUI.

Maury Court of Criminal Appeals

Gary Thomas Russell v. State of Tennessee
W2009-02181-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy Morgan

The Petitioner, Gary Thomas Russell, pleaded nolo contendere to one count of aggravated assault. He was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender to nine years in the Department of Correction. He later filed a petition for post-conviction relief; following a hearing, the Circuit Court of Madison County denied his petition. In this appeal, he contends that the trial court erred in holding that petitioner's trial counsel rendered effective assistance. After our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Patrick Pope
M2009-01473-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert L. Jones

Appellant, Patrick Pope, was indicted by the Maury County Grand Jury in March of 2007 for aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, and aggravated kidnapping. After a jury trial, Appellant was found guilty on all counts. Appellant was sentenced to an effective sentence of eleven years. After a hearing on the motion for new trial, the trial court entered a judgment of acquittal on the conviction for aggravated kidnapping. The trial court denied the remainder of the motion for new trial, and Appellant has appealed. On appeal, the following issues are presented for our review: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions; (2) whether the accomplice testimony was adequately corroborated; (3) whether the trial court properly sentenced Appellant. After a review of the record, we determine that the accomplice testimony was adequately corroborated by direct and circumstantial evidence, that the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions, and that the trial court properly sentenced Appellant to an effective sentence of eleven years. Accordingly, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Maury Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Charles Laten Howell, III
W2009-02032-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

Following a jury trial, the Defendant, Charles Laten Howell, III, was convicted of promotion of methamphetamine manufacture, a Class D felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. _ 39-17-433(e). In this appeal, he contends that the trial court erred in admitting blister packs of pseudoephedrine caplets because the State failed to establish a chain of custody. After our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Tipton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Kenneth Gregory Allen
M2009-00070-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge obert Crigler

The defendant, Kenneth Gregory Allen, was convicted of two counts of the sale of less than .5 grams of cocaine base and two counts of delivery of less than .5 grams of cocaine base, both Class C felonies; and sale of more than .5 grams of cocaine base, delivery of more than .5 grams of cocaine base, possession of more than .5 grams of cocaine with the intent to sell, and possession of more than .5 grams of cocaine with the intent to deliver, all Class B felonies. The trial court merged the delivery convictions with the convictions for the sale of cocaine. The defendant was sentenced to serve thirty years at sixty percent for the conviction for sale of more than .5 grams of cocaine and for the possession with the intent to sell. He was sentenced to serve fifteen years at sixty percent for the two convictions for the sale of less than .5 grams of cocaine. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently with each other but to run consecutively to case 16510, also a drug conviction, and "any unexpired sentence." This resulted in an aggregate forty-year sentence. On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court imposed an improper sentence. After careful review, we affirm the judgments from the trial court.

Marshall Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. James Arthur Johnson
M2009-01147-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Mark J. Fishburn

The Defendant, James Arthur Johnson, was charged with two counts of premeditated firstdegree murder, two counts of felony murder, and one count of aggravated robbery for events that occurred on the evening of June 18, 2006. Co-defendant Rodney Lenier Williams was also charged in all five counts, but his case was severed from the defendant's case before trial. A jury sitting in the Criminal Court for Davidson County found the defendant not guilty of the two counts of premeditated first-degree murder, guilty of the two counts of felony murder, and guilty of the count of aggravated robbery. The defendant was given concurrent life sentences for the felony murder convictions. For the aggravated robbery conviction, the defendant was given an eleven year sentence to run consecutively to the two life sentences. In this appeal as of right, the defendant argues (1) that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his convictions, (2) that the trial court erred in allowing a non-expert witness to give his opinion, and (3) that the trial court erred in sentencing the defendant. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Dallas R. Myers, Jr. v. State of Tennessee
M2009-00840-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jim. T. Hamilton

Petitioner, Dallas R. Myers, Jr., appeals the trial court's summary dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. He alleges that his sentence is illegal because the trial court sentenced him above the presumptive minimum sentence absent a finding of enhancement factors. After a thorough review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Wayne Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Frank Deangelo Taylor
W2008-01863-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris Craft

The Defendant-Appellant, Frank Deangelo Taylor, was convicted by a Shelby County jury of first degree felony murder and criminal attempt to commit especially aggravated robbery. He received a life sentence for the first degree felony murder and a concurrent term of eight years imprisonment for the attempted especially aggravated robbery. On appeal, Taylor claims: (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress, and (2) the insufficiency of the evidence. Upon review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Javonte Demontez Terrell v. State of Tennessee
M2009-01570-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge Monte Watkins

Petitioner, Javonte Demontez Terrell, was indicted for first degree murder. He entered a best interest plea to second degree murder in exchange for a twenty-year sentence. Petitioner then filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief. After an amended petition was filed, the post-conviction court held a hearing. The petition was dismissed by the post-conviction court. Petitioner filed an untimely notice of appeal. This Court waived the timely filing of the notice of appeal. Petitioner challenges the dismissal of the petition. After a review of the record on appeal, we conclude that Petitioner has failed to prove that his guilty plea was involuntary or that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Raymond Douglas Myers v. State of Tennessee
M2009-02076-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge David Patterson

Petitioner, Raymond Douglas Myers, was convicted of three counts of first degree murder, two counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated arson, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. See State v. Raymond Douglas Myers, Sr., No. M2003-01099-CCA-R3-CD, 2004 WL 911280, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, Apr. 20, 2004), perm. app. denied, (Tenn. Nov. 8, 2004). The trial court merged the felony murder convictions and the conspiracy to commit murder conviction with the three convictions for first degree murder. Id. Petitioner was sentenced to consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murder convictions, and a consecutive twenty-four year sentence for the aggravated arson conviction. On direct appeal, this Court affirmed the judgments of the trial court. Id. at *7. Petitioner sought post-conviction relief in a lengthy pro se petition. Counsel was appointed. After a hearing on the petition for relief, the post-conviction court denied the petition. Petitioner has appealed the denial of post-conviction relief, arguing that the postconviction court should have determined that Petitioner received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. After a thorough review of the record, we determine that Petitioner has failed to show that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Accordingly, the judgment of the post-conviction court is affirmed.

Putnam Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jermaine Smith
M2009-00468-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Michael R. Jones

Defendant, Jermaine Smith, appeals the trial court's order revoking Defendant's probation in various sentences and ordering Defendant to serve his sentences in confinement. It appears from the record that as of the probation violation hearing on February 9, 2009, a "fourth amended" probation violation warrant was pending against Defendant. This warrant alleged that Defendant had violated various terms and conditions of his probation in Montgomery County cases numbered 40300037, 40600256, and 40601232. In this appeal, Defendant acknowledges that the evidence showed he violated the terms of his probation. However, he argues that the trial court should have reinstated probation rather than order service of the sentence by incarceration. After full review we affirm the orders of the trial court.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Joel Adam Alexander
M2008-02085-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert Crigler

Defendant, Joel Adam Alexander, was indicted for possession of more than .5 grams of a Schedule II substance containing a cocaine base with the intent to sell, possession of more than .5 grams of a Schedule II substance containing a cocaine base with intent to deliver, possession of more than .5 ounces of marijuana with the intent to sell, possession of more than .5 ounces of marijuana with the intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia. On June 16, 2008, defendant entered a plea of guilty to possession of more than .5 grams of a Schedule II substance containing a cocaine base with intent to sell, with an agreed sentence of ten years as a Range I, standard offender. The manner of service of the sentence was left to the trial court's determination. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered the sentence to be served by incarceration. On appeal, defendant challenges the trial court's denial of alternative sentencing. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

Veric Dean Osgood v. State of Tennessee
E2009-00757-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma Mcgee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge David R. Duggan

The Petitioner, Veric Dean Osgood, pled guilty in the Blount County Circuit Court to two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated robbery, and one count of aggravated burglary. He received a total effective sentence of thirty years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Subsequently, he filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that his trial counsel was ineffective and that his pleas were not knowingly and voluntarily entered. The post-conviction court denied the petition, and the Petitioner now appeals. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Blount Court of Criminal Appeals

Phedrek T. Davis v. State of Tennessee
M2009-02310-CCA-R3-CO
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Seth Norman

The petitioner, Phedrek T. Davis, appeals from the dismissal of his petition for writ of error coram nobis. In this appeal, he contends that the coram nobis court erred by summarily denying his petition. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of the coram nobis court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Phillippe Rogers
M2009-00101-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Seth Norman

A Davidson County jury convicted the defendant of one count of conspiracy to sell 300 grams or more of cocaine, see T.C.A. __ 39-17-417(a)(3), (j)(5); 39-12-103 (2003), and one count of possession with intent to sell 300 grams or more of cocaine, see id. _ 39-17- 417(a)(4), (j)(5). The defendant appeals, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction of conspiracy to sell 300 grams or more of cocaine. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Gary Wayne Armstrong
M2009-02482-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert Crigler

The defendant, Gary Wayne Armstrong, appeals from his Marshall County Circuit Court jury convictions of assault and aggravated assault. He claims that the evidence was insufficient to support the convictions and that the trial court erroneously sentenced him. Upon our review of the record, we affirm the trial court's judgments.

Marshall Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Herman Majors, Jr.
M2009-02087-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge John H. Gasaway, III

The defendant, Herman Majors, Jr., appeals the Montgomery County Circuit Court's revocation of his community corrections sentence for his conviction of aggravated assault, alleging that the trial court erred in not returning him to community corrections or placing him on probation. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Edward Thompson
W2009-01225-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Paula Skahan

The defendant, Edward Thompson, appeals the Shelby County Criminal Court's denial of his petition to suspend his sentence to probation. The defendant pled guilty to attempted rape of a child, a Class B felony, and received an agreed sentence of ten years. However, as part of the agreement, he reserved the right to request that the trial court sentence him to probation. On appeal, he contends that the trial court erred in its decision by "not appropriately bas[ing] the denial of probation upon the sentencing considerations set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated 40-35-103." Following review of the record, we conclude that the trial court did not err in denying the petition.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

William Patrick Robinson v. State of Tennessee
W2009-02180-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Trial Court Judge: Judge C. Creed McGinley

The petitioner, William Patrick Robinson, appeals pro se from the Circuit Court of Carroll County's dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. He pled guilty to first degree felony murder and especially aggravated robbery and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and a concurrent term of twenty-five years imprisonment, respectively. The State filed a motion requesting this court to affirm the post-conviction court's order pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Following our review, we grant the State's motion and affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Carroll Court of Criminal Appeals