COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. James L. Partin
E2001-02254-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge E. Shayne Sexton
Defendant, James L. Partin, was indicted for the offenses of second degree murder, aggravated assault, three counts of felony reckless endangerment, and unlawful possession of a weapon with intent to use it in the commission of felony reckless endangerment. Pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, defendant pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter, a lesser-included offense of second degree murder, and all other charges were dismissed. The plea agreement further provided that the trial court would determine the length and manner of service of defendant's sentence, with the sole parameter being that he be sentenced as a standard Range I offender. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered that defendant serve five years in confinement in the Department of Correction. In this appeal, defendant contends that the trial court erred in determining the length and manner of service of his sentence. After a thorough review of the sentencing proceeding, we affirm the judgment of the trial court concerning the length of defendant's sentence. We reverse the trial court's judgment regarding manner of service, however, and order that defendant serve his sentence on split-confinement.

Claiborne Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Willie Neal Burton
W2001-02997-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roger A. Page

The defendant, Willie Neal Burton, appeals as of right from the Chester County Circuit Court's revocation of his community corrections sentence. The trial court found that he had violated the terms of his community corrections sentence by conduct unbecoming good citizenship, involving arrests and convictions for subsequent offenses while serving his community corrections sentence. It sentenced the defendant to a six-year sentence as a career offender. The defendant contends that the trial court erroneously revoked his community corrections sentence and that the resulting six-year sentence is excessive. We affirm the trial court's revocation and sentence.

Chester Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Timothy Wayne Holland
M2001-03129-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Michael R. Jones

The defendant was convicted of facilitation of aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary for his participation with a codefendant in robbing a resident of a Springfield motel and burglarizing his room. The trial court sentenced him as a Range I, standard offender to an effective sentence of six years. Following the denial of his motion for a new trial, he filed a timely appeal to this court, raising the following issues: (1) whether the trial court properly denied his motion for a new trial based on his claim of an improper closing by the State; and (2) whether the trial court properly denied his request for a jury instruction on accessory after the fact. Based on our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Robertson Court of Criminal Appeals

Eddie L. Coley, Jr. v. State of Tennessee
M2001-03130-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald P. Harris

The petitioner, Eddie L. Coley, Jr., was convicted of aggravated robbery in 1996 and sentenced to confinement for twelve years. Following an unsuccessful appeal of his conviction, he filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that his trial counsel was ineffective for not filing a motion to suppress a photographic lineup and not allowing him to testify at his trial. The post-conviction court denied the petition; and, following our review, we affirm that denial.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Harold J. Turner
W2001-02613-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris B. Craft

The defendant, Harold J. Turner, was convicted of driving under the influence ("DUI") and sentenced to eleven months, twenty-nine days in the county workhouse, with all but seven days suspended and the balance to be served on probation. In addition, his driver's license was revoked for one year and he was ordered to attend alcohol safety school and pay a fine of $500. In his appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court should have instructed the jury to consider whether he was guilty of driving while impaired without first having to determine that he was not guilty of DUI. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Antonio Mitchell
W2000-02721-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris B. Craft

The defendant, Antonio Mitchell, appeals his Shelby County jury conviction of attempted first-degree murder and claims that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the conviction. We disagree and affirm.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. David Saltz
E2001-02422-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Phyllis H. Miller
The defendant pled guilty to three counts of incest and was sentenced as a Range II multiple offender to three concurrent terms of eight years. The defendant appeals the trial court's imposition of various enhancement factors and denial of alternative sentencing. We affirm the trial court's judgment.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

Reece Calloway Loudermilk v. State of Tennessee
E2001-03060-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lynn W. Brown

This is an appeal from the denial of post-conviction relief. Pursuant to an agreed plea entered in October 1992, the defendant pled nolo contendere to three counts of aggravated rape of his niece, one count of aggravated sexual battery of his niece, one count of aggravated rape of his daughter, and one count of aggravated sexual battery of his daughter for an effective 35-year sentence as a Range I standard offender. Both victims were under thirteen years of age. On appeal, the defendant contends he received ineffective assistance of counsel rendering his plea unknowingly and involuntarily entered. After review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Larenzo DeShawn Harris
W2001-02626-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge C. Creed McGinley

The defendant was convicted of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell, a Class B felony; possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell, a Class E felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. Following the denial of his motion for a new trial, he filed a timely appeal to this court, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence in support of his convictions. We affirm the defendant's convictions. However, because the jury assessed, and the trial court imposed, a fine for possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance that exceeds the statutory maximum, we remand the case to the trial court for a new jury to be impaneled to assess an appropriate fine in Count 2 and for entry of a corrected judgment as to the possession of drug paraphernalia conviction in Count 3.

Carroll Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Deundrick Laran Coble
W2001-00039-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree

The appellant was convicted of aggravated assault and sentenced to five years in the Tennessee Department of Correction as a standard Range I offender. In this appeal, he raises two issues. First, he maintains that a prior inconsistent statement was improperly used by the prosecution to impeach the testimony of a prosecution witness. Second, he claims the prosecutor made improper remarks during closing argument. We find neither of these alleged errors requires reversal of this case and thus we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Obion Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Calvin Lamont Hannah
M2001-02717-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft

The defendant appeals the revocation of his probation. He argues that the trial court erred in ordering him to serve his original sentence. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Sumner Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jess R. Amonette
M2001-02952-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Jess R. Amonette appeals from the Williamson County Circuit Court's revocation of his probationary sentence. He claims that the lower court exceeded its discretion in revoking probation and ordering him to serve his sentence in confinement. In case number II-100-10, we notice as a matter of plain error that the sentence expired prior to initiation of revocation proceedings. We therefore reverse the revocation order and dismiss revocation proceedings in that case. In case number II-11-100, the record does not reflect the lower court's findings from which we can determine the basis for its ruling, and we therefore remand for further consideration.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. John W. Thompkins, II
M2001-02293-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald P. Harris
The defendant pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, evading arrest, vandalism, reckless endangerment, driving on a revoked license (second offense), and unlawful possession of a weapon. The trial court found him to be a dangerous offender deserving of consecutive sentencing and imposed an effective sentence of seven years. On appeal, the defendant contends that consecutive sentencing was inappropriate and excessive in his case. We affirm the trial court's judgments.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

Steven Murphy v. State of Tennessee
M2001-00886-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

In 1996, the petitioner, Steven Murphy, was convicted of first degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and theft over $1,000. He received a sentence of life imprisonment for first degree murder, 25 years for especially aggravated robbery and four years for the theft. The trial court ordered the petitioner to serve his sentences consecutively, resulting in an effective sentence of life plus 29 years. Following a direct appeal to this Court the petitioner's convictions were affirmed, but his sentence for aggravated robbery was modified to 21 years. State v. Adrian Wilkerson and Steven Murphy, No. 01C01-9610-CR-00419 1998 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 891, at *45 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville Aug. 26, 1998). The Tennessee Supreme Court denied permission to appeal on September 18, 2000. The petitioner filed a post-conviction petition on October 30, 2000, which alleged that his trial attorneys were ineffective thereby depriving him of his rights under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Following appointment of counsel and a hearing, the trial judge entered an order denying post-conviction relief on March 12, 2001, and the instant appeal followed. After a thorough review of the record we find no error in the trial court's decision. The judgment of the lower court is therefore affirmed.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Grover Lee Dunigan
E2002-00108-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stephen M. Bevil

The defendant was indicted for first degree murder and convicted by a Hamilton County jury of the lesser-included offense of second degree murder. He was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. In this appeal, the defendant contends (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction; and (2) the trial court improperly limited cross-examination of a state witness regarding bias. After review, we affirm.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Tracy Frank Leonard
M2001-00368-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer

The defendant, Tracy Frank Leonard, was convicted of first degree premeditated murder, felony murder, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, rape, and theft over $1,000. The trial court merged the convictions for first degree premeditated murder and felony murder and also merged the convictions for especially aggravated kidnapping into a single conviction. The defendant received a life sentence for the first degree murder, twenty-five years for especially aggravated kidnapping, eight years for rape, and two years for theft over $1,000. The trial court ordered that the sentences for especially aggravated kidnapping and rape be served consecutively to the life sentence and consecutively to each other. The sentence for the theft is to be served concurrent with the sentence for rape. The effective sentence is, therefore, life plus thirty-three years. In this appeal as of right, the defendant alleges (1) that the trial court erred by admitting the testimony of several witnesses; (2) that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions for especially aggravated kidnapping and rape; (3) that the trial court erred by restricting his right to cross-examination of witnesses; (4) that the trial court erred by failing to grant a new trial based on the State's failure to disclose exculpatory evidence; (5) that the trial court erred by failing to grant a mistrial; (6) that the trial erred in its instructions to the jury; (7) that the trial court misapplied certain enhancement factors to his sentences for especially aggravated kidnapping and rape; and (8) that the cumulative effect of the trial court's errors denied him the right to a fair trial. We affirm the convictions and judgments for first degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping where the victim suffers serious bodily injury, rape, and theft over $1,000. We conclude the sentences imposed were proper. The defendant's conviction for especially aggravated kidnapping accomplished by the use of a deadly weapon is reversed and remanded for a new trial because of the trial court's failure to instruct the jury as to lesser-included offenses.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

Leslie Smith v. State of Tennessee
M2000-02814-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

In this appeal from the denial of post-conviction relief the appellant claims that his convictions for second degree murder and theft of property valued under $10,000 are constitutionally void or voidable because his presence in Tennessee to stand trial was secured by what he claims was a conspiracy on the part of the prosecution to deprive him of his rights under the Interstate Compact on Detainers, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 40-31-101. The appellant, who was originally charged in Tennessee with first degree murder which carries a possible punishment of death, was returned to Tennessee from the Alabama penal system by means of extradition documents and an executive agreement between the governors of Tennessee and Alabama. The appellant also claims that the post-conviction court should have issued subpoenas to certain law enforcement officials in Alabama in order to help him substantiate his claims of conspiracy in his transfer from Alabama to Tennessee, and in order to demonstrate his trial attorney's alleged ineffectiveness in litigating this conspiracy theory on direct appeal.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Michael E. Owenby
E2001-02012-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Richard R. Vance

The Defendant, Michael E. Owenby, appeals as of right from his conviction by a jury of theft of property over $1,000, a Class D felony. He was sentenced to three years as a Range I standard offender, with ninety days to be served in confinement and the balance to be served in the Community Corrections program. He argues as his sole issue on appeal that there was not sufficient evidence presented at trial to support his conviction of theft. We affirm the judgment of the trial court but remand to the trial court for entry of an amended judgment deleting the "day for day" requirement relating to the ninety days of confinement.

Sevier Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. William C. Smith
E2001-02339-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Rex Henry Ogle

The Defendant, William C. Smith, pled guilty to burglary, a class D felony, and theft under $500, a class A misdemeanor. Pursuant to the Defendant's plea agreement, he was sentenced as a Range I standard offender with the sentences to run concurrently. The parties left the length, method, and manner of service to the trial judge's discretion. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant to four years in the Department of Correction for the burglary and a concurrent sentence of 11 months and 29 days at 75% for the misdemeanor theft. The Defendant now appeals as of right. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Sevier Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. James Allen Bailey
E2001-02443-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ben W. Hooper, II

 The defendant pled guilty to six counts of arson, Class C felonies, and one count of setting fire to personal property, a Class E felony. The trial court ordered an effective sentence of fifteen years incarceration followed by five years of probation. On appeal, the defendant argues: (1) the trial court erred in conducting an independent investigation into pyromania; (2) the length of his individual sentences is excessive; (3) the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentencing; and (4) the trial court improperly denied alternative sentencing. We modify the defendant’s sentences to an effective term of ten years in the Department of Correction.

Cocke Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. James Allen Bailey - Dissenting
E2001-02443-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ben W. Hooper, II
Based on my de novo review of the record in this case, I am unable to agree that the imposition of consecutive sentences is warranted. Therefore I respectfully dissent from that portion of the opinion which concludes that two of the Defendant’s sentences should be served consecutively.

Cocke Court of Criminal Appeals

Shanna Dean Alder v. State of Tennessee
E2002-00287-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz

The petitioner appeals the denial of her petition for habeas corpus relief. She contends the trial court was without authority to revoke her judicial diversion after her diversionary probation expired, absent the issuance of a revocation warrant prior to its expiration. She, therefore, argues the trial court was without jurisdiction when it revoked judicial diversion, was consequently without jurisdiction when it sentenced her to additional years of probation, and was without jurisdiction when it subsequently issued a probation revocation warrant. We agree and reverse the denial of habeas corpus relief.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jerome Sawyer
W2001-01923-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Arthur T. Bennett

Convicted by a jury of the Class B felony offense of aggravated sexual battery and sentenced by the trial court to serve an incarcerative Range II sentence of eighteen years, the defendant, Jerome Sawyer, appeals and claims that the evidence insufficiently supports the verdict and that the court erroneously found him to be a Range II offender. We disagree and affirm.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Ronald Simmons
W2001-02352-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge James C. Beasley, Jr.

The defendant pled guilty to sexual battery, a Class E felony, in exchange for a two-year sentence. The trial court sentenced the defendant to ninety days of weekend confinement, suspended the balance of the two-year sentence, and placed the defendant on probation for four years. The defendant appeals his sentence, arguing that the trial court erred in denying his petition for judicial diversion and in sentencing him to ninety days of confinement. After a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Daniel Henley
W2001-02962-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge John P. Colton, Jr.

The State of Tennessee appeals from the Shelby County Criminal Court's dismissal of its petition to declare Daniel Henley a motor vehicle habitual offender. Because the lower court erred in its determination that the state failed to prove the existence of three prior, qualifying convictions, we reverse and remand.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals