State of Tennessee v. Carlos Eddings
W2005-01173-CCA-RM-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Otis Higgs, Jr.

The Defendant, Carlos Eddings, was tried and convicted for aggravated robbery, and the trial court sentenced the Defendant to ten years in prison. The Defendant appealed, and a majority of this Court concluded that his sentence must be modified to eight years pursuant to the United States Supreme Court case Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004). State v. Carlos Eddings, No. W2003-02255-CCA-R3-CD, 2004 WL 2266794, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Oct. 8, 2004). The State filed an application for permission to appeal with the Tennessee Supreme Court pursuant to
Rule 11(a) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. On May 23, 2005, the Tennessee Supreme Court granted the State’s application for the purpose of remanding the case to this Court for reconsideration in light of State v. Gomez, 163 S.W.3d 632 (Tenn. 2005). On remand, we affirm
the Defendant’s ten-year sentence.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Johnnie M. Talley, III v. State of Tennessee
M2002-02179-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald P. Harris

After a bench trial, the Williamson County Criminal Court convicted the petitioner, Johnnie M. Talley, III, of five counts of making a false report and sentenced him to an effective sentence of eight years in the Department of Correction (DOC). Subsequently, the petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging (1) that his counsel was ineffective for failing to have him evaluated by a psychologist and (2) that he did not knowingly and voluntarily waive his rights to a jury trial or to testify. After an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court dismissed the petition, and the petitioner now appeals. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee s. William Harlon Adams
M2003-02952-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge L. Craig Johnson

The appellant, William Harlon Adams, appeals his convictions for vandalism of less than five hundred dollars ($500) and criminal attempt to commit resisting arrest. The following issues are presented for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying the motion to suppress; (2) whether the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the offense of attempt to resist arrest; (3) whether the trial court erred in denying the motion to dismiss; (4) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction for vandalism; and (5) whether the trial court correctly sentenced the appellant. After a thorough review, we determine that attempt to resist arrest is not a crime, thus, we reverse the appellant's conviction and remand the case for any further proceedings which may be necessary. We affirm the remainder of the judgment of the trial court, including the conviction for vandalism.

Coffee Court of Criminal Appeals

Nathan and Brandy Henderson, v. Quest Expeditions, Inc.
E2004-02585-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: Judge John B. Hagler, Jr.

In this action for personal injuries allegedly due to defendant's negligence, the Trial Court granted defendant summary judgment on the grounds that plaintiffs had executed a Waiver and Release of Liability which was required by defendant prior to plaintiffs' participation in white water rafting. Plaintiffs have appealed, insisting the Release is void as against the public policy of this State. We affirm.

Polk Court of Appeals

Jerome William Devereaux v. State of Tennessee - Dissenting
E2004-01891-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge O. Duane Slone

I respectfully disagree with the result reached in the majority opinion. I believe that the petitioner’s decision to plead guilty to the twelve-year sentence instead of the 7.2-year sentence resulted from inadequate advice.

Jefferson Court of Criminal Appeals

Gregory D. Bargo and Angela R. Bargo v. Larry Schmitt Construction Inc., Larry Schmitt and Donna Schmitt
E2004-02937-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor W. Frank Brown, III

Grantors erected a house and driveway over an easement which was then sold to grantees. Grantees brought an action for damages to encumbered property and the Trial Court awarded grantees damages. We affirm.

Hamilton Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Paul Friedman
M2004-01266-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stella L. Hargrove

The Defendant, Paul Friedman, pled guilty to one count of promoting prostitution. Pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 37, the Defendant reserved as a certified question of law the issue of whether Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-512 (2003), et seq., under which he was indicted, was unconstitutional. We conclude that this statute is constitutional, and the judgment of the trial court is therefore affirmed.

Giles Court of Criminal Appeals

Gregory Eidson v. State of Tennessee
M2005-00150-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft

The Petitioner, Gregory Eidson, filed a petition for wit of habeas corpus seeking relief from allegedly void judgments, which the trial court summarily dismissed. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that the habeas corpus court erred when it dismissed his petition. Finding that there exists reversible error in the judgment of the habeas corpus court, we reverse its dismissal of the Petitioner's petition for habeas corpus relief, and we remand the case for the appointment of counsel and an evidentiary hearing.

Sumner Court of Criminal Appeals

Dennis Harmon v. State of Tennessee
M2004-00453-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lillie Ann Sells

The petitioner, Dennis Harmon, appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that his counsel was ineffective and that his guilty plea was not knowingly and voluntarily entered. After an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court dismissed the petition, and the petitioner appealed. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Overton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Shawnta Lamont Marsh
M2004-02248-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Charles Lee

The defendant, Shawnta Lamont Marsh, pled guilty to six counts of sale or delivery of cocaine over .5 grams. The trial court merged all but three of the convictions and ordered the defendant to serve consecutive sentences of eight years and one month for each offense. The effective sentence is twenty-four years and three months. In this appeal of right, the defendant contends that the trial court erred by ordering consecutive sentencing. The judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

Larry C. Strong v. State of Tennessee
M2004-02253-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

The pro se petitioner, Larry C. Strong, appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief as time-barred, arguing that he should have been afforded an evidentiary hearing to present proof of his timely filing of the petition. Following our review, we affirm the post-conviction court's summary dismissal of the petition.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Corey Huddleston
M2004-00812-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge George C. Sexton

The appellant, Corey Huddleston, was convicted of multiple counts of theft of property valued under $500, vandalism of property valued under $500, and criminal trespass. He received sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days for each of his theft and vandalism convictions and thirty days for each of his criminal trespass convictions. On appeal, the appellant challenges the trial court's imposition of consecutive sentencing. Upon our review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Dickson Court of Criminal Appeals

In Re: M.L.D.
W2004-02695-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Arnold B. Goldin

Petitioners, Mother and her husband, brought a petition to terminate Father’s parental rights on the grounds of abandonment. The trial court found that clear and convincing evidence did not support a finding a willful abandonment and dismissed the petition. We affirm.

Shelby Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Bingham
M2003-02548-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Charles Lee

A Bedford County jury convicted the defendant, John Thomas Bingham, of robbery, a Class C felony. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced him as a Range I, standard offender to five years and six months in the Department of Correction. In this appeal, the defendant argues that the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction and that the trial court erred in sentencing. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Donald Solomon
M2004-01264-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge Buddy D. Perry

The defendant, Donald Solomon, pled guilty to theft of property valued at $1,000, but less than $10,000, a Class D felony. After conducting a sentencing hearing, the trial court classified the defendant as a Range I, standard offender and sentenced him to four years in the Department of Correction. The trial court ordered the defendant to serve the sentence consecutive to a sentence in another case for which the defendant was on probation at the time. In this direct appeal, the defendant presents the single issue of whether the trial court erred in sentencing. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Franklin Court of Criminal Appeals

Johnny L. Beard, Sr. v. State of Tennessee
M2004-02227-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter

The petitioner appeals from the post-conviction court's dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. He contends that the post-conviction court erred in concluding that his petition was untimely filed without appointing counsel and conducting an evidentiary hearing to determine whether due process considerations tolled the statute of limitations. Following our review, we affirm the dismissal of the petition.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

In Re: Estate of William Hugh Luck Thomas Benton Luck, et al., Executors v. FDS/Goldsmith's
W2004-01554-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donn Southern

Following the decedent’s death, his estate was not admitted to probate until well over one year from the date of his death. A creditor filed a claim against the estate over twenty-one months after the decedent’s date of death. The executors filed an exception to the creditor’s claim arguing that it was barred since it was not filed within one year of the decedent’s date of death. The probate court, relying on a previous decision rendered by this Court, held that the creditor’s claim was not barred by the applicable statutes. After reviewing the applicable statutory language and the decisions rendered by this Court interpreting those statutes, we reverse.

Shelby Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Ellis J. Burnett
M2001-01495-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge James K. Clayton, Jr.

The appellant, Ellis J. Burnett, was convicted by a jury in the Cannon County Circuit Court of aggravated arson. He received a sentence of twenty-three years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, the jury instructions, the prosecutor's closing argument, the trial court's evidentiary rulings, and alleges the ineffective assistance of counsel. Upon our review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Cannon Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Charles Drake
E2004-00247-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ray L. Jenkins

The defendant, Charles Drake, stands convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and DUI. For the aggravated assault conviction, the trial court sentenced the defendant to four years, split confinement with supervised probation after service of six months' confinement. For the DUI conviction, the trial court imposed a sentence of 11 months and 29 days with a release eligibility at 75 percent. On appeal, the defendant asserts (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction of aggravated assault; (2) that the trial court committed reversible error in prohibiting the defense from presenting to the jury an animation of the automobile collision giving rise to the charges against the defendant; (3) that the trial court committed reversible error in admitting the results of a blood toxicology test; and (4) that his sentence is excessive. After thoroughly reviewing the record and applicable authorities, we find sufficient evidence to support the conviction, no error in the admission or exclusion of evidence at trial, and appropriate sentencing. We, therefore, affirm the convictions and sentences.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

Kelvin Wade Cloyd v. State of Tennessee
E2004-02283-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lynn W. Brown

The petitioner, Kelvin Wade Cloyd, appeals the Johnson County Criminal Court's summary dismissal of his petition for habeas corpus relief. Following our review upon the record, we vacate the order and remand for further proceedings.

Johnson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Dave Long
M2004-01721-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Thomas W. Graham

After entering a plea of guilty, the Defendant, Dave Long, was convicted of one count of burglary, a Class D felony. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the Defendant was to be sentenced to six years as a Range II, multiple offender, with the trial court to establish the manner of service. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered the Defendant serve his entire sentence with the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC). On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying him probation or other alternative sentencing. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Sequatchie Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Patrick Lamont Barker
M2004-02000-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Michael R. Jones

The Defendant, Patrick Lamont Barker, pled guilty to two counts of the sale of .5 grams or more of a schedule II controlled substance. The trial court sentenced him to eight years on each conviction and ordered that the sentences run concurrently and be served in community corrections. The Defendant violated the terms of his community corrections sentence, and the trial court ordered the Defendant to serve the remainder of his sentence in prison. The Defendant now appeals. Finding no error in the judgment of the trial court, we affirm the Defendant's sentence.

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

Jonathan Malcolm Malone v. State of Tennessee
M2004-02826-CCA-R3-CO
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Don R. Ash

The Defendant, Jonathan Malcolm Malone, pled guilty to several offenses in two separate cases, the second of which was for an offense committed while he was out on bail for the first offenses. The trial court sentenced him to consecutive sentences, and awarded pretrial jail credit towards the sentences in the first case. The Defendant petitioned for the jail credit to be applied toward the sentence in his second case, and the trial court denied his request. The Defendant now appeals. Because we have concluded that the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure do not provide the Defendant a Rule 3 Appeal as of Right, we dismiss the Defendant's appeal.

Rutherford Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Anthony James Shearer
W2004-01774-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree, Jr.

An Obion County Circuit Court jury convicted the defendant, Anthony Shearer, of possession with intent to deliver one-half gram or more of cocaine, a Class B felony, and the trial court sentenced him to nine years in the Department of Correction. The defendant appeals, claiming that the evidence is insufficient and that his sentence is excessive. We affirm the trial court.

Obion Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Clarence Mabon
W2004-01880-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. C. Mclin

A Shelby County Criminal Court jury convicted the defendant, Clarence Mabon, of two counts of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony. The trial court merged the two offenses and sentenced him as a Range I, standard offender to eight years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant contends that the evidence is not sufficient to support his conviction and that a fatal variance exists between the indictment and the proof presented at trial. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals