State of Tennessee v. Jaye Wesley Mitts
E2002-00016-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge E. Shayne Sexton

The State appeals contending the trial court erred in allowing the defendant to receive jail credit from an unrelated charge against the 150-day mandatory minimum sentence he received in his plea to sixth offense D.U.I. Also, the State alleges error in the trial court modifying the defendant's payment plan for paying fines and costs to less than the defendant agreed to pay when the trial court accepted the defendant's plea agreement. We conclude it was error to allow this defendant to receive any jail credit toward his mandatory minimum of 150 days for his sixth D.U.I. offense where the credit accumulated on an unrelated charge. We further conclude the trial court was within its discretion to modify the payment plan, not the overall fine, upon determining the defendant did not have the ability to pay. We reverse in part and affirm in part the judgments of the trial court and remand for entry of a corrected judgment consistent with this opinion.

Campbell Court of Criminal Appeals

W2003-00911-COA-R3-PT
W2003-00911-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Robert W. Newell

Gibson Court of Appeals

W2003-01180-COA-R3-CV
W2003-01180-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Rita L. Stotts

Shelby Court of Appeals

Antonio Vantress Brown v. State of Tennessee
W2002-02256-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

The Petitioner, Antonio Vantress Brown,1 appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. He originally pled guilty to various offenses and received an effective sentence of thirty years. On appeal, the Petitioner contends: (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel in entering his guilty pleas; and (2) his guilty pleas were not knowingly and voluntarily entered. Upon review of the record and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Bobby R. Essary v. John R. Essary
W2003-00299-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: George R. Ellis

Gibson Court of Appeals

Larry Joe Manus v. County of Obion Facility
W2003-00447-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: William B. Acree

Obion Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Curtis E. Wells
M2002-02290-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald P. Harris

The appellant, Curtis E. Wells, pled guilty in the Williamson County Circuit Court to robbery, a Class C felony. The plea agreement provided that the appellant would receive a sentence of six years, with the manner of service to be determined by the trial court. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered the appellant to serve one year at one hundred percent (100%) in the Williamson County Jail, with the remainder of the sentence to be suspended and served on intensive probation. On appeal, the appellant asserts that the trial court erred by not granting total probation. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

Steve Rogers v. State
M2003-00215-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Plaintiff appeals dismissal by the Tennessee Claims Commission of his claim against the State of Tennessee resulting from an alleged assault and battery by a Tennessee State Trooper in the State Capital Building. The Claims Commission dismissed the claim for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and we affirm the action of the Claims Commission.

Court of Appeals

State v. Preston Carter
W2000-02204-SC-DDT-DD
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: Jon Kerry Blackwood

Shelby Supreme Court

State v. Preston Carter
W2000-02204-SC-DDT-DD
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: Jon Kerry Blackwood

Shelby Supreme Court

State of Tennessee v. Edrian Rice
W2002-02677-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald H. Allen

The Defendant, Edrian Rice,1 pled guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, the unlawful carrying of a weapon with the intent to go armed, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving under the influence, first offense. The trial court ordered the Defendant to serve an effective sentence of ten years in confinement as a Range I standard offender. On appeal, the Defendant contends (1) his sentence is excessive; and (2) the trial court erred in denying alternative sentencing. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Andrea Spencer
W2002-01483-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph B. Dailey

As a result of a jury trial in Shelby County, the Defendant, Andrea Spencer, stands convicted of one count of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of sexual battery. The trial court ordered the Defendant to serve an effective sentence of eighty-four years as a Range II multiple offender. On appeal, the Defendant contends (1) the trial court erred in refusing to sever the offenses; (2) dual aggravated kidnapping convictions violate double jeopardy principles; and (3) his sentence is excessive. Upon review of the record and the applicable law, we vacate one of the Defendant’s two aggravated kidnapping convictions due to a double jeopardy violation. In addition, because certain enhancement factors were wrongfully applied, we reduce the Defendant’s sentence for sexual battery by one year and one of his sentences for aggravated burglary by three years, thereby reducing the Defendant’s effective sentence to eighty years. We otherwise affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Elmore Lewis Baker, Jr. alias Lew Baker
E2003-00073-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.

The defendant, Elmore Lewis Baker, Jr., pled guilty in the Blount County Circuit Court to eight offenses: counts one through four, delivery of a Schedule VI controlled substance, a Class E felony; count five, possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor; count six, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver, a Class E felony; and counts seven and eight, delivery of drug paraphernalia, a Class E felony. The defendant was sentenced as a Range I, standard offender to one year on counts one through three, two years on count four, eleven months and twenty-nine days on count five, two years on count six, one year on count seven, and two years on count eight. The plea agreement stipulated the sentences were to run concurrently, and the trial court determined that the sentences should be served as ninety days in jail and the remainder on probation. The defendant appeals, claiming that his sentences are excessive and that he should have received full probation. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Blount Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Donald Ray Lovell
M2002-02379-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

The Davidson County Grand Jury indicted the defendant for aggravated gambling promotion. The trial judge denied the defendant's preliminary motion to suppress certain evidence, and a Davidson County jury found the defendant guilty as charged. The court sentenced him to two years of probation, a $1,000 fine, and five hours of unpaid community service per month for twenty-four months. He now appeals claiming: (1) that the trial court erred in failing to suppress physical evidence gathered during and incriminating statements made as a result of a warrantless search; and (2) that the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction for aggravated gambling promotion. Finding no reversible error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Barbara Sue Moore
M2002-02995-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

The defendant, Barbara Sue Moore, pled guilty in the Davidson County Criminal Court to theft of property valued $60,000 or more, a Class B felony, and theft of property valued $1,000 or more but less than $10,000, a Class D felony. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the defendant received concurrent sentences of eight and two years, respectively, with the manner of service to be determined by the trial court. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court denied the defendant's request for alternative sentences and ordered that she serve her sentences in the Department of Correction. The defendant appeals, claiming that the trial court erred by ordering that she serve her sentences in confinement. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Robert Kern Holloway
M2002-01904-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Allen W. Wallace

A Dickson County jury convicted the defendant, Robert Kern Holloway, of second degree murder, a Class A felony, and he was sentenced to forty years to be served at 100% as a violent offender. On appeal, he argues: the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction; the trial court improperly instructed the jury regarding the mens rea element of second degree murder; and the trial court abused its discretion in ruling on his pro se motion for a new trial which alleged ineffective assistance of counsel. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court as to the defendant's conviction but vacate its ruling as to the pro se ineffective assistance of counsel claim.

Dickson Court of Criminal Appeals

W2002-02633-COA-R9-CV
W2002-02633-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Julian P. Guinn

Henry Court of Appeals

William B. Tanner v. John W. Harris, Jr., Trustee
W2002-02634-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: D. J. Alissandratos

Shelby Court of Appeals

W2003-00697-COA-R3-CV
W2003-00697-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

Chester Court of Appeals

W2003-00018-COA-R3-CV
W2003-00018-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: George R. Ellis

Haywood Court of Appeals

Beverly Margaret Breckenridge v. Mary Loretta
W2003-00143-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Dewey C. Whitenton

McNairy Court of Appeals

W2002-03053-COA-R3-CV
W2002-03053-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: J. Steven Stafford

Dyer Court of Appeals

Joseph Shepherd v. State of Tennessee
E2002-01455-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge William H. Inman

Prior to this appeal, the petitioner, Joseph Shepherd, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in one proceeding, and, in a separate proceeding, he was convicted of felony murder and aggravated assault. He is currently serving a life sentence. The petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief in each case, raising several issues, including ineffective assistance of counsel. The post-conviction court denied relief in both cases and the petitioner appealed. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Monroe Court of Criminal Appeals

Donald Freeman v. Lynn Freeman
M2002-02558-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Muriel Robinson
This appeal involves a former husband's attempt to modify or terminate an alimony award to his former wife because of a change of circumstances. Primarily, husband asserts that he is retired, and his income and assets have been drastically reduced to the extent that he is unable to pay the alimony awarded. Wife filed a petition to hold husband in contempt for his failure to pay the alimony installments accrued. After a non-jury hearing, the trial court dismissed husband's petition and granted wife's petition holding husband in civil contempt of court. Husband appeals. We affirm.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Brenda King v. Danny King
M2002-01897-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Marietta M. Shipley
Former Husband sought to accelerate former Wife's repayment of alimony overpayments that accrued between the divorce and this court's modification of the original award of alimony. Former Husband argues the trial court abused its discretion when it did not establish a reasonable repayment plan. Because we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in fashioning a repayment plan, we affirm the trial court.

Davidson Court of Appeals