Tierany Redmond v. Cletidus Marquell Hunt - Partial Dissent
I agree with the majority’s analysis in this case, except for its conclusion regarding whether Mother presented evidence demonstrating a need for child support based on income amounts in excess of $10,000 per month, for both the retroactive and prospective child support. Moreover, an upward deviation is warranted by Father’s failure to exercise visitation. |
Shelby | Court of Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Terry Webb
A Shelby County Criminal Court jury convicted the defendant, Terry Webb, of robbery, a Class C felony, and theft of property five hundred dollars or less, a Class A misdemeanor. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court merged the defendant’s theft conviction into his robbery conviction and sentenced him as a Range III, persistent offender, to fourteen years. In this appeal, the defendant claims (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for robbery; (2) that the trial court erred when it denied him an opportunity to impeach a witness at trial; (3) that the trial court erred when it denied his request to alter the proposed jury instructions; (4) that the trial court erred when it allowed the victim’s in-court identification of the defendant; and (5) that his sentence is excessive. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Cedric Anthony
Defendant, Cedric Anthony, was indicted in count one for the aggravated robbery of Teresa Stegall, in count two for the aggravated robbery of Regina Davis, in count three for the aggravated robbery of Antoinette Hubbard, and in count four for the aggravated robbery of Leslie Ross. Following a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of all four counts of aggravated robbery and sentenced to eight years for each offense. The trial court ordered Defendant’s sentences for counts two, three, and four to be served concurrently, and his sentence for count one to be served consecutively to the other counts for an effective sentence of sixteen years. Defendant does not appeal the sufficiency of the convicting evidence but argues that his aggravated robbery convictions in counts three and four violate the principles of double jeopardy. Defendant does not argue on appeal that his conviction in count two of the aggravated robbery of Ms. Davis raises double jeopardy concerns. Defendant also argues that the trial court erred in ordering his sentence for count one, aggravated robbery, to be served consecutively to the other sentences. Since the filing of the briefs, Defendant has also asked us to consider the impact of the ruling in Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. ___, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004) on his sentences. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm Defendant’s convictions for aggravated robbery in counts one and two. Because the facts and circumstances supporting the offenses in counts one, three, and four support only one conviction for aggravated robbery, we modify Defendant’s convictions for aggravated robbery in counts three and four to aggravated assault. We remand Defendant’s convictions in counts three and four for resentencing during which the trial court may only consider Defendant’s prior convictions as an enhancement factor under Blakely. We affirm Defendant’s convictions for aggravated robbery in counts one and two, and affirm the trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentencing. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Timothy L. Harrison v. Peterbilt Motors Company,
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Robertson | Workers Compensation Panel | |
State of Tennessee v. Craig S. Cook
The Appellant, Craig S. Cook, presents for review a certified question of law. See Tenn. R. Crim. P. 37(b)(2)(i). Cook pled guilty to Driving Under the Influence (DUI), first offense, and was sentenced to eleven months, twenty-nine days jail confinement, to be suspended after service of ten days. As a condition of his guilty plea, Cook explicitly reserved a certified question of law challenging the denial of his motion to suppress the results of a blood alcohol test administered by a private hospital in the course of medical treatment. Cook argues that the procedures utilized to obtain the results of the test violated both his constitutional right to privacy and due process. On appeal, the State asserts that the question presented is not dispositive and, thus, this court is without jurisdiction to hear this appeal. After review, we agree that the certified question is not dispositive. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed. |
Wilson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Jermaine Ivory and James Ivory v. State of Tennessee
Defendant Jermaine Ivory was convicted by a jury of three charges involving the sale of cocaine. For these crimes, the trial court sentenced Jermaine Ivory to an effective sentence of thirty-six years in the Department of Correction. Codefendant James Ivory was convicted by the same jury of one of the same charges; James Ivory subsequently pled guilty to another cocaine offense, two marijuana offenses, and one count of felony possession of a firearm. For all of these offenses, James Ivory was sentenced to an effective sentence of twenty years in the Department of Correction. The consolidated direct appeal of these two Defendants was denied. See State v. James Lee Ivory, No. M2000-02145-CCA-R3-CD, 2003 WL 76980 (Tenn. Crim. App., Nashville, Jan. 10, 2003). Both Defendants subsequently filed for post-conviction relief. Jermaine Ivory alleged ineffective assistance of counsel in conjunction with his trial, claiming that his lawyer failed to adequately investigate his case, failed to adequately advise him about his case, and failed to investigate and/or pursue issues involving his mental health. James Ivory alleged that his trial counsel was ineffective at trial in failing to object to inadmissible evidence, and in failing to file a motion for new trial, thereby waiving a suppression issue. James Ivory also alleged that, due to his lawyer's ineffective assistance, his later guilty pleas were not knowing and voluntary. After a hearing, the trial court denied relief to both Defendants and this direct appeal followed. We affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Sheila Ann Jones
The defendant, Sheila Ann Jones, appeals the Bedford County Circuit Court's denial of alternative sentencing following her guilty plea to attempt to commit aggravated child abuse. Because the record supports the trial court's judgment, we affirm. |
Bedford | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Larry Wade Gibson
This is an appeal as of right pursuant to Rule 3 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. The Defendant, Larry Wade Gibson, was found guilty by jury verdict of one count of failure to report to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) sexual offender registry, a Class A misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to eleven months and twenty-nine days, 180 days of which is to be served in confinement. The Defendant's sole issue on appeal is whether the statute imposing criminal penalties for noncompliance with Tennessee's sexual offender registration act as applied to him constituted an ex post facto application of the law in violation of both the federal and state constitutions. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Roane | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Johnny Arwood
After the Jefferson County Circuit Court revoked his probation, the defendant, Johnny Arwood, agreed to consecutive sentences in exchange for being placed back on probation. In this appeal, the defendant contends that the trial court erred by imposing consecutive sentences without first conducting a sentencing hearing or ordering a presentence report. We vacate the trial court's judgments and remand the case for proceedings consistent with this opinion. |
Jefferson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Larry Echols El v. Fred Figueroa, et al.
The Plaintiff, an inmate, filed suit alleging that he was unlawfully deprived his right to practice his religion and that certain of his religious tapes were confiscated and he was denied the right to congregate and worship in accordance with his faith. Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment supported by an affidavit and Plaintiff responded with his own affidavit. Having determined that there are disputed issues of material fact, we reverse. |
Hardeman | Court of Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Gene Shelton Rucker Jr.
A Hamilton County Grand Jury indicted the defendant, Gene Shelton Rucker, Jr., for felony murder and aggravated arson in connection with a fire that took the life of an individual who resided in the apartment structure that was burned. Following a jury trial, the defendant was convicted of the lesser-included offense of criminally negligent homicide and aggravated arson, as charged. The defendant now appeals his convictions and sentence. Specifically, the defendant argues (1) that the trial court erred by instructing the jury on criminal responsibility for the conduct of another; (2) that setting fire to personal property is a lesser-included offense of aggravated arson and should have been included in the charge to the jury; (3) that the instruction on the knowing mens rea element of aggravated arson was incorrect; (4) that the state violated the defendant's due process rights by advancing impermissibly inconsistent positions relative to the defendant and an indicted co-defendant; (5) that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; and (6) that his sentence should not have been enhanced on the basis of prior convictions that were not proven by certified copies of the underlying judgments. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the defendant's convictions and sentence. |
Hamilton | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Joan B. Hardcastle, et al., v. Frank Harris
This appeal concerns a pyramid sales scheme involving the sale of unregistered investment contracts. After discovering that their contracts were worthless, four purchasers filed separate actions against the person who sold them the contracts. These cases were consolidated for trial in the Chancery Court for Davidson County. Following a bench trial, the trial court determined that the seller had breached his personal guarantee contract with two of the buyers and had violated the Tennessee Securities Act of 1980 by selling unregistered investment contracts to all the purchasers. Accordingly, the court awarded the four purchasers judgments totaling $99,450.00, as well as $44,979.50 for attorney's fees and legal expenses. The seller asserts on this appeal that the Tennessee Securities Act claims were filed after the statute of limitations had expired and that the doctrines of waiver and estoppel prevent the purchasers from asserting these claims. In addition, he insists that the court erred by permitting the purchasers to amend their complaints one week before trial to add their Tennessee Securities Act claims. He also takes issue with the trial court's decision to award the purchasers their attorney's fees. We affirm the judgments. |
Davidson | Court of Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Jon Glen Akins
The Defendant, Jon Glen Akins, pled guilty to one count of theft of property valued between |
Obion | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Timothy A. Baxter v. Tony Parker, Warden
The Petitioner, Timothy A. Baxter, appeals the trial court's denial of his petition for habeas corpus relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Because Petitioner has failed to allege a ground for relief which would render the judgment void, we grant the State's motion and affirm the judgment of the lower court. |
Lake | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Thaddeus D. Daniel v. David Mills, Warden
The Petitioner, Thaddeus D. Daniel, appeals the trial court's denial of his petition for habeas corpus relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Because Petitioner has failed to allege a ground for relief which would render the judgment void, we grant the State's motion and affirm the judgment of the lower court. |
Lauderdale | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Joann Wilson v. Gables-Tennessee Properties, Llc, Gables Residential Services, Inc., and Turfmaster Inc.
This case involves premises liability. At her apartment complex, the plaintiff tripped and fell on the metal edging of a limestone gravel walkway and sustained injuries to her elbow. The plaintiff sued the owner of the apartment complex, alleging premises liability, and also sued the company that put in the metal landscape edging. The defendants filed a motion for summary judgment. The motion was granted. We affirm, finding that the plaintiff did not establish that defendants violated the duty of reasonable care. |
Shelby | Court of Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Ronald Yates
The defendant, Ronald Yates, was convicted of first degree premeditated murder and attempted first degree murder. The trial court imposed consecutive sentences of life and twenty-three years, respectively. In this appeal, the defendant asserts (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions; (2) that the trial court erred by refusing to grant a mistrial based upon the state's opening statement; (3) that the trial court erred in the admission of certain of the evidence; (4) that the trial court erred by permitting the introduction of a postmortem photograph of the murder victim; (5) that the trial court erred by ordering his trial counsel to alter the form and manner of his questions; (6) that the trial court erred by denying his request for a mistrial based upon the state's violation of a discovery order; (7) that the trial court erred by denying his motion for judgment of acquittal because the state failed to prove venue; (8) that the trial court erred by refusing to grant a mistrial based upon ineffective assistance of counsel; and (9) that the sentence is excessive. The 23 year sentence for attempted first degree murder is modified to 20 years; otherwise, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Judy C. Turner
Indicted for aggravated burglary and the attempted first-degree murder of her estranged husband, Judy C. Turner entered a best-interests plea to assault with intent to commit second-degree murder, a Class B felony. As part of a plea agreement with the state, the aggravated burglary charge was dismissed. The length and manner of service of the defendant's sentence was reserved for the trial court's determination. The trial court denied alternative sentencing and imposed a nine-year incarcerative sentence. On appeal, the defendant argues that she should have received an eight-year sentence making her eligible for probation or split confinement. For the following reasons, we affirm the judgment. |
Sevier | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Roberto Reyes-Armenta and Armando Lopez-Orozco
The State appeals from an adverse ruling on a suppression motion. The State contends that the trial court erred in finding the consent to search was not knowing or voluntary and that discovery of the contraband was not inevitable. The State avers that the standard of review should be de novo without presumption of correctness. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings. |
Sumner | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
John Willingham v. Shelby County Election Commission, et al.
Plaintiff/Appellant, an unsuccessful candidate for mayor of The City of Memphis, brought “Complaint for Election Contest” against Defendant/Appellee, Shelby County Election Commission and Tennessee Division of Elections. Plaintiff/Appellant filed Motion to Compel Discovery and for Continuance, asserting that Defendant/Appellee had withheld information crucial to Plaintiff/Appellant’s case. The trial court denied Plaintiff/Appellant’s Motion and dismissed Plaintiff’s action pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 41.02(2). We affirm. |
Shelby | Court of Appeals | |
Brenda Mcilroy v. Medical Specialty Clinic, P. C.
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Madison | Workers Compensation Panel | |
Michael Britton v. Emerson Electric
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Crockett | Workers Compensation Panel | |
Sherri Dyer Kendall v. Lane Cook, M.D.
This is an appeal contesting the award of discretionary costs by the Trial Court. We affirm. |
Knox | Court of Appeals | |
In RE: Adoption of S.M.F.
This appeal involves the parental relationship between a three-year-old child and her biological father. Shortly after the child's birth in Ohio, her mother placed her for adoption with relatives residing in Tennessee. These relatives filed a petition in the Chancery Court for Rutherford County seeking to terminate the biological father's parental rights and to adopt the child. The biological father thereafter filed a petition to establish parentage. Following a bench trial, the trial court established the child's parentage and determined that the biological father had not abandoned the child. Accordingly, the trial court denied the adoptive parents' petition to terminate the biological father's parental rights and to adopt the child. Because it had reserved ruling on the custody and visitation arrangements, the trial court granted the adoptive parent's application for an interlocutory appeal pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 9. We concur that an interlocutory appeal is warranted in this case. We also concur with the trial court's conclusion that the adoptive parents failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the biological father abandoned his daughter. |
Rutherford | Court of Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Spencer Peterson
Based on his participation in a home invasion and robbery that resulted in the death of a victim, the defendant, Spencer Peterson, was charged by the Shelby County Grand Jury in thirteen separate indictments with one count of first degree premeditated murder; two counts of first degree felony murder; two counts of attempted first degree murder; eight counts of aggravated robbery; one count of aggravated burglary; three counts of attempted especially aggravated robbery; and two counts of attempted aggravated robbery. The indictments were consolidated for trial, at the conclusion of which the defendant was convicted of all counts as charged with the exception of the first degree murder and attempted first degree murder counts, in which he was convicted, respectively, of the lesser-included offenses of second degree murder, a Class A felony; and attempted second degree murder, a Class B felony. After merging the three second degree murder convictions and the separate convictions of aggravated robbery involving the same victim, the trial court sentenced the defendant as a Range I offender to consecutive terms of twenty years for the second degree murder conviction and eight years for each of the four aggravated robbery convictions. The trial court ordered concurrent sentences for the remaining convictions, for an effective sentence of fifty-two years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence for his second degree murder conviction; the denial of his motion to suppress his statement to police; the admission at trial of photographs of the victim; the propriety of the jurors having been allowed to directly question trial witnesses; and the consecutive sentencing imposed. We affirm the judgments of the trial court but remand for entry of corrected judgments as to certain of the offenses and for the trial court to set out its basis for consecutive sentencing. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals |