APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Connie Lee Arnold v. State of Tennessee

E2003-00691-CCA-RM-PC
The petitioner appealed from the criminal court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief.  This court agreed with the determination of the post-conviction court that the petition consisted only of conclusory allegations without supporting facts, and, thus, affirmed the dismissal. See Connie Lee Arnold v. State, No. E2001-02526-CCA-R3-PC, 2002 WL 31512404 (Tenn. Crim. App. Nov. 13, 2002). On March 10, 2003, our supreme court granted the petitioner’s application for permission to appeal and remanded this case to us for reconsideration in light of Burnett v. State, 92 S.W.3d 403 (Tenn. 2002). Following our reconsideration, we affirm the post-conviction court’s dismissal of the petition.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Robert E. Cupp
Carter County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/15/03
State of Tennessee v. Derick Bailey

M2001-02411-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Derick Bailey, was convicted by a jury in the Davidson County Criminal Court of one count of felony murder and one count of premeditated first degree murder. The trial court merged the convictions and sentenced the appellant to life imprisonment. On appeal, the appellant contends that the evidence was not sufficient to support the verdicts. Although we conclude that the evidence was not sufficient to support the conviction for premeditated murder, the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction of felony murder. Accordingly, we affirm the appellant's conviction for first degree felony murder.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/15/03
Connie Lee Arnold v. State of Tennessee - Dissenting

E2003-00691-CCA-RM-PC
Even considering Burnett v. State, 92 S.W.3d 403 (Tenn. 2002), in which counsel was appointed and an opportunity to amend was provided, I believe the pro se petition in the present case adequately complies with the 1995 Post-Conviction Procedure Act and states a colorable claim for relief. Therefore, I respectfully dissent.
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Robert E. Cupp
Carter County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/15/03
State of Tennessee v. James Arthur Kimbrell

M2000-02925-CCA-R3-CD

On September 3, 1999, a Fentress County jury convicted the Defendant of four counts of rape of a child, a Class A felony; five counts of rape, a Class B felony; and thirteen counts of incest, a Class C felony. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of forty years. The Defendant now appeals arguing that ineffective assistance of counsel at trial, along with newly discovered evidence, prejudiced the Defendant to the point of depriving him of a fair trial with a reliable result. After a review of the record, we conclude that the Defendant was denied due process through ineffective assistance of counsel. We therefore reverse the Defendant's convictions and remand this case to the Fentress County Circuit Court for a new trial.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge E. Shayne Sexton
Fentress County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/15/03
State of Tennessee v. Brian Antione Starks

M2002-00179-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Brian Antione Starks, was convicted, by jury, of first degree felony murder and attempted especially aggravated robbery. The defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder conviction and eleven years as a Range I, standard offender for the robbery conviction, to be served consecutively to the life sentence. The defendant timely appealed, alleging that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions and that the testimony of his accomplices was not sufficiently corroborated. Based upon our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court but remand for entry of a corrected judgment in Count 2.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/15/03
Author R. Turner v. State of Tennessee - Order

M2002-00541-CCA-R3-PC

The Appellant, Author R. Turner, appeals the order of the Davidson County Criminal Court summarily dismissing his pro se petition for post-conviction relief. In 1995, the Appellant pled guilty to aggravated robbery, especially aggravated kidnaping, and two counts of aggravated rape.  As a result of these convictions, he was sentenced to forty years imprisonment. In April 1996, the Appellant filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging as grounds ineffective assistance of counsel and improper imposition of consecutive sentences. This petition was dismissed, and this court affirmed the dismissal on appeal. Arthur R. Turner1 v. State, No. 01C01-9707-CR-00274 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Nashville, Sept. 23, 1998), perm. to appeal denied (Tenn. 1999). On January 7, 2002, the Appellant filed a second petition for post-conviction relief, which is the subject of this appeal, again alleging ineffective assistance of counsel and that his plea was involuntary because “. . . the State caused him to be influence (sic) by four mind-altering drugs.”

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/15/03
Ann Wing v. Estate of James Wing

M2001-01598-COA-R3-CV
The Circuit Court of Davidson County ordered the husband involved in a divorce to pay $230 per week in support payments to the wife after the husband retired from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. When the husband retired he elected to receive guaranteed payments for 120 months and designated his daughter as the beneficiary to receive the payments if he died within the 120 month period. The court then modified its prior order to provide that the payments were a division of the husband's pension from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. After the husband's untimely death, the court ordered the Metropolitan Government and/or the husband's daughter who had been made the beneficiary of the pension to make the payments. Because we find that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over Metro and the daughter, we reverse the court's order and remand for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Marietta M. Shipley
Davidson County Court of Appeals 04/14/03
Maylene E. Ledbetter v. Bryan K. Ledbetter

E2004-00239-SC-S09-CV
In this interlocutory appeal, we must determine whether the trial court had the authority to enforce a mediated marital dissolution agreement when one of the parties repudiated its terms prior to court approval. Here, the parties, Maylene and Bryan Ledbetter, reached, through mediation, a marital dissolution agreement pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31. Shortly after the mediation, and prior to presentation for court approval, Mr. Ledbetter repudiated the agreement. Mrs. Ledbetter then filed a motion to enforce the terms of the agreement. Following a hearing, the trial court overruled Mrs. Ledbetter's motion, ruling that the oral agreement reached in mediation was not binding and enforceable against the parties. After a thorough review of the record and relevant case law, we conclude that because Mr. Ledbetter repudiated the terms of the agreement prior to its presentation to the court, the trial court lacked authority to enter a judgment on the agreement. Further, because the agreement had not been reduced to writing and signed by the parties, it is not an enforceable contract. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Originating Judge:William E. Lantrip
Anderson County Supreme Court 04/14/03
State of Tennessee v. Robert J. Williams

W2002-02366-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Robert J. Williams, pled guilty in the Henry County Circuit Court to one count of selling one-half gram or more of cocaine, a Class B felony, and two counts of selling less than one half gram of cocaine, a Class C felony. As a Range I, standard offender, he received one eight-year sentence and two three-year sentences to be served concurrently as one year in confinement and the remainder in a community corrections program. The defendant appeals, claiming that his sentences are excessive. We affirm the defendant’s sentences, but we remand the case for entry of corrected judgments.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Julian P. Guinn
Henry County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/14/03
State of Tennessee v. Sandra Lynn Baumgartner

W2003-00038-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Sandra Lynn Baumgartner, appeals the mandatory outpatient treatment (MOT) plan imposed by the Shelby County Criminal Court following her acquittal of first degree murder due to her insanity at the time of the crime. She contends that the trial court erroneously required mandatory outpatient treatment because the evidence does not show that her mental condition is likely to deteriorate rapidly, making it substantially likely that she would cause serious harm. She also argues that the MOT plan imposed by the trial court is contrary to the medical proof, punitive, oppressive, and impossible to perform. We conclude that the evidence preponderates against the MOT plan’s requirements that the defendant live in a supervised residential facility and have someone supervise the administration of her medicine. We affirm the MOT plan as modified to exclude these requirements and remand the case for the trial court to reinstate the original condition that the defendant reside with her parents in their home.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge John P. Colton, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/14/03
Rodney Dimitri Caples v. State of Tennessee - Order

W2001-01976-CCA-MR3-CD

The Defendant, Rodney Dimitri Caples, was originally indicted for rape of a child. He subsequently entered a “best- interest” plea of guilty1 to the lesser-included offense of aggravated sexual battery. He later filed for post-conviction relief, alleging that he had received ineffective assistance of counsel and that, as a result, his guilty plea was not knowing or voluntary. After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied his petition. This appeal followed.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/14/03
Mark A. Mitchell v. State of Tennessee

M2002-01500-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Mark A. Mitchell, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition, which sought post-conviction relief and post-conviction DNA analysis. The single issue presented for review is whether the petition was properly dismissed. The judgment is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
Cecil Eugene Brannan v. State of Tennessee

M2002-00628-CCA-R3-CD

The petitioner, Cecil Eugene Brannan, pled guilty in the Bedford County Circuit Court to three counts of vehicular assault and one count of driving under the influence (DUI), fourth offense. The plea agreement stipulated that the petitioner would receive a total effective sentence of eight years incarceration. The petitioner subsequently filed for post-conviction relief, alleging that trial counsel failed to advise him that his plea agreement violated double jeopardy principles. The post-conviction court dismissed the petition and the petitioner timely appealed. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Lee Russell
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
State of Tennessee v. Larry D. Anderson

W2001-02371-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant was found guilty by a jury of first degree felony murder and especially aggravated burglary. He was sentenced to life plus twelve years, respectfully, in the Department of Correction. The defendant contends that he was mentally incompetent to stand trial or to give a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of his Miranda rights and that his sentences were in error. We affirm the judgments from the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph H. Walker, III
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
State of Tennessee v. Kristina Dawn Catron

E2002-01390-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Kristina Dawn Catron, pleaded guilty to one count of fabricating evidence, one count of making a false report, and one count of misdemeanor theft under $500. The negotiated plea agreement produced an effective sentence of three years. The manner of service of the sentence was to be determined by the trial court. Following a presentence investigation and a sentence hearing, the trial court ordered the defendant to serve the sentence in confinement. It is from this sentencing determination that the defendant appeals. We affirm the judgment of the trial court based on the need to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
James L. Feenin v. Kevin Myers, Warden

M2002-01770-CCA-R3-CO

The Appellant, James L. Feenin, proceeding pro se, appeals the summary dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. Feenin is currently a Department of Correction inmate at the South Central Correctional Facility in Wayne County, where he is serving an effective nineteen-year sentence. On appeal, Feenin argues that his incarceration stems from a void indictment. Specifically, he contends that two counts of the indictment, to which he pled guilty, were not signed by the district attorney general. Finding this argument without merit, the judgment of the Wayne County Circuit Court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge Jim T. Hamilton
Wayne County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
State of Tennessee v. Ricky Blair

W2001-02965-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant was convicted by a jury of attempted second degree murder, aggravated assault, and setting fire to personal property. The defendant received an effective sentence of nine years. The sole issue on appeal is whether the evidence was sufficient to support his conviction for attempted second degree murder. We affirm the judgments from the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge L. Terry Lafferty
Haywood County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
Willie Tom Ensley v. State of Tennessee

M2002-01609-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Willie Tom Ensley, appeals the trial court's denial of his post-conviction petition requesting DNA analysis. The issue presented for review is whether the trial court erred by summarily dismissing the petition without the appointment of counsel, an opportunity to amend, or an evidentiary hearing. The judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
State of Tennessee v. William Rhea Jackson

M2002-02567-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, William Rhea Jackson, pled guilty in the Davidson County Criminal Court to aggravated assault and aggravated burglary, Class C felonies, and the trial court sentenced him as a Range I, standard offender to consecutive sentences of six and five years, respectively. The trial court also ordered that the defendant serve his effective eleven-year sentence consecutive to an effective thirty-four-year sentence that he received for offenses committed five days before the current crimes. He appeals, claiming that his sentences are excessive. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
State of Tennessee v. Pharez Price

M2002-01717-CCA-R3-CD

A Maury County jury convicted the defendant, Pharez Price, of facilitation of felony murder, facilitation of attempted first degree murder, facilitation of attempted second degree murder, facilitation of attempted especially aggravated robbery, and criminal responsibility for the conduct of another for felony reckless endangerment. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of forty-three years. On appeal, the defendant contends (1) the trial court improperly found a child witness competent to testify, and (2) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for any of the offenses other than felony reckless endangerment. We reverse and dismiss the convictions for facilitation of attempted first degree murder and facilitation of attempted second degree murder, affirm the other convictions, and remand for a determination of concurrent/consecutive sentencing.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Jim T. Hamilton
Maury County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
State of Tennessee v. Louis Tyrone Robinson - Order

M2002-01641-CCA-R3-CD

In this appeal the appellant, Louis Tyrone Robinson, complains that the Davidson County Criminal Court erroneously dismissed his petition for the writ of habeas corpus without affording the appellant a hearing on the petition. After reviewing the record in this matter we are of the opinion that the criminal court was correct in its summary dismissal of the petition and we therefore affirm the action of the trial court pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
State of Tennessee v. Kenneth Lee England

E2002-00693-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Kenneth Lee England, was convicted by a Campbell County Criminal Court jury of retaliation for past action, a Class E felony, and the trial court sentenced him as a career offender to six years in the Department of Correction. The defendant appeals, claiming that the evidence is insufficient and that the trial court erred by allowing the state to impeach him with his prior retaliation for past action convictions under Tenn. R. Evid. 609. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge E. Shayne Sexton
Campbell County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
Mohamed F. Ali v. State of Tennessee

E2001-00183-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Mohamed F. Ali, appeals from the judgment of the Washington County Criminal Court denying him post-conviction relief from his convictions for rape and attempted bribery. He is serving an effective sentence of fifteen years in the Department of Correction. The petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred in (1) applying incorrect law governing judicial bias, (2) finding that the convicting trial judge was not biased against him, (3) excluding evidence of judicial bias, (4) refusing the petitioner's discovery requests regarding the issue of bias, and (5) denying the petitioner's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. We affirm the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge R. Jerry Beck
Washington County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
State of Tennessee v. Vincent Howard

W2001-01904-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant appeals his convictions of first degree felony murder and especially aggravated robbery. He received a life sentence for the first degree felony murder conviction and an additional twenty-one year sentence for his especially aggravated robbery conviction. The defendant contends the evidence is insufficient to sustain his convictions. The defendant also argues his twenty-one- year sentence for especially aggravated robbery is excessive. The defendant alleges the trial court misapplied enhancement factors (1), (8), (13), and (16) and erred in finding him a dangerous offender to support its consecutive sentence determination. We affirm the convictions, but remove the presumption of correctness due to the misapplication of four enhancement factors and remand for a new sentencing hearing on the especially aggravated robbery conviction only.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge J. C. Mclin
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/11/03
State v. Robert Tait

W2001-02157-SC-R11-CD
We granted this interlocutory appeal pursuant to Rule 11 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure to determine whether, in a prosecution commenced by an arrest warrant for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, the resulting indictment may charge the defendant for offenses that can be inferred from the arrest warrant. The arrest warrant charged the appellant, Robert Tait, with driving under the influence of an intoxicant, and the grand jury indicted him for that offense (count one) and for driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of .10 percent or more (count two). The trial court dismissed the second count, finding that it described a new and additional charge and was, therefore, barred by the applicable one-year statute of limitations because its prosecution had been commenced more than one year after the conduct occurred. The Court of Criminal Appeals reversed, concluding that the second count merely constituted an alternative theory for conviction and did not charge an offense distinct from that for which the appellant was initially charged. After reviewing the record and controlling legal authority, we hold that the language of the warrant sufficiently tolled the limitations period for count two. Therefore, we affirm the holding of the Court of Criminal Appeals and remand this case to the trial court for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Joseph B. Dailey
Shelby County Supreme Court 04/10/03