APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. James Wesley Osborne

E1999-01071-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:O. Duane Slone
Jefferson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/22/00
Lawson vs. Lawson

M2000-00729-COA-R3-CV
The General Sessions Court of Van Buren County awarded the wife a divorce, divided the marital property, and awarded the wife rehabilitative alimony. On appeal the husband attacks the property division and the amount of the alimony. Because the record does not provide a basis for properly assessing the issues raised by the appellant, we affirm with a memorandum opinion.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Samuel E. Benningfield
Van Buren County Court of Appeals 08/22/00
State vs. William Livingstone, Jr.

E1999-01362-CCA-R3-CD
A Hamblen County jury convicted the Defendant of three counts of obtaining prescription drugs by fraud, and the trial court sentenced him as a Range II persistent offender to six years incarceration for each count, with the sentences to be served concurrently, but consecutive to a previous conviction for which he received a twenty-one-year sentence. On appeal, the Defendant argues: (1) that he was improperly arraigned; (2) that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions; (3) that a mistrial should have been ordered by the trial court when a witness speculated that the Defendant might have been Sheriff of Grainger County at one time; (4) that the trial court erred by failing to grant the Defendant's motion for a change of venue; (5) that the trial court should have recused itself; and (6) that the Defendant was denied a speedy trial. Finding no merit to these allegations, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:James E. Beckner
Hamblen County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/22/00
State vs. Jimmy Wayne Baker

M1999-00454-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Jimmy Wayne Baker, was convicted by a Bedford County jury of first degree felony murder during the perpetration of or the attempt to perpetrate theft of property, first degree premeditated murder, and aggravated arson. The trial court merged the felony murder conviction with the premeditated murder conviction. The Defendant was sentenced as a Range I standard offender to life imprisonment for the first degree murder conviction and to twenty-one years and nine months incarceration for the aggravated arson conviction, to be served concurrently. The Defendant now appeals, arguing the following: (1) that the trial court erred in instructing the jury to determine whether one of the witnesses was an accomplice; (2) that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to convict the Defendant of premeditated murder, felony murder, or aggravated arson; (3) that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury that they must agree unanimously on a particular set of facts to support a finding of first degree felony murder; (4) that his convictions of both premeditated murder and felony murder violated the Double Jeopardy Clause and the Supremacy Clause; (5) that the Defendant was not properly informed of the elements of and facts necessary to constitute the offense of theft of property as the underlying felony in the felony murder conviction; (6) that the Defendant's sentence for aggravated arson was excessive; and (7) that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on all elements of the offenses charged. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/22/00
25840-COA-R3-CV

25840-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Samuel H. Payne
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 08/22/00
Shelbourne vs. Shelbourne

M1999-02557-COA-R3-CV
The trial court granted the wife a divorce, awarded her custody of the parties' minor child, divided the marital property, and ordered the husband to pay rehabilitative alimony for two years. We affirm
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/22/00
Terence A. Johnson v. Saturn Corporation

M1999-01377-WC-R3-CV
The employer, Saturn Corporation, contends the evidence preponderates against the trial court's findings as to causation and notice.
Authoring Judge: Loser, Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle, Chancellor
Johnson County Workers Compensation Panel 08/21/00
Dwight Seaton v. State of Tennessee

E1999-01312-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Ben W. Hooper, II
Sevier County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/21/00
State vs. Clarence Weaver

E1999-02005-CCA-R3-CD
This appeal arises from the sentence that the defendant received after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary. He challenges the trial court's application of one of the four enhancement factors found, refusal to apply three mitigating factors, and refusal to place him in the Community Alternatives to Prison Program (CAPP). Based upon our review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Richard R. Baumgartner
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/21/00
Larry Ward on behalf of Antonio Ward

W1999-01324-COA-R3-CV
This is a dispute between Plaintiff Larry D. Ward and Defendants A.C. Gilless, Jr., The Shelby County Sheriff's Office ("Sheriff's Office"), Ted Fox, and The Shelby County Division of Public Works ("Division of Public Works") regarding the cause of an automobile accident that resulted in the death of Reco Antonio Ward ("Decedent"), Mr. Ward's son. The trial court found that the Decedent was negligent, that the Decedent's own negligence was the proximate cause of his death, and that any negligence on the part of the Defendants was exceeded by the negligence of the Decedent. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the ruling of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/21/00
State vs. Terrence Jackson

W2001-01001-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant appeals the revocation of his probation and reinstatement of his original six-year sentence for aggravated assault. The trial court found the defendant violated the terms of his probation by failing to verify employment, failing to exhibit conduct consistent with good citizenship, and failing to comply with curfew requirements; thus, it revoked his probation. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/21/00
State vs. Lee Townes

W1999-01126-CCA-R3-CD
The trial court dismissed the petitioner's post-conviction relief petition, based upon its findings that trial counsel rendered effective assistance and that the other grounds for relief had been waived or previously determined. On appeal, the record supports the trial court's judgment, and we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Julian P. Guinn
Carroll County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. Letivias Prince

M1998-00005-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Letivias Prince, was convicted of first degree murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the defendant argues that the jury pool did not adequately represent the racial makeup of the community; that pre-trial publicity deprived him of a fair trial; that the trial court erred by permitting eight peremptory challenges in jury selection; that the trial court erred by allowing the state to either call a rebuttal witness or receive a missing witness instruction; that the trial court erred by instructing the jury regarding the order of consideration of offenses; and that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:Robert W. Wedemeyer
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. Jesse Ross Tolbert

E1999-02326-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant appeals as of right from his conviction of aggravated assault. At trial the trial judge did not let defense counsel question the sole prosecution witness about the witness' guilty plea to extortion and subsequent judicial diversion. The court did allow questioning regarding the facts underlying the witness' prosecution. Defendant now alleges that this evidentiary ruling violated his rights under the confrontation clauses of the United States and Tennessee Constitutions. We hold that the trial court erred. Under Tennessee Rule of Evidence 608 defense counsel should have been allowed to question the witness regarding the guilty plea and judicial diversion. However, we conclude that the error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We thus affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:E. Eugene Eblen
Roane County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. Derrick Williams

W1999-01231-CCA-R3-CD
This appeal arises from the defendant's challenge to his sentence of twelve years plus a $10,000 fine for vehicular homicide, four years for reckless aggravated assault, one year for leaving the scene of an accident, and eleven months and twenty-nine days plus a $350 fine for driving under the influence. The sentences are to be served concurrently. The defendant disputes the trial court's application of three of four enhancement factors and refusal to apply a mitigating factor in reaching the sentence. Based upon our review, we affirm the convictions for vehicular homicide, reckless aggravated assault, and leaving the scene of an accident, and reverse and dismiss the conviction for driving under the influence, this offense being merged into the conviction for vehicular homicide. Additionally, we conclude that the trial court incorrectly applied certain enhancement factors. According, we reduce the sentence for vehicular homicide to ten years and the sentence for reckless aggravated assault to three years. All sentences are to be served concurrently, as ordered by the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Dick Jerman, Jr.
Crockett County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State of Tennessee v. Kevin Wilkins

W1999-01462-CCA-MR3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:James C. Beasley, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. Gerald W. McCullough

M1999-01525-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Gerald W. McCullough, was convicted of aggravated sexual battery. The trial court imposed a twelve-year sentence. In this appeal of right, the defendant contends that the trial court erred by allowing proof of more than one instance of sexual misconduct and by imposing an excessive sentence. Because the sentence was not excessive, and because the defendant waived the issue of the admissibility of uncharged sex crimes, the judgment is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:William Charles Lee
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. Ricky Lee Cook

M2000-00178-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant appeals the revocation of his probation and reinstatement of a portion of his original sentence. The defendant plead guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia, and received a sentence of eleven (11) months, twenty-nine (29) days, which was completely suspended after the service of forty-eight (48) hours. After a revocation hearing, the trial court revoked defendant's probation and required him to serve a portion of his sentence. Concluding that the defendant violated at least four specific terms of his probation, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Cornelia A. Clark
Originating Judge:Jane W. Wheatcraft
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. William M. Hukowicz

M1999-00073-CCA-R9-CD
Following a suppression hearing, the Wilson County Criminal Court, J.O. Bond, J., ordered certain portions of the defendant's statement given to police suppressed, holding that the defendant had exercised his right to remain silent. The state filed an interlocutory appeal. The Court holds that the evidence does not preponderate against the trial court's finding that the defendant's refusal to answer other questions by stating "no comment" or a similar declaration was a proper assertion of the defendant's right to remain silent. However, the trial court should have suppressed the entire statement given following the defendant's assertion of his right to remain silent. Remanded.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:J. O. Bond
Wilson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. Dana Louise Solomon

E1999-01108-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, Dana Louise Solomon, was convicted by a jury in the Knox County Criminal Court of first degree murder and received a sentence of life imprisonment in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, she raises several issues for our review. However, because the appellant failed to timely file her motion for new trial, she has waived all issues with the exception of her challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence underlying her conviction. Moreover, the appellant failed to timely file her notice of appeal. Nevertheless, in the interest of justice, we address the sufficiency of the evidence. Upon a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Mary Beth Leibowitz
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. Timothy C. Hutson

M1999-00329-CCA-R9-CD
This appeal arises from the order of the Davidson County Criminal Court upholding the district attorney general's refusal to accept the application of the defendant, Timothy C. Hutson, for pretrial diversion. The defendant asserts that the trial court erred in failing to determine that the district attorney general abused his discretion by relying on facts not supported by the evidence and by failing to consider all relevant factors. We conclude that substantial evidence was before the district attorney general to support the validity of each factor relied on in denying pretrial diversion and that there was substantial evidence to show that the district attorney general considered all relevant factors. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. Reggie Jones

W1999-00898-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant was found guilty of aggravated robbery, theft over $10,000 and felonious escape. The trial court merged the theft conviction into the aggravated robbery conviction. Defendant received a ten-year sentence for aggravated robbery and a consecutive one-year sentence for felonious escape. The defendant raises the following issues for review: (1) whether the defendant's prosecution in Haywood County for aggravated robbery, following an acquittal for the same offense in federal court, violated double jeopardy; (2) whether the trial court erred in failing to grant a new trial when it was discovered that a juror had a prior felony conviction; and (3) whether the defendant was improperly convicted of both aggravated robbery and the lesser-included offense of theft. Upon a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Haywood County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. James Snider

W1999-01849-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant was found guilty of rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery. He appealed, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to support a guilty verdict and that the trial court erred in allowing the victim's mother to testify to hearsay statements made by the victim, in prohibiting the defendant from questioning the victim's mother about sexual abuse in her childhood, and in sentencing the defendant in an excessive manner on the rape conviction. We conclude that these issues are without merit and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
State vs. Joe W. Steward

M1999-01284-CCA-R3-CD
Because the defendant, Joe W. Steward, was lawfully stopped at a traffic enforcement roadblock, his conviction for driving under the influence, second offense, is affirmed. The issue reserved on appeal by the defendant does not warrant suppression of the evidence.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Cornelia A. Clark
Lewis County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/00
Ella Pruett vs. Wal-Mart

W1999-01026-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff sued employer under Americans With Disabilities Act and case was tried before a jury. After a jury verdict for plaintiff, defendant moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict which the court granted. Plaintiff has appealed. The record reflects that defendant failed to move for a directed verdict at the conclusion of all of the evidence and also reflects that no judgment was entered on the jury verdict. Appeal dismissed.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Madison County Court of Appeals 08/17/00