APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Kevin McDougle

W2009-01648-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Kevin McDougle, was convicted by a Shelby County jury of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony, and two counts of aggravated assault, a Class C felony. He was subsequently sentenced to consecutive sentences of twelve years for the robbery and six years for each assault, resulting in an effective sentence of twenty-four years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant challenges only the imposition of consecutive sentences, specifically contending that the court erred in relying upon his juvenile record to establish that he was an offender whose record of criminal activity was extensive. Following review of the record, we find no error and affirm the sentences as imposed.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge W. Mark Ward
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/11/10
Travis Dean Jackson v. State of Tennessee

M2009-01825-CCA-R3-PC
This matter is before the Court upon the State's motion to affirm the judgment of the trial court by memorandum opinion pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Petitioner has appealed the trial court's order dismissing the petition for postconviction relief. Upon review of the record in this case, we are persuaded that the trial court was correct in dismissing the petition for post-conviction relief and that this case meets the criteria for affirmance pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Jerry L. Smith, J.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/11/10
Pamela C. Bess v. Properties, L.P., et al.

M2008-01691-COA-R3-CV

Car A was traveling north on a two-lane highway. Car B, a city police vehicle with its lights and siren on, was also traveling north on the same highway to answer a call. Car A could not pull off the road to the right to yield to Car B and instead turned left as Car B was passing. A collision ensued in which the driver of Car A suffered serious injuries. The driver of Car A sued the city. The trial court found the city 75% liable for the accident. The city appealed. We reverse the trial court's judgment, finding the driver of Car A more than 50% responsible for the accident.

Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Judge Buddy D. Perry
Grundy County Court of Appeals 06/11/10
State of Tennessee v. Daniel Lopez

W2008-02572-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Daniel Lopez, was convicted of two counts of first degree felony murder and two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, Class A felonies. He was sentenced to life for each murder conviction and to twenty-five years for each especially aggravated kidnapping conviction. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively for a total effective sentence of life plus fifty years. On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court erred in: denying his request to give a jury instruction for accomplice testimony; sustaining the State's objection to testimony of a co-defendant; granting the State's motion to have an anonymous jury; denying his motion for a mistrial; and instructing the jury to disregard a question from defense counsel during cross-examination. After careful review, we affirm the judgments from the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Lee V. Coffee
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/11/10
State of Tennessee v. Newt Carter

W2009-00600-CCA-R3-CD

A Madison County jury convicted the defendant, Newt Carter, of aggravated rape, a Class A felony, and aggravated burglary, a Class C felony. The trial court sentenced the defendant as a Range I standard offender to twenty years at 100% for aggravated rape consecutive to five years at 30% for aggravated burglary, to be served in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant contends that (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; and (2) the trial court erred in sentencing the defendant by misapplying enhancement factors and ordering the defendant to serve the sentences consecutively. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge J.C. McLin
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/11/10
David Jones Milton v. State of Tennessee

W2008-02838-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, David Jones Milton, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that he received effective assistance of trial counsel. Following our review, we affirm the denial of the petition.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Donald E. Parish
Carroll County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/10/10
State of Tennessee v. Dominic Delvekio Carter

W2009-01612-CCA-R3-CD

Following a jury trial, the defendant, Dominic Delvekio Carter, was convicted of three counts of aggravated rape, one count of aggravated burglary, and one count of theft of property under $500. The trial court sentenced the defendant as a multiple rapist to an effective sentence of fifty years at 100% in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions and that the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentencing. Based upon our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/10/10
State of Tennessee v. Vincent Byron Rose

E2009-02396-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Vincent Byron Rose, appeals from the trial court's order revoking his probation and ordering that he serve his sentence in confinement. Discerning no error in the judgment of the trial court, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/10/10
State of Tennessee v. Jerry Tate

W2009-01474-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Jerry Tate, was convicted by a Shelby County Criminal Court jury of second degree murder and sentenced to twenty years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Alan E. Glenn, J.
Originating Judge:W. Otis Higgs, Judge
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/10/10
State of Tennessee v. Timothy Dell Hilton

E2009-01434-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant-Appellant, Timothy Dell Hilton, was convicted by a Cumberland County jury of aggravated kidnapping, a Class B felony, and aggravated assault, a Class C felony. He received an eight-year sentence for the aggravated kidnapping conviction, and a concurrent, three-year sentence for aggravated assault conviction. On appeal, Hilton claims: (1) the insufficiency of the evidence; and (2) the trial court erred in denying his motion in limine. Upon review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge David A. Patterson
Cumberland County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/10/10
State of Tennessee v. Patrick Trawick

W2008-02675-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Patrick Trawick, was convicted by a Shelby County jury of one count of premeditated first degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault related to the death of his estranged girlfriend and the aggravated assault of her companion. The jury found life without the possibility of parole to be the appropriate sentence for the premeditated first degree murder count. Following a separate sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed concurrent six year sentences for the two aggravated assault counts to be served consecutively to the sentence of life without the possibility of parole. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred by (1) failing to recuse itself, (2) ruling admissible for impeachment purposes the Defendant's prior rape conviction, (3) admitting crime scene photographs of the victim's body, and (4) failing to instruct the jury regarding all lesser included offenses for premeditated first degree murder. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge James M. Lammey, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/09/10
State of Tennessee v. Danurico Dujuan Grundy

M2009-00904-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant-Appellant, Danurico Dujuan Grundy, appeals the revocation of his probation by the Circuit Court for Dickson County. On November 17, 2005, he pled guilty to theft under $500, a Class A misdemeanor, and five counts of uttering a forged instrument under $1,000, a Class E felony. Grundy received an effective sentence of two years in the Tennessee Department of Correction and was ordered to pay $26.50 to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund and $546.50 in court costs. On appeal, Grundy claims the trial court erred by revoking his probation and reinstating his original sentences of confinement. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge George C. Sexton
Dickson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/09/10
Kimberly Ann Ross v. State of Tennessee

M2009-01139-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Kimberly Ann Ross, appeals from the Bedford County Circuit Court's denial of post-conviction relief from her guilty plea to first degree murder and her life sentence. In her appeal, the Petitioner argues that she received ineffective assistance of counsel because trial counsel coerced her into pleading guilty to first degree murder and failed to adequately prepare her case, investigate witnesses, and defend her. She also contends that she was unable to make a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent decision to enter her guilty plea because she was under the influence of certain medications. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Robert G. Crigler
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/09/10
State of Tennessee v. Terry Rainey

W2008-02459-CCA-R3-CO

The State appeals the Chester County Circuit Court's decision to order pretrial diversion for the Defendant-Appellee, Terry Rainey. Rainey was indicted for reckless endangerment, a Class E felony, and two counts of aggravated assault, Class C and D felonies. The State claims it properly appealed as of right under Rule 3(c) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. Alternatively, the State asserts the circumstances of this case warrant review as an extraordinary appeal under Rule 10(a) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. Upon review, we hold that the State cannot appeal the trial court's decision to order pretrial diversion under Rule 3(c). We also decline review under Rule 10(a). Accordingly, the State's appeal is dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Roger A. Page
Chester County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/09/10
State of Tennessee v. William George Soller, Jr.

E2009-01138-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, William George Soller, Jr., was convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), fourth offense, a Class E felony. The Defendant pled guilty to violation of the implied consent law (Count 2) and driving on a revoked license (Count 3), both Class A misdemeanors. Following a sentencing hearing, the Defendant was sentenced as a multiple offender to forty months to serve at 35% for the DUI conviction, eleven months and twenty-nine days in the county jail, suspended to five days and the remainder on supervised probation for Count 2, and eleven months and twenty-nine days in the county jail, suspended to forty-five days and the remainder on supervised probation for Count 3. The trial court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently to one another but consecutively to sentences imposed in a separate case. In his appeal as of right, the Defendant contends that (1) the trial court erred in denying the motion to suppress because the officer did not have reasonable suspicion to stop the Defendant, (2) the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for DUI, and (3) the trial court erred in sentencing the Defendant as a Range II offender. Following our review, we affirm the judgment but conclude that the trial court improperly classified the Defendant as a Range II offender. Accordingly, we remand the case for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Senior Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
Sevier County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/09/10
Rocky Glen Ross vs. Donna Angela Ross

E2009-01396-COA-R3-CV

This is a divorce case. The trial court granted the husband a divorce on the ground of inappropriate marital conduct and awarded the husband what appears to be a sizable majority of the parties' assets. The trial court, however, did not adjudicate the wife's counterclaim for spousal support. Because the order appealed does not adjudicate all of the claims, rights, and liabilities of the parties, it is not a final judgment that is appealable of right. We dismiss.

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Michael A. Davis
Morgan County Court of Appeals 06/09/10
State of Tennessee v. William George Soller, Jr.

E2008-02420-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, William George Soller, Jr., appeals from his Sevier County Circuit Court jury convictions of felony reckless endangerment, reckless aggravated assault, fourth offense driving under the influence ("DUI"), and leaving the scene of an accident. In this appeal, the defendant contends that: (1) the trial court erred by refusing his request for a change of venue; (2) the trial court erred by refusing to excuse a potential juror for cause; (3) the trial court erred by refusing to permit the testimony of an expert witness for the defense; (4) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for felony reckless endangerment and DUI; (5) the trial court erred in its instructions to the jury; (6) the trial court should have dismissed one count of the indictment as duplicitous; and (7) the trial court erred by classifying the defendant as a Range II, multiple offender for sentencing purposes. After a review of the record, we affirm the defendant's convictions but vacate the defendant's sentences on the felony convictions of reckless aggravated assault and fourth offense DUI and remand the case to the trial court for resentencing.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Senior Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
Sevier County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/09/10
State of Tennessee v. Tommy L. Wray

M2009-01654-CCA-R3-CD
Following a jury trial, the Defendant, Tommy L. Wray, was convicted of one count of aggravated burglary, a Class C felony, one count of sexual battery, a Class E felony, and one count of attempted sexual battery, a Class A misdemeanor. See Tenn. Code Ann. __ 39-14- 403(b), -13-505(c), -12-107(a). In this appeal, he contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a new trial due to the State's failure to provide him with a copy of a statement made by the victim. After our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: David H. Welles, J.
Originating Judge:Robert Crigler, Judge
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/08/10
Tommy Ray Young v. State of Tennessee

E2009-01971-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Tommy Ray Young, appeals from the summary dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. In this appeal, both the petitioner and the State argue that the postconviction court erred by dismissing the petition without a hearing. We agree. Accordingly the judgment of the post-conviction court is reversed, and the case is remanded for the appointment of counsel and an evidentiary hearing.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge E. Shayne Sexton
Campbell County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/08/10
State of Tennessee v. Daryl Powell

M2008-02510-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant-Appellant, Daryl Powell, appeals from the Sequatchie County Circuit Court's order denying his motion to determine the conditions and status of his probation and requiring him to provide a blood sample to the DNA database, which was entered more than four years after he was sentenced for his conviction for incest, a Class C felony. In his appeal, Powell argues that he complied with the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-321 when he submitted a blood sample to the DNA database during the investigation of the charges against him in this case. Upon review, we conclude that Powell does not have an appeal as of right pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 3(b). Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas W. Graham
Sequatchie County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/08/10
Charles McBee vs. Patricia Anne Greer, et al.

E2009-01760-COA-R3-CV

Plaintiff was violently attacked as he was attempting to serve process on the defendant in a divorce case. Plaintiff had been employed by a law firm to serve the divorce complaint on the defendant in the divorce case and the firm had attached a written statement to the process "Be forewarned he's an ex-cop with anger issues". Plaintiff's claims for recovery against defendants were intentional infliction of emotional distress/outrageous conduct, negligent misrepresentation and negligence. The trial court dismissed the action responding to defendants' Tenn R. Civ. P. 12.02(6), and plaintiff has appealed. On appeal, we hold that plaintiff failed to state a cause of action for negligent misrepresentation and intentional infliction of emotional distress/outrageous conduct, but vacate the dismissal of the claim for negligence against defendants, and remand for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Judge Dale Workman
Knox County Court of Appeals 06/08/10
Larry Brian Shelton v. State of Tennessee

E2009-01031-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Larry Brian Shelton, appeals from the denial of his petition for postconviction relief wherein he challenged his Hawkins County Criminal Court jury convictions of first degree felony murder and theft. In this appeal he contends that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: James Curwood Witt, Jr., J.
Originating Judge:John F. Dugger, Jr., Judge
Hawkins County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/08/10
Jerry Timberlake v. State of Tennessee

W2009-01700-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Jerry Timberlake, appeals the Henderson County Circuit Court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this court affirm the lower court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Because the petitioner has failed to prove his allegations by clear and convincing evidence, we conclude that the State's motion is well-taken. Accordingly, we affirm the lower court's denial of post-conviction relief.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Henderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/08/10
State of Tennessee v. Richard Dean Nance

E2009-01814-CCA-R3-CD

A Washington County jury convicted the defendant, Richard Dean Nance, of two counts of rape of a child and one count of incest. He appeals his convictions, arguing that the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law and that the trial court erred by permitting into evidence a prior conviction of one of his key witnesses. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Robert E. Cupp
Washington County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/08/10
State of Tennessee. v. Dwight J. Shankle

E2009-01768-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant-Appellant, Dwight Shankle, was convicted by a McMinn County jury of manufacture of methamphetamine under 0.5 grams, a Class C felony. He was sentenced as a multiple offender to eight years in the Tennessee Department of Correction and assessed a $25,000 fine. On appeal, he claims the insufficiency of the evidence. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Carroll L. Ross
McMinn County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/07/10