State of Tennessee v. Artis Whitehead
The defendant, Artis Whitehead, appeals his convictions and sentencing on five counts of especially aggravated kidnapping (Class A felony); two counts of aggravated assault (Class C felony); two counts of aggravated robbery (Class B felony); two counts of especially aggravated robbery (Class A felony); and one count of attempted aggravated robbery (Class C felony). The consecutive sentences imposed totaled 249 years. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
George H. Ross, III v. Glen Turner (Warden) And State of Tennessee
The Petitioner, George H. Ross, III, 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. Petitioner has failed to allege any ground that would render the judgments of conviction void. Accordingly, we grant the State's motion and affirm the judgment of the lower court. |
Hardeman | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Crystal Antonette Delaney
Pursuant to an open plea agreement, as provided by Tenn. R. Crim. P. 11(e)(1)(B), the Appellant, Crystal Antonette Delaney, aka Crystal Ward, pled guilty to identity theft, a Class D felony, and theft of property, a Class C felony. Following the guilty plea hearing, the Fayette County Circuit Court sentenced Delaney, as a Range III persistent offender, to ten years for the identify theft and twelve years for the theft of property. The court further ordered that the two sentences were to be served concurrently to each other but consecutively to an effective twelve-year sentence imposed in a separate Lauderdale County case. On appeal, Delaney contends that the trial court failed to properly consider and follow the sentencing guidelines and raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the sentences imposed are excessive; and (2) whether the court erred in ordering that the sentences be served consecutively to her Lauderdale County sentence. Because the trial court failed to conduct a sentencing hearing as contemplated by our sentencing statutes, the record contains no findings of fact with regard to sentencing enhancement factors or the trial court’s reasons for imposing consecutive sentences. As such, we are unable to conduct a de novo review of the sentences imposed and, accordingly, remand the case to the Fayette County Circuit Court for a sentencing hearing and for written findings of fact and imposition of sentences in accordance with statutory law. |
Fayette | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Marty Mitchell Clark
The defendant, Marty Mitchell Clark, was convicted by a Madison County jury of aggravated burglary, a Class C felony, attempted aggravated burglary, a Class D felony, theft of property under $500, and vandalism under $500, both Class A misdemeanors. He was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender to ten and eight years, respectively, for the felony counts and eleven months and twenty-nine days for each misdemeanor, with all sentences to be served concurrently for a total effective sentence of ten years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he argues the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions. Finding no error, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Madison | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Spencer Peterson
The Appellant, Spencer Peterson, appeals the sentencing decision of the Shelby County Criminal Court. After a jury trial, Peterson was convicted of three counts of second degree murder, two counts of attempted second 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 trial court merged the three second degree murder convictions and the separate convictions of aggravated robbery involving the same victim and sentenced Peterson 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, resulting in an effective sentence of fifty-two years in the Department of Correction. Peterson appealed the imposition of consecutive sentences, and this court remanded the case to the trial court for purposes of setting forth its reasons for consecutive sentencing, as required by Tenn. R. Crim. P. 32(c)(1). On appeal, Peterson again argues that the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences. After review of the record, we affirm the trial court’s sentencing decision. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Darrell E. Pointer
The Defendant, Darrell E. Pointer, pled guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery, and the trial court sentenced him, as a Range III offender, to twenty years in prison for each count to be served consecutively. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred when it imposed consecutive sentences. Finding that there exists no reversible error, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Paul Wilson v. Stephen Dotson, Warden
The petitioner, Paul Wilson, appeals the summary dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus, arguing that prior judgments used to enhance his 2005 aggravated robbery sentence were illegal and void. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court dismissing the petition for writ of habeas corpus. |
Hardeman | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Eddie Wayne Gordon v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Eddie Wayne Gordon, appeals the Gibson County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his guilty plea to first degree murder and resulting life sentence. He contends that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel and that his guilty plea was involuntary. Upon review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the post-conviction court’s judgment that the petitioner received the effective assistance of counsel. However, because the post-conviction court failed to address the issue of whether the petitioner pled guilty voluntarily, the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. |
Gibson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
James Westbrook v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, James Westbrook, appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion to suppress evidence and for failing to call his codefendant as a witness at trial. Following our review, we conclude that the petitioner has failed to meet his burden of demonstrating either a deficiency in counsel’s performance or resulting prejudice to his case. Accordingly, we affirm the post-conviction court’s dismissal of the petition. |
Gibson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Jerry Phillip Haley
The defendant, Jerry Phillip Haley, was convicted of aggravated burglary, theft over $1000, and assault. The trial court imposed Range II sentences of six years for the aggravated burglary, four years for the theft, and eleven months and twenty-nine days for the assault. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, for an effective sentence of six years. In this appeal, the defendant asserts (1) that the trial court erred by denying his motion for judgment of acquittal based on the insufficiency of the evidence and (2) that the trial court erred by failing to provide a jury instruction on facilitation of a felony. The judgments of the trial court are affirmed. |
Henry | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Marcus D. Hayes
The defendant, Marcus D. Hayes, was indicted for premeditated first degree murder. He was convicted by a jury of the lesser-included offense of second degree murder. He was sentenced to twenty-three years in confinement. On appeal, the defendant challenges the admissibility of his statements to police and the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. After review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Randy C. White
The State appeals the suppression of evidence by the Hardin County Circuit Court. Following his arrest for driving while intoxicated, the Defendant, Randy C. White, stated to the arresting officer that he was the driver of the vehicle. The trial court found that the statement was obtained in violation of Miranda v. Arizona. After review we conclude that, although the statement was made while White was in custody, it was not made in response to police interrogation. Thus, Miranda warnings were not required. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s suppression of the statement and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. |
Hardin | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Leroy Brimmer
A Shelby County Criminal Court jury convicted the appellant, Leroy Brimmer, of first degree premeditated murder, and the trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment. In this appeal, the appellant claims that the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction. Upon review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Shane M. McAnally - Dissenting
My colleagues conclude that, under the facts of this case, the appellant’s act of urinating in the patrol car constitutes vandalism. I respectfully disagree. |
Bedford | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Shane M. McAnally
The appellant, Shane M. McAnally, was convicted by a Bedford County jury of misdemeanor vandalism and was sentenced to a term of eleven months and twenty-nine days, with sixty days to be served in confinement. On appeal, McAnally raises two issues for our review: (1) whether the evidence is sufficient to support the conviction; and (2) whether the sixty-day period of confinement is excessive. Following review of the record, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient to support McAnally’s conviction for vandalism, and therefore affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Bedford | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
James C. Johnson v. Tony Parker, Warden
The petitioner, James C. Johnson, was convicted of rape of a child, and he received a twenty-year sentence. Subsequently, he filed for habeas corpus relief, alleging that the Tennessee Department of Correction impermissibly changed his release eligibility from thirty percent to one hundred percent, his sentence is void because of Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004), and his sentence is void because the State failed to file a notice of enhancement prior to trial. The habeas corpus court denied the petition, and the petitioner now appeals. Upon our review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the habeas corpus court. |
Lake | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
John W. Casey v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, John W. Casey, pled guilty in the Lauderdale County Circuit Court to possession of .5 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. He received a total effective sentence of eight years. Subsequently, the petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that his trial counsel was ineffective and his pleas were not knowing and voluntary. The post-conviction court denied the petition, and the petitioner appeals. Upon our review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court. |
Lauderdale | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Rickie Boyd v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Rickie Boyd, appeals from the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. On appeal, he contends that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. Following our review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court denying post-conviction relief. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Thomas Richardson, Jr. - Concurring
The defendant in this case was indicted on a single count of felony murder committed during the perpetration of arson. Under the felony murder rule, criminal liability for the murder is imposed based on the culpability required for the underlying felony without separate proof of any culpability with regard to the death. As our supreme court stated in Farmer v. State, 296 S.W.2d 879, 883 (Tenn. 1956), “it is not necessary that the State prove an intention to kill, or that it was committed willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly and with malice aforethought.” |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Thomas Richardson, Jr.
The defendant, Thomas Richardson, Jr., appeals his conviction for first degree felony murder. In support of his appeal, the defendant presents three issues: (a) The evidence is insufficient to support the conviction; (b) Two photographs of the victim were improperly admitted; and (c) Hearsay statements were improperly admitted. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Kathy Cooper
The community corrections sentence of the defendant, Kathy E. Cooper, was revoked after a new law violation of driving under the influence, and the trial court resentenced her to serve twelve years, the maximum in the range, in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant contends that the trial court inappropriately enhanced her sentence and revoked her community corrections sentence. Upon review, we conclude that facts which develop between the time a defendant is sentenced to community corrections and the time the sentence is revoked may be considered in applying enhancement factors and increasing a sentence. |
Blount | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. David Jones Milton
The Appellant, David Jones Milton, was convicted by a Carroll County jury of aggravated sexual battery, a Class B felony, and sentenced to a term of fifteen years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, Milton raises the single issue of whether the evidence is sufficient to support the conviction. After review of the record, we affirm the judgment of conviction. |
Carroll | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Donald Franks v. State of Tennessee
The Appellant, Donald Franks, appeals the Hardin County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. On appeal, Franks argues that he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of counsel. After review of the record, we affirm the denial of post-conviction relief. |
Hardin | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Kevin Young
The defendant, Kevin Young, was convicted of one count of possession of more than one-half ounce of marijuana with intent to sell and one count of possession of more than one-half ounce of marijuana with intent to deliver. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a) (2003). The trial court merged the two counts into a single conviction and sentenced the defendant, a career offender, to six years in the Department of Correction. In this appeal, the defendant asserts (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support the convictions and (2) that the trial court provided an incorrect supplemental instruction to the jury. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Coy Pierce
The defendant, Coy Pierce, was convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), fourth offense, a Class E felony, and driving on a revoked license, a Class A misdemeanor. The trial court imposed sentences of two years for the DUI and eleven months and twenty-nine days for the driving on a revoked license. The trial court ordered that the sentences be served concurrently and that the defendant serve seven months in confinement with the remainder to be served on community corrections. On appeal, the defendant contends that he was denied a fair trial (1) as a result of prosecutorial misconduct and (2) as a result of the trial court’s ruling that the defendant could not enter a photograph into evidence. We affirm the judgments of the trial court in part but remand the driving on a revoked license case for entry of a corrected judgment. |
Dyer | Court of Criminal Appeals |
