COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Derrick Le'mon Goode
M2004-01368-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lee Russell

On appeal, the defendant challenges the revocation of his probation; specifically, he contends that the trial court erred in revoking his probation based on the new charge of possession of prohibited weapons (sawed-off shotguns) when the weapons were not entered into evidence and their length was only estimated but never measured. Upon our review, we conclude that the deputy's estimation of the length of the weapons is sufficient to support revocation. Moreover, it is uncontroverted that the defendant had an outstanding payments owed to the court, which constitutes an additional ground for revocation. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

Chris Haire v. State of Tennessee
E2004-00827-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Carroll L. Ross

The petitioner, Chris Haire, appeals the McMinn County Circuit Court's dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm.

McMinn Court of Criminal Appeals

Brad Everett Jones v. State of Tennessee
W2004-02674-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

The petitioner appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his convictions for felony evading arrest, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance, and driving on a revoked license, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that his guilty pleas were knowing and voluntary and that he received the effective assistance of trial counsel. Following our review, we affirm the denial of the petition.

Lauderdale Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Rose Mary Adams
W2004-01650-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree

After the trial court denied her motion to suppress, the defendant, Rose Mary Adams, entered a best interest guilty plea to possession with intent to deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, methamphetamine, a Class C felony, and to possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. After conducting a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the defendant to four years in the Community Correction program after four months of service in the county jail and fined the defendant $2,000 for the possession with intent to sell conviction. For the possession of drug paraphernalia conviction, the defendant received a concurrent sentence of eleven months and twenty-nine days with all but four months suspended. The defendant now appeals a certified question of law challenging the trial court’s denial of her motion to suppress the evidence. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Weakley Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Holly Lynn Perryman
M2003-03012-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Charles Lee

The defendant, Holly Lynn Perryman, was found guilty by a Marshall County jury of facilitation of aggravated robbery, a Class C felony, and was sentenced as a Range I, standard offender to four years and six months, with nine months to be served in the county jail and the remainder on probation, the first year of which was to be in community corrections. She raises two issues on appeal: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain her conviction; and (2) whether her sentence is excessive. Following our review, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the conviction but that her conviction for this offense, which is a crime of violence, makes her ineligible for community corrections. Accordingly, we vacate her sentence and remand for resentencing.

Marshall Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Neil M. Friedman
E2004-01198-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Phyllis H. Miller

The appellant, Neil M. Friedman, pled guilty to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to eleven months and twenty-nine days to be served on probation. While serving his sentence, the appellant pled guilty in the Sullivan County Criminal Court to aggravated assault and violating his probation. For the aggravated assault conviction, the trial court sentenced him to three years and granted his request for full probation. The trial court also revoked his misdemeanor probationary sentence and ordered him to serve his original sentence as ninety days in jail and the remainder on probation. Subsequently, a probation violation warrant was filed, and the trial court revoked probation and ordered the appellant to serve both sentences in confinement. On appeal, the appellant argues that the trial court did not have jurisdiction to revoke his misdemeanor probationary sentence because the sentence expired before the revocation warrant was issued. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgments of the trial court but remand for entry of a corrected judgment as to the aggravated assault.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

James Allen Bowers v. State of Tennessee
E2004-01734-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Thomas W. Graham

The petitioner, James Allen Bowers, appeals the post-conviction court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. In this appeal, the petitioner alleges (1) that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial and on appeal; (2) that the state failed to disclose evidence favorable to his defense in violation of the requirements of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963); and (3) that the post-conviction court erred by refusing to allow expert testimony on the issue of the performance of his trial and appellate counsel. The judgment of the post-conviction court is affirmed.

Bledsoe Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Lyle Van Ulzen and Billy J. Coffelt
M2003-02066-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

The defendants, inmates at Riverbend Penitentiary, successfully temporarily escaped from custody while being transported to a court appearance. At trial, Defendant Van Ulzen was convicted of two counts of aggravated robbery (Class B felony), two counts of aggravated assault (Class C felony), four counts of false imprisonment (misdemeanor), one count of theft (misdemeanor), and pled guilty to one count of felony escape (Class E felony). Defendant Coffelt was convicted of one count of aggravated assault (Class C felony), three counts of theft (misdemeanor), four counts of false imprisonment (misdemeanor), and one count of felony escape (Class E felony). On appeal, Defendant Van Ulzen appeals his convictions and sentence. Defendant Coffelt appeals aspects of his convictions. Upon review of Defendant Van Ulzen's appeal, we reverse and dismiss one count of aggravated assault as violative of double jeopardy. All other convictions and judgments as to both defendants are affirmed. We remand for correction of judgments as to Defendant Coffelt.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Joseph Vermeal
M2004-00046-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Larry B. Stanley, Jr.

The appellant, Joseph Vermeal, was convicted by a jury in the Warren County Circuit Court of aggravated sexual battery and was sentenced to nine years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant alleges that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction, and he contends that the trial court erred in refusing to permit his expert witness to testify. Upon our review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Warren Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Leon James Anderson
M2004-00965-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter

The appellant, Leon James Anderson, was indicted by the Williamson County Grand Jury for driving under the influence ("DUI"), speeding, driving with a revoked license, and fourth offense DUI. The appellant was convicted by a jury on the first three counts, and waived his right to a jury for the fourth offense DUI charge. The trial court found the appellant guilty of fourth offense DUI. The appellant was sentenced by the trial court to two (2) years for the driving under the influence fourth offense, thirty days for speeding, and six months for driving on a revoked license, all to be served concurrently. After the denial of a motion for new trial, this appeal ensued. On appeal, the appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence and contends his sentence is excessive. Because the evidence is sufficient to support the convictions and the sentence is not excessive, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. However, we remand the matter to the trial court for the limited purpose of correcting errors in some of the judgments.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Kendrick Lamont Brooks
W2004-00475-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

The Appellant, Kendrick Lamont Brooks, appeals the revocation of his probation by the Madison County Circuit Court. On appeal, Brooks argues that the trial court was without authority to revoke his probation because the violation warrant was issued after his sentence had expired. Finding this argument without merit, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Darrell Anderson v. State of Tennessee
W2004-01758-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

On May 14, 2004, the petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief to challenge his 2002 Madison County Circuit Court conviction of assault and aggravated assault. See State v. Darrell M. Anderson, No. W2002-01269-CCA-R3-CD (Tenn. Crim. App., Jackson, May 15, 2003). The postconviction
court appointed counsel, and after conducting an evidentiary hearing, it rejected the petitioner’s claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel and of trial error and denied relief. The petitioner appealed in a timely manner, but following our review upon the record, we affirm the order denying post-conviction relief.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Billy James Matthews v. Warden Glenn Turner
W2004-01547-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jon K. Blackwood

The petitioner appeals the trial court’s denial of his petition for habeas corpus relief. Upon our review, we conclude that the petitioner has failed to allege any ground that would render the judgment void. Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the lower court pursuant to Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Rule 20.

Hardeman Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jason Cook
W2004-01629-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree, Jr.

A Weakley County jury convicted the Defendant, Jason Cook, of three counts of forgery and three counts of facilitation of forgery. The Defendant now appeals, contending that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his convictions. Finding no error in the judgments of the trial court, we affirm the Defendant’s convictions.

Weakley Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Charles Tawwater
M2004-02115-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Curtis Smith

The defendant, Charles Tawwater, pled guilty in Franklin County Circuit Court to facilitation of the manufacture of methamphetamine, a Class D felony, and received two years probation in the Community Corrections Program. The defendant appeals upon certified questions of law from the
denial of his motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to a warrantless search of his car. He claims the trial court should have granted his motion because (1) the officers lacked probable cause or reasonable suspicion to believe he had committed a criminal offense when stopping his vehicle; (2) his consent to the search of his car was not voluntary; and (3) statements made by him to officers during his detention were inadmissible because he was not advised of his rights under Miranda v.
Arizona
, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602 (1966). We affirm the trial court.

Franklin Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Robert Wayne Pryor
M2003-03124-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Charles Lee

A Bedford County jury convicted the defendant, Robert Wayne Pryor, of robbery, a Class C felony. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced him as a Range I, standard offender to five years and six months in the Department of Correction consecutive to sentences in another case for which he was on probation. In this appeal, the single issue presented for our review is whether the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Brooks Jonathan Lee
M2004-00598-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lillie Ann Sells

The Defendant was found guilty by jury verdict of second offense driving under the influence of an intoxicant (DUI), simple possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, all Class A misdemeanors. He was sentenced to concurrent sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days with eighty-five days to be served, had his driver's license suspended for two years, and was fined a total of $3,150. The Defendant now appeals his DUI conviction claiming: 1) the trial court erred in admitting testimony from an expert witness; and 2) the evidence was insufficient to support his DUI conviction. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Putnam Court of Criminal Appeals

Larry Mitchell v. State of Tennessee
W2004-00981-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge John P. Colton, Jr.

The Appellant, Larry Mitchell, appeals the judgment of the Shelby County Criminal Court denying his petition for post-conviction relief. On appeal, Mitchell argues that he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of counsel. After a review of the record, we affirm the denial of post-conviction relief.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Daniel Shane Malone
W2004-01125-CCA-R9-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge John Franklin Murchison

The defendant was indicted for statutory rape and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.  Thereafter, the trial court ordered an investigation to determine whether the defendant was suitable for pretrial diversion. Before the defendant filed an application for pretrial diversion, but after a pretrial investigation report was submitted, the prosecutor denied pretrial diversion. The trial court granted the defendant’s writ of certiorari and reversed the prosecutor’s decision. Pursuant to Rule 9 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, the State was granted permission for an interlocutory appeal to this Court. On appeal, this Court reversed the decision of the trial court and remanded the case for further proceedings. State v. Daniel Shane Malone, No. W1999-01678-CCA-R9-CD (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Nov. 8, 2000), perm. app. denied (Tenn. March 4, 2002). The defendant then filed an original application for pretrial diversion.  Again, the prosecutor denied pretrial diversion. The trial court granted a writ of certiorari and, thereafter, determined that the prosecutor did not abuse his discretion. The defendant sought, and was granted, permission to take an interlocutory appeal pursuant to Rule 9 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. We granted the appeal to address the defendant's contention that the prosecutor abused his discretion in denying pretrial diversion. Upon review, we conclude that the prosecutor failed to consider and weigh all relevant factors including substantial evidence favorable to the defendant. Consequently, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand this case to the prosecutor for further consideration of all relevant factors attendant to the defendant’s pretrial diversion application.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Michael Lindsey v. State of Tennessee
W2004-01169-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett

The petitioner, Michael Lindsey, appeals the dismissal of his petition for DNA testing pursuant to the Post-Conviction DNA Analysis Act, Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-30-301, et seq. On appeal, he argues that the post-conviction court erred in dismissing the petition without holding an evidentiary hearing. Following our review, we affirm the dismissal of the petition.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Joseph W. Jones v. State of Tennessee
W2003-01994-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bernie Weinman

The petitioner, Joseph W. Jones, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that his guilty plea was unknowing and involuntary and that he was denied the effective assistance of trial counsel. Following our review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of the petition.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jesse Lee Creasman
E2004-00800-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Douglas A. Meyer

The defendant, Jesse Lee Creasman, entered a plea of guilt to burglary of a business. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the trial court imposed a Range I sentence of two years and ordered probationary supervision for a period of four years. After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court directed restitution as follows: $207.05 for the replacement of the store window, $239.90 for stolen cigarettes, and $6,300 for increased insurance premiums. In this appeal of right, the defendant argues that the amount of restitution is excessive. Restitution is reduced by $6,300 to $436.95. Otherwise, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Frank Peter Pinchak
E2004-01184-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge Rebecca J. Stern

The defendant, Frank Peter Pinchak, entered a nolo contendere plea to vehicular assault, aggravated assault, and violation of the implied consent law. The trial court deferred the imposition of two concurrent two-year sentences for vehicular assault and aggravated assault, placing the defendant on judicial diversion for a term of six years. For violating the implied consent law, the trial court suspended the defendant's license for one year. The trial court then dismissed sua sponte the implied consent law violation, noting that the indictment failed to charge a criminal offense. The State appeals the single issue of whether the trial court erred in dismissing the implied consent violation and argues that diversion is inappropriate if the offense is reinstated. Concluding that an indictment is not a necessary prerequisite to adjudication of a civil implied consent law violation, we reverse the trial court's dismissal of the charge, remand the case for reinstatement of the trial court's original imposition of a one-year suspension of the defendant's driver's license, and conclude that diversion is not appropriate for this civil offense.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

Eric Gilmore v. State of Tennessee
E2004-01917-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ray L. Jenkins

The petitioner, Eric Gilmore, appeals the trial court's order dismissing his petition for writ of habeas corpus. 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. The petition fails to establish a cognizable claim for habeas corpus relief. Accordingly, the state's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

Larry Bohannon v. State of Tennessee
W2004-00961-CCA-MR3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Fred Axley

The Petitioner, Larry Bohannon, appeals from the trial court’s dismissal of his petition seeking post-conviction 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. The petition was filed outside the applicable statute of limitations and is, therefore, time-barred. Accordingly, we affirm the dismissal of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals