COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Ned Jackson
W2000-02589-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris B. Craft

The Defendant, Ned Jackson,1 was convicted by a jury of aggravated robbery, and the trial court sentenced him to ten years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The Defendant now appeals, arguing the following: (1) that insufficient evidence of the Defendant’s identity as the culprit was presented to convict the Defendant of aggravated robbery and (2) that the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offenses of theft and aggravated assault. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Ned Jackson - Dissenting
W2000-02589-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris B. Craft

While I agree with the majority’s conclusion that the evidence adduced at trial is sufficient to support the jury’s verdict of guilt of aggravated robbery, I respectfully disagree with its conclusion that the trial court properly declined to instruct the jury on lesser-included offenses.
Currently, members of this court are divided concerning the correct interpretation of the two-step process set forth by our supreme court in State v. Burns, 6 S.W.3d 453, 469 (Tenn. 1999), for determining if the evidence adduced at trial justifies jury instructions on lesser-included offenses. See, e.g., State v. Linnell Richmond, No. E2000-01545-CCA-R3-CD, 2001 WL 1222247 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knoxville, October 15, 2001). I am largely in agreement with the position expressed by Judge Smith in his opinion in Richmond, No. E2000-01545-CCA-R3-CD, 2001 WL 1222247, at *21 (concurring in part and dissenting in part)(footnote omitted), that [a] reading of the recent cases of [State v. Bowles, 52 S.W.3d 69, 80 (Tenn. 2001), and State v. Ely, 48 S.W.3d 710, 724-725 (Tenn. 2001),] leads one to the inescapable conclusion that our high court has mandated that lesser-included offense instructions be given anytime the evidence is sufficient to support a conviction for these offenses. This means that anytime the proof is sufficient for a conviction of the indicted offense, the proof will a fortiori be sufficient for a conviction of the lesser-included offenses. . . . As a practical matter, this in turn means that it will almost always be error to fail to instruct the jury as to all lesser-included offenses of the indicted offense. Thus, the only real inquiry, in my opinion, in virtually all of the cases raising the lesser-included offense issue is whether the error in failing to instruct on the lesser offenses can be said to be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Rayfield Brice
W2000-02601-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett

A jury convicted the defendant of aggravated robbery, and the trial judge sentenced him to 12 years incarceration as a Range I standard offender. In this appeal, the defendant contends: (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction; (2) his custodial statement should have been suppressed; (3) a juror failed to respond to a voir dire question concerning prior involvement in the legal system, thereby depriving the defendant of a fair and impartial jury; (4) the trial court erroneously disallowed admission of a crime scene report; and (5) his sentence was excessive. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Roger R. Carter
W2001-00135-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bernie Weinman

The defendant was convicted of the premeditated first degree murder of his wife and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. In this appeal the defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. James Whitelow and Robert Robertson
W2001-00713-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

Defendants James Whitelow and Robert Robertson appeal their convictions for possession of cocaine in an amount over 26 grams with intent to deliver. Both argue the evidence was not sufficient to support their convictions. Whitelow also argues the forensic report was erroneously admitted into evidence, and the jury's verdict was the result of passion and prejudice caused by the prosecutor's statements regarding Whitelow's alias nickname. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Lauderdale Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Joseph J. Levitt, Jr.
E2000-03051-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge E. Shayne Sexton

The defendant drove up behind a vehicle which had halted because of a driver's license roadblock near Knoxville. He then proceeded onto the right shoulder to get around that vehicle and was stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol officer conducting the roadblock. What next occurred was highly disputed, but the events culminated with the defendant's being sprayed with Freeze, some of which was deflected back onto the officer, partially incapacitating him also. The defendant was charged with resisting arrest, reckless driving, and failure to carry and display a driver's license on demand. The reckless driving charge was nolle prosequi and, following a jury trial, the defendant was found not guilty of resisting arrest but was convicted of the driver's license charge, sentenced to ten days confinement, which was suspended, and ordered to pay a $50 fine and court costs. He timely appealed the conviction, arguing that the roadblock was unconstitutional. Based upon our review, we conclude that the roadblock was unconstitutional and that the officers lacked probable cause to stop the defendant's vehicle. Accordingly, we reverse the conviction and dismiss the charge.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

Kenneth McArthur Johnson v. State of Tennessee
E2001-00068-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge James E. Beckner
Aggrieved of his second degree murder conviction, the petitioner seeks post-conviction relief, which was denied by the lower court after an evidentiary hearing. On appeal, the petitioner presents several issues of the ineffective assistance of counsel. We affirm the denial of post-conviction relief.

Hawkins Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Anderson Toliver
E2001-00584-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stephen M. Bevil

The defendant was convicted in two indictments of aggravated child abuse and sentenced to concurrent nine-year sentences. He timely appealed, arguing that the evidence was insufficient, that the trial court erred in consolidating the indictments, in permitting evidence as to other similar offenses, and in not properly instructing the jury as to various matters, including lesser-included offenses. We conclude that any errors in this regard were harmless. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Anderson Toliver - Concurring
E2001-00584-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stephen M. Bevil

I concur in the result reached and most of the reasoning used in the majority opinion.  However, I would hold that the defendant was entitled to an instruction on attempted aggravated child abuse under the evidence presented. As the majority opinion holds though, under State v. Williams, 977 S.W.2d 101, 106 (Tenn. 1988), the failure to give the instruction was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Bernard Keys
W2000-03138-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph B. Dailey

The Shelby County Grand Jury returned two indictments against the defendant, one for aggravated burglary and one for misdemeanor evading arrest. The trial court consolidated the indictments prior to trial pursuant to Tenn. R. Crim. P. 8(b). The defendant was found guilty of both charges by a Shelby County jury. In this appeal, the defendant contends (1) the evidence is insufficient to sustain his convictions; and (2) the trial court improperly consolidated the indictments. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Darrin Fleming
W2001-00028-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge James C. Beasley, Jr.

The defendant, Darrin Fleming, was convicted of aggravated burglary, assault, and criminal responsibility for facilitation of robbery. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of six years. In this appeal of right, the defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for aggravated burglary and assault and that the trial court erred by refusing to give a special instruction on criminal responsibility. The judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Mario A. Johnson
W2001-00372-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge John P. Colton, Jr.

The defendant, Mario A. Johnson, was convicted of facilitation to commit first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery. The trial court imposed a Range I sentence of 20 years for facilitation of first degree murder and a concurrent sentence of 23 years for especially aggravated robbery. In this appeal of right, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence. The judgments are affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Eric Wright v. State of Tennessee
W2001-00386-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph B. Dailey

The Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief on December 11, 2000, in which he attacked convictions entered in September 1990 and upon which final appellate action was taken in 1992. The post-conviction court dismissed the petition without a hearing, because it was filed outside the
statute of limitations. Concluding that the post-conviction court erred by dismissing the petition without an evidentiary hearing, we reverse and remand to the post-conviction court for such a hearing.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Eric Wright v. State of Tennessee - Dissenting
W2001-00386-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph B. Dailey

I respectfully dissent. Based upon the record before us, I believe that the trial court was justified in dismissing the petition without an evidentiary hearing. I do not believe that our supreme court intended in Williams v. State, 44 S.W.3d 464, 471 (Tenn. 2001), to provide a hearing for people in the petitioner’s situation. In Williams, the record indicated that Williams’ attorney’s actions may have led Williams to believe that supreme court review was timely sought, thereby potentially misleading him about when the statute of limitations would run.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Carlos Haywood v. State of Tennessee
W2001-00451-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge Chris B. Craft

The Appellant, Carlos Haywood, appeals from the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. Haywood was convicted by a Shelby County Criminal Court Jury of felony murder and attempted especially aggravated robbery, and was sentenced to life imprisonment plus ten years. On appeal, Haywood argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. After review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court dismissing the petition.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Joe Scott
W2001-00589-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph B. Dailey

The defendant, Joe Scott, was convicted of aggravated robbery. The trial court imposed a Range II sentence of 19 years. In this appeal of right, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence. The judgment is affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Clifton Shelton
W2000-00610-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett

The defendant, Clifton Shelton, pled guilty to simple possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced the defendant to 11 months and 29 days, requiring him to spend four months in a halfway house and the balance of his sentence on probation. The defendant argues that the trial court erred by failing to suspend his entire sentence. Because the trial court relied on the defendant's prior grant of judicial diversion in denying full probation, the judgment is modified and the cause is remanded to the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Charles David Vanderford
W2000-02639-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge C. Creed McGinley

The appellant, Charles David Vanderford, appeals the order of the Circuit Court of Hardin County revoking the community corrections sentences that he received following his convictions by a jury of two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. The appellant challenges the trial court's reliance upon his commission of crimes during the pendency of his appeal from his convictions of felony drug possession and prior to the commencement of his community corrections sentences. Following a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Hardin Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Waldo Wiggins, Jr.
W2000-02766-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

Following transfer to circuit court for trial as an adult, the juvenile defendant, Waldo Wiggins, Jr., was convicted of first degree murder. On appeal, Defendant challenges (1) whether the denial of bail by the juvenile court and subsequent bond of $ 250,000 set by the circuit court violated his right to due process of law, and (2) whether the evidence was sufficient to support his conviction. After a review of the record, we affirm.

Tipton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Dale Godwin
W2001-00212-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree

In 1995, the Defendant pled guilty to four felony drug charges for which he received three concurrent eight-year sentences and one concurrent five-year sentence, to be served on Community Corrections. Subsequently, the trial court revoked the Defendant's Community Corrections sentences and ordered him to serve twelve years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The Defendant now appeals, alleging that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to re-sentence the Defendant and that the twelve year sentence was improperly imposed. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Obion Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Troy D. Ryan
II-599-151-B
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter

The defendant appeals from a conviction of theft of property over one thousand dollars. The sole issue presented for review is the sufficiency of the evidence to establish the value element of the offense. We conclude that the testimony by the owner of the stolen property was sufficient for the jury to find that the fair market value of the property was over one thousand dollars. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Kenneth L. Boggs
M2000-02724-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Seth W. Norman

The defendant, Kenneth L. Boggs, appeals his Davidson County Criminal Court conviction of unlawful possession of a handgun, a Class E felony. He complains on appeal that the trial court erred in not addressing the prosecutor's exploitation of the defendant's exercise of his right to remain silent following his arrest. Finding no error requiring reversal, we affirm the conviction.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jerry Damon Williams
M2000-02592-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge James K. Clayton, Jr.

On September 25, 2000, the Defendant, Jerry Damon Williams, entered a plea of guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-10-401. Pursuant to Rule 37 (b)(1)(i) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Defendant sought to reserve a certified question of law to be reviewed by this Court. In this appeal, the Defendant contends that (1) he properly reserved the certified question of the validity of the police's initial investigatory stop and (2) the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence discovered as a result of the investigatory stop. We vacate the Defendant's conviction and dismiss the case.

Rutherford Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Charles William Jones
M2001-00353-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

The Defendant, Charles William Jones, was convicted of second degree murder in the Criminal Court of Davidson County. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant to twenty-two years in the Department of Correction. In this appeal, the Defendant contends that (1) the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and (2) the trial court improperly applied two enhancement factors in sentencing the Defendant. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Perry Saleem Lee v. State of Tennessee
M2001-01141-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge R.E. Lee Davies

The petitioner, Perry Saleem Lee, appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief by the Williamson County Circuit Court, which held that the petitioner's claims for relief had been either previously determined or waived. The petitioner complains about his appointed counsel and the state's purported shortcomings in the post-conviction process. He also complains about the trial court not allowing an amendment to the petition, not allowing an evidentiary hearing, and not setting forth findings of fact and conclusions of law as to each ground he raised. We affirm the trial court.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals