COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Harold L. Green
E2000-00616-CCA-R10-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr.

Anderson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Jeffrey Dwight Whaley
E2000-00646-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner
The trial court dismissed defendant's DUI presentment, finding a denial of the right to a preliminary hearing. Upon the state's appeal, we find no evidence of bad faith by the state. Accordingly, we reverse and remand to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Ernest B. Eady
E2000-00722-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner
The defendant appeals from his conviction for second degree murder, contesting the sufficiency of the evidence, the timeliness of the state's disclosure of a potentially exculpatory witness, and the trial court's failure to declare a mistrial. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

Stephen L.Carey vs. State
E2000-00847-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner
This is a post-conviction appeal. The petitioner is currently serving life as an habitual criminal plus a consecutive 105 years for other offenses, all imposed in 1987. The petitioner timely filed three petitions for post-conviction relief challenging his guilty pleas for offenses occurring in 1969, 1981, and 1983, all of which were subsequently used to establish his habitual criminal status. The petitioner attempted to amend his petitions for post-conviction relief by challenging two of his 1987 convictions, but it was denied as untimely. All petitions were dismissed by the trial court after a hearing. In this appeal as a matter of right, the petitioner contends (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel and inadequate advice of his constitutional rights from the trial court, thereby rendering his guilty pleas involuntary and unknowing; and (2) the post-conviction court erroneously dismissed his amendment to the petition for post-conviction relief. After a thorough review of the record, we conclude that the post-conviction court correctly denied post-conviction relief.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Vance Shelton
E2000-01632-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: James E. Beckner
Defendant was convicted of rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery. The defendant was sentenced to twenty-five years for rape of a child and twelve years for aggravated sexual battery, to run consecutively to each other and consecutively to a prior four-year sentence. In this appeal, the defendant makes the following allegations: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; (2) the trial court erred in failing to grant a mistrial due to a variance between the indictment and the state's proof at trial; (3) the trial court erred in ruling his prior convictions for arson would be admissible if he testified; and (4) his sentences are excessive. Upon our review of the record, we remand for modification of the judgment for aggravated sexual battery to reflect the proper date of the offense, but affirm the judgments in all other respects.

Greene Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Sonya Gosnell & Bronzo Gosnell, Jr .
E1999-00603-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: James E. Beckner
A jury convicted both defendants of second degree murder. Bronzo Gosnell and Sonya Gosnell were sentenced to 25 years and 20 years, respectively. In this appeal as a matter of right, both defendants challenge the introduction of recorded conversations made while detained in a police cruiser. Sonya Gosnell further challenges the introduction of certain pretrial statements, the administration of a polygraph examination, the denial of her motion for severance, and the denial of expert assistance. Bronzo Gosnell further challenges the trial court's limitation of his cross-examination of a witness and his maximum sentence of 25 years. Our review of the issues presented by the defendants reflects no reversible error. Accordingly, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Greene Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Leon Hurd
E1999-01341-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr.

Anderson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Leon Hurd
E1999-01341-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr.

Anderson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Tracie Kirkland
E1999-01344-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Carroll L. Ross
Defendant was convicted by a Monroe County jury of first degree premeditated murder and given a life sentence. In this appeal, defendant makes the following allegations of error: (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain her conviction; (2) the trial court erred in denying a continuance; (3) the trial court improperly charged the jury on criminal responsibility for the conduct of another; and (4) the trial court erred in refusing to grant a new trial based upon newly discovered evidence. Upon our review of the record, we conclude the evidence was not sufficient to support a conviction for first degree premeditated murder, and defendant's sentence should be reduced to second degree murder. The other allegations of error are without merit. Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is modified to reflect a conviction for second degree murder, and the case is remanded to the trial court for a new sentencing hearing.

Monroe Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Homer L. Evans
E2000-00069-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: E. Shayne Sexton
The defendant appeals from the trial court's denial of alternative sentencing. We affirm the trial court.

Campbell Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Sean Imfeld
E2000-00094-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Mary Beth Leibowitz

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Sean Imfeld
E2000-00094-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Mary Beth Leibowitz

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Deandrade Phillips
E2000-00153-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Phyllis H. Miller
The defendant appeals from his conviction for selling less than one-half gram of cocaine, contesting the sufficiency of the evidence, the trial court's restrictions of his examinations of witnesses, the trial court's failure to require the state to elect the offense for which it sought a conviction, and the jury instructions. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Thomas E. Davenport and John Simmons
M2000-00317-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Trial Court Judge: Timothy L. Easter
Both defendants were convicted by a Williamson County jury of selling more than 0.5 grams of cocaine, a Class B felony. Both defendants were sentenced as Range II, multiple offenders. Defendant Simmons received a sixteen-year sentence, and defendant Davenport received a fifteen-year sentence. In this direct appeal, both defendants challenge (1) the sufficiency of the evidence, and (2) the length and manner of service of their sentences. Simmons further raises the following issues: (1) whether he was denied a speedy trial; (2) whether the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss due to the absence of proper signatures on the indictment; and (3) whether the trial court erred in failing to require the state to elect an offense upon which to proceed. Additionally, Davenport makes the following allegations: (1) the trial court erred in allowing portions of the audio taped drug transaction to be presented to the jury; (2) the trial court erred in ruling his prior convictions were admissible under Tenn. R. Evid. 609; and (3) the trial court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial when the informant referred to Davenport's offering her a crack pipe. Based upon a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court as it relates to defendant Simmons; however, we reverse defendant Davenport's conviction for the sale of cocaine and reduce it to simple possession of cocaine. We remand to the trial court to re-sentence defendant Davenport.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Clyde Smith
M2002-2138-CCA-R3-CD
Trial Court Judge: John H. Gasaway, III

Robertson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Timothy Tyrone Sanders
M2000-00603-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: William Charles Lee
The Appellant, Timothy Tyrone Sanders, was convicted by a Bedford County jury of possession of more than .5 grams of cocaine with intent to sell. The Appellant was sentenced to seventeen years six months as a range II offender. On appeal, he raises the following issues: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the verdict; (2) whether the trial court erred by not instructing the jury on the lesser-included offense of simple possession; and (3) whether the trial court improperly sentenced the Appellant. After review, we conclude that the trial court erred in not instructing the jury on simple possession. Accordingly, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Gregory Lynn Redden
M2000-00988-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Robert W. Wedemeyer
The Appellant, Gregory Lynn Redden, was convicted by a Robertson County jury of burglary, theft of property over $1,000, and criminal impersonation. He received concurrent sentences of twelve years for burglary, twelve years for theft of property, and six months for criminal impersonation. On appeal, the Appellant raises the following three issues for our review: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the verdict; (2) whether the trial court erred in not excusing two jurors for cause during voir dire; and (3) whether the trial court erred by allowing the statement of the Appellant's confession into evidence. After review, we find no error and affirm the judgment.

Robertson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennesse v. Michael Herndon
M2000-01080-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: John H. Gasaway, III

Montgomery Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Mark A. Scarborough
M2000-01359-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Timothy L. Easter

Hickman Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Harold Bayuk
M2000-01654-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Timothy L. Easter
The Appellant, Harold M. Bayuk, was convicted by a Hickman County Circuit Court jury of one count of driving under the influence of an intoxicant and one count of driving on a revoked license. Following his conviction for DUI, the Appellant waived his right to jury sentencing and agreed to submit the issue of enhanced punishment to the trial court. The trial court found the Appellant guilty of DUI, third offense, and sentenced him to eleven months twenty-nine days, with 150 days to be served in confinement. On appeal, the Appellant argues that the trial court erred in sentencing him to serve 150 days instead of the statutory minimum of 120 days. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court in part, vacate in part, and remand this case to the trial court for entry of an amended judgment of conviction.

Hickman Court of Criminal Appeals

Archie Lee Roberts vs. State
M1999-02462-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Leon C. Burns, Jr.
The petitioner, Archie Lee Roberts, was found guilty by a jury in the DeKalb County Criminal Court of one count of first degree murder, for which he received a life sentence, and one count of attempted first degree murder, for which he received a sentence of twenty years incarceration. On direct appeal, we affirmed the petitioner's convictions. Subsequently, the petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief alleging ineffective assistance of counsel, which petition was denied by the post-conviction court. On appeal, the petitioner raises the following issue for our review: whether the post-conviction court erred in denying his claim for relief. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

DeKalb Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Curtis Emery Duke
M2000-00350-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: William Charles Lee
The appellant, Curtis Emery Duke, was convicted in the Marshall County Circuit Court of two counts of the sale of crack cocaine, one count of possession of crack cocaine with the intent to sell, two counts of criminal impersonation, and one count of failure to appear. The trial court sentenced the appellant to a total effective sentence of thirty-nine years. On appeal, the appellant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to sustain the appellant's convictions; (2) whether the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of simple possession; and (3) whether the trial court erred in sentencing the appellant. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgments of the trial court as modified.

Marshall Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Stephen T. Mays a/k/a Stephen T. Mayes
M2000-00602-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Cheryl A. Blackburn
The Appellant, Stephen T. Mays, pled guilty to two counts of theft of property over $10,000 and received two concurrent five-year sentences. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed split confinement sentences and ordered the Appellant to serve a ninety-day period of confinement. The court also ordered restitution with scheduled payments over a ten-year period. On appeal, the Appellant argues (1) that the trial court erred in failing to grant the Appellant's request for total probation; and (2) that the trial court improperly established restitution. After review, the judgment of the Davidson County Criminal Court is affirmed.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Larry Wilkins
M2000-01225-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Donald P. Harris
The appellant, Larry Wilkins, pled guilty in the Williamson County Circuit Court to two counts of the class D felony of causing a computer system to be accessed for the purpose of obtaining $1,000 or more for himself or another by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises. For these offenses, the trial court imposed concurrent sentences of three years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction, suspending all but one year of the appellant's sentences and placing him on supervised probation for four years. Additionally, the trial court imposed fines amounting to $1,500 and ordered restitution amounting to $4,500. The appellant now appeals the trial court's sentencing determinations. Specifically, notwithstanding the trial court's imposition of alternative sentences of split confinement, the appellant contends that the trial court should have granted him either total probation or placement in a community corrections program. Following a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm in part and reverse in part the judgments of the trial court, and we remand this case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Anterrian Jutiki Gunn
M1999-02140-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Trial Court Judge: John H. Gasaway, III
The State of Tennessee appeals from the trial court grant of the defendant's, Anterrian Juitiki Gunn, motion to suppress. We reverse the trial judge's decision and remand pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 12 (e) for a determination of the essential facts necessary to determine the propriety of the trial court's granting of the defendant's motion to suppress.

Robertson Court of Criminal Appeals