COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

State vs. Charles Bryan
W1999-00620-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: W. Otis Higgs, Jr.

State vs. William Johnson
W1999-00929-CCA-R3-CD
Trial Court Judge: Chris B. Craft

State vs. Robert Gamble
W1999-01016-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: James C. Beasley, Jr.

State vs. Clyde Hambrick Jr.
E1998-00893-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Arden L. Hill

State vs. Matthew Douglas Cox
E1999-00351-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner
The appellant, Matthew Douglas Cox, appeals his convictions by a jury in the Knox County Criminal Court of two counts of aggravated rape and one count of incest. The trial court imposed concurrent sentences of twenty years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction for the aggravated rape convictions and three years incarceration for the incest conviction. On appeal, the appellant presents the following issues for our review: (1) whether the evidence adduced at trial supports his convictions of aggravated rape and incest; (2) whether the trial court erroneously admitted into evidence a tape recording of the victim's 911 telephone call; (3) whether the trial court erred in effectively limiting defense counsel's cross-examination of the State's expert witness concerning the results of a DNA analysis of semen samples obtained from the victim; (4) whether the trial court erred in admitting into evidence testimony concerning the circumstances of the appellant's arrest; (5) whether the State committed prosecutorial misconduct during closing argument; and (6) whether the cumulative effect of these errors requires the reversal of the appellant's convictions. Following a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm in part and reverse in part the judgments of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Maurice Pruitt
W2002-01905-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Donald H. Allen

State vs. Delbert Harris
M1999-01239-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Robert E. Burch

State vs. Darren Matthew Lee
M1999-01625-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Trial Court Judge: W. Charles Lee

State vs. William Ricky Wayne Herrell
M1999-02475-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: John H. Gasaway, III

State of Tennessee v. Reginald Garner Brown
M1999-00002-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Trial Court Judge: Cheryl A. Blackburn

State vs. Terry M. Watson
M1999-00264-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Trial Court Judge: Frank G. Clement, Jr.

State vs. Ricco Donnell Summers
M1999-00289-CCA-R3-CD
Trial Court Judge: James K. Clayton, Jr.

State vs. Helen Dixon Devers
M1999-00427-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Stella L. Hargrove

State of Tennessee v. Charles E. Kilpatrick, Jr.
M1999-01121-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Leon C. Burns, Jr.

State vs. Tyaneshia Turner & Johnathan Webster
W1999-00530-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Chris B. Craft

State vs. Dennis Daughtry
W1999-00792-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Arthur T. Bennett

State vs. Christopher Stacy Long
E1999-01205-CCA-R3-CD
Trial Court Judge: James E. Beckner

State vs. Glenda Dotson
E1999-02330-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Lynn W. Brown

Mark E. Oliver vs. State
M1999-02323-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Timothy L. Easter
The petitioner, Mark E. Oliver, appeals as of right from the dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. He contends that his original sentence of sixty years as a Range II offender for the offense of second degree murder is an illegal sentence because the trial court was without jurisdiction to sentence him under the Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1982. We hold that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to sentence the petitioner under the 1982 Act; therefore, the sentence imposed is an illegal sentence. We remand this case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

State vs. Toronda Sherelle Williams
M2000-00212-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Trial Court Judge: Seth W. Norman
Following a grand jury indictment, Toranda Williams, the defendant and appellant, was tried and convicted of first-degree murder in the Davidson County Criminal Court. On appeal, she argues (1) that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony about the results of a polygraph examination; (2) that the court erroneously admitted hearsay testimony; and (3) that the cumulative effect of these errors was substantial enough to require reversal. Because we find the trial court's error in admitting the polygraph test results was harmless, and because the issue regarding hearsay testimony has been waived for failure to include it in the motion for a new trial, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State vs. John Roy Polly
M1999-00278-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: William Charles Lee
In this direct appeal, the defendant argues that he was incorrectly sentenced as a "persistent offender." We agree that the twenty-four hour merger rule bars use of one of his previous convictions and therefore reverse and remand for resentencing as a "multiple offender" within Range II.

Claude Garrett vs. State
M1999-00786-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Seth W. Norman
The defendant, after being convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, was denied post-conviction relief by the Criminal Court of Davidson County. Defendant now appeals that denial and asserts that (1) the State withheld exculpatory evidence in violation of Brady v. Maryland, thereby undermining the confidence of the outcome of the trial; (2) the trial court erred by unconstitutionally instructing the jury; (3) the defendant was not afforded effective assistance of counsel; and (4) juror misconduct and bias violated the defendant's constitutional rights. The issue of juror misconduct was addressed by this court on direct appeal and, therefore, is not properly before this court. After review, we affirm the trial court's finding that the defendant received effective assistance of counsel; however, we reverse and remand the case for a new trial because the prosecution withheld exculpatory evidence in violation of Brady v. Maryland, thereby undermining the confidence in the outcome of the trial.

State vs. Andrew D. Bledsoe
M1999-00788-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
The defendant, after being convicted of reckless homicide, appeals his sentence of three and one-half years incarceration. He argues that the trial court incorrectly imposed an excessive sentence and that the trial court erred by not imposing any form of alternative sentence. We hold that a death, although unfortunate and tragic, standing alone, is insufficient to deny an alternative sentence given our legislative mandate that Range I standard offenders convicted of any Class D felony are presumed to be favorable candidates for alternative sentencing. Therefore, after careful review, we affirm the length of the sentence; however, we modify its manner of service to an alternative sentence of split confinement of one year and the remaining two and one-half years on probation.

State of Tennessee v. Jeffrey English
II-1298-401-A
Trial Court Judge: Timothy L. Easter

State vs. Jack Welch
W1999-00860-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: J. Steven Stafford