COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

Joseph B. Thompson vs. State
E2005-00005-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: R. Jerry Beck
The petitioner, Joseph B. Thompson, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the Sullivan County Criminal Court. The trial court summarily dismissed the petition for failure to meet procedural requirements, which dismissal the petitioner appeals. The State 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. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we conclude that the petition was properly dismissed. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

Donnell Booker vs. State
E2005-00231-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Robert E. Cupp
The petitioner, Donnell Booker, appeals from 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 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The petitioner has failed to establish that he is entitled to habeas corpus relief. Accordingly, the state's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Johnson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Christopher Lindsay
E1998-00036-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr.

Anderson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Kenneth Griffin
E1998-00037-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Arden L. Hill

Washington Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Wade Henry Allen Marsh
E1998-00057-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Stephen M. Bevil

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Eunyce Saunders
E1998-00230-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Phyllis H. Miller

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Eunyce Saunders
E1998-00230-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Phyllis H. Miller

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Joe N. Anderson
E1998-00378-CCA-R3-CD

Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Larry Keith Huddle
E1999-00250-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Phyllis H. Miller

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Charles Edward Overby
E1999-00253-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Carroll L. Ross

Bradley Court of Criminal Appeals

Jerry L. Johns vs. State
E1999-00260-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: E. Eugene Eblen

Morgan Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. James David Lamor Perry
E1999-00271-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Phyllis H. Miller
Defendant James David Lamor Perry was convicted of two counts of possession of cocaine, more than .5 grams, within 1000 feet of a school, and one count of possession of marijuana. Defendant was fined and sentenced to 20 years on each cocaine possession count and to 6 months on the marijuana count, all sentences to run concurrently. On this direct appeal Defendant now raises numerous challenges to his convictions, including issues regarding the constitutionality and interpretation of the Drug-Free School Zone Act. Defendant also argues that his sentence for the cocaine possession counts is excessive. We find no error and affirm Defendant's convictions and sentences.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Brian Waters
E1999-00551-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: James E. Beckner

Hawkins Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Gary Haney
E1999-00552-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Ben W. Hooper, II

Jefferson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Gary Haney
E1999-00552-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Ben W. Hooper, II

Jefferson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Luther Ray Dotson, Jr.
E1999-00640-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: J. Curtis Smith

Rhea Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Luther Ray Dotson, Jr.
E1999-00640-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: J. Curtis Smith

Rhea Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Vernon Haas
E1999-00690-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: R. Jerry Beck

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

E1999-00915-CCA-R3-PC
E1999-00915-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: R. Steven Bebb

Bradley Court of Criminal Appeals

State s. Amanda Lee Sutton
E1999-00920-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Stephen M. Bevil
The defendant, a former day care worker, pled guilty to Class D felony child abuse for breaking the jaw of a two-year-old child in her care. She was given a three-year sentence, to be served in split confinement, with six months in the county workhouse and four years of supervised probation. On appeal, the defendant raises the issues of whether the trial court erred in considering the age, vulnerability, and risk to the victim's life as a sentencing enhancement factor when the offense was already classified according to the age of the victim, and whether the trial court erred in failing to utilize alternative sentencing. Based upon our review, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

Johnny Rutherford vs. State
E1999-00932-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr.

Anderson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Richard Eugene Trivette
E1999-00944-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Phyllis H. Miller
The Defendant was convicted of two counts of sexual battery. His plea agreement provided for concurrent sentences of two years for his convictions, with the manner of service of the sentences to be determined by the trial judge. The trial judge ordered that the Defendant serve 280 days of his sentences in the county jail, with the balance to be served on intensive probation. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial judge erred by ordering him to serve 280 days in jail. We modify the sentences imposed by the trial court.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Gordon Scott Katz
E1999-01220-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr.
The appellant, Gordon Scott Katz, was found guilty by a jury in the Criminal Court of Anderson County of one count of auto burglary, a class E felony, and one count of theft under $500, a class A misdemeanor. Subsequently, the trial judge granted the appellant's motion for judgment of acquittal. The State appealed. This court reversed the trial court's judgment of acquittal and remanded for further proceedings. The appellant then moved for a new trial. The trial court denied the appellant's motion for new trial, stating that the opinion of this court mandated a reinstatement of the jury's verdict. The appellant appeals and presents the following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred in ruling that the previous order of the Court of Criminal Appeals required denial of the motion for new trial; (2) whether the indictment in this case is fatally defective such as to require dismissal of this charge; (3) whether the evidence of intent to commit a felony is insufficient to support the conviction; and, (4) whether the evidence of intent to deprive the owner is insufficient to support the conviction. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for a new trial.

Anderson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Michelle Ferguson
E1999-01302-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Carroll L. Ross
Defendant Michelle Ferguson was convicted by a jury of two counts of aggravated child abuse and one count of first degree murder in perpetration of aggravated child abuse. The trial court subsequently imposed concurrent sentences of eighteen years, eighteen years, and life. Defendant challenges her convictions, raising the following issues: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support her convictions; (2) whether the trial court erred when it failed to sever the trials for the charges in this case; and (3) whether the trial court erred when it failed to grant a motion for a mistrial. The judgment of the trial court is reversed, and the case is remanded for a new trial.

McMinn Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. James Chapman
E1999-01315-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Douglas A. Meyer

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals