COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

Miko Burl v. James Fortner, Warden
W2009-02282-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Otis Higgs, Jr.

The pro se petitioner, Miko Burl, appeals the summary dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus relief. On February 7, 2000, the petitioner was convicted of especially aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and aggravated burglary, for which he was sentenced to thirty-three years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he argues that his conviction for especially aggravated robbery is void because this court vacated his conviction for aggravated assault on direct appeal. After careful review, we conclude that the summary dismissal of the petition was proper, and we affirm the judgment from the habeas corpus court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Jeremy Crosby v. State of Tennessee
M2009-00934-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

The petitioner, Jeremy Crosby, appeals as of right the Davidson County Criminal Court's order denying his petition for post-conviction relief attacking his jury convictions of possession with the intent to sell .5 grams or more of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. On appeal, he contends that appellate counsel committed ineffective assistance by failing to raise or effectively argue certain issues on direct appeal. Following our review, we affirm the order of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Eric Davis v. State of Tennessee
M2009-01560-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: D. Kelly Thomas, Jr., J.
Trial Court Judge: Seth Norman, Judge
The Petitioner, Eric Davis, appeals as of right from the Davidson County Criminal Court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The Petitioner pled guilty to possession with intent to sell 300 grams or more of cocaine, a Class A felony, and received a sentence of 15 years to be served consecutively to prior sentences. The Petitioner challenges the performance of trial counsel and the voluntariness of his guilty plea. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Steve Billman, Jr.
M2009-02169-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jim T. Hamilton

The Defendant, Steve Billman, Jr., was convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), second offense, a Class A misdemeanor, and violation of the implied consent law, a Class C misdemeanor. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant for DUI, second offense, to 11 months and 29 days suspended to probation following the service of 60 days in the county jail. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant contends that (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction for DUI and that (2) the trial court erred in denying the Defendant's motion for a mistrial. Following our review, we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in declining to grant a mistrial. Therefore, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand the case for a new trial.

Wayne Court of Criminal Appeals

Spencer Peterson v. State of Tennessee
W2009-02433-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr.

The petitioner, Spencer Peterson, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that he received the effective assistance of counsel. After review, we affirm the denial of the petition.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Robert Lee Miller
E2008-01945-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Cupp

The appellant, Robert Lee Miller, was found guilty of the first degree murder of the victim, Krystal Dubuque, during the perpetration of an aggravated rape, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant argues (1.) that the trial court erred in admitting a videotaped interview of the appellant dressed in his prison uniform; (2.) that the trial court should have excluded the testimony of Rodney Perkins identifying the appellant as the person he saw near the victim's car; (3.) that the trial court erred in not granting a mistrial when the State disclosed that recent blood testing had revealed that blood in the victim's underwear was not that of the appellant; (4.) that the trial court erred in not granting the appellant's motion for a judgment of acquittal pursuant to Rule 29 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure; (5.) that the trial court erred in permitting the introduction of prior act evidence regarding the appellant's dealings with other women and specifically regarding statements about his desire to be sexually involved with the victim; (6.) that the trial court erred in not suppressing all statements made by the appellant as they were obtained in violation of his right to counsel as secured by the Tennessee State Constitution Article I, Section 9 and Amendments Five and Six of the U.S. Constitution; and (7.) that the appellant's right to a speedy trial was violated. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. However, we must remand to the trial court for entry of a corrected judgment of conviction to reflect the appellant's guilt of count one, felony murder, instead of count two, premeditated first degree murder.

Carter Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Derrick Lemon Goode
M2009-02259-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert Crigler

A Bedford County Circuit Court jury convicted the defendant, Derrick Lemon Goode, of one count of the sale of .5 grams or more of cocaine, see T.C.A. _ 39-17-417(a)(3) (2006), and one count of the delivery of .5 grams or more of cocaine, see id. _ 39-17-417(a)(2). The trial court merged the convictions and imposed a sentence of 12 years' incarceration. In this appeal, the defendant contends that the trial court erred by failing to excuse a juror for cause, that the trial court erred by denying his pretrial request for material pursuant to Rule 26.2 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, that the State withheld exculpatory evidence in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), that the trial court erred by failing to give a limiting instruction regarding the jury's use of the defendant's prior convictions, and that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

Rodney Jeffries v. State of Tennessee
W2009-02188-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge J.C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge James C. Beasley, Jr.

The petitioner, Rodney Jeffries, appeals the habeas corpus court's order summarily dismissing his "Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus or in the Alternative, Petition to Re-open Petition for Post-Conviction Relief." Following our review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the habeas court's denial of relief.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Andre Jabbar Johnson
W2009-02366-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J.C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald H. Allen

A trial jury found the defendant, Andre Jabbar Johnson, guilty of resisting arrest, a Class B misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced the defendant to six months in the county jail, with a release eligibility of 75%. On appeal, the defendant contends that his sentence is excessive because the trial court failed to properly weigh the mitigation factors against the enhancement factors. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Cecret C. Williams
M2009-01739-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Monte Watkins

The Defendant, Cecret C. Williams, was charged with one count of aggravated child abuse and one count of aggravated child neglect. Following a jury trial, she was convicted of both offenses; however, the trial court merged the two counts. In this direct appeal, the Defendant contends that: (1) the evidence was not sufficient to convict her on either count; (2) the trial court erred in failing to fulfill its duties as the thirteenth juror; and (3) the trial court erred in entering separate judgments and sentences for each of her convictions. After reviewing the record, we conclude that the trial court misconstrued its authority to grant a new trial under the thirteenth juror rule, Rule 33(d) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure. We accordingly reverse and remand for a new trial.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jimmy Daniel Prater
M2009-00527-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jim T. Hamilton

A Wayne County jury acquitted the Defendant, Jimmy Daniel Prater, of driving under the influence and mitigated criminal littering, but it found that the Defendant violated the implied consent law and violated the open container law. On appeal, the Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction for violation of the implied consent law. After a review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Wayne Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Siron S. Shields
W2010-00041-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J.C. Mclin
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roger Page

The defendant, Siron S. Shields, appeals the revocation of his community corrections sentence, claiming that the trial court erred by revoking his community corrections sentence and ordering him to serve his original sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Kenneth Meyer
E2009-02294-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Thomas W. Graham

The Defendant, Kenneth Meyer, was found guilty by a Bledsoe County Circuit Court jury of voluntary manslaughter, a Class C felony. See T.C.A. _ 39-13-211 (2010). He was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender to ten years' confinement. On appeal, he contends that (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction, (2) the trial court erred by admitting only part of a 9-1-1 tape into evidence, (3) the trial court erred by admitting hearsay into evidence, (4) the state improperly withheld exculpatory evidence, (5) the trial court erred by refusing to issue a self-defense instruction requested by the defendant, (6) the trial court erred by considering prior criminal convictions that were not proven by certified copies of conviction and were not disclosed to the defendant before the sentencing hearing, and (7) the trial court imposed an excessive sentence. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Bledsoe Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Montorius G. Herron
W2009-02493-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J.C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

The defendant, Montorius G. Herron, stands convicted of identity theft, a Class D felony, and theft of property under $500, a Class A misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced him to eleven months, twenty-nine days in the county jail with a release eligibility of 75% for the misdemeanor conviction concurrent with twelve years as a career offender in the Tennessee Department of Correction with a release eligibility of 60% for the felony conviction. On appeal, the defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for identity theft and the trial court committed plain error by not charging fraudulent use of a credit card as a lesser-included offense of identity theft. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Krystal Johnson
W2010-00686-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J.C. McLin
Trial Court Judge: Judge Paula Skahan

The defendant, Krystal Johnson, pled guilty to criminal attempt to commit aggravated child neglect, a Class B felony. She received an eight-year sentence as a Range I, standard offender in the Tennessee Department of Correction. She petitioned the trial court for probation, which the court denied after a hearing. The defendant now appeals the denial of probation or alternative sentencing. Specifically, the defendant argues that the trial court (1) did not consider all of the factors enunciated in Stiller v. State, 516 S.W.2d 617 (Tenn. 1974) when denying probation; (2) improperly considered that the defendant pled guilty to a Class B felony when the grand jury indicted her for a Class A felony; and (3) did not consider a sentence involving community corrections. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Johnny M. Burroughs v. State of Tennessee
M2009-01466-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Burch

A Dickson County jury convicted the Petitioner, Johnny M. Burroughs, of felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, and theft of property over $1000, and it imposed a life sentence for his murder conviction. The trial court sentenced him to twenty years for his robbery conviction and to two years for his theft conviction, to be served concurrently with his life sentence. On direct appeal, this Court affirmed the Petitioner's convictions and sentence. The Petitioner then filed a petition for post-conviction relief, claiming he received the ineffective assistance of counsel, which the post-conviction court dismissed after a hearing. On appeal, the Petitioner contends the post-conviction court erred when it dismissed his petition. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the postconviction court's judgment.

Dickson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. George John Byrd
E2009-02091-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bob R. McGee

The Defendant-Appellant, George John Byrd, was convicted by a Knox County jury of three counts of aggravated rape, a Class A felony, and one count of aggravated assault, a Class C felony. He was sentenced to twenty-five years for each aggravated rape and to twelve years for aggravated assault. The trial court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently, for an effective sentence of twenty-five years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The sole issues presented for our review are whether the trial court erred by (1) allowing testimony of certain thefts by Byrd; and (2) allowing a nurse to testify about statements made by the victim during her medical examination. Upon review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jeffrey Booth
W2009-00452-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Otis Higgs, Jr.

The Defendant-Appellant, Jeffrey Booth, was convicted by a Shelby County Criminal Court jury of two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, a Class A felonies; one count of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony; and one count of aggravated assault, a Class C felony. Booth received concurrent sentences of twenty years for each of the two especially aggravated kidnapping convictions, eight years for the aggravated robbery conviction, and three years for the aggravated assault conviction, for an effective sentence of twenty years in confinement. On appeal, Booth argues that (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; (2) the prosecutor made improper comments during closing argument; (3) his separate convictions for especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and aggravated assault violate due process pursuant to State v. Anthony, 817 S.W.2d 299 (Tenn. 1991) and State v. Dixon, 957 S.W.2d 532 (Tenn. 1997); (4) the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on voluntary intoxication; (5) the trial court erred in failing to merge the two convictions for especially aggravated kidnapping. Upon review, we merge the dual especially aggravated kidnapping convictions into a single conviction and remand the case to the trial court for entry of corrected judgments to reflect the merger of these convictions. We affirm the judgments of the trial court in all other respects.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jose A. Iniguez
W2009-01067-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald H. Allen

Defendant, Jose A. Iniguez, was convicted by a Madison County jury of stalking, a Class A misdemeanor, and driving while unlicensed, a Class C. Misdemeanor. For stalking, the trial court imposed a sentence of 11 months, 29 days and for driving while unlicensed a sentence of 30 days, to be served concurrently in the county jail. On appeal, Defendant's sole issue is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence for his stalking conviction. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Charles Bates v. State of Tennessee
W2009-02046-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Paula Skahan

The petitioner, Charles Bates, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. He pled guilty to criminal attempt to commit aggravated sexual battery, a Class C felony, in exchange for a sentence of six years in the Shelby County Correction Center as a Range I, standard offender. On appeal, he argues that counsel was ineffective and that his guilty plea was not entered knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. After careful review, we affirm the denial of relief.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Dionis Nick Papa
M2010-00262-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve Dozier

The defendant, Dionis Nick Papa, appeals the sentencing decision of the Davidson County Criminal Court. Because the record supports the trial court's ordering a sentence of confinement, we affirm.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Terry James Lee A/K/A Terry Lee Williams v. State of Tennessee
W2008-00825-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roger Page

The defendant, Terry James Lee aka Terry Lee Williams, appeals the revocation of his probation. He initially entered guilty pleas to felony evading arrest, reckless endangerment, and reckless aggravated assault, for which he received a total effective sentence of four years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. He served six months of his sentence before being placed on intensive probation. On appeal, he argues that the trial court did not have jurisdiction to revoke his probation and contends his sentence had expired. The State has moved the Court to affirm the revocation of probation pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. After careful review, we affirm the revocation of probation pursuant to Rule 20.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Lindsey Ray Butler
M2008-02080-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stella Hargrove

Defendant, Lindsey Ray Butler, was indicted by the Maury County Grand Jury in a one-count indictment for possession of marijuana with intent to sell in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. _ 39-17-417(a)(4)(g)(1). Following a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of the lesser included offense of simple possession of marijuana, and the judgment reflects that he was sentenced by the trial court to serve 11 months and 29 days, consecutive to a five-year sentence he is currently serving. In this direct appeal, Defendant challenges the legality of a search of his residence. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Maury Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Kane Stackhouse
E2009-01669-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Richard R. Baumgartner

The defendant, Kane Stackhouse, aggrieved of his Knox County Criminal Court jury convictions of first degree felony murder, second degree murder, and especially aggravated robbery, for which he received an effective sentence of life imprisonment plus twenty years, appeals contending that the trial court erred in overruling his motion to suppress his statements. We discern no error regarding the motion to suppress; however, we conclude, via plain error, that the trial court erred by failing to merge the second degree murder conviction into the merged convictions of first degree felony murder. Accordingly, we vacate and remand for the verdict of second degree murder to be merged into the judgment of first degree felony murder. In all other respects, the judgments of conviction are affirmed.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Jonathan Greer
W2009-02414-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Weber McCraw

The defendant, Jonathan Greer, was convicted by a Fayette County jury of robbery, a Class C felony, and sentenced to serve fifteen years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant has raised the single issue of sufficiency of the evidence. Specifically, he contends that his conviction is precluded by State v. Owens, 20 S.W.3d 634, 638 (Tenn. 2000), because the State failed to establish that the taking of the property was contemporaneous with the use of violence or fear. Following review of the record, we affirm the judgment of conviction.

Fayette Court of Criminal Appeals