State of Tennessee v. Raynella Dossett Leath
Following a jury trial, the Defendant, Raynella Dossett Leath, was convicted of first degree premeditated murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life, with the possibility of parole. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant contends (1) that she was retried in violation of her state and federal constitutional protections against double jeopardy; (2) that the trial court erred by declining to exclude test results from analysis of the victim’s blood and urine; (3) that the trial court erred by admitting “certain estate planning documents” into evidence at trial; (4) that the trial court erred by denying the Defendant’s motion for a mistrial after a witness testified that she had previously stated that she was “scared” of the Defendant; (5) that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the Defendant’s conviction for first degree premeditated murder; (6) that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on the State’s duty to preserve evidence pursuant to State v. Ferguson, 2 S.W.3d 912 (Tenn. 1999); (7) that the trial court’s jury instruction regarding the defense of alibi improperly shifted the burden of proof onto the Defendant; (8) that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on the Defendant’s “theory of defense”; (9) that the trial court used an improper method to select the alternate juror; (10) that members of the jury committed misconduct by deliberating prematurely and reviewing extraneous prejudicial information; (11) that the State withheld evidence favorable to the Defendant in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), and its progeny; (12) that the Defendant is entitled to a new trial based upon newly discovered evidence; (13) that the trial court, by accepting the jury’s guilty verdict, “abdicated” its role as the thirteenth juror; and (14) that the Defendant is entitled to a new trial based upon cumulative error. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Knox | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Mansour Bin El Amin
The Defendant, Mansour Bin El Amin, appeals from his conviction by a Montgomery County Circuit Court jury for theft of property valued at more than $1000, a Class D felony. See T.C.A. § 39-14-103 (2010). The trial court sentenced the Defendant as a Range II, multiple offender to seven years, six months’ confinement. The Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Montgomery | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Keith Allen Powell
Keith Allen Powell (“the Defendant”) pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of property over $1,000, Class D felonies, and one count of simple possession of Lortab and Soma pills, a Class A misdemeanor. The plea agreement provided that the Defendant would serve concurrent sentences for the two theft convictions but otherwise left sentencing for all the convictions open to the trial court. At the time of sentencing, the Defendant also had a community corrections violation for an additional conviction of theft of property over $1,000. Following the sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant to an effective sentence of four years’ incarceration. The Defendant has appealed the trial court’s sentence, asserting that the trial court erred in requiring the Defendant to serve his sentence in confinement. Upon a thorough review of the record, we affirm the trial court’s judgments. |
Robertson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Frank Graham
A jury convicted the defendant, Frank Graham, of the first degree premeditated murder of his ex-fiancee, Taffi Crawford. The defendant received a life sentence. On appeal, the defendant contests the sufficiency of the evidence establishing premeditation. He also asserts that the trial court erred in refusing to suppress the statement he gave police, in which he acknowledged having accidentally shot the victim. The defendant asserts that he was arrested without probable cause and that his waiver of rights was not valid because police did not inform him about the presence of an attorney who had been contacted by his family to represent him. The defendant also appeals on the ground that the trial court erred in allowing certain testimony regarding prior bad acts. After a thorough review of the record, we conclude that the trial court did not err, and we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Jonathan Pulley v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Jonathan Pulley, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his Wayne County Circuit Court convictions of aggravated sexual battery and assault, claiming that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial. Discerning no error, we affirm the order of the Circuit Court. |
Wayne | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Mountain Commerce Bank v. First State Financial, Inc.
This appeal involves two letters of credit issued by First State to Commerce Bank for the benefit of Debtor, who subsequently defaulted on two loans that were secured by the letters. Commerce Bank issued a sight draft requesting full payment, but First State submitted partial payment. Commerce Bank filed suit. Following a hearing, the trial court held that First State was obligated to fulfill each letter of credit in its entirety. The court granted Commerce Bank’s request for attorney fees but denied the request for pre-judgment interest. First State and Commerce Bank appeal. We affirm the decision of the trial court. |
Knox | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Carlos Kennedy v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Carlos Kennedy, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The petitioner is currently serving an effective sentence of thirty-five years in the Department of Correction following his convictions for rape of a child, attempted rape of a child, assault, and coercion of a witness. On appeal, he contends that the post-conviction court erred in denying him relief because he was denied his right to the effective assistance of counsel at trial. Secifically, he contends that trial counsels were ineffective by: (1) failing to consider moving for a change of venue; (2) failing to interview all fact witnesses; (3) failing to file important pre-trial motions; and (4) failing to utilize an expert witness. Following review of the record, we discern no error and affirm the denial of the petition. |
Chester | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Sean Leifer
Appellant, Sean M. Leifer, was indicted for first degree felony murder and aggravated child abuse. A jury convicted him of reckless homicide and aggravated child abuse, and the trial court imposed concurrent sentences of four years and sixteen years, respectively. Appellant now challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and the trial court’s rulings with regard to the State’s expert witness. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Fayette | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Clark Beauregard Waterford, III
The Defendant, Clark Beauregard Waterford, III, was indicted for first degree premeditated murder. Following a jury trial, the Defendant was convicted of the lesser-included offense of second degree murder and sentenced to forty years as a Range II, multiple offender. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant contends (1) that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction for second degree murder; (2) that the trial court erred in deciding that the Defendant’s two prior convictions for aggravated assault would have been admissible for impeachment purposes if the Defendant had decided to testify at trial; and (3) that the trial court erred by imposing the maximum sentence. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Larry Jereller Alston, et al
In this appeal as of right, the State challenges the Knox County Criminal Court’s setting aside the jury verdicts of guilty of especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, and possession of a firearm with intent to go armed during the commission of a dangerous felony and ordering dismissal of the charges. Because the trial court erred by setting aside the verdicts and dismissing the charges of especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated burglary, the jury verdicts are reinstated, and the case is remanded to the trial court for sentencing. Although the trial court erred by dismissing the firearms charge on the grounds named in its order, error in the indictment for that offense nevertheless requires a dismissal of those charges. Finally, the defendants’ convictions of aggravated robbery and the sentences that accompany them are affirmed. |
Knox | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Marquon Lanorris Green
The defendant, Marquon Lanorris Green, was convicted by a Madison County Circuit Court jury of aggravated kidnapping, a Class B felony; aggravated rape, a Class A felony; and aggravated robbery, a Class B felony. He was sentenced to twenty years on the aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape convictions and ten years on the aggravated robbery conviction, to be served consecutively to each other and a prior ten-year sentence. On appeal, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and the trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentences. After review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Madison | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Bobby Jackson v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Bobby Jackson, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel at trial. Following our review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of the petition. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Lamont Johnson
After a trial by jury, the defendant was found guilty of the first degree felony murder of his girlfriend’s five-month-old daughter. On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court’s decision to exclude the testimony of four potential witnesses concerning the defendant’s son’s propensity toward violence violated his constitutional right to present a defense. After reviewing the record, we conclude that the defendant has failed to establish that the testimony of these four witnesses was critical to the defense. In addition, strong societal interests support the exclusion of this type of character evidence when nothing in the record might suggest that the defendant’s son actually committed the crime. Consequently, the trial court’s decision to exclude the testimony of these witnesses did not violate the defendant’s constitutional right to present a defense. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. |
Gibson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Tyrone Bohanna
Appellant, Tyrone Bohanna, was indicted by the Shelby County Grand Jury in a multi-count indictment with co-defendant Brandon Harris in March of 2010. Appellant was indicted for especially aggravated robbery, attempted second degree murder, two counts of employing a firearm during a felony, aggravated burglary, and three counts of aggravated assault. Following a lengthy jury trial, Appellant was convicted of especially aggravated robbery, reckless endangerment as a lesser included offense of attempted second degree murder, one count of employing a firearm during the commission of a felony, and three counts of aggravated assault. Appellant was acquitted of one of the firearms charges. At a separate sentencing hearing, the trial court determined that Appellant was a career offender. As a result, the trial court imposed the maximum sentence for each offense and ordered consecutive sentencing after finding that Appellant had an extensive criminal history and was a dangerous offender. Appellant received a total effective sentence of 120 years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days. Appellant filed a timely motion for new trial which the trial court denied. On appeal, Appellant seeks resolution of the following issues: (1) the sufficiency of the evidence; (2) the admission of evidence pursuant to the forfeiture by wrongdoing provision of Tennessee Rule of Evidence 804(b)(6); (3) the admission of recordings of telephone calls made by Appellant from jail; (4) the determination by the trial court to hold court on Sunday; (5) the denial of Appellant’s motions for mistrial; (6) the admission of the testimony of Donovan Hensley; and (7) the imposition of consecutive sentencing. After a thorough review of the record, we conclude: (1) the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions; (2) the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence including Appellant’s telephone calls, hearsay statements of Antonio Hawkins, and testimony from Donovan Hensley; (3) the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying a mistrial; and (4) the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Appellant. Accordingly, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Jeffrey Booth v. State of Tennessee
Jeffrey Booth (“the Petitioner”) was convicted by a jury of two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated robbery, and one count of aggravated assault. Pursuant to a sentencing agreement, the trial court sentenced the Petitioner to an effective sentence of twenty years’ incarceration. On appeal, this Court merged the two especially aggravated kidnapping convictions. The Petitioner subsequently filed for postconviction relief, which the post-conviction court denied following an evidentiary hearing. The Petitioner now appeals, arguing that the post-conviction court should have applied State v. White, 362 S.W.3d 559 (Tenn. 2012), retroactively. He also contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Upon our thorough review of the record and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Robert Otis Simerly v. State of Tennessee
In 2004, a Johnson County jury convicted the Petitioner, Robert Otis Simerly, of first degree felony murder, and the jury sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole. This Court affirmed his conviction on appeal. State v. Robert Simerly, No. E2002-02626-CCA-R3-CD, 2004 WL 443294, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, Mar 11, 2004), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Oct. 4, 2004). The Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief and a motion for recusal, which the post-conviction court denied after a hearing. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred when it denied the Petitioner’s motion for recusal because, during the trial, the judge improperly reminded the prosecutor to establish venue. The State counters first that the appeal was untimely filed. The State further avers that the Petitioner is not entitled to relief based upon the trial court’s failure to recuse itself. After a thorough review of the record and applicable authorities, we conclude that, pursuant to the circumstances of this case, the Petitioner’s petition should not be dismissed based on his failure to timely file a notice of appeal. We further conclude that he is not entitled to post-conviction relief based upon the merits of his claim. The post-conviction court’s judgment is, therefore, affirmed. |
Johnson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Andrew Reginald Mackinnon
In 2007, a Sevier County jury convicted the Defendant, Andrew Reginald Mackinnon, of violating the implied consent law. The Defendant appealed, and this Court vacated the judgment, remanding the case for the trial court to determine whether the Defendant violated the implied consent law. State v. Andrew Reginald MacKinnon, No. E2009-00093-CCA-R3-CD, 2011 WL 1460167 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, Mar. 30, 2011), no Tenn. R. App. P. 11 application filed. On remand, the Defendant filed a motion to dismiss and a motion to suppress, both of which the trial court denied after a hearing. After a non-jury trial, the trial court determined that the Defendant had violated the implied consent law. The trial court ordered the Defendant’s license be revoked for a period of one year. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred when it:(1) denied his motion to dismiss; and (2) denied his motion to suppress. After a thorough review of the record, the briefs, and relevant authorities, we affirm the trial court’s judgment. |
Sevier | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Kevin T. Saulter v. State of Tennessee
This matter is before the Court upon the State’s motion to affirm the judgment of the trial court by memorandum opinion pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Petitioner, Kevin T. Saulter, appeals the trial court’s dismissal of his petition for writ of error coram nobis and a motion to reconsider the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. Upon a review of the record, we are persuaded that the lower court was correct that the Petitioner is not entitled to relief. This case meets the criteria for affirmance pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Accordingly, the State’s motion is granted, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
In Re: A Way Out Bonding
The appellant, A Way Out Bonding, appeals the Maury County Circuit Court’s denial of its Petition to Operate a Bail Bonding Company. Based upon the record and the parties’ briefs, we conclude that the trial court erred by summarily denying the petition without conducting a hearing. Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. |
Maury | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Ruby W. Graham
The defendant, Ruby W. Graham, appeals her White County Circuit Court jury convictions of attempt to possess with the intent to sell morphine, oxycodone, and marijuana, challenging the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and the total fine imposed. Discerning no error, we affirm. |
White | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Bobby Glen Crocker v. State of Tennessee
The Petitioner challenges the Carroll County Circuit Court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief from his conviction of second degree murder and resulting thirty-year sentence. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred by dismissing the petition as time-barred because his mental incompetence tolled the one-year statute of limitations for filing the petition. Based upon the oral arguments, the record, and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court. |
Carroll | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Bobby Glen Crocker v. State of Tennessee - Concurring
I concur with the majority opinion save one point. My colleagues infer that the post-conviction court discredited the Petitioner’s testimony, although the court made no such finding. I believe the record reflects that the court’s findings accepted all the testimony as true but that the court concluded the Petitioner did not provide clear and convincing evidence of his claim. The record supports such a conclusion. |
Carroll | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Nathanael Little
A Chester County jury convicted appellant, Nathanael Little, on count 1 for selling more than one-half ounce of marijuana, a Class E felony; on count 2 for delivering more than one-half ounce of marijuana, a Class E felony; on count 3 for possession of more than one-half ounce of marijuana with intent to sell, a Class E felony; on count 4 for possession of more than one-half ounce of marijuana with intent to deliver, a Class E felony; and on count 5 for possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use, a Class A misdemeanor. After appropriately merging some of the counts, the trial court sentenced appellant to an effective sentence of two years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days for two Class E felonies and one Class A misdemeanor. On appeal, appellant argues that the trial court erred by failing to rule on his motion to suppress and by improperly sentencing him. Upon review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Chester | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Nathanael Little - Concurring and Dissenting
I concur in the majority opinion’s conclusion that the trial court did not err in refusing to hear the Defendant’s suppression motion. I respectfully dissent, though, because I believe the trial court did not have sufficient evidence to support the conclusions regarding both full confinement and consecutive sentencing. I also believe the principles and purposes of the Sentencing Act were not best served by the sentence imposed. |
Chester | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Carlos Ponce DeLeon
The Defendant, Carlos Ponce DeLeon, entered best interest guilty pleas to theft of property valued at $1000 or more but less than $10,000, a Class D felony, two counts of automobile burglary, Class E felonies, theft of property valued at more than $500 but less than $1000, a Class E felony, and two counts of theft of property valued at $500 or less, Class A misdemeanors. See T.C.A. §§ 39-14-402, 39-14-103, 39-14-105 (2010). He was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender to six years for the theft of property valued at $1000 or more but less than $10,000 conviction, four years for each automobile burglary conviction, three years for the theft of property value at more than $500 but less than $1000 conviction, and eleven months and twenty-nine days for each theft of property valued at $500 or less conviction. The trial court ordered partial consecutive sentencing for an effective ten-year sentence. On appeal, the Defendant contends that his effective sentence is excessive. We affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Bedford | Court of Criminal Appeals |
