William C. Brothers v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, William C. Brothers, filed a petition for habeas corpus relief in the Circuit Court for Lauderdale County (hereinafter “habeas corpus court”) seeking relief from his two convictions for aggravated sexual battery. The habeas corpus court dismissed the petition, and the petitioner now appeals. Upon our review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we reverse the dismissal of the petition and remand with instructions for the habeas corpus court to transfer the case to the convicting court for correction of the judgments to reflect that the petitioner is required to provide a specimen for DNA analysis in compliance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-321. |
Lauderdale | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Brandon McCaslin v. State of Tennessee
Petitioner, Brandon McCaslin, appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief in which he alleged that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and on appeal. Specifically, Petitioner contends that trial counsel was ineffective because he failed (1) to challenge certain prospective jurors during voir dire; (2) to object to the State’s admission of evidence that Petitioner had a prior conviction for the unauthorized use of a vehicle; (3) to request the trial court to instruct the jury on the use of impeachment evidence; and (4) to preserve and raise issues on appeal other than the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. After a thorough review of the record, we conclude that Petitioner has failed to show that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance and affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court. |
Dyer | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Marvin Senathan Hall, Jr.
The defendant, Marvin Senathan Hall, Jr., was convicted by a Tipton County Circuit Court jury of reckless aggravated assault, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, and felon in possession of a handgun and sentenced as a multiple offender to four years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he argues that (1) the trial court erred in allowing evidence of his prior felony conviction to be presented to the jury when he offered to stipulate to such, and (2) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions. After review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Tipton | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Albert F. Kelly v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Albert F. Kelly, proceeding pro se, presents a Rule 3 appeal from the Shelby County Criminal Court’s summary denial of his motion to reopen his post-conviction petition. In his motion to reopen, the petitioner asserted a new rule of constitutional law and relied upon Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S. Ct. 2348 (2000); Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004); Cunningham v. California, 549 U.S. 270, 127 S. Ct. 856 (2007); and State v. Gomez, 239 S.W.3d 733 (2007) (“Gomez II”), to support his argument that he is entitled to have his sentence reduced to the minimum within the range, as the trial court, not the jury, found applicable enhancement factors. The post-conviction court summarily denied the petition, finding that the petitioner had failed to assert a valid statutory basis for a motion to reopen a post-conviction petition. Following the denial, the petitioner filed a Rule 3 notice of appeal in the Shelby County Criminal Court. Because the petitioner has failed to comply with the statutory requirements for appealing the denial of a motion to reopen, this court is without jurisdiction to review the merits of the issue presented. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Dan Maturen
The defendant, Dan Maturen, appeals the order of the Shelby County Criminal Court revoking his probation. The defendant, pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, pled guilty to aggravated burglary, a Class C felony, and received a four-year suspended sentence. Subsequently, a probation violation warrant was filed alleging that the defendant had violated the terms and conditions of his probation. Following a hearing, his probation was revoked, and he was ordered to serve the balance of his sentence. On appeal, although conceding that he violated the conditions of probation, the defendant argues that the State’s interests in punishment, deterrence, and insuring restitution to victims would be best served by reinstating his probation. Finding no abuse of discretion in the revocation, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Thomas E. Kotewa v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Thomas Edward Kotewa, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. He pled guilty to second degree murder and received an agreed-upon sentence of fifteen years as a Range I, violent offender. On appeal, he contends that: he received ineffective assistance of counsel; his guilty plea was not entered knowingly and voluntarily; the post-conviction court erred by failing to enter specific factual findings or legal conclusions; and Supreme Court Rule 28 was violated by both the State and the post-conviction court. After careful review, we affirm the judgment from the post-conviction court. |
Anderson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Jasper D. Lewis v. State of Tennessee
The Appellant, Jasper D. Lewis, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for habeas corpus relief. The Appellant fails to assert a cognizable claim for which habeas corpus relief may be granted. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Dennis Wayne Merriweather v. State of Tennessee
Appellant, Dennis Wayne Merriweather, filed a petition for the writ of habeas corpus in which he alleged that his fifteen year sentence for selling controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a school renders the judgment imposed as a result of his guilty plea void because the judgment provides the sentence is to be served at 100%. Because we find the judgment is not void, we hold the habeas court properly dismissed the habeas corpus petition. Accordingly, the judgment of the lower courtis affirmed. |
Hickman | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Phyllis Ann Amos
Defendant, Phyllis Ann Amos, entered pleas of guilty to possession of marijuana, a Class E felony; possession of 0.5 grams or more of cocaine, a Class B felony; maintaining a dwelling where controlled substances are kept or sold, a Class D felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor; and felony possession of dihydrocodone, a Class D felony. In accordance with the negotiated plea agreement, Defendant accepted concurrent sentences of eleven months, twenty-nine days for her misdemeanor conviction, one year for her Class E felony conviction, two years for each Class D felony conviction, and ten years for her Class B felony conviction. The felony sentences are as a Range I, standard offender. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed the agreed upon sentences and ordered Defendant to serve her sentences in confinement. On appeal, Defendant argues that the trial court erred in refusing to grant alternative sentencing. After a thorough review of the record, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed. |
Sullivan | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Ronald Fielding v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Ronald Fielding, appeals as of right the Davidson County Criminal Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief challenging his convictions for three counts of rape of a child, two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of rape for which he received an effective fifty-year sentence to be served in the custody of the Department of Correction. On appeal, he alleges that his guilty plea was involuntary and that both trial and appellate counsel were ineffective. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Ronald Fielding v. State of Tennessee - Dissenting
I respectfully dissent. I concur with the analysis in the majority opinion, as far as it goes. I am concerned, though, with the trial court’s ruling that the Petitioner’s claims against trial counsel had been previously determined. I conclude that the record reflects that the Petitioner did not receive a full and fair hearing regarding trial counsel’s representation. I believe the case should be remanded to allow such a hearing on that issue. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Dwight Woodlee
he defendant, Dwight Woodlee, appeals as of right his guilty plea convictions for vandalism and civil rights intimidation, both Class D felonies, for which the trial court imposed concurrent four-year sentences to be served on probation. He contends that the trial court erred in denying his application for judicial diversion. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Warren | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Ronnie Bradfield v. Tony Parker, Warden
The petitioner, Ronnie Bradfield, appeals the Lauderdale County Circuit Court’s summary dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. The State has filed a motion requesting that this court affirm the lower court’s denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Because the petitioner has failed to establish that his conviction is void or his sentence illegal, we conclude that the State’s motion is well-taken. Accordingly, we affirm the lower court’s summary dismissal of the petition. |
Lauderdale | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Oliver J. Higgins v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Oliver J. Higgins, appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief as time-barred, arguing that the post-conviction court erred by summarily dismissing the petition without holding an evidentiary hearing or making adequate findings of fact and conclusions of law. The State has responded with a motion that we affirm the summary dismissal pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Because the petitioner filed his petition well outside the statute of limitations and has not shown any reason why the limitations period should be tolled, we affirm the summary dismissal of the petition. |
Hardin | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Joseph May
The defendant, Joseph May, was convicted by a Shelby County jury of first degree premeditated murder for which he received a sentence of life imprisonment. On appeal, he contends that the evidence was insufficient to prove he committed a premeditated and intentional murder. Upon review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Tony Jamerson v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Tony Jamerson, appeals the judgment of the Shelby County Criminal Court denying post-conviction relief. The petitioner was convicted of first degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. On appeal, the petitioner argues that: (1) his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to fully investigate police techniques used in obtaining the petitioner’s confession, and (2) the trial court and counsel failed to ensure proper jury instruction. The petitioner also asserts in brief that he is entitled to relief based on cumulative error. After review, the judgment of the court denying post-conviction relief is affirmed. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Richard D. Baker
The defendant, Richard D. Baker, appeals the revocation of his six-year probationary sentence. He contends that the trial court erred by revoking his probation before the commencement of the probationary term and by ordering incarceration. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Sullivan | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Ontrell James
A Madison County jury convicted the defendant, Ontrell James, of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony, and resisting arrest, a Class B misdemeanor. On appeal, the defendant argues that the evidence produced at trial was insufficient to support his aggravated robbery conviction because the evidence did not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he knowingly obtained or exercised control over the property of another. After reviewing the record, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to sustain the conviction and therefore affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Madison | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Junior Aldridge
A Shelby County jury found the defendant, Junior Aldridge, guilty of one count each of first degree murder, second degree murder, and especially aggravated robbery. The trial court merged the two murder counts and imposed concurrent sentences of life in prison for the first degree murder conviction and forty years as a Range II, multiple offender for the especially aggravated robbery conviction. On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court’s exclusion of testimony regarding statements made by the victim denied the defendant his right to present a defense. After reviewing the record, we conclude that the trial court properly excluded the testimony and affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Jairie Pierce
The defendant, Jairie Pierce, was convicted by a jury in the Criminal Court for Shelby County of theft of property valued over $1000, a Class D felony, and theft of property valued over $500, a Class E felony. He received respective sentences of four years and two years to be served concurrently in the Shelby County Correctional Center. On appeal, the defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of theft of property valued over $1000 and that it was only sufficient to convict him of unauthorized use of a vehicle, a Class A misdemeanor. We affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Lamario Hill
A Shelby County jury convicted the defendant, Lamario Hill, of first degree felony murder, attempted especially aggravated robbery, and aggravated assault. The trial court imposed concurrent sentences of life in prison for the defendant’s murder conviction, nine years for his attempted especially aggravated robbery conviction, and four years for his aggravated assault conviction. On appeal, the defendant argues that the evidence produced at trial was insufficient to support his convictions. After reviewing the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Darrell Johnson
The defendant, Darrell Johnson, was convicted by a Shelby County Criminal Court jury of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony, and sentenced to thirty years as a career offender. On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court erred in sentencing him as a career offender. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Ronald Eugene Hall v. State of Tennessee
Petitioner, Ronald Eugene Hall, was convicted by a Davidson County Jury of two counts of second degree murder. The convictions were merged into a single count of second degree murder, for which Petitioner received a twenty-year sentence to be served at one-hundred percent incarceration. On direct appeal, this Court affirmed Petitioner’s conviction and sentence. See State v. Ronald Eugene Hall, M2003-02326-CCA-R3-CD, 2005 WL 292432, at *16 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, Feb. 8, 2005). Petitioner then sought post-conviction relief. After an evidentiary hearing, the postconviction court denied relief. Petitioner appeals the judgment of the post-conviction court. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court because Petitioner has failed to establish that he received ineffective assistance of counsel or that he was incompetent to stand trial. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Chaurice Bagley v. Stephen Dotson, Warden (State of Tennessee)
The Petitioner, Chaurice Bagley, appeals the lower court’s denial of his petition for habeas corpus relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Petitioner has failed to allege any ground that would render the judgment of conviction void. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s dismissal. |
Hardeman | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Matthew M. Jackson v. State of Tennessee
The Petitioner, Matthew M. Jackson, appeals the lower court’s denial of his petition for habeas corpus relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Petitioner has failed to allege any ground that would render the judgment of conviction void. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s dismissal. |
Lake | Court of Criminal Appeals |
