State vs. John Hampton
W1999-00983-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Jon Kerry Blackwood
The defendant, John Lee Hampton, who was charged with two counts of rape, was convicted of two counts of statutory rape. The trial court imposed two concurrent one-year sentences, with all but sixty days suspended. In this appeal as of right, the defendant asserts that the evidence was insufficient. He also argues that the trial court erred by admitting certain photographs into evidence, by rehabilitating a juror, by denying his motion in limine to exclude evidence of uncharged sexual offenses involving the victim, by permitting the victim to testify in rebuttal regarding an uncharged sexual offense, and by refusing to suspend his entire sentence. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Hardeman Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Jackie Gooch
W2000-00032-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: R. Lee Moore Jr.
The appellant, Jackie L. Gooch, appeals from the trial court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the appellant entered a "best interest" plea to the charge of voluntary manslaughter. On appeal, the appellant contends: (1) that his guilty plea was coerced and, thus, involuntarily entered; and (2) that trial counsel was ineffective. After review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Lake Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Ronald Ballard
W2000-00033-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Roy Morgan
The appellant, Ballard, was found guilty by a jury of facilitating first degree murder. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed a sentence of twenty-five years, the maximum sentence permitted for a class A felony. Ballard now appeals the sentencing decision of the lower court, arguing that the court erred in its application of two enhancing factors and failed to apply a mitigating factor. Finding the record incomplete for review of these issues, the trial court's sentencing determination is afforded the presumption of correctness and the sentence is affirmed.

Henderson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Jerry Elliott
W1999-00361-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: John Franklin Murchison
The Defendant, Jerry Wayne Elliott, pled guilty to three counts of aggravated assault, reserving his right to appeal a certified question of law, pursuant to Tenn. R. Crim. P. 37(b)(2)(i). Defendant had filed a Motion to Suppress evidence obtained from an allegedly unconstitutional search and seizure of Defendant, which the trial court denied following an evidentiary hearing. The denial of this Motion to Suppress is the basis of the certified question of law. After review of the record and the briefs we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Henderson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Julius Parker
W1999-01327-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Joseph B. Brown
Because the petitioner, Julius Parker, who was convicted of aggravated robbery and felony murder, received the effective assistance of counsel at trial, he is not entitled to post-conviction relief.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Mark Williams
W1999-01456-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Chris B. Craft
The defendant, Mark Williams, was indicted for attempted first degree murder. After being convicted for attempted second degree murder, he was sentenced, as a Range I offender, to 12 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. In this appeal of right, the defendant contends that because the indictment did not allege an overt act, the conviction is void. He further asserts that the jury charge on attempted second degree murder was erroneous in that it did not require the jury to find that he intended to kill the victim. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Jack North
W1999-01301-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: C. Creed Mcginley
The appellant, Jack Jay North, Jr., was convicted of first degree murder by a Hardin County jury and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. On appeal, he asserts that the post-conviction court erred in finding trial counsel's performance to be effective during the sentencing phase of trial. Specifically, the appellant contends that trial counsel was ineffective for (1) failing to offer mitigating proof at the sentencing phase; (2) for failing to request funds for a mitigation specialist; and (3) for not objecting to comments made by the State during closing arguments of the sentencing phase. After review, we affirm the judgment of the Circuit Court of Hardin County.

Hardin Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Johnny Jones
W2000-01241-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Jon Kerry Blackwood
This appeal follows dismissal of the Appellant's petition for post-conviction relief. The Appellant, Jones, was convicted by a Fayette County jury of possession of cocaine (over 26 grams) with intent to sell and possession of marijuana. On direct appeal, his convictions and sentences were affirmed. The Appellant filed this post-conviction petition asserting the following errors: (1) the trial court erred in not granting the Appellant's motion to sever; (2) the trial court erred in sentencing the Appellant; and (3) deficient representation by defense counsel including failing to timely file a Rule 11 application to the supreme court from this court's decision. We find that Appellant's defense counsel was ineffective with respect to his failure to timely file a Rule 11 application. Accordingly, the Appellant is granted the right to seek a delayed appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Denial of post-conviction relief is affirmed as to the remaining issues.

Fayette Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Dereke Fitzgerald
W2000-01279-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Julian P. Guinn
The appellant, Dereke Emont Fitzgerald, was convicted by a jury of aggravated assault and was sentenced to six years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant raises one issue: Whether the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on the issue of self-defense. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment.

Henry Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Michael Upshaw
W1999-00777-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: James C. Beasley, Jr.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Jimmy Lee Pierce v. State of Tennessee
W2000-00630-CCA-R3-CD
Trial Court Judge: Jon Kerry Blackwood

Fayette Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Michael Addison
W1999-00432-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Bernie Weinman
Because the evidence does not preponderate against the trial court's determination that the petitioner received the effective assistance of counsel at trial and on direct appeal, the order denying post-conviction relief is affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Gilford Williams
W1999-01556-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: John Franklin Murchison

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Gilford Williams
W1999-01556-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: John Franklin Murchison

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Myra L. Smith
E1999-02196-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Mary Beth Leibowitz
Myra L. Smith appeals the sentencing decision of the Knox County Criminal Court revoking her non-incarcerative sentence and ordering service of the sentence in the TDOC. In September 1998, Smith pled guilty to the class C felony of facilitating aggravated robbery and was placed under the supervision of the Knox County Community Alternative to Prison Program (CAPP). Four months later, a violation warrant issued. On appeal, Smith argues that the trial court acted arbitrarily in revoking her suspended sentence by failing to consider her extreme drug addiction, her history of mental illness, and her lack of intent to violate the conditions of probation. Finding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion, we affirm.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

William Collins vs. State
E1999-02759-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Lynn W. Brown
Because the trial court properly treated a habeas corpus petition as one for post-conviction relief and because the statute of limitations barred any review of constitutional issues, the petition was properly dismissed.

Washington Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Shannon Corley
E2000-00382-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
The defendant seeks full probation after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and theft. She claims the trial court erred in requiring her to be incarcerated for ninety days of her four-year sentence. We affirm the sentence as imposed.

Blount Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Joe C. Anderson a/k/a Uncle Tom
E1999-02485-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: E. Eugene Eblen
Raising issues of sufficiency of the evidence and improper sentencing, Joe C. Anderson appeals from his conviction of second degree murder in the Loudon County Criminal Court. Because we discern no error requiring reversal, we affirm.

Loudon Court of Criminal Appeals

E1999-02594-COA-R3-CV
E1999-02594-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: William R. Brewer

Blount Court of Appeals

E2000-00256-COA-R3-CV
E2000-00256-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: Wheeler A. Rosenbalm

Knox Court of Appeals

Theodore Davis v. U. S. Coal Inc.
E1999-01297-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Thayer, Sp. J.
Trial Court Judge: Billy Joe White, Chancellor
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The appellant-employer appealed the trial court's ruling awarding appellee-employee 32% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole. Appellant argues the trial court was in error in accepting certain medical testimony when the doctor failed to follow AMA Guides in conducting examination and evaluation of employee. Judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Knox Workers Compensation Panel

Clayton D. Eller v. Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.,
E1999-00874-SC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: L. Terry Lafferty, Senior Judge
Trial Court Judge: John Maddux, Judge
This workers' compensation appeal from the Cumberland County Circuit Court has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The Cumberland County Circuit Court dismissed the plaintiff's claim for Tennessee workers' compensation benefits on the basis that the plaintiff affirmatively elected to seek workers' compensation benefits in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. After a review of the entire record, briefs of the parties and applicable law, we affirm the trial court's judgment.

Knox Workers Compensation Panel

Eddie Ray Harper v. Lockheed Martin Energy Systems,
E1999-01150-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Thayer, Sp. J.
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr., Judge
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The appellant-employee appealed the trial court's award of 12.5% permanent disability to the body as a whole which was based on a finding the employee had made a meaningful return to work resulting in capping the award at two and one-half times the medical impairment under T.C.A. _ 5-6-241(a)(1). On appeal, appellant argues he did not return to work for the "pre-injury employer" and the six times medical impairment under subsection (b) should control the award. Judgment of the trial court is affirmed as the new employer was a successor or substitute employer for the original employer by reason of a change of contractors at the U.S. government facility.

Knox Workers Compensation Panel

Mervin Reed v. Abb Combustion Engineering, Inc.
E1999-00589-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: L. Terry Lafferty, Senior Judge
Trial Court Judge: W. Frank Brown, III, Chancellor
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated _ 5-6-225 (e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the plaintiff/appellant asserts that the trial court erred in basing plaintiff's award of permanent disability benefits on a percentage of impairment other than that supported by the medical evidence at trial. After a complete review of the entire record, briefs of the parties and applicable law, we affirm the trial court's judgment.

Knox Workers Compensation Panel

State vs. Sandra Cooper
W2002-01036-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Defendant, Sandra Hoyle Cooper, appeals the trial court's revocation of her community corrections sentence. Defendant received two community corrections sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days each following two separate convictions for theft and for filing a false police report. While serving her community corrections sentences, Defendant was arrested for aggravated robbery. Following a revocation hearing, the trial court revoked her community corrections sentences and ordered the imposition of her original sentences. Defendant argues that the trial court improperly based its revocation on circumstantial evidence that she committed the offense for which she was arrested. After a careful review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals