State of Tennessee v. John Sears
W2017-00938-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant, John Sears, was convicted at trial of theft of property over the value of $60,000 for his theft of ownership interest in three real properties owned by family members. On appeal, Defendant argues that: (1) the evidence was insufficient for a rational juror to have found him guilty of theft of property over the value of $60,000 beyond a reasonable doubt; (2) the trial court erred in admitting lay witness testimony regarding the value of the stolen real property; and (3) cumulative error warrants the grant of a new trial. After a thorough review of the facts and applicable case law, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Lee V. Coffee |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/10/18 | |
Christopher Lewis v. State of Tennessee
M2017-01386-CCA-R3-PC
The Petitioner, Christopher Lewis, appeals from the Putnam County Criminal Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The Petitioner contends that he received ineffective assistance from his trial counsel because trial counsel (1) failed to call several witnesses at trial; and (2) failed to introduce evidence “of the weather during the weekend” of the victim’s death and “additional evidence . . . regarding . . . a large hole” in the backyard of the Petitioner and victim’s home. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the post conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge David Alan Patterson |
Putnam County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/07/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Troy Anthony Lozano
M2017-01250-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Troy Anthony Lozano, appeals his Montgomery County Circuit Court jury convictions of simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle without two operable tail lights, and violation of the registration law. In this appeal, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and the denial of his motion to suppress. Discerning no error, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Ross Hicks |
Montgomery County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/07/18 | |
In Re: AAA Bonding Company
M2017-01624-CCA-R3-CD
The Appellant, AAA Bonding Company, executed as surety an appearance bond for a defendant charged with theft, following which a general sessions court judge issued a conditional order of forfeiture. The Appellant appealed to the circuit court, which remanded the case to the lower court for entry of a final judgment. The Appellant filed a notice of appeal with this court. After review, we dismiss for lack of appellate jurisdiction.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Forest A. Durard, Jr. |
Bedford County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/06/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Robert Burnette
W2017-02263-CCA-R3-CD
A Shelby County jury convicted the Defendant, Robert Burnette, of attempted first degree premeditated murder, employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and being a felon in possession of a weapon. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to life without the possibility of parole. On appeal, the Defendant claims that the trial court erred when it allowed an undisclosed and incompetent witness to testify, and that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction for attempted first degree premeditated murder. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Lee V. Coffee |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/06/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Raymond B. Thomas
W2017-02032-CCA-R3-CD
A Dyer County jury convicted the Defendant, Raymond B. Thomas, of two counts of sale of dihydrocodeinone, a Schedule III controlled substance commonly referred to as Hydrocodone, within 1,000 feet of a school zone and sale of a controlled substance obtained through TennCare. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to concurrent terms of six years for each of his sale of dihydrocodeinone convictions and two years for the sale of a controlled substance obtained through TennCare conviction. On appeal, the Defendant asserts that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions for sale of dihydrocodeinone within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge R. Lee Moore, Jr. |
Dyer County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/06/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Durwin L. Rucker
M2017-02536-CCA-R3-CD
The Appellant, Durwin L. Rucker, pled guilty in the Cheatham County Circuit Court to violating an order declaring him to be a motor vehicle habitual offender and driving under the influence (DUI) and received an effective four-year sentence to be served as sixty days in jail and the remainder on supervised probation. Subsequently, the trial court revoked his probation. On appeal, the Appellant contends that the trial court erred by ordering that he serve his effective four-year sentence in confinement. Based upon the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Suzanne Lockert-Mash |
Cheatham County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/05/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Ryan Patrick Broadrick
M2017-01136-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Ryan Patrick Broadrick, pled guilty to statutory rape, a Class E felony, in exchange for a three-year sentence on probation. Following a hearing, the trial court ordered that the Defendant was required to register as a sex offender. The Defendant appeals, arguing (1) that this court should review the trial court’s decision using a de novo standard of review, rather than an abuse of discretion with a presumption of reasonableness standard; (2) that the trial court was not authorized by Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-506(d)(2)(B) to consider anything other than the facts and circumstances of the statutory rape offense to which the Defendant pled guilty; (3) that due process principles prohibited the trial court from considering the nolled sexual exploitation of a minor count of the indictment that pertained to photographs found on the Defendant’s phone; (4) that due process of law afforded him the right to perform independent forensic testing of the photographs found on his phone; (5) that the trial court failed to articulate for the record how it took into account “the facts and circumstances of the offense” as required by the statute; and (6) that the photographs relied upon by the trial court did not depict minors engaged in sexual activity. After review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. However, we remand the case for entry of judgment forms for each count of the indictment.
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Mark J. Fishburn |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/04/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Aspyn Riner
M2017-01839-CCA-R3-CD
A Maury County Circuit Court Jury convicted the Appellant, Aspyn Riner, of aggravated perjury, a Class D felony, and the trial court sentenced her as a Range I, standard offender to two years, six months to be served as six months in confinement and the remainder on supervised probation. On appeal, the Appellant claims that the trial court erred by denying her requests for judicial diversion and full probation and by ordering that she serve four calendar months in confinement before being eligible to earn good time credits. The State acknowledges that the trial court could not preclude the Appellant from earning good time credits but argues that the court properly sentenced her in all other respects. We agree with the State. Accordingly, the trial court’s denials of judicial diversion and full probation are affirmed, but the court’s ordering four months of confinement before becoming eligible for good time credits is reversed. The case is remanded to the trial court for correction of the judgment to so reflect.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Stella L. Hargrove |
Maury County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/04/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. William Cole Nicholson
M2017-01761-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, William Cole Nicholson, appeals his Montgomery County Circuit Court jury conviction of aggravated sexual battery. He challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the element of unlawful sexual contact and the weight of the evidence supporting the guilty verdict. Discerning no error, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge William R. Goodman, III |
Montgomery County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/04/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Tammy Tuttle
M2017-00788-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant, Tammy Tuttle, appeals her convictions of possession of not less than 14.175 grams (0.5 ounces) but not more than ten pounds of marijuana with the intent to sell and possession of 0.5 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to sell as well as the forfeiture of $1,098,050 in United States currency. The trial court sentenced Defendant to an effective eight year sentence to serve. On appeal, Defendant argues that the evidence is insufficient to sustain her convictions and that the trial court erred in ruling that the $1,098,050 was forfeited to the State. After a thorough review of the record, we hold that the evidence is sufficient for Defendant’s convictions and that we do not have jurisdiction to hear the forfeiture issue because the notice of appeal was untimely. Accordingly, we affirm the judgments of the trial court but remand for entry of corrected judgments in Counts Three and Four.
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Stella L. Hargrove |
Maury County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/31/18 | |
Lymus Levar Brown III v. State of Tennessee
W2017-01726-CCA-R3-PC
A Haywood County jury convicted the Petitioner, Lymus Brown, of aggravated robbery, and the trial court sentenced him to thirty years in prison. State v. Lymus Brown, No. W2012-02298-CCA-R3-CD, 2013 WL 12181029, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Nov. 26, 2013), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Apr. 8, 2014). This court affirmed his conviction on appeal. The Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief in which he alleged that his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to interview a witness, failing to adequately cross-examine another witness, failing to allow him to testify, and failing to have the jury instructed on facilitation. The post-conviction court denied relief. After review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Clayburn L. Peeples |
Haywood County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/31/18 | |
Kelvin Reed v. State of Tennessee
W2017-02419-CCA-R3-ECN
The pro se Appellant, Kelvin Reed, appeals the Shelby County Criminal Court’s summary dismissal of his “Petition for Writ of Error Coram Nobis and Motion to Vacate Illegal Sentence.” Although Reed acknowledges that his petition for coram nobis relief was untimely, he argues that due process concerns require tolling of the one-year statute of limitations. He also contends, with regard to his motion to vacate his illegal sentence, that the trial court’s order was not a final order because it failed to dismiss his motion under Rule 36.1 and failed to make the appropriate legal determinations, thereby divesting this court of jurisdiction to hear this appeal. We affirm the trial court’s summary dismissal of Reed’s petition and motion.
Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge W. Mark Ward |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/31/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Eric Battle
W2017-01234-CCA-R3-CD
A Shelby County jury convicted the Defendant, Eric Battle, of one count of attempted first degree premeditated murder, five counts of aggravated assault, one count of employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On appeal, the Defendant claims that: (1) the trial court erred when it ruled that a witness’s proposed testimony was inadmissible; (2) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his convictions; and (3) the trial court erred when it declined to instruct the jury on self-defense. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the trial court’s judgments, but we remand for entry of corrected judgments.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Lee V. Coffee |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/31/18 | |
Devin Rogers v. State of Tennessee
W2017-01991-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Devin Rogers, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, which petition challenged his 2013 conviction of aggravated robbery, alleging that he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel at trial. Discerning no error, we affirm the denial of post-conviction relief.
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge James M. Lammey |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/30/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Gaines Richardson
W2017-01102-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant, Gaines Richardson, was indicted for two counts of aggravated robbery. After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted as charged. He received a total effective sentence of nine years. On appeal, Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions and that several plain errors were committed by the trial court. After a thorough review, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient and that Defendant is not entitled to plain error relief. Accordingly, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Paula L. Skahan |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/30/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Houston Thomas Wilkes
W2017-00798-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Houston Thomas Wilkes, appeals the trial court’s denial of his motion to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing that trial counsel coerced him into entering the guilty plea and that the State withheld potentially exculpatory evidence, such that his plea was not knowing and voluntary. He further argues that these circumstances led to manifest injustice, and the trial court therefore abused its discretion in refusing to allow the withdrawal of his guilty plea. After review, we affirm the denial of the motion to withdraw his guilty plea.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Donald E. Parish |
Carroll County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/30/18 | |
Bruce M. Vann v. State of Tennessee
W2017-02194-CCA-R3-PC
The Petitioner, Bruce Marvin Vann, appeals from the Madison County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The Petitioner contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call “alibi” witnesses during trial. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen |
Madison County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/30/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Darrin Keith Ward, Jr.
W2017-01516-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Darrin Keith Ward, Jr., appeals the trial court’s revocation of his community corrections sentence, arguing that the trial court abused its discretion by relying on stale information and insufficient evidence in deciding to revoke his sentence. After review, we affirm the revocation of the alternative sentence.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge R. Lee Moore, Jr. |
Dyer County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/30/18 | |
Jereco Tynes v. State of Tennessee
W2018-00005-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Jereco Tynes, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, which petition challenged his 2010 jury convictions of felony murder, aggravated robbery, and attempted aggravated robbery, alleging that he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel at trial. Discerning no error, we affirm the denial of post-conviction relief.
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge James M. Lammey, Jr. |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/30/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Gregory Lynn Kelley
M2017-01158-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant, Gregory Lynn Kelley, was indicted by the Maury County Grand Jury for one count of sale of more than 0.5 grams of methamphetamine, a Class B felony. Defendant pleaded guilty to the lesser-included offense of facilitation of the sale of methamphetamine over 0.5 grams, a Class C felony. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range II offender to serve eight years and six months in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Defendant contends on appeal that the trial court abused its discretion when it denied Defendant’s request to serve his sentence on probation. Having reviewed the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Stella L. Hargrove |
Maury County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/29/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Marc K. Eliazar
M2017-00757-CCA-R3-CD
The Appellant, Marc K. Eliazar, pled guilty in the Rutherford County Circuit Court to possession of one-half ounce or more of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver, a Class E felony, and reserved certified questions of law concerning whether the police officer’s dog sniff of his vehicle prolonged the traffic stop and, if so, whether the officer had reasonable suspicion of criminal activity for the dog sniff. Based upon the oral arguments, the record, and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the trial court’s denial of the motion to suppress.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Royce Taylor |
Rutherford County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/29/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Amail John Land
M2017-00422-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Amail John Land, appeals his Dekalb County Criminal Court jury convictions of burglary, theft of property valued at less than $500, and vandalism of property valued at less than $500. He challenges the admission of his pretrial statement to the police, the admission of testimony concerning the contents of a video recording that had been destroyed prior to trial, and the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. Discerning no error, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge David A. Patterson |
DeKalb County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/29/18 | |
John Paul Little v. State of Tennessee
E2017-02295-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant-Appellant, John Paul Little, was convicted by a Roane County jury of four counts of rape of a child, see Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-522, for which he received a sentence of 120 years in confinement. The sole issue presented in this appeal is whether the evidence is sufficient to support his convictions. After review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Jeffery H. Wicks |
Roane County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/28/18 | |
State of Tennessee v. Corey Forest
M2017-01126-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant-Appellant, Corey Forest, entered a guilty plea to possession of more than .5 grams of a Schedule II substance and to unlawful possession of a firearm and attempted to reserve two certified questions pursuant to Tennessee Criminal Procedure Rule 37(b)(2) regarding whether the stop of his vehicle was lawful. After this court dismissed the appeal because the certified questions were not properly reserved, Forest filed a timely petition for post-conviction relief and obtained an agreed order stating that defense counsel had provided ineffective assistance in drafting the certified questions. The trial court then vacated Forest’s judgments of conviction and allowed him to withdraw his guilty plea. Thereafter, Forest and the State agreed to re-enter the original plea agreement. Following a new plea submission hearing, the trial court accepted Forest’s guilty plea to the same offenses and entered new judgments of conviction, with Forest reserving two new certified questions of law regarding the stop of his vehicle. Because the parties and the trial court did not follow the post-conviction procedures and law before the new certified questions were reserved and because Forest cannot establish that he was prejudiced by counsel’s errors based on this record, we dismiss Forest’s appeal, vacate the agreed order granting post-conviction relief, as well as the subsequent plea agreement and guilty plea, and remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Robert L. Jones |
Maury County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/27/18 |