APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State of Tennessee v. Clifford Bryant Johnson

W2006-01526-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Clifford Bryant Johnson, was convicted of one count of aggravated robbery, a class B felony, and sentenced to nine years in prison as a Range I, standard offender. The defendant appeals his conviction, claiming that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction. We conclude that the evidence is sufficient and affirm the defendant’s conviction.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Roger A. Page
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/12/07
State of Tennessee v. Carolyn J. Nobles

M2006-00695-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Carolyn J. Nobles, pled guilty to three counts of check forgeries, and a jury found her guilty of sixty-eight check forgeries. The trial court sentenced the Defendant, a Range I offender, to an effective sentence of seventeen years and six months. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain her convictions and that the trial court erred when sentencing her by denying her alternative sentencing and by ordering that some of her sentences run consecutively. Concluding there exists no error, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Lee Russell
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/07/07
State of Tennessee v. Claude Thomas Davis - Concurring

M2005-02007-CCA-R3-CD

I concur in the majority’s affirmance of the defendant’s convictions. I write separately to express my disagreement with the majority’s conclusion that the defendant’s arrest was lawful.  Under the evidence at the suppression hearing, I believe that the defendant was not subject to a warrantless arrest because he was no longer at the “scene of a traffic accident” as contemplated by Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-7-103(a)(6) and that he was not otherwise subject to arrest for a misdemeanor committed in the officer’s presence or for a felony. See T.C.A. § 40-7-103(a)(1)-(3). I believe the defendant was at his home, where he was not subject to a warrantless arrest for misdemeanor driving under the influence. In this regard, I note that after the offense in this case, the law was changed to permit the warrantless arrest of an individual involved in an accident who has left the scene, provided the arrest takes place within four hours of the accident and the officer has probable cause to arrest the defendant for driving under the influence. See T.C.A. § 40-7-103(a)(10).  I do not believe this provision can apply in this case.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Lillie Ann Sells
Putnam County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/07/07
State of Tennessee v. Claude Thomas Davis

M2005-02007-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Claude Thomas Davis, was convicted of driving under the influence, seventh offense (Class E felony); driving on a revoked license, third offense (Class A misdemeanor); and violation of the implied consent law (Class A misdemeanor) on October 26, 2004. He was sentenced to serve two years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress all evidence gathered by law enforcement at his home which is also a place of business located on the parking lot where the driving offense occurred. We affirm the judgments from the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Lillie Ann Sells
Putnam County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/07/07
Shannon Mayes v. State of Tennessee

M2005-02910-CCA-R3-PC

Following a jury trial, Petitioner, Shannon Mayes, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. This Court affirmed his conviction on direct appeal. State v. Shannon Mayes, No. M2002-02091-CCA-R3-CD, 2004 WL 49111, at *1-4 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, Oct. 15, 2003), perm. app denied (Tenn. May 3, 2004). Petitioner then brought a petition for post-conviction relief alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. The post-conviction court subsequently denied the petition. He now appeals that denial, arguing that he is entitled to post-conviction relief because his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to file a motion to suppress his statement to police. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Stella L. Hargrove
Wayne County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/07/07
State of Tennessee v. Mark A. Schiefelbein - Amended

M2005-00166-CCA-R3-CD

Came the defendant, Mark A. Schiefelbein, through counsel, and the State of Tennessee, through the attorney general, upon the defendant’s appeal from the judgments of the Williamson County Circuit Court, where a jury convicted the defendant of seven counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.  Following extensive briefing, oral argument, and our review of the record and the applicable law, we modify the imposition of consecutive sentences but otherwise affirm the convictions and sentences.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/07/07
Wendell Daniel Washington v. State of Tennessee

W2006-00922-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Wendell Daniel Washington, pled guilty in the Madison County Circuit Court to nine counts of child rape and one count of especially aggravated kidnapping and, pursuant to the plea agreement, received an effective forty-five-year sentence to be served at one hundred percent. In this appeal, he contends that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel and that he did not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily plead guilty. Upon review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of relief.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Roy Morgan
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/07/07
State of Tennessee v. William Clay Bohanan, Jr.

M2006-00360-CCA-R3-CD

The Appellant, William Clay Bohanan, Jr., was convicted by a Davidson County jury of felony escape and vandalism of property valued under $500, a Class A misdemeanor. On appeal, Bohanan raises two issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred in failing to charge the jury on the defenses of duress and necessity; and (2) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions. Following review, the judgments of conviction are affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/02/07
State of Tennessee v. Thomas Edward Hogue

M2005-02874-CCA-R3-CD

Before the court is petitioner Thomas Edward Hogue’s appeal from the Davidson County Criminal Court’s dismissal of his October 2005 “Petition to Set Aside Guilty Plea and to Issue a Writ of Error Coram Nobis.” Based upon an untimely filing of the petition, we affirm the order of dismissal.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/28/07
State of Tennessee v. Thomas Edward Hogue - Order

M2005-02874-CCA-R3-CD

This cause came before the court upon the State of Tennessee’s petition for a rehearing, wherein the State posited that the court’s opinion in this cause incorrectly referred to the statutory provision for the writ of error coram nobis in civil cases when a reference to the statute governing criminal cases should have been used. We agree.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/28/07
State of Tennessee v. Daniel Eugene Bradford

W2006-01166-CCA-R3-CD

The Appellant, Daniel Eugene Bradford, appeals the sentencing decision of the Hardin County Circuit Court. Under the terms of a plea agreement, Bradford pled guilty to aggravated assault and misdemeanor assault, receiving concurrent sentences of three years for the felony conviction and eleven months and twenty-nine days for the misdemeanor conviction. The manner and service of the sentences were to be determined by the trial court. On appeal, Bradford challenges the trial court’s denial of probation. After review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge C. Creed McGinley
Hardin County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/28/07
State of Tennessee v. Calvin Fleming

W2006-00098-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Calvin Fleming, was convicted of attempted first degree murder and aggravated assault. The Defendant was sentenced, as a career offender, to an effective sentence of sixty years. On appeal, the Defendant contends that: (1) the trial court erred when it admitted photographs of the victim’s wounds into evidence because the State failed to authenticate them; (2) the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support the Defendant’s convictions for attempted first degree murder because there was no proof of premeditation; and (3) his convictions for attempted first degree murder and aggravated assault violate constitutional principles of double jeopardy. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court as to the attempted murder, but we reverse the judgment as to the aggravated assault because the aggravated assault should have been merged into the attempted murder. Thus, we remand the case for the trial court to enter a judgment consistent with this opinion.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph H. Walker, III
Tipton County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/27/07
State of Tennessee v. Raymond Earl McKay

W2006-00920-CCA-R3-PC

The Appellant, Raymond Earl McKay, appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief by the Fayette County Circuit Court. McKay pled guilty to one count of theft of property valued between $1,000 and $10,000, a Class D felony, and was sentenced, as a career offender, to twelve years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he asserts that his plea was not knowingly and voluntarily entered due to the ineffective assistance of counsel. After review, we conclude that McKay received erroneous advise from counsel during the plea bargaining process, which resulted in the entry of an involuntary and unknowing guilty plea. Finding both deficient performance and prejudice, the case is remanded to the trial court for withdrawal of the guilty plea.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge J. Weber McCraw
Fayette County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/27/07
Anthony Keshun Goods v. Tony Parker, Warden

W2006-00849-CCA-R3-CO

The State appeals the habeas court’s grant of a petition for habeas corpus relief filed by the Petitioner, Anthony Keshun Goods. The Petitioner alleged in his petition that his sentence was illegal because he was sentenced to concurrent terms when the law required him to be sentenced to consecutive terms. On appeal, the State contends the statutory requirement of consecutive sentences does not apply to the Petitioner, his petition is not yet ripe, and the remedy set out by the habeas court is improper. Finding reversible error in the judgment of the habeas court, we reverse the judgment and dismiss the habeas corpus petition.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge R. Lee Moore Jr.
Lake County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/27/07
State of Tennessee v. Michael D. Gilliam

M2006-01528-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Michael D. Gilliam, appeals from the order of the Montgomery County Circuit Court revoking his probation and ordering that his eight-year sentence be served in the Department of Correction. In December of 2003, the Defendant pled guilty to possession of .5 grams or more of cocaine for resale and received an eight-year sentence. The sentence was suspended following service of twenty days in the county workhouse, and the Defendant was placed on probation. On June 23, 2005, a warrant was issued, wherein it was alleged that the Defendant violated the conditions of his probation. After a hearing, the trial court concluded that the Defendant violated the conditions of his probationary sentence and ordered that his original eight-year sentence to the Department of Correction be reinstated. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by revoking his probation and ordering that his sentence be served in confinement. After a review of the record, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge John H. Gasaway, III
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/27/07
State of Tennessee v. Jikinte Lashane Morris

M2005-02909-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Jikinte Lashane Morris, was convicted of sale of a schedule II drug, fined $3,000, and sentenced to eleven years and nine months as a Range I standard offender. On appeal, Defendant argues that the evidence is not sufficient to support his convictions, and that the trial court abused its discretion by denying the jury access, as part of its deliberations, to the surveillance video introduced as evidence at trial. We conclude that the evidence is sufficient and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion regarding the surveillance video. Thus, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Robert G. Crigler
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/26/07
State of Tennessee v. Jimmy Wayne Green

W2005-02623-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Jimmy Wayne Green, was indicted for theft of property and two counts of assault. In accordance with a plea agreement, he submitted a best interest plea to one count of assault in exchange for the State dismissing the other count of assault and the theft charge. The trial court accepted the plea and sentenced the Defendant to eleven months and twenty-nine days, thirty days of which was to be served in confinement with the remainder to be served on probation. The Defendant now appeals, contending that the trial court erred when it sentenced him. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/26/07
State of Tennessee v. Jim Corbett Corder

M2005-02860-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Jim Corbett Corder, was convicted of attempted voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison. On appeal, the defendant argues that the evidence is not sufficient to support his conviction. We conclude that the evidence is sufficient and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Leon C. Burns, Jr.
White County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/26/07
Demond Gardner v. State of Tennessee

W2006-00170-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Demond Gardner, filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief claiming that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel. After appointing the Petitioner counsel and holding a hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief. The Petitioner filed this appeal, contending that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge W. Mark Ward
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/26/07
Richard Madkins v. State of Tennessee

M2005-02873-CCA-R3-HC

The petitioner, Richard Madkins, filed a February 2005 Davidson County Criminal Court petition for habeas corpus relief from his 1994 jury-tried conviction of especially aggravated robbery, for which he was originally sentenced to a term of 60 years and re-sentenced in 2003 to a term of 25 years. Before the habeas corpus court, the petitioner argued that he was illegally re-sentenced because the 1994 jury verdict and conviction were void and because, instead of re-sentencing, he should have been immediately released from custody. Following a hearing, the habeas corpus court dismissed the petition, and we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Mark J. Fishburn
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/26/07
State of Tennessee v. Donte Montgomery

W2006-00347-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Donte Montgomery, pled guilty to one count of possession with the intent to sell more than 0.5 grams of cocaine, and the trial judge imposed a sentence of six years in the workhouse as a standard offender. The Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, which was dismissed by the post-conviction court after a hearing. On appeal, the Petitioner contends he was not afforded the effective assistance of counsel, and his guilty plea was not voluntarily entered. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge W. Mark Ward
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/26/07
State of Tennessee v. Marvin D. Nance

E2005-01623-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Marvin D. Nance, was convicted of aggravated sexual battery, and the trial court sentenced him to ten years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the Defendant contends that: (1) the State failed to elect a set of facts upon which it was relying to sustain his convictions; (2) the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction; (3) the trial court erred by not granting him a mistrial after the State made allegedly improper argument; (4) the State committed a discovery violation; and (5) the trial court erred when it sentenced him. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge James Edward Beckner
Greene County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/23/07
State of Tennessee v. Zachary V. Henning

W2005-00269-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Zachary V. Henning, was convicted at a jury trial in Lauderdale County Circuit Court of aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and theft of property valued between $1,000 and $10.000.  He was sentenced, as a Range I offender, to 10 years for aggravated robbery, three years for aggravated assault, and two years for theft of property. The trial court merged the conviction of aggravated assault with the aggravated robbery conviction and imposed the theft sentence to run concurrently with that for aggravated robbery, for an effective sentence of 10 years. On appeal, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and complains that his sentence is excessive. Upon our review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient to support the jury’s guilty verdicts but that multiple convictions for aggravated robbery and theft violate double jeopardy protections. Accordingly, the defendant’s conviction judgments for aggravated assault and theft are vacated, and the jury’s “guilty verdict” for the theft is merged into the judgment of conviction of aggravated robbery. The defendant’s aggravated robbery sentence is affirmed, and we remand solely for the correction and entry of an appropriate judgment consistent with this opinion.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph H. Walker, III
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/23/07
State of Tennessee v. Frank Lee Tate

W2004-01041-CCA-R3-CD

Following a jury trial, Defendant, Frank Lee Tate, was convicted of aggravated rape, a Class A felony, and incest, a Class C felony. The trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range III, career offender, to concurrent sentences of sixty years for his aggravated rape conviction and fifteen years for his incest conviction. In his pro se appeal, Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence, the trial court’s evidentiary rulings, and his classification as a career offender for sentencing purposes. The State argues on appeal that the trial court erred in not sentencing Defendant to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole after finding that Defendant was a repeat violent offender. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm Defendant’s convictions and his sentence for his incest conviction. We set aside the sentence for aggravated rape, and remand this matter for a new sentencing hearing on the sole issue of whether Defendant should be sentenced as a repeat violent offender or as a career offender for his aggravated rape conviction.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
Fayette County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/23/07
State of Tennessee v. Timothy Jowers

W2006-01487-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Timothy Jowers, pled guilty to robbery and possession of contraband in a penal facility. As part of the plea agreement, the trial court approved a concurrent sentence of five years for each conviction. The appellant was ordered to complete a six-month inpatient treatment program for drug and alcohol abuse prior to serving the balance of his sentence on probation. Subsequently, a probation violation warrant was issued against the appellant, alleging that he failed to complete the six-month program as required by the trial court. The appellant filed a motion to revoke his own probation, asserting that he was incarcerated in Oklahoma serving a five-year sentence for a conviction in that state and admitting to the probation violation. The trial court denied the motion to revoke probation because the warrant had not yet been served on the appellant due to his incarceration in Oklahoma. After the warrant was finally served on the appellant, an amended probation violation warrant was filed and served on the appellant. The trial court held a hearing on the matter, revoked the appellant’s probation, and awarded the appellant jail credits for time served in Tennessee prior to his plea and for time served in incarceration after service of the probation violation warrant. On appeal, the appellant complains that the trial court improperly denied retroactive jail credits for time served in Oklahoma.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Henderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/22/07