APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Etta Faye Beck Bombacino v. Anthony John Bombacino, Sr.

E2021-01261-COA-R3-CV

Etta Faye Beck Bombacino (“Wife”) filed for divorce from Anthony John Bombacino (“Husband”) on January 29, 2021. Trial was held on July 21, 2021, and the trial court assessed equal fault to the parties and ordered them divorced. The trial court also ordered that the parties split the equity in their home after marital debts were paid and awarded Wife no spousal support. Wife appeals. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Originating Judge:Judge J. Michael Sharp
Bradley County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/03/22
State of Tennessee v. Christopher James Carbin

W2021-01082-CCA-R3-CD

Petitioner, Christopher James Carbin, appeals the trial court’s denial of his “Motion for Order Compelling Discovery,” which he filed regarding his 1986 Shelby County convictions for attempted second degree burglary, carrying burglar’s tools, and receiving stolen property. Upon review, we conclude that we are without jurisdiction to address the merits of the instant case, and the appeal is dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Lee V. Coffee
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/02/22
State of Tennessee v. Demerrick Porter

W2021-01216-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Demerrick Porter, was convicted in the Shelby County Criminal Court of second degree murder, attempted second degree murder, and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony and received an effective sentence of thirty-eight years in confinement. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions of second degree murder and attempted second degree murder. After review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Paula L. Skahan
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/01/22
State of Tennessee v. Marvin Dewayne Bullock

E2021-00661-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Marvin Dewayne Bullock, appeals his convictions for four counts of rape of a child, five counts of rape, nine counts of incest, three counts of sexual battery by an authority figure, one count of solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, and one count of aggravated sexual battery, for which he received an effective sentence of 178 years. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; that due to a hearing impairment, he was unable to hear the witnesses’ testimony at trial; that the prosecutor improperly coached jurors during voir dire in how to avoid jury service; that his sentences are excessive; and that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. We conclude that the Defendant’s notice of appeal was untimely and that the untimely filing should not be waived in the interest of justice. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal, and we remand the case to the trial court for entry of corrected judgments as set forth in the opinion.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge John Everetter Williams
Originating Judge:Judge E. Shayne Sexton
Campbell County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/29/22
State of Tennessee v. George Steven Waters

E2021-00218-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, George Steven Waters, was convicted by a jury of one count of reckless homicide. The trial court imposed a sentence of four years, suspended to ten years of supervised probation after service of 364 days in confinement. On appeal, Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction; that the trial court erred in denying his request for judicial diversion; and that his sentence is excessive. Following our review of the entire record and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jill Bartee Ayers
Originating Judge:Judge Sandra Donaghy
Polk County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/28/22
State of Tennessee v. Michelle Bennington

E2021-01163-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant-Appellant, Michelle Bennington, appeals the dismissal of her second pro se Rule 36 motion to correct a clerical error on an order revoking her probation. See Tenn. R. Crim. P. 36. The sole issue presented is whether the trial court abused its discretion in not applying jail credits the Defendant-Appellant earned on a concurrent sentence in another jurisdiction to the order of revocation. We affirm the dismissal.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas C. Greenholtz
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/27/22
Joshua Simpson v. State of Tennessee

W2021-00849-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Joshua Simpson, was convicted upon his guilty pleas to aggravated rape, aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and two counts of aggravated burglary, for which he received an effective twenty-year sentence. He filed a petition for post-conviction relief, which the trial court denied after a hearing. On appeal, he contends that the post-conviction court erred in denying relief on his claims that he received the ineffective assistance of trial counsel and that he did not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently enter his guilty pleas. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Paula Skahan
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/27/22
State of Tennessee v. Glenn Bohanan, Jr.

W2021-00242-CCA-R3-CD

Glenn Bohanan, Jr., Defendant, was charged with one count of rape of a child, three counts of rape, and four counts of incest, for events that took place over the span of several years. After a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of all counts of the indictment and sentenced to an effective sentence of 40 years. Defendant raises the following issues on appeal: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support the convictions for rape of a child in Count 1, rape in Counts 3 and 4, and incest in Counts 5-8 because the victim did not testify specifically that Defendant penetrated her on each occasion; and (2) the sentence is excessive. After a review of the evidence, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Henderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/22
Bryan Williams v. State of Tennessee

W2021-00823-CCA-R3-PC

Bryan Williams, Petitioner, was convicted of multiple sex offenses and a panel of this Court affirmed his convictions on direct appeal. State v. Bryan Williams, No. W2013-00418-CCA-R3-CD, 2014 WL 280398, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. Jan. 24, 2014), no perm. app. filed. Petitioner now appeals from the Gibson County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, in which he alleged that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. After reviewing the record, oral argument, and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Clayburn Peeples
Gibson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/22
Dustin Shawn Price v. State of Tennessee

M2021-00895-CCA-R3-PC

In 2009, a Davidson County jury convicted the Petitioner, Dustin Shawn Price, of first degree felony murder, first degree premeditated murder, two counts of reckless endangerment, and three counts of attempted first degree murder.  The trial court sentenced him to life plus forty years of incarceration.  The Petitioner appealed his convictions to this court, and we affirmed the judgments.  State v. Dustin Shawn Price, No. M2012-00117-CCA-R3-CD, 2013 WL 4539034, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, Aug. 26, 2013), no perm. app. filed.  Subsequently, the Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, claiming that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel, which the post-conviction court denied after a hearing.  After review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/22
Tondreon Bowles a/k/a Tondreon Merriweather v. State of Tennessee

W2021-00808-CCA-R3-PC

Petitioner, Tondreon Bowles, also known as Tondreon Merriweather, appeals from the Shelby County Criminal Court’s denial of post-conviction relief. Petitioner argues that his guilty plea to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, a Class C felony, was not knowingly and voluntarily entered and that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel. Petitioner claims that he believed he was pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, a Class E felony, and therefore, his sentence is illegal. Following a hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court; however, we remand the case to the trial court for entry of judgment forms in counts two and four.

Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Chris Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/22
State of Tennessee v. Garet Myers

E2021-00841-CCA-R3-CD

A jury convicted the Defendant, Garet Myers, of evading arrest in a motor vehicle, a Class E felony; reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor; speeding, a Class C misdemeanor; and driving without a license, a Class B misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced him to an effective sentence of two years, with thirty days to be served in confinement and the remainder on probation. The Defendant appeals, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, the court’s refusal to approve the Defendant’s request for a special jury instruction, the exclusion of evidence, and the trial court’s denial of judicial diversion. After a thorough review of the record, the parties’ briefs, oral argument, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Alex E. Pearson
Hawkins County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/22/22
State of Tennessee v. Hans Banks

W2021-01038-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Hans Banks, was indicted by the Shelby County Grand Jury for second degree murder. After a trial, Defendant was convicted of the lesser-included offense, voluntary manslaughter, and received a sentence of six years. On appeal, Defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his statements given to the police and that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction of voluntary manslaughter. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge James M. Lammey
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/22/22
Garric Dorsey v. State of Tennessee

W2021-01135-CCA-R3-PC

The Shelby County Grand Jury indicted Petitioner, Garric Dorsey, for one count of Class B aggravated sexual battery, one count of Class C solicitation of a minor, and one count of Class B felony sexual exploitation of a minor. Although Petitioner’s criminal history was that of a Range II offender, Petitioner entered a guilty plea as a Range III offender to one count of attempted aggravated sexual battery and one count of solicitation of a minor, both Class C felonies. The State dismissed the count of sexual exploitation of a minor. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the trial court sentenced Petitioner to eleven years’ incarceration on both counts and ran the sentences concurrently. Petitioner filed a post-conviction petition, which the post-conviction court denied following a hearing. On appeal, Petitioner argues that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel and that his due process rights were violated. After a thorough review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge J. Robert Carter, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/21/22
Robert Glen Gray v. State of Tennessee

W2021-01533-CCA-R3-PC

Petitioner, Robert Glen Gray, appeals as of right from the McNairy County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, wherein he challenged his convictions for two counts of delivery of more than 0.5 grams of methamphetamine. On appeal, Petitioner asserts that he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel because counsel (1) told Petitioner that he could “beat the charges” and obtain convictions for simple possession/casual exchange of methamphetamine; (2) failed to file a motion to sever; (3) failed to review the entirety of the discovery materials with Petitioner, specifically the laboratory report on the methamphetamine and photographs of Petitioner exchanging money and drugs; and (4) failed to explain the State’s plea offer “in its entirety.” Following our review, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge J. Weber McCraw
McNairy County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/21/22
Raymond-Bernard Bailey v. State of Tennessee

W2021-01535-CCA-R3-ECN

The pro se Petitioner, Raymond-Bernard Bailey, appeals the dismissal of his petition for writ of error coram nobis, arguing that the error coram court erred in dismissing his petition without a hearing because he has newly discovered evidence to show his innocence of the crimes. Based on our review, we affirm the summary dismissal of the petition.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Chris Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/20/22
State of Tennessee v. Michael Mimms

M2021-00383-CCA-R3-CD

In 2020, a Montgomery County jury convicted the Defendant, Michael Mimms, of facilitation of first degree premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit first degree premeditated murder.  The trial court imposed concurrent fifteen-year sentences in confinement.  On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions.  After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgments. 

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge William R. Goodman, III
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/20/22
State of Tennessee v. Milton Keith Perkins

M2021-01112-CCA-R3-CD

On May 24, 2021, the Defendant, Milton Keith Perkins, filed a motion pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 36.1 seeking to correct an illegal sentence. He alleged that his negotiated Tennessee sentence was illegal because the judgment indicated it should be served “consecutively to any present sentence including Texas parole,” but his Texas sentence was adjudicated after the Tennessee conviction. The trial court summarily denied the Defendant’s motion for failure to state a colorable claim. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred when it denied his motion. After a thorough review of the record and applicable authorities, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/20/22
Montez Davis v. State of Tennessee

E2021-00874-CCA-R3-PC

Petitioner, Montez Davis, was convicted of second degree murder, reckless endangerment, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a Hamilton County jury. State v. Montez Davis, No. E2011-02066-CCA-R3CD, 2012 WL 6213520, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. Dec. 13, 2012), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Apr. 10, 2013). The post-conviction court denied several of Petitioner’s claims but ultimately granted post-conviction relief and vacated Petitioner’s second degree murder conviction. The State appealed and Petitioner filed a cross-appeal. After a thorough review, we reverse the post-conviction court’s grant of post-conviction relief and reinstate Petitioner’s second degree murder conviction.

Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Barry A. Steelman
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/20/22
Breyon Bates v. State of Tennessee

W2021-01293-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Breyon Bates, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that he received effective assistance of trial counsel. Based on our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/20/22
State of Tennessee v. Andre Anthony

W2021-00668-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Andre Anthony, appeals the Shelby County Criminal Court’s denial of his pro se Motion to Correct Judgment Order. After review, we conclude that the appeal should be dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Chris Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/20/22
Joseph Thomas v. State of Tennessee

W2021-00851-CCA-R3-ECN

The Petitioner, Joseph Thomas, appeals the dismissal of his petition for writ of error coram nobis, arguing that the coram nobis court erred in concluding that he was not entitled to error coram nobis relief from his Alford guilty pleas. Based on our review, we affirm the judgment of the coram nobis court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Chris Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/20/22
Andre Anthony v. State of Tennessee

M2021-00665-CCA-R3-HC

The Petitioner, Andre Anthony, appeals the Trousdale County Circuit Court’s summary dismissal of his pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus. After review, we affirm the judgment of the habeas corpus court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell
Originating Judge:Judge Michael Wayne Collins
Trousdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/22
State of Tennessee v. Ronnie Lee Clayborn

M2021-00656-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Ronnie Lee Clayborn, was convicted by a Fentress County jury of rape of a child and incest, for which he received a sentence of twenty-seven years’ incarceration.  On appeal, Defendant contends that: (1) the State failed to present sufficient evidence to support his convictions beyond a reasonable doubt; (2) the trial court committed plain error by the admission of prior uncharged sex crimes to bolster the victim’s testimony; (3) rebuttal testimony from the lead detective infringed upon Defendant’s right to remain silent; (4) the trial court erred when it excluded testimony from Defendant’s father about text messages sent from Defendant to the victim’s mother on the night of the offense; (5) the prosecutor engaged in improper prosecutorial argument; (6) the trial court committed plain error by allowing the use of a facility dog during the testimony of two minor witnesses; (7) he is entitled to plain error relief based on the prosecutors’ and the lead detective’s repeated use of the term “victim” to refer to the complaining witness; and (8) cumulative error necessitates a new trial.  Following a thorough review, we affirm the judgments of conviction.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge E. Shayne Sexton
Fentress County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/22
William Carl Godfrey v. State of Tennessee

M2021-00768-CCA-R3-PC

Petitioner, William Carl Godfrey, initially agreed to plead guilty to domestic aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and vandalism under $1000.  During the plea submission hearing, Petitioner stated that he was not guilty.  The State then offered to accept a plea of “no contest,” and after discussion with trial counsel and the trial court, Petitioner accepted the no contest plea.  The trial court imposed an effective sentence of six years’ probation.  On appeal, Petitioner argues that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel and that his plea was unknowing and involuntary.  After a thorough review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Dee David Gay
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/18/22