APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State of Tennessee v. Robert Ray Mills

M2003-01813-CCA-R3-CD

This matter was presented to the Court upon the motion of the State of Tennessee, pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee, for this Court to affirm the judgment of the trial court by memorandum opinion. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/18/04
Susan Daugherty v. State of Tennessee, Cherry Lindamood, Warden

M2003-03054-CCA-R3-HC

Petitioner has appealed the dismissal of her petition for writ of habeas corpus. The State has filed a motion pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee, for this Court to affirm the judgment of the trial court by memorandum opinion. We grant the motion and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/18/04
State of Tennessee v. Randy Pruitt and Anet America

E2004-00891-CCA-R3-CD

The defendants, who are brother and sister, were each convicted by a Cocke County jury of assault, a Class A misdemeanor, and sentenced by the trial court to serve 11 months, 29 days on supervised probation. Both defendants challenge the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal. We conclude that sufficient evidence was presented from which a rational trier of fact could reasonably find both defendants guilty of assault. Accordingly, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Rex Henry Ogle
Cocke County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/18/04
State of Tennessee v. Ricky Joe Awatt

W2003-02680-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant was convicted in the Madison County Circuit Court of the first degree premeditated murder of Junecus Bolden. The appellant received a sentence of life imprisonment in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant raises issues regarding the admission of certain testimony and the propriety of the State’s rebuttal closing argument. Upon review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/18/04
Early H. Miles v. State of Tennessee

M2003-02849-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Early H. Miles, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post- conviction relief or in the alternative for writ of habeas corpus. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Petitioner filed his petition outside the statute of limitations for post-conviction purposes. The petition was not filed in the proper court for habeas corpus purposes, and the petitioner did not give any reason in the petition for not applying to the nearest court as required by law. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/18/04
Robert Holloway v. State of Tennessee

M2003-02274-CCA-R3-CO

This matter was presented to the Court upon the motion of the State of Tennessee, pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee, for this Court to affirm the judgment of the trial court by memorandum opinion. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Robert E. Burch
Dickson County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/04
State of Tennessee v. Raymond Sunil Tate

E2004-00873-CCA-R3-HC

The petitioner, Raymond Sunil Tate, appeals from the denial of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. The state has filed a motion requesting that this court affirm the action of the trial court pursuant to Rule 20, Tenn. Ct. Crim. App. R. The petition does not establish either an expired sentence or a void judgment. Accordingly, the state's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Douglas A. Meyer
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/04
James Dubose v. State of Tennessee, Kevin Myers, Warden

M2004-01021-CCA-R3-HC

This matter was presented to the Court upon the motion of the State of Tennessee, pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee, for this Court to affirm the judgment of the trial court by memorandum opinion. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Jim T. Hamilton
Wayne County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/04
Michael Brown v. State of Tennessee

M2003-02955-CCA-R3-HC

This matter was presented to the Court upon the motion of the State of Tennessee, pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee, for this Court to affirm the judgment of the trial court by memorandum opinion. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Robert L. Holloway
Wayne County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/04
State of Tennessee v. Patricia White and Craig White

W2003-00751-CCA-R3-CD

A Gibson County jury convicted Patricia White of theft of property valued over $10,000, a Class C felony; the trial court sentenced her to a term of four years, suspended, and fifteen years’ probation. The same jury also convicted Patricia White’s husband, Craig White, of facilitation of theft of property valued over $10,000; the trial court sentenced him to a term of two years suspended, and two years’ probation. As a condition of probation, the trial court held the couple jointly liable for $124,000 in restitution. On appeal the defendants contend that the trial evidence is insufficient to support their convictions. They also contest the amount of restitution they have been ordered to pay. After an exhaustive review of the record, the briefs of the parties, and applicable law, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient to support Patricia White’s conviction, but we are unable to reach the same conclusion for Craig White’s facilitation conviction. Accordingly, we affirm Patricia White’s conviction; the conviction of Craig White is reversed, and the charge is dismissed. Finding that the trial court made inadequate findings in assessing restitution, we further remand that issue for determination based on the required statutory findings. Finally, we take notice that based on three statutory enhancement factors (none of which involved prior criminal history), the trial court set the length of Patricia White’s sentence at one year above the presumptive minimum sentence of three years; pursuant to Blakely v. Washington, ___ U.S. ___, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004), we modify her sentence to three years but leave undisturbed the length and terms of her probation.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge L. Terry Lafferty
Gibson County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/04
State of Tennessee v. Patricia White and Craig White - Dissenting

W2003-00751-CCA-R3-CD

The majority concludes that modification of the defendant, Patricia White’s, sentence is
required in light of the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. __, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004). For the following reasons, I must respectfully dissent.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge L. Terry Lafferty
Gibson County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/04
State of Tennessee v. Ronnie W. Salmon

W2003-02402-CCA-R3-CD

Following a jury trial, Defendant, Ronnie W. Salmon, was convicted of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, second offense, a Class A misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced Defendant to eleven months, twenty-nine days, all suspended but sixty days. Defendant does not appeal his sentence. Defendant argues on appeal that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction, that certain remarks made by the prosecutor during closing argument were improper, and that the trial court erred in not granting Defendant a mistrial on the basis of the prosecutor’s comments during closing argument. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge C. Creed McGinley
Hardin County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/14/04
Anthony K. Goods v. Tony Parker, Warden

W2003-02914-CCA-R3-HC

The petitioner, Anthony K. Goods, appeals the Lake County Circuit Court’s dismissal of his petition for habeas corpus relief. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge R. Lee Moore Jr.
Lake County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/13/04
Alfonzo Williams v. State of Tennessee

W2004-00325-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Alfonzo Williams, appeals the post-conviction court’s summary dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that the post-conviction court erroneously found that his petition was barred by the statute of limitations. Upon our review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we reverse the post-conviction court’s summary dismissal of the petition and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/13/04
Leslie Lamont Coleman v. State of Tennessee

M2003-01755-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Leslie Lamont Coleman, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post conviction relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Petitioner filed his petition outside the statute of limitations. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/13/04
Joe Bobby Yarbro v. State of Tennessee

W2004-00751-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Joe Bobby Yarbro, appeals the trial court's denial of his petition for postc-onviction relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Because the petition for post-conviction relief is time-barred by the statute of limitations, we grant the State's motion and affirm the judgment of the lower court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge R. Lee Moore Jr.
Dyer County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/13/04
Donzel A. Watson v. State of Tennessee

M2003-02273-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Donzel A. Watson, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post conviction relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Petitioner filed his petition outside the statute of limitations. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/13/04
Johnny Proffitt v. State of Tennessee

M2003-02953-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Johnny Proffitt, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post conviction relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Petitioner cannot collaterally attack his probation revocation order. Moreover, the petitioner filed his petition outside the statute of limitations. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/11/04
James Marvin Martin v. State of Tennessee

E2004-00740-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, James Marvin Martin, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that his claim was beyond the statute of limitations. After careful review, we affirm the denial of the petition.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Richard R. Baumgartner
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/11/04
Joseph Matthew Maka v. State of Tennessee

W2003-01209-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner appeals theMadison County Circuit Court’s denial of post-conviction relief. Because the post-conviction court had no jurisdiction to rescind its earlier grant of post-conviction relief, we reverse.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Roger A. Page
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/11/04
State of Tennessee v. Christopher David Hodge

W2003-01513-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Christopher David Hodge, appeals his conviction of second degree murder. The defendant alleges that the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction and that the trial court erred in disallowing discovery of certain information relevant to preparation of a defense. From our review, we conclude there is no reversible error and affirm the conviction.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph H. Walker, III
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/11/04
State of Tennessee v. Lalon R. Davenport

M2003-02303-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Lalon R. Davenport, pled guilty to one count of violating the Motor Vehicle Habitual Offender Act. Pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 37, the Defendant reserved as a certified question of law the issue of whether the three-year time period articulated in the Habitual Offender Act bars prosecution for violating the Act after the time period has expired. We conclude that such prosecution is not barred by the Act, and the judgment of the trial court is therefore affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge James K. Clayton, Jr.
Rutherford County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/08/04
David E. Garrison v. State of Tennessee

M2003-02137-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, David E. Garrison, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post conviction relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Petitioner filed his petition outside the statute of limitations. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/08/04
State of Tennessee v. Carlos Eddings - Concurring and Dissenting

W2003-02255-CCA-R3-CD

The majority concludes that modification of the defendant’s ten-year sentence is required in light of Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. __, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004). I must respectfully dissent.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge W. Otis Higgs, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/08/04
State of Tennessee v. Jonathan B. Cutshaw

E2003-02502-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Jonathan B. Cutshaw, pleaded guilty in the Cocke County Criminal Court to one count of burglary, in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-402, and to one count of vandalism, in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-408. Pursuant to his plea agreement with the state, he accepted joint and several liability for restitution, along with others involved in the vandalism, and he received an effective sentence of three years, with the manner of service of the sentences to be determined by the trial court. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered the defendant to serve his sentences in confinement and to pay restitution. It is from this order that the defendant appeals. We modify the judgment of the trial court as to manner of service of the sentences and remand for further findings regarding the appropriate amount of restitution.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Ben W. Hooper, II
Cocke County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/08/04