State of Tennessee v. Cedrick Leroy Shelton ( 2021 )

06/25/2021
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
Assigned on Briefs May 4, 2021
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. CEDRICK LEROY SHELTON
Appeal from the Circuit Court for Chester County
No. 19CR77 Donald H. Allen, Judge
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No. W2020-00897-CCA-R3-CD
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Defendant, Cedrick Leroy Shelton, was convicted by a jury of simple possession of
marijuana, possession of more than 0.5 ounces of marijuana with intent to deliver,
possession of a firearm with intent to go armed during the commission of a dangerous
felony, possession of drug paraphernalia, and improper display of a license plate.
Defendant also pled guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The trial court imposed an effective fourteen-year sentence, as a Range II multiple
offender, to be served in the Department of Correction. On appeal, Defendant argues: that
the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for possession of more than 0.5
ounces of marijuana with intent to deliver and possession of a firearm with intent to go
armed during the commission of a dangerous felony; that the jury rendered inconsistent
verdicts; and that his sentence was excessive. Following our review of the entire record
and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgments of the trial court but remand for
correction of a clerical error on the judgment forms for counts seven and eight to reflect
that Defendant pled guilty to those counts rather than being found guilty by a jury.
Additionally, the judgment form in count eight should reflect that it is merged with count
seven.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court
Affirmed in Part; Reversed in part; Remanded
JILL BARTEE AYERS, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which JOHN EVERETT
WILLIAMS, P.J., and D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., J., joined.
Jeff Mueller, Trenton, Tennessee, for the appellant, Cedrick Leroy Shelton.
Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Ruth Anne Thompson, Senior
Assistant Attorney General; Jody Pickens, District Attorney General; and Angela R. Scott,
Assistant District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
Factual and Procedural Background
This case arises from a traffic stop, during which Defendant was found to be in
possession of approximately 145 grams (more than 0.5 ounces) of marijuana, a loaded
handgun, and an extra magazine clip. A Chester County grand jury indicted Defendant for
possession of more than 0.5 ounces of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of more
than 0.5 ounces of marijuana with intent to deliver, two counts of possession of a firearm
with intent to go armed during the commission of a dangerous felony, possession of drug
paraphernalia, improper display of a license plate, and two counts of possession of a
firearm by a convicted felon. At Defendant’s trial on these charges, the following evidence
was presented: On the evening of August 3, 2018, Deputy Jason Walker of the Chester
County Sheriff’s Office pulled Defendant over because his license plate was not
illuminated. He approached Defendant’s vehicle and immediately smelled the odor of
marijuana. Deputy Walker advised Defendant that he would be searching the vehicle and
asked if he would find anything. Defendant denied having anything in the vehicle but
admitted that he had recently smoked marijuana. Deputy Walker asked Defendant to step
out of the car, and he was “patted down for evidence.” Defendant then told Deputy Walker
that there was “weed” in the armrest console. Deputy Walker looked inside the console
and found two bags of a “green leafy substance,” that he believed to be marijuana, and a
loaded firearm with an extra magazine clip. He also located a set of digital scales under
the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Thereafter, Deputy Walker took Defendant into custody.
Special Agent Carter Depew of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Forensic
Chemistry Unit, analyzed the two bags of green leafy substance recovered from
Defendant’s car and determined that the two bags contained approximately 145 grams of
marijuana.
Justin Denbow, a narcotics investigator with the Chester County Sheriff’s Office,
estimated that he had participated in between thirty and fifty undercover drug buys and
executed approximately twenty search warrants involving narcotics. He explained that
there are usually two grades of marijuana: “Loud,” which usually sells for twenty-dollars
per gram, and “regular” marijuana that sells for ten dollars per gram. Investigator Denbow
testified that it would not be unusual for someone who sold marijuana to have more than
one kind of the drug. He explained that drug dealers use digital scales to weigh their
product, and users also have digital scales to make sure they do not get “shorted” when
making a purchase. Investigator Denbow testified that he would expect a marijuana user
to have rolling papers and possibly a pipe or scales. When asked if weapons play a role in
narcotics trafficking, he said:
Weapons are used for protection mainly. A lot of times, during the
- - the initiation of a drug sale, a lot of people get robbed, either for
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the dope or for the money. So, most of the time, drug dealers will
have a weapon nearby or somebody they’re with will have a weapon.
Weapons are also used in trade for drugs a lot of the times as well.
Based on his training and experience, along with the weight of the marijuana, the scales,
and weapon, it was Investigator Denbow’s opinion that Defendant possessed the marijuana
in this case for resale.
On cross-examination, Investigator Denbow agreed that individuals sometimes
purchase marijuana in bulk and receive a discount on the purchase price. He said that
“Cush” is a synthetic grade of marijuana and is considered to be better than average. On
redirect examination, Investigator Denbow testified that individuals typically buy
marijuana in bulk for the purpose of resale.
Calyn Oakley, Defendant’s stepson, testified that the .40-caliber Smith & Wesson
handgun found in Defendant’s car during the traffic stop belonged to him, not the
Defendant. He said that he had been doing some “target shooting” at Defendant’s house
the day before Defendant’s arrest. Mr. Oakley asserted that he left the gun at Defendant’s
house, and Defendant was going to return it to him. He testified that Defendant frequently
used marijuana, “about like somebody smoking a pack of cigarettes.”
On cross-examination, Mr. Oakley testified that he never told police before trial that
the gun belonged to him. He did not testify on Defendant’s behalf at the preliminary
hearing because he could not afford to take off from work. Mr. Oakley testified that he
had purchased the weapon at Bradley’s Pawn and Gun in Savannah, Tennessee.
Defendant testified that he had been employed as a forklift operator for ten years.
He said that the gun found in his vehicle during the traffic stop belong to his stepson, and
he was returning it to him. Defendant admitted that the scales and marijuana belonged to
him, but he testified that they were for personal use. He said that he needed the scales “to
keep from getting beat” or “[ripped] off.”
Defendant testified that he had been smoking marijuana daily and “heavily” for at
least ten to fifteen years. He said that the two bags of marijuana found in his car contained
“regular weed” and “Cush.” Defendant explained: “Regular weed would be your lower-
grade marijuana, and your Cush would be your higher grade.” He said that he had
purchased the two bags of marijuana for personal use from one of his “associates”
approximately twenty to thirty minutes before the traffic stop. Defendant testified that he
paid $200 for the small bag of Cush and $250 for the large bag of regular marijuana. He
said that it usually took him two to three days to consume the amount of marijuana
contained in the two bags.
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On cross-examination, Defendant testified that he and his stepson were employed
by the same company, and he planned to return the gun to his stepson at work. He said that
he purchased the marijuana found in his car from John Holmes, and he usually purchased
marijuana from Mr. Holmes once or twice a week. Defendant said that he smoked the
marijuana rolled into a cigar, and he normally smoked around 100 cigars in three days.
Based on this evidence, the jury convicted Defendant of the lesser-included offense
of simple possession of marijuana (count one); possession of more than 0.5 ounces of
marijuana with intent to deliver (count two); one count of possession of a firearm with
intent to go armed during the commission of a dangerous felony (count four); possession
of drug paraphernalia (count five); and improper display of a license plate (count six).
Defendant was found not guilty in count three of possession of a firearm with intent to go
armed during the commission of the dangerous felony in count two, and he pled guilty to
the two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in counts seven and eight.
The presentence report was entered into evidence at the sentencing hearing along
with certified copies of the judgments for Defendant’s prior drug convictions. Valerie
Viers, an employee of the Tennessee Department of Correction, testified that she prepared
the presentence report in this case. She said that Defendant had maintained full-time
employment for at least nine-and-a-half years. For four of those years he had worked for
Action Tie as a forklift operator. Ms. Viers testified that Defendant was placed on
probation for a previous conviction, and she was unaware of any probation violations that
were filed against him. She said that Defendant reported heavy use of marijuana and that
he first used the drug in 2001. In the questionnaire for the presentence report, Defendant
reported that he had not used marijuana since January 8, 2020. Ms. Viers testified that
Defendant was very respectful and compliant, and he answered every question that she
asked him.
Dalton Wicker, the plant manager for Action Tie, testified that he met Defendant
four years earlier when they both began working for Action Tie, and he had been
Defendant’s direct supervisor for the last two years. He said that Defendant was a good
employee who was present at work every day. Mr. Wicker testified that he was not aware
of Defendant being high at work. On cross-examination, Mr. Wicker testified that he was
unaware of Defendant’s marijuana use, and Action Tie did not conduct drug screens. He
said that he had never smelled the odor of marijuana on Defendant.
Prentice Burdine, Defendant’s step-father, testified that he had known Defendant
for thirty-five years. He was aware of some of Defendant’s prior drug offenses but was
not aware that Defendant sold drugs. Mr. Burdine testified that Defendant began working
as a young man and always held a job. He said that Defendant took care of his family and
never gave Mr. Burdine any trouble.
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Jessica Shelton, Defendant’s wife testified that she and Defendant had been married
for ten years. She said that Defendant had problems in the past with marijuana and cocaine
use. Ms. Shelton testified that Defendant smoked marijuana daily, several times per day.
She said that Defendant was good to her and was a good father who helped raise her two
children and her two nieces.
The trial court considered the principles of sentencing, the arguments of counsel as
to sentencing alternatives, the evidence presented at trial and at the sentencing hearing, and
the nature and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved. The trial court noted that
Defendant said he had been using marijuana for fifteen years or longer and had never
sought treatment. The trial court said: “He’s just continued to smoke marijuana, to use
marijuana, to possess marijuana, and to sell marijuana.”
The trial court applied two enhancement factors, including Defendant’s previous
history of criminal convictions or criminal behavior, in addition to those necessary to
establish the appropriate range, and Defendant, before trial or sentencing failed to comply
with the conditions of a sentence involving release into the community. The trial court
gave great weight to Defendant’s history of criminal behavior. The trial court considered
Defendant’s work history as a mitigating factor. The trial court considered that Defendant
had committed new offenses while on some type of release into the community, “either
felony probation or misdemeanor probation,” even though his probation was not violated
in those cases. Therefore, the trial court concluded that measures less restrictive than
confinement have frequently or recently been applied to Defendant without success making
Defendant a poor candidate for probation or alternative sentencing. The trial court also
found that Defendant’s extensive history of criminal activity justified consecutive
sentencing.
The trial court found that Defendant was a Range II multiple offender based on his
four previous felony convictions and imposed a sentence of eleven months, twenty-nine
days in count one; four years in count two; six years in count four; eleven months, twenty-
nine days in in count five; thirty days in count six; ten years in count seven; and ten years
in count eight. The trial court merged count one into count two and ordered the sentences
in counts two, five and six to be served concurrently with each other for an effective four-
year sentence. The trial court further ordered the sentences in counts four, seven, and eight
to be served concurrently with each other for an effective ten-year sentence. Finally, the
trial court ordered the four-year sentence in counts two, five, and six to be served
consecutively to the ten-year sentence in counts four, seven, and eight for a total effective
sentence of fourteen years to be served in the Department of Correction as a Range II
multiple offender. It is from these judgments that Defendant now appeals.
Analysis
I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
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Defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for
possession of more than 0.5 ounces of marijuana with intent to deliver in count two. He
also argues that the jury’s verdicts for simple possession of marijuana in count one and
possession of more than 0.5 ounces in marijuana with intent to deliver in count two are
inconsistent and therefore, his conviction in count two is invalid. Defendant further
contends that without a valid conviction in count two, his conviction for possession of a
firearm with intent to go armed during the commission of a dangerous felony in count four
is likewise invalid. He does not challenge his remaining convictions. The State responds
that the evidence is sufficient to support Defendant’s convictions and that consistency
between verdicts on separate counts of an indictment is not necessary.
When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, this court is obliged
to review that claim according to certain well-settled principles. A guilty verdict removes
the presumption of innocence and replaces it with a presumption of guilt. State v. Evans,
838 S.W.2d 185, 191 (Tenn. 1992). The burden is then shifted to the defendant on appeal
to demonstrate why the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction. State v. Tuggle,
639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982). The relevant question the reviewing court must answer
is whether any rational trier of fact could have found the accused guilty of every element
of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e); Jackson v. Virginia,
443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). On appeal, “the State is entitled to the strongest legitimate view
of the evidence and to all reasonable and legitimate inferences that may be drawn
therefrom.” State v. Elkins, 102 S.W.3d 578, 581 (Tenn. 2003). As such, this court is
precluded from re-weighing or reconsidering the evidence when evaluating the convicting
proof. State v. Morgan, 929 S.W.2d 380, 383 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996); State v. Matthews,
805 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). Moreover, we may not substitute our own
“inferences for those drawn by the trier of fact from circumstantial evidence.” State v.
Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). Further, questions concerning
the credibility of the witnesses and the weight and value to be given to evidence, as well
as all factual issues raised by such evidence, are resolved by the trier of fact and not the
appellate courts. State v. Pruett, 788 S.W.2d 559, 561 (Tenn. 1990). “The standard of
review ‘is the same whether the conviction is based upon direct or circumstantial
evidence.’” State v. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d 370, 379 (Tenn. 2011) (quoting State v.
Hanson, 279 S.W.3d 265, 275 (Tenn. 2009)).
In Tennessee, “[i]t is an offense for a defendant to knowingly . . . [p]ossess a
controlled substance with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell the controlled substance.”
T.C.A. § 39-17-417(a)(4). A person “acts knowingly with respect to the conduct or to
circumstances surrounding the conduct when the person is aware of the nature of the
conduct or that the circumstances exist.” T.C.A. § 39-11-302(b). The “intent” element of
the statutes may be inferred “from the amount of a controlled substance or substances
possessed by an offender, along with other relevant facts surrounding the arrest, that the
controlled substance or substances were possessed with the purpose of selling or otherwise
dispensing.” T.C.A. § 39-17-419.
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Such “other relevant facts” that can give rise to an inference of intent to sell or
deliver include the absence of drug paraphernalia, the presence of a large amount of cash,
the packaging of the drugs, and the street value of the drugs. See State v. Brown, 915
S.W.2d 3, 8 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995) (finding that the absence of drug paraphernalia and
the manner of packaging of drugs supported an inference of intent to sell); Matthews, 805
S.W.2d at 782 (finding that testimony concerning amount and street value of drugs was
admissible to prove the defendant’s intent); State v. Charles Benson, No. M2003-02127-
CCA-R3-CD, 2004 WL 2266801, at *8 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, Oct. 8, 2004)
(finding that the absence of drug paraphernalia and testimony of value and amount of 3.3
grams of cocaine sufficient for the jury to infer the defendant’s intent to sell and deliver it),
perm. app. denied (Tenn. May 23, 2005).
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, the proof shows that
Defendant had more than 0.5 ounces (145 grams) of marijuana in his possession when he
was stopped by Deputy Walker. There were two different grades of the drug in two
separate bags, along with digital scales and a loaded handgun with an extra magazine clip.
Investigator Denbow testified that it would not be unusual for someone who sold marijuana
to have more than one kind of the drug. He further testified that based on his training and
experience, the amount of marijuana seized from Defendant’s car was in excess of that in
which someone would have for personal use. Defendant testified that he paid $450 for the
two bags of marijuana, and there was no proof at trial that Defendant had any drug
paraphernalia in his car that could be used for consumption of marijuana. Benson, 2004
WL 2266801, at *3. From this proof, a jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that
Defendant possessed the marijuana with intent to deliver it.
As for Defendant’s argument that the verdicts were inconsistent and that his
conviction for possession of more than 0.5 ounces of marijuana with intent to deliver is
invalid,
[c]onsistency in verdicts for multiple count indictments is
unnecessary as each count is a separate indictment. Therein lies the
essential reasoning. An acquittal on one count cannot be considered
res judicata to another count even though both counts stem from the
same criminal transaction. This Court will not upset a seemingly
inconsistent verdict by speculating as to the jury’s reasoning if we
are satisfied that the evidence establishes guilt of the offense upon
which the conviction was returned.
Wiggins v. State, 498 S.W.2d 92, 93-94 (Tenn. 1973); see State v. Davis, 466 S.W.3d 49,
77 (Tenn. 2015); State v. Jemel Johnson, No. M2018-01346-CCA-R3-CD, 2020 WL
2079268, at *12-13 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, April 30, 2020) no perm. app. filed.
Defendant’s claim is not a basis for relief. Davis, 466 S.W.3d at 77.
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Additionally, since there was sufficient evidence to support Defendant’s conviction
for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, the evidence is likewise sufficient to
support Defendant’s conviction for possession of a firearm with intent to go armed during
the commission of a dangerous felony. See T.C.A. § 39-17-1324(a). The crime of
possession with intent to sell or distribute a controlled substance is a dangerous felony.
T.C.A. §39-17-1324(i)(1)(L). As previously noted, Defendant was in possession of a
loaded handgun when he was stopped by Deputy Walker and found to be in possession of
marijuana. Defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.
Although not raised by either party, we note that Defendant’s conviction for
possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in count eight should be merged with his
conviction for the same offense in count seven since there was only one weapon involved
in the offense. “Merger . . . is required when a jury returns guilty verdicts on two counts
that represent alternative theories of the same offense.” State v. Berry, 503 S.W.3d 360,
362 (Tenn. 2015); see State v. Ziberia Marico Carero, No. E2015-00140-CCA-R3-CD,
2015 WL 9412836, at *5-8 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, De. 22, 2015) perm. app.
denied (Tenn. May 5, 2016). Therefore, we remand the case for entry of amended
judgments and order the trial court to merge count eight into count seven.
II. Sentencing
Defendant argues that the trial court erred by imposing more than the minimum
sentence for his convictions, by ordering partial consecutive sentencing, and by denying
alternative sentencing. The State responds that the trial court properly sentenced Defendant
to an effective fourteen-year sentence to be served in confinement.
Initially, we point out that Defendant failed to support his sentencing issues with
any citation to authority. Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 27(a)(7) requires that
briefs contain arguments with regard to each issue presented that include “citations to the
authorities ... relied on.” See also Tenn. Ct. Crim. App. R. 10(b) (“Issues which are not
supported by argument [or] citation to authorities ... will be treated as waived” on appeal).
“It is not the role of the courts, trial or appellate, to research or construct a litigant’s case
or arguments for him or her, and where a party fails to develop an argument in support of
his or her contention or merely constructs a skeletal argument, the issue is waived.” Sneed
v. Board of Prof’l Responsibility, 301 S.W.3d 603, 615 (Tenn. 2010); State v. Cross, 362
S.W.3d 512, 526 (Tenn. 2012). Nevertheless, we will address Defendant’s sentencing
issues.
The trial court has broad discretion to impose a sentence anywhere within the
applicable range, regardless of the presence or absence of enhancement or mitigating
factors, and “sentences should be upheld so long as the statutory purposes and principles,
along with any enhancement and mitigating factors, have been properly addressed.” State
v. Bise, 380 S.W.3d 682, 706 (Tenn. 2012). Accordingly, we review a trial court’s
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sentencing determinations under an abuse of discretion standard, “granting a presumption
of reasonableness to within-range sentencing decisions that reflect a proper application of
the purposes and principles of our Sentencing Act.” Id. at 707. In State v. Caudle, our
supreme court clarified that the “abuse of discretion standard, accompanied by a
presumption of reasonableness, applies to within-range sentences that reflect a decision
based upon the purposes and principles of sentencing, including the questions related to
probation or any other alternative sentence.” 388 S.W.3d 273, 278-79 (Tenn. 2012). Under
the Sentencing Act, trial courts are to consider the following factors when determining a
defendant’s sentence and the appropriate combination of sentencing alternatives:
(1) The evidence, if any, received at the trial and the sentencing
hearing;
(2) The presentence report;
(3) The principles of sentencing and arguments as to sentencing
alternatives;
(4) The nature and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved;
(5) Evidence and information offered by the parties on the mitigating
and enhancement factors set out in §§ 40-35-113 and 40-35-114;
(6) Any statistical information provided by the administrative office
of the courts as to sentencing practices for similar offenses in
Tennessee;
(7) Any statement the defendant wishes to make in the defendant’s
own behalf about sentencing; and
(8) The result of the validated risk and needs assessment conducted
by the department [of Correction] and contained in the presentence
report.
T.C.A. § 40-35-210(b).
In misdemeanor sentencing, the “trial court need only consider the principles of
sentencing and enhancement and mitigating factors in order to comply with the legislative
mandates of the misdemeanor sentencing statute.” State v. Troutman, 979 S.W.2d 271,
274 (Tenn. 1998). Thus, the trial court is afforded considerable latitude in misdemeanor
sentencing. See State v. Johnson, 15 S.W.3d 515, 518 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). The “Bise
standard is the appropriate standard of review in misdemeanor sentencing cases.” State v.
Gregory Gill, No. W2018-00331-CCA-R3-CD, 2019 WL 549651, at *16 (Tenn. Crim.
App., at Jackson, Feb. 11, 2019) perm. app. denied (Tenn. May 16, 2019).
Trial courts are “required ... to ‘place on the record, either orally or in writing, what
enhancement or mitigating factors were considered, if any, as well as the reasons for the
sentence, in order to ensure fair and consistent sentencing.’” Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 698-99
(quoting T.C.A. § 40-35-210(e)). Under the holding in Bise, “[a] sentence should be upheld
so long as it is within the appropriate range and the record demonstrates that the sentence
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is otherwise in compliance with the purposes and principles listed by statute.” Id. at 709-
10. Although the trial court should consider enhancement and mitigating factors, the
statutory enhancement factors are advisory only. See T.C.A. § 40-35-114; see also Bise,
380 S.W.3d at 701. Moreover, a trial court is “guided by - but not bound by - any applicable
enhancement factors when adjusting the length of a sentence [,]” and its “misapplication
of an enhancement or mitigating factor does not invalidate the sentence imposed unless the
trial court wholly departed from the 1989 Act, as amended in 2005.” Bise, 380 S.W.3d at
706.
In this case, the record reflects that the trial court in sentencing Defendant,
considered all appropriate principles set forth in T.C.A. § 40-35-210(b). The trial court
applied two enhancement factors, including Defendant’s previous history of criminal
convictions or criminal behavior, in addition to those necessary to establish the appropriate
range, and Defendant, before trial or sentencing failed to comply with the conditions of a
sentence involving release into the community. T.C.A. § 40-35-114 (1), (8). The record
reflects that the enhancement factors were appropriately applied. Defendant had four prior
felony convictions, two of which were used to enhance him to a Range II multiple offender.
He also had one prior misdemeanor drug conviction. Defendant had a history of smoking
marijuana dating back to 2001, which Defendant admitted. The trial court pointed out that
even after Defendant’s arrest in this case, and after he posted bond, Defendant continued
smoking marijuana until his bond was revoked. The presentence report also reflected that
Defendant had previously committed offenses while he was on some type of release into
the community. The trial court noted that it gave great weight to Defendant’s criminal
history. The trial court reviewed the proposed mitigating factors and found that one applied
in Defendant’s case: that Defendant had remained employed for at least four years. T.C.A.
§40-35-113(13).
We conclude that the trial court properly sentenced Defendant. The trial court
considered the relevant principles and sentenced Defendant to a within-range sentence for
each of his convictions. Defendant essentially argues that the trial court should have
sentenced him to the minimum sentence for each of his convictions. However, “[t]he
application of a single enhancement factor can justify an enhanced sentence.” State v. John
M. Banks, No. M2019-00017-CCA-R3-CD, 2020 WL 5015888, at *10 (Tenn. Crim. App.,
at Nashville, Aug. 25, 2020), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Dec. 2, 2020) (citing State v.
Bolling, 75 S.W.3d 418, 421 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001)). We also point out that the trial
court would have been within its discretion to impose a maximum in-range sentence
without finding any applicable enhancement factors, “as long as there are reasons
consistent with the statutory purposes and principles of sentencing.” State v. Christopher
Scott Chapman, No. M2011-01670-CCA-R3-CD, 2013 WL 1035726, at *9 (Tenn. Crim.
App., at Nashville, Mar. 13, 2013), no perm. app. filed (citing Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 706;
State v. Carter, 254 S.W.3d 335, 345-46 (Tenn. 2008)); State v. Richard Tipton, No.
E2011-02354-CCA-R3-CD, 2012 WL 5422272, at *7 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville,
Nov. 7, 2012) no perm. app. filed (“the 2005 amendments to the Sentencing Act deleted
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appellate review of the mitigating and enhancement factors, so this issue is not appropriate
to raise on appeal”). The trial court did not abuse its discretion by sentencing Defendant
to an effective sentence of fourteen years.
With respect to consecutive sentencing, our supreme court has held that the standard
of review adopted in Bise “applies similarly” to the imposition of consecutive sentences,
“giving deference to the trial court’s exercise of its discretionary authority to impose
consecutive sentences if it has provided reasons on the record establishing at least one of
the seven grounds listed in Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115(b)[.]” State v.
Pollard, 432 S.W.3d 851, 861 (Tenn. 2013). Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-
115(b) provides that a trial court may order sentences to run consecutively if it finds any
one of the following criteria by a preponderance of the evidence:
(1) The defendant is a professional criminal who has knowingly devoted
the defendant’s life to criminal acts as a major source of livelihood;
(2) The defendant is an offender whose record of criminal activity is
extensive;
(3) The defendant is a dangerous mentally abnormal person so declared
by a competent psychiatrist who concludes as a result of an investigation
prior to sentencing that the defendant’s criminal conduct has been
characterized by a pattern of repetitive or compulsive behavior with
heedless indifference to consequences;
(4) The defendant is a dangerous offender whose behavior indicates little
or no regard for human life, and no hesitation about committing a crime
in which the risk to human life is high;
(5) The defendant is convicted of two (2) or more statutory offenses
involving sexual abuse of a minor with consideration of the aggravating
circumstances arising from the relationship between the defendant and
victim or victims, the time span of defendant’s undetected sexual activity,
the nature and scope of the sexual acts and the extent of the residual,
physical and mental damage to the victim or victims;
(6) The defendant is sentenced for an offense committed while on
probation; or
(7) The defendant is sentenced for criminal contempt.
T.C.A. § 40-35-115(b). In Pollard, the court reiterated that “[a]ny one of these grounds is
a sufficient basis for the imposition of consecutive sentences.” 432 S.W.3d at 862. “So
long as a trial court properly articulates its reasons for ordering consecutive sentences,
thereby providing a basis for meaningful appellate review, the sentences will be presumed
reasonable and, absent an abuse of discretion, upheld on appeal.” Id.; Bise, 380 S.W.3d at
705.
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Here the record reflects that the trial court in sentencing Defendant found that
Defendant is an offender whose record of criminal activity is extensive. T.C.A. § 40-35-
115(b)(2). The record supports this finding. As set forth above, Defendant had four prior
felony convictions and one misdemeanor conviction. He admitted that he began using
marijuana in 2001 and that he continued to use it daily. We cannot conclude that the trial
court abused its discretion by ordering partial consecutive sentences in this case.
Finally, Defendant argues that the trial court erred by ordering him to serve his
effective sentence in confinement. Under the revised Tennessee sentencing statutes, a
defendant is no longer presumed to be a favorable candidate for alternative sentencing.
Carter, 254 S.W.3d at 347 (citing T.C.A. § 40-35-102(6)). Instead, the “advisory”
sentencing guidelines provide that a defendant “who is an especially mitigated or standard
offender convicted of a Class C, D or E felony, should be considered as a favorable
candidate for alternative sentencing options in the absence of evidence to the contrary.”
T.C.A. § 40-35-102(6). However, no criminal defendant is automatically entitled to
probation as a matter of law. State v. Davis, 940 S.W.2d 558, 559 (Tenn. 1997). Instead,
the defendant bears the burden of proving his or her suitability for alternative sentencing
options. Carter, 254 S.W.3d at 347 (citing T.C.A. § 40-35-303(b)). The defendant must
show that the alternative sentencing option imposed “will subserve the ends of justice and
the best interests of both the public and the defendant.” Hooper v. State, 297 S.W.2d 78,
81 (Tenn. 1956), overruled on other grounds, State v. Hooper, 29 S.W.3d 1, 9-10 (Tenn.
2000).
When imposing a sentence of full confinement, the trial court should consider
whether:
(A) Confinement is necessary to protect society by restraining a
defendant who has a long history of criminal conduct;
(B) Confinement is necessary to avoid depreciating the seriousness
of the offense or confinement is particularly suited to provide an
effective deterrence to others likely to commit similar offenses; or
(C) Measures less restrictive than confinement have frequently or
recently been applied unsuccessfully to the defendant [.]
T.C.A. § 40-35-103(1)(A)-(C). In addition, the sentence imposed should be (1) “no greater
than that deserved for the offense committed,” and (2) “the least severe measure necessary
to achieve the purposes for which the sentence is imposed.” T. C. A. § 40-35-103(2), (4).
As a Range II offender, Defendant in this case was eligible for alternative
sentencing, but he was not considered a favorable candidate for alternative sentencing
options. T.C.A. § 40-35-102(6). The record supports the trial court’s denial of alternative
sentencing. The trial court noted that although Defendant’s probation in his previous cases
had not been revoked, he committed new offenses while on probation in several of those
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cases. The trial court also pointed out that Defendant continued to use marijuana daily
while on probation in his previous cases, and while on bond in this case. The trial court
concluded that Defendant would not “reasonably abide” by the terms of probation. It
appears from the record that the trial court denied Defendant’s request for alternative
sentencing on the fact that measures less restrictive than confinement had frequently or
recently been applied unsuccessfully to Defendant. T.C.A. § 40-35-103(C). A trial court
may deny alternative sentencing if it finds that any one of the factors found at T.C.A. § 40-
35-103 apply. State v. Christopher Allen, No. W2016-00505-CCA-R3-CD, 2017 WL
764552, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Feb. 24, 2017) no perm. app. filed; State v.
John Anthony Garrett, No. E2012-01898-CCA-R3-CD, 2013 WL 5373156, at *4 (Tenn.
Crim. App., at Knoxville, Sept. 23, 2013) no. perm. app. filed. Accordingly, the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in ordering Defendant to serve his sentence in confinement.
CONCLUSION
After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
However, we remand the case to the trial court to correct the clerical error on the judgment
forms for counts seven and eight to reflect that Defendant pled guilty to those counts rather
than being found guilty by a jury. Additionally, upon remand, the judgment form in count
eight should reflect that it is merged with count seven.
____________________________________________
JILL BARTEE AYERS, JUDGE
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