State of Tennessee v. Tommy Lee Collins, Jr. ( 2017 )

05/16/2017
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs January 18, 2017 at Knoxville
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. TOMMY LEE COLLINS, JR.
Appeal from the Circuit Court for Bedford County
No. 13-CR-17817 F. Lee Russell, Judge
No. M2015-01030-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Tommy Lee Collins, Jr., was convicted by a Bedford County Circuit
Court jury of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, a Class
C felony, evading arrest, a Class D felony, and reckless endangerment, possession of
marijuana with the intent to sell, and possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver,
Class E felonies. See T.C.A. §§ 39-17-1324 (2014) (employing a firearm during the
commission of a dangerous felony), 39-16-603 (2014) (amended 2016) (evading arrest),
39-13-103 (Supp. 2012) (amended 2013) (reckless endangerment), 39-17-417(a)(4)
(Supp. 2012) (amended 2014) (possession of a controlled substance). The trial court
merged the possession of marijuana convictions and sentenced the Defendant to an
effective eight years. On appeal, the Defendant contends that (1) the evidence is
insufficient to support his drug and firearm convictions, (2) the trial court erred by
denying his motion to suppress evidence obtained as a result of the traffic stop and
subsequent search of the car he was driving, (3) the prosecutor improperly challenged a
juror on the basis of race, (4) the trial court erred by declining to order the prosecutor to
disclose the identity of a confidential informant, and (5) the Defendant’s dual convictions
for reckless endangerment and evading arrest violated double jeopardy principles.
Because we conclude a juror was improperly challenged, we reverse the judgments of the
trial court and remand for a new trial.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Circuit Court Reversed;
Case Remanded
ROBERT H. MONTGOMERY, JR., J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which JAMES
CURWOOD WITT, JR., and D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., JJ., joined.
David Harris (on appeal) and Stephanie Pirera (at sentencing and motion for new trial),
Nashville, Tennessee, and Harold E. Dorsey (at trial), Alamo, Tennessee, for the
appellant, Tommy Lee Collins, Jr.
Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Sophia S. Lee, Senior Counsel;
Robert Carter, District Attorney General; and Michael D. Randles, Assistant District
Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
This case arises because of a tip from a confidential informant about the planned
sale of marijuana, which led members of the Seventeenth Judicial Drug Task Force to
attempt to initiate a traffic stop of a car driven by the Defendant. The Defendant led
officers on an eleven-mile, high-speed chase involving multiple near-collisions with
police cruisers and one civilian vehicle. The chase began on Bottle Hollow Road,
spanned a section of State Highway 82, and ended inside the Shelbyville city limits.
After the car was stopped and the Defendant arrested, a backpack containing a loaded
pistol and marijuana was recovered from the front passenger floorboard.
Suppression Hearing
Bedford County Sheriff’s Deputy and Assistant Director of the Seventeenth
Judicial Drug Task Force Timothy Miller testified that he had received multiple tips
concerning a man who drove a silver four-door Jaguar and distributed marijuana at a
specific residential area. Deputy Miller stated that he went to the residential area
multiple times, that he saw the Jaguar, and that the Jaguar was registered to Jordan
Beales. Deputy Miller said that on May 16, 2013, a confidential informant told him that
the informant had been in contact with Christina Long, a person from whom the
informant had previously bought marijuana. The informant told Deputy Miller that on
multiple occasions, the informant had ordered one-half pound of marijuana and that Ms.
Long had called her “source.” The informant told Deputy Miller that he had gone to Ms.
Long’s house and waited for her source to arrive. The informant said that an African-
American man driving a silver Jaguar would arrive, that Ms. Long would take marijuana
from the man and give it to the informant, and that the informant would give money to
Ms. Long to give to the man. The informant stated that he did not know the man’s name.
Deputy Miller testified that based on this information, he authorized the informant
to order one-half pound of marijuana from Ms. Long. Deputy Miller stated that the
informant told him the man driving the silver Jaguar was expected at Ms. Long’s house
during the evening hours on May 16. Deputy Miller said that the informant had
previously provided information to the police between ten and twenty times, that the
informant had made successful controlled drug purchases on behalf of Bedford County
law enforcement and other Tennessee agencies, and that large quantities of drugs had
been obtained as a result of the informant’s cooperation. Deputy Miller stated that he had
found the informant reliable.
-2-
Defense counsel interjected and stated, “Your Honor, his reliability is not at issue
at all. I understand that.” The prosecutor responded that he used reliability to establish
probable cause for the search of the car and that he accepted counsel’s stipulation as to
the informant’s reliability.
Deputy Miller testified that he and other officers set up surveillance on both ends
of the road on which Ms. Long lived, that Ms. Long drove past them, that Agent Shane
George stopped her car, and that Deputy Miller stopped behind them. Deputy Miller said
that before he had an opportunity to speak to Ms. Long, he saw an African-American
man in a silver Jaguar drive past them. Deputy Miller stated that he attempted to stop the
Jaguar by activating his blue lights, that the Jaguar did not stop, and that the driver led the
police on an eleven-mile chase toward Shelbyville.
Defense counsel again interjected and stated the defense was only “contesting the
stop.” Deputy Miller stated that the Defendant was removed from the Jaguar, that the
Jaguar was searched, and that a maroon bag with a “large quantity” of marijuana and a
loaded gun was found on the front passenger floorboard.
On cross-examination, Deputy Miller testified that his supervisor at the Drug Task
Force received a “handful” of anonymous tips about the silver Jaguar. Deputy Miller
agreed that he did not personally listen to the tips. He said that he saw the Jaguar in the
residential area between five and ten times before May 16. He stated that he was told a
man was selling marijuana at the residential area and was given a description of the
Jaguar. He agreed that he was not told the basis of information supporting the
anonymous tips. Deputy Miller said that he did not see any indications of criminal
activity when he saw the Jaguar at the residential area, that he did not see Mr. Beales or
the Defendant. Deputy Miller stated that after May 16, either the Defendant or Maury
County “authorities” who had interviewed Mr. Beales told Deputy Miller the Defendant
had borrowed the Jaguar from Mr. Beales or was in the process of buying it from him.
Deputy Miller agreed that before May 16, he did not know the Defendant was connected
to the Jaguar.
Deputy Miller testified that the confidential informant purchased drugs from Ms.
Long, that the informant had been to Ms. Long’s house multiple times, that the informant
usually purchased between one-quarter and one-half pound of marijuana, and that every
time the informant had purchased marijuana, Ms. Long’s supplier had been an African-
American man driving a four-door Jaguar. Deputy Miller said the informant told him
that Ms. Long took the drugs and gave the supplier the informant’s money. Deputy
Miller did not know where the informant stood during the transactions. Deputy Miller
stated that the informant said he saw the hand-to-hand drug transactions and that the
informant never bought drugs directly from the Jaguar’s driver.
-3-
Deputy Miller testified that the confidential informant had no contact with the
Jaguar’s driver on May 16 and that the informant’s information came from conversations
between the informant and Ms. Long. Deputy Miller said that the informant had placed
an order for one-half pound of marijuana, that Ms. Long told the informant she was
“going to call my same guy, it’s going to happen the way it always happens.” Deputy
Miller stated that the informant said the supplier would be an African-American man
driving a four-door, silver Jaguar and that he would arrive during the evening hours.
Deputy Miller agreed that the informant never identified the driver and that the informant
never identified the Defendant. Deputy Miller said that officers corroborated the time
frame, the car, and the male driver. Deputy Miller stated that the first time the informant
described the Jaguar and the previous transactions was one or two days before May 16
and that on May 16, the informant called to tell Deputy Miller the sale had been arranged
for later that day. Deputy Miller said that some years previously, the informant had been
arrested and provided information to the police, that the informant had stopped providing
information after the resolution of his case, and that the informant had been arrested on
new charges and provided the information about the Jaguar in connection with the second
arrest. Deputy Miller did not know when the informant’s second arrest occurred but said
it was shortly before May 16. Deputy Miller said that the informant had worked on
“major investigation[s]” in Rutherford and Davidson Counties and had participated in
several “pretty big busts” in Bedford County. Deputy Miller stated that the informant
provided information leading to a traffic stop just before May 16, which resulted in the
recovery of fifteen to twenty grams of methamphetamine. Deputy Miller said that in his
experience, the informant’s information had been reliable and accurate.
Trial
Deputy Miller’s trial testimony was consistent with his testimony at the
suppression hearing. He stated that on May 16, he drove an unmarked police car and that
Agent George stopped a car driven by Ms. Long. Deputy Miller stated that he parked
behind Agent George and asked him to bring Ms. Long to Deputy Miller’s police cruiser,
that Ms. Long walked toward Deputy Miller, and that Deputy Miller saw a silver four-
door Jaguar drive past them. Deputy Miller said that he pulled out behind the Jaguar and
activated his blue lights and later his siren, that the Jaguar did not stop, and that another
unmarked police car joined the pursuit. He stated that the Jaguar maintained the same
speed at first but gradually increased speed. He said that Tennessee State Highway Patrol
Trooper Barry Qualls attempted to block the road in his vehicle, that the Jaguar, Deputy
Miller, and Agent George drove around Trooper Qualls, and that Trooper Qualls
activated his blue lights and siren and joined the pursuit.
Deputy Miller testified that during the pursuit, he and Trooper Qualls made “a
number of attempts” to slow or stop the Jaguar by placing their police cruisers in front of
it, that they had to “take evasive action” several times to avoid colliding with the Jaguar,
and that the Jaguar attempted to “ram” the police cruisers when they were in his way.
-4-
Deputy Miller said that the vehicles traveled between sixty and seventy miles per hour,
that they traveled onto a local highway, that three or four Bedford County Sheriff’s
Department police cruisers joined the pursuit, and that the vehicles eventually reached
speeds of about ninety miles per hour. Deputy Miller stated that on one occasion, he
went around the Jaguar and applied his brakes in order to slow the Jaguar and that the
Jaguar “darted out into the oncoming traffic” and nearly caused a head-on collision with a
civilian motorist. Deputy Miller said that after the incident, the officers did not attempt
to slow the Jaguar by pulling in front of it and instead sought to stop it from behind. He
agreed that the pursuit ended when the officers surrounded the Jaguar, forcing it to stop.
Deputy Miller said that the Defendant was the driver, that he was removed forcibly from
the Jaguar, and that one of the officers shocked the Defendant with a Taser. He stated
that the pursuit spanned eleven miles.
Deputy Miller testified that he knew the Defendant and that the Defendant was the
Jaguar’s only occupant. Deputy Miller said that after the Defendant had been arrested, he
saw a maroon backpack “in plain view” on the front passenger-side floorboard. Deputy
Miller agreed that the backpack was easily observable and within arm’s reach of the
driver’s seat and that nothing would have obstructed the driver’s view of the backpack.
Photographs of the silver Jaguar were received as an exhibit. Deputy Miller
testified that the photographs depicted the Jaguar and unmarked police cars as they
appeared when the Defendant was stopped and the location of the maroon backpack. He
said that he searched the backpack and found several one-gallon plastic bags containing
marijuana, a loaded “Millennium” nine-millimeter pistol, and a dryer sheet. He stated
that drug sellers used dryer sheets to mask the smell of marijuana. He said that the
quantity of marijuana was much more than he expected to see for personal use and that in
his experience, a person possessing that much marijuana intended to sell it. He stated
that it was very rare for a marijuana user to carry a pistol.
Deputy Miller identified photographs of the backpack, marijuana, pistol, and dryer
sheet, which were received as an exhibit. Deputy Miller stated that the multiple plastic
bags indicated to him that the marijuana was packaged for sale. He said that he sent the
marijuana to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for testing and that the
marijuana weighed a little less than 350 grams, which was about three-quarters of one
pound.
On cross-examination, Deputy Miller testified that Agent Shane George stopped
Ms. Long’s car because he suspected a male passenger could have been her marijuana
supplier. He agreed that he did not instruct Agent George to stop Ms. Long, that no
contraband was recovered from Ms. Long, and that no scales were recovered from the
silver Jaguar. Deputy Miller stated that he was uncertain but that it was possible a deputy
looked inside the maroon backpack and saw marijuana before the backpack was
photographed and removed from the Jaguar. He said, though, that he observed the
-5-
backpack continuously from the time of the Defendant’s arrest. He stated that he was the
first person to notice the bag on the floorboard, that he removed the bag from the car, and
that he placed it and its contents on the hood of his police cruiser.
Deputy Miller testified that generally, drug transactions did not necessarily
involve scales and that in this case, the marijuana had previously been weighed and
packaged by the ounce, quarter pound, and half pound. He stated that in his experience,
it was common not to recover scales and that each drug transaction was different because
of the individuals involved. He said that he did not know Mr. Beales. Deputy Miller
stated that he did not send the plastic bags for collection of fingerprint evidence, that it
was “nearly impossible” to collect fingerprints from plastic bags, and that in fifteen years,
he had never been involved in a case when fingerprints had been successfully recovered
from plastic bags.
Seventeenth Judicial Drug Task Force Agent Shane George testified that on May
16, 2013, he conducted a traffic stop in connection with a marijuana investigation and
that during the stop, a silver four-door Jaguar drove past him on the road. He said that
Deputy Miller activated his blue lights and siren and followed the Jaguar in his unmarked
police car and that Agent George activated his blue lights and siren and followed them in
his unmarked police pickup truck. Agent George stated that at one point, he pulled
alongside the Jaguar and saw that the Jaguar’s driver had a clear view of the police
vehicles behind him.
Agent George identified a video recording taken from his police pickup truck’s
camera, which was received as an exhibit and played for the jury. In the recording, two
men stood next to a stopped car on a two-lane road. One of the officers wore a
bulletproof vest, and the other wore a shirt marked “police” on the front and back. Blue
lights reflected off of the back of the car. The man in the vest, presumably Agent
George, walked to and entered the truck. A silver Jaguar sedan and a black car with its
blue lights activated drove past the truck. Agent George followed the black car.
In the recording, the officers drove for several seconds before activating the black
car’s and the truck’s sirens. The cars approached a marked state highway patrol vehicle,
which was stopped in the middle of the two lanes with its blue lights and siren activated
and faced the oncoming cars. The Jaguar, the black car, and the truck drove around the
patrol car. The line of cars sped up, and eventually the cars turned right onto other two-
lane roads Agent George identified in the recording as “Hilltop” and “Highway 82.” The
highway patrol vehicle and the black car attempted to box in the Jaguar multiple times,
but the Jaguar swerved to avoid being trapped. The Jaguar nearly collided with the black
car and the white truck on multiple occasions. In the process of avoiding the black car,
the Jaguar entered the left lane and almost hit a civilian motorist, who had to swerve onto
the shoulder to avoid a head-on collision. The vehicles passed multiple marked police
cars with blue lights and sirens activated, as well as multiple civilian motorists, the
-6-
majority of whom had pulled over on the side of the road. A small black object was
visible in the air, and it went under the truck. Agent George stated that the object
appeared to be a cell phone and that it was “10-7.” A marked police car traveling in the
right lane pulled in front of the Jaguar and came to a stop beside two civilian trucks in the
left lane. The white truck pulled over to the right side of the Jaguar, and the black car
remained behind the Jaguar. All the vehicles came to a stop, shuffling was audible, and a
voice said, “Get on the ground.” The pursuit lasted about eleven minutes.
Agent George testified that in the recording, Deputy Miller had his blue lights
activated, that Trooper Qualls had been traveling toward them from the opposite direction
and had set up a roadblock, and that the Defendant drove around Trooper Qualls by going
onto the shoulder. Agent George stated that about five minutes after the pursuit began,
the Jaguar and the police vehicles sped up “dramatically.” Agent George described
several attempts to box in and slow the Jaguar. Agent George said that on one occasion,
the Jaguar came within inches of his truck and that he had to “take evasive action” to
avoid being hit. Agent George stated that on another occasion, Deputy Miller pulled in
front of the Jaguar in an attempt to slow the Jaguar, the Jaguar pulled into the oncoming
traffic lane, and the Jaguar nearly hit an oncoming motorist. Agent George said that after
the near miss, the officers only attempted to slow the Jaguar from behind. He stated that
the vehicles traveled between sixty and ninety miles per hour at varying intervals.
Agent George testified that he saw a cell phone on the road, that the cell phone
went under his truck, and that he told the dispatcher the cell phone was likely broken. He
said that he did not know from where the cell phone came and that it was possible it came
from the Jaguar or had been on the side of the road and kicked up by one of the cars. He
agreed that in the video recording, Deputy Miller commented over the radio that the
driver of the Jaguar had thrown something out the window. Agent George stated that cell
phones were valuable in drug investigations. Agent George said that eventually, the
Jaguar was boxed in by police and civilian vehicles and that the Defendant was removed
from the Jaguar.
On cross-examination, Agent George testified that before the chase, he stopped
Ms. Long for ten to fifteen minutes and that he searched her car. He denied finding
scales or large sums of money in Ms. Long’s car. He stated that the Defendant had
twenty dollars at the time of his arrest. Agent George did not know whether it was
possible to obtain fingerprints from the pistol and said he was not familiar with
fingerprinting. He was uncertain but did not think he sent the pistol for fingerprint
analysis. He denied having sent items for fingerprint analysis in his fifteen years as a
police officer.
Agent George testified that the Defendant’s not having cash with him indicated
that the Defendant had just purchased the marijuana he intended to resell. Agent George
said that Ms. Long’s lack of money was consistent with the information they received
-7-
during the investigation, which was that Ms. Long was a “middle person” and did not
need to carry cash because the marijuana was intended for another buyer. Agent George
stated that in his experience, some drug purchasers and distributors brought scales to a
sale and some did not. He noted that if a drug supplier trusted a distributor, the supplier
might give drugs to the distributor with the expectation of being paid once the drugs were
sold. He agreed that if scales and money had been recovered, it would indicate the drugs
were intended for resale. He denied, though, that an absence of scales and money would
indicate no intent to sell the drugs. He said that the individual plastic bags of marijuana
were not full, indicating that the marijuana had been weighed before it was packaged. He
noted that the individual bags, the dryer sheet, and the pistol, which he stated was “for
protection,” indicated the existence of a drug transaction.
Agent George testified that the Defendant resisted the officers’ attempt to extract
him from the Jaguar and that he did not see what happened. Agent George stated that he
thought Deputy Miller removed the backpack from the car, although he did not see it.
On redirect examination, Agent George testified that prior to stopping Ms. Long,
he knew that the driver of a silver Jaguar was expected to deliver a large quantity of
marijuana to a purchaser at Ms. Long’s house and that Ms. Long allowed her house to be
used for drug transactions. He said that the officers did not search Ms. Long’s house.
TBI Special Agent Glen Glenn, an expert in forensic chemistry, testified that he
tested the substance recovered from the Jaguar, that the substance was marijuana, and
that it weighed 349.17 grams, or more than three-quarters of one pound.
The Defendant testified that on May 16, 2013, he drove on the road on which Ms.
Long lived looking for a rental property on behalf of his sister. He said that he played
loud music, that he did not see police vehicles behind him, and that eventually, he saw a
state highway patrol vehicle on Highway 82 and realized the vehicles following him were
police vehicles. He stated that he was afraid, that he did not know what was happening,
and that he did not stop because it “looked like civilians” were trying to harm him. He
said that he had about ten dollars, that he had borrowed the Jaguar from Mr. Beales to
take it to a mechanic as a favor to Mr. Beales, that the mechanic was in Bedford County,
and that Mr. Beales was at work during this time. The Defendant stated that he did not
own a car and was not employed.
The Defendant testified that he never saw the maroon backpack before the officers
removed it from the Jaguar and that he believed the backpack had been under the front
passenger seat before becoming dislodged by “sporadic driving.” He said that he did not
look under the seats or in the trunk. He denied that he smelled marijuana in the car, that
the marijuana was his, and that any of the backpack’s contents belonged to him. He said
that he knew Ms. Long through his sister but that he had never spent time with her, had
dealings with her, bought drugs from her, or sold drugs to her. He denied driving on that
-8-
particular road in order to conduct a drug transaction with Ms. Long. He said that he was
surprised when he realized the police were chasing him. The Defendant denied having
scales or “baggies” during the incident. The Defendant did not know who removed the
backpack from the car and did not remember Deputy Miller’s showing him the backpack.
On cross-examination, the Defendant testified that he was on his way to look at
the rental property and intended to go afterward to the mechanic, who was open until
5:00 p.m. He said that Mr. Beales and the Defendant had picked up the Jaguar from
another city on May 15. The Defendant said that Mr. Beales was his roommate at the
time and that the Defendant knew a Bedford County mechanic named “Darren” who
owned the shop. The Defendant stated that he lived about thirty miles from Darren’s
shop.
The Defendant testified that on his way to the mechanic, he stopped by his sister’s
house, that his sister told him about a rental house in the area, that his sister described the
house based upon a listing in the newspaper, and that he went to see the house for her.
He said that he did not know where Ms. Long lived and that he passed four cars pulled
over on the side of the road. He denied seeing blue lights or police vehicles. He stated
that a black Dodge Charger and a white pickup truck began driving behind him, that he
did not see any blue lights, and that he could not hear sirens because he had loud music
playing. He stated later, though, that he did not remember whether he noticed any cars
behind him. He said that the first time he realized police officers were attempting to stop
him was when he was on Highway 82. He said later, though, that he saw a state trooper
before he entered Highway 82. Relative to the trooper’s attempting to block Bottle
Hollow Road, the Defendant said that the vehicle was moving toward him, that the
Defendant slowed down, and that he was afraid. He said later, though, that he did not
recall encountering the vehicle or seeing blue lights.
Relative to the video recording, the Defendant agreed that the unmarked vehicles’
blue lights were visible, and he said that he did not see them. Relative to one of the
officers’ wearing a shirt marked “Police,” the Defendant said that the officer was turned
away from the Defendant when he passed him. The Defendant stated that he was not
wearing his eyeglasses that day. The Defendant stated that he began driving faster when
he noticed the Dodge Charger chasing him. He noted that he only saw the Charger and
did not see the pickup truck or state highway patrol vehicle. The Defendant stated that he
eventually saw the state highway patrol vehicle and saw it had its blue lights activated.
He agreed that he knew he was supposed to pull over and that he did not stop. He said
that he was afraid and that he did not stop because they were in “the middle of nowhere.”
He agreed that in spite of the police vehicles’ attempting to surround him, he did not stop.
He stated that he did not go toward a particular destination and that he drove to get away
from the officers.
-9-
The Defendant testified that he did not remember the “play-by-play” of events
before he reached Highway 82 because of the passage of time. He said that he did not
remember encountering police vehicles until he “came . . . head-on with” one. Relative
to an incident in the recording when the Defendant drove around a stopped state trooper,
the Defendant stated that it appeared he was trying to avoid a collision with the state
trooper and that he did not stop. The Defendant said that he was afraid of law
enforcement and ran from them if he felt uncomfortable. The Defendant stated that he
never saw a white truck until he nearly hit the truck and that he did not know that the
truck was a police vehicle. The Defendant said that he did not remember passing civilian
motorists.
The Defendant testified that the Jaguar’s catalytic converters were clogged and
that the car could not travel faster than seventy miles per hour. Relative to the near head-
on collision with a civilian, the Defendant said that he did not see the car before pulling
in front of it. The Defendant denied throwing a cell phone out of the car and said he did
not have a cell phone with him. The Defendant said that he stopped when he saw other
people around, felt safe, and wanted to stop. He stated that he did not stop “in the
country” because he was not safe there and wanted to be “in civilization with witnesses.”
The Defendant testified that he had two sons and identified a photograph of one of
his sons, which was received as an exhibit. He agreed that the photograph was found in
the Jaguar tucked in the front side windshield. When asked how the photograph came to
be in the Jaguar, the Defendant said that Mr. Beales was his son’s godfather. The
Defendant denied that he and Mr. Beales sold drugs. On redirect examination, the
Defendant stated that the Defendant’s sister did not give him the address of the rental
property, that the Defendant’s sister was “not from here,” and that she described a white
house with a brick base and a “for sale” sign in the yard.
Christina Long testified that on May 16, 2013, she was stopped by Agent George,
that he searched her car, and that he did not find any drugs, money, or scales. She denied
arranging to meet the Defendant as part of a drug transaction and being a middle person
for drug transactions. She said that she and her boyfriend were on their way home from
picking up her children at daycare. She stated that she contacted defense counsel and
came to court voluntarily.
On cross-examination, Ms. Long testified that she knew the Defendant through his
sister and that he had never been to Ms. Long’s house. She stated that a white truck
drove behind her and that she heard a siren and saw blue lights. She said that she was
stopped between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. because she had picked up her boyfriend from work
and the daycare closed at 6:00 p.m. She agreed that she was stopped for ten or fifteen
minutes. She said that the officers in a black car, a second car, and a white truck
suddenly left, that she asked an officer what she was supposed to do because the officer
had her driver’s license, and that the officer responded she would have to come get it
-10-
later. She said that the officer instructed her to take her children away from the side of
the road. She stated that the officer in the black car had asked to talk to her, that she had
told the officer her name, and that the officer asked her to step out of the car. She agreed
that she cooperated with the officers.
Ms. Long testified that Deputy Miller later called her and asked to meet with her
and return her identification. She said, though, that she never met with him. She denied
abandoning her cell phone in a gas station parking lot in order to be unreachable. She
said that she could not explain why “some random person” told the police he found Ms.
Long’s cell phone in a parking lot. When asked what she thought would happen if she
admitted under oath to allowing people to use her house to sell large quantities of
marijuana, she stated, “I don’t think much would happen now. It’s been almost years, if I
was guilty of that.” She later said, though, that she would be in trouble if it had been
thousands of dollars’ worth of marijuana. She stated that she would not have allowed
drugs around her children. She said that she would not admit to facilitating drug sales
because it was not true and that if it were true, she would admit to it under oath even if
she were subsequently arrested because “it would be the right thing to do.”
Upon this evidence, the Defendant was convicted of evading arrest, reckless
endangerment, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, possession of marijuana
with the intent to deliver, and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous
felony. The Defendant was sentenced to serve four years for the evading arrest
conviction, one year for the reckless endangerment conviction, one year for each
possession of marijuana conviction, and three years for the possession of a firearm during
the commission of a dangerous felony conviction. The trial court merged the possession
of marijuana convictions and ordered concurrent service of the evading arrest and
reckless endangerment sentences and consecutive service of the remaining sentences, for
an effective sentence of eight years. This appeal followed.
I
Sufficiency of the Evidence
The Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his marijuana
and employing a firearm convictions, arguing that the evidence is not sufficient to prove
that he possessed the marijuana and the handgun. The Defendant does not appeal his
convictions for evading arrest and reckless endangerment. The State contends that the
evidence is sufficient. We agree with the State.
In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, the standard of review is “whether,
after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier
of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); see State v. Vasques, 221 S.W.3d 514,
-11-
521 (Tenn. 2007). The State is “afforded the strongest legitimate view of the evidence
and all reasonable inferences” from that evidence. Vasques, 221 S.W.3d at 521. The
appellate courts do not “reweigh or reevaluate the evidence,” and questions regarding
“the credibility of witnesses [and] the weight and value to be given the evidence . . . are
resolved by the trier of fact.” State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 659 (Tenn. 1997); see State
v. Sheffield, 676 S.W.2d 542, 547 (Tenn. 1984).
“A crime may be established by direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a
combination of the two.” State v. Hall, 976 S.W.2d 121, 140 (Tenn. 1998); see State v.
Sutton, 166 S.W.3d 686, 691 (Tenn. 2005). “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)).
It is a crime to possess a controlled substance with the intent to deliver or to sell it.
T.C.A. § 39-17-417(a)(4). Marijuana is a Schedule VI controlled substance. Id. § 39-17-
415(a)(1) (Supp. 2012) (amended 2014, 2016). The possession of marijuana with the
intent to sell or to deliver is a Class E felony if the amount involved is “not less than one-
half (1/2) ounce (14.175 grams) nor more than ten pounds . . . (4535 grams)[.]” Id. § 39-
17-417(g)(1) (Supp. 2012) (amended 2014).
Possession may be actual or constructive. State v. Shaw, 37 S.W.3d 900, 903
(Tenn. 2001). Constructive possession requires a showing that a defendant had “the
power and intention at a given time to exercise dominion and control over . . . [the item]
either directly or through others.” State v. Cooper, 736 S.W.2d 125, 129 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1987) (internal quotations and citation omitted). “‘In essence, constructive
possession is the ability to reduce an object to actual possession.’” State v. Williams, 623
S.W.2d 121, 125 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1981) (quoting United States v. Martinez, 445 F.2d
495, 498 (5th Cir. 1979)). “Constructive possession depends on the totality of the
circumstances in each case” and “may be proven by circumstantial evidence.” State v.
Robinson, 400 S.W.3d 529, 534 (Tenn. 2013) (citing T.C.A. § 39-17-419 (2006)).
Constructive possession can be proven when contraband is accessible to a
defendant who is located in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. For example, in
Robinson, our supreme court found that the evidence was sufficient to support a
conviction for possession of cocaine when the defendant, a passenger in a codefendant’s
truck, was within arm’s reach of a bag of cocaine found inside and demonstrated
knowledge of vocabulary used in the drug trade. Robinson, 400 S.W.3d at 534.
Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-1324(b)(1) proscribes possessing a
firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. Felony offenses “involving the . . .
possession with intent to sell . . . or distribute a controlled substance” are enumerated
dangerous felonies. See id. § 39-17-1324(i)(1)(L).
-12-
In the light most favorable to the State, the record reflects that the Defendant was
the sole occupant of the silver Jaguar, that the maroon backpack containing the marijuana
and pistol was on the front passenger-side floorboard in plain sight when the police
stopped the Defendant, and that the backpack was easily accessible from the driver’s seat.
In addition, the Jaguar matched the description given by the confidential informant, and it
appeared at the same location and time the officers expected a drug sale to take place.
Agent George testified that the presence of a pistol was consistent with its being for
protection in an anticipated drug sale. The jury, by its verdict, discredited the
Defendant’s assertion that he never saw the backpack and that it must have been placed
under the front passenger seat and became dislodged as he drove the Jaguar. The
evidence is sufficient for a rational jury to have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the
Defendant had the power and intent to exercise control over the marijuana and the pistol.
The evidence is also sufficient for a rational jury to have found beyond a reasonable
doubt that the Defendant possessed the pistol during the commission of a dangerous
felony, that being the possession of the marijuana with the intent to sell or deliver. The
Defendant is not entitled to relief on this basis.
II
Motion to Suppress
The Defendant contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion to
suppress the evidence obtained as a result of the traffic stop and the subsequent search of
the car. He argues that (1) the information provided by the confidential informant did not
provide probable cause to search the car pursuant to the automobile exception to the
warrant requirement, (2) the arrest for reckless endangerment did not merit a search of
the car incident to the arrest, and (3) an inventory search of the car was not justified. The
State responds that the latter two issues have been waived and that the confidential
informant’s information was adequately corroborated and provided probable cause to
search the car for marijuana.
A trial court’s findings of fact on a motion to suppress are conclusive on appeal
unless the evidence preponderates against them. State v. Odom, 928 S.W.2d 18, 23 (Tenn.
1996); State v. Jones, 802 S.W.2d 221, 223 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). Questions about
the “credibility of the witnesses, the weight and value of the evidence, and resolution of
conflicts in the evidence are matters entrusted to the trial judge as the trier of fact.”
Odom, 928 S.W.2d at 23. The prevailing party is entitled to the “strongest legitimate
view of the evidence and all reasonable and legitimate inferences drawn from that
evidence.” State v. Keith, 978 S.W.2d 861, 864 (Tenn. 1998); see State v. Hicks, 55
S.W.3d 515, 521 (Tenn. 2001). A trial court’s application of the law to its factual
findings is a question of law and is reviewed de novo on appeal. State v. Yeargan, 958
S.W.2d 626, 629 (Tenn. 1997). In reviewing a trial court’s ruling on a motion to
suppress, this court may consider the trial evidence as well as the evidence presented at
-13-
the suppression hearing. See State v. Henning, 975 S.W.2d 290, 297-99 (Tenn. 1998);
see also State v. Williamson, 368 S.W.3d 468, 473 (Tenn. 2012).
At the suppression hearing, the prosecutor argued that the automobile exception to
the warrant requirement applied to the search of the Jaguar. The prosecutor noted that no
dispute existed about the reliability of the confidential informant and said that defense
counsel’s objection pertained to Ms. Long’s status as a citizen informant and the
permissibility of the police’s relying on Ms. Long’s statements as “double hearsay.” The
prosecutor stated that the informant’s tip contained sufficiently specific and corroborated
information, including the location of the planned sale, the time frame, the type of
vehicle, and the driver’s being an African-American man. The prosecutor stated that
based upon the corroborated information, the police had reasonable suspicion to stop the
Defendant and investigate and that the mobility of the car authorized a warrantless
search.
Defense counsel argued that in “Aguilar-Spinelli,” the United States Supreme
Court ruled that probable cause was not present when a confidential informant based his
tip on what a member of the criminal milieu told him occurred in a house. Counsel stated
that double hearsay was not sufficient to support a search warrant and that, as a result,
double hearsay in the form of Ms. Long’s statements about her supplier was not sufficient
to support the officers’ stopping the Jaguar. The prosecutor said that the informant saw
the transaction between Ms. Long and the driver of the Jaguar and that this case was
distinguishable from Aguilar.
The trial court denied the motion in a written order. The court found that the
police had reasonable suspicion and probable cause to stop the Jaguar, that the search fell
under the automobile exception because the mobility of the Jaguar created exigent
circumstances, and that the reliability of the confidential informant was stipulated.
As a preliminary matter, the record reflects that the Defendant’s motion to
suppress and the suppression hearing only raised the propriety of the initial traffic stop,
that is, the existence of reasonable suspicion or probable cause for Deputy Miller to
activate his blue lights. Defense counsel noted at the suppression hearing that he did not
challenge the subsequent search of the car. The latter two issues relative to the search of
the car are raised for the first time on appeal and have been waived. See Tenn. R. Crim.
P. 12(f) (“[A] party waives any defense, objection, or request by failing to comply with .
. . rules requiring such matters to be raised pretrial[.]”), Tenn. R. Crim. P. 12(b) (stating
that motions to suppress must be raised pretrial); see also T.R.A.P. 36(a) (“Nothing in
this rule shall be construed as requiring relief be granted to a party . . . who failed to take
whatever action was reasonably available to prevent or nullify the harmful effect of an
error.”).
-14-
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 7 of
the Tennessee Constitution protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.
See U.S. Const. amend. IV; Tenn. Const. art. 1, § 7. Warrantless seizures are “presumed
unreasonable, and evidence discovered as a result thereof is subject to suppression unless
the State demonstrates that the . . . seizure was conducted pursuant to one of the narrowly
defined exceptions to the warrant requirement.” State v. Yeargan, 958 S.W.2d 626, 629
(Tenn. 1997); see Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 454-55 (1971); State v.
Binette, 33 S.W.3d 215, 218 (Tenn. 2000).
A law enforcement officer’s initiating a traffic stop constitutes a seizure pursuant
to the United States and Tennessee Constitutions. Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806,
809-10 (1996); see Delaware v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648, 653 (1979); see also State v.
Vineyard, 958 S.W.2d 730, 734 (Tenn. 1997); State v. Pulley, 863 S.W.2d 29, 30 (Tenn.
1993). However, a police officer is permitted to initiate a traffic stop without a warrant
for the purpose of a brief investigatory stop based upon “specific and articulable facts
which, taken together with rational inferences from those facts, reasonably warrant [an]
intrusion.” Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 21 (1968); see Binnette, 33 S.W.3d at 218. The
objective standard for determining whether a police officer has specific and articulable
facts that a suspect has committed a crime or is about to commit a crime focuses on
whether “the facts available to the officer at the moment of the seizure . . . warrant a man
of reasonable caution in the belief that the action taken was appropriate[.]” Terry, 392
U.S. at 21-22 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see State v. Garcia, 123
S.W.3d 335, 344 (Tenn. 2003).
“Reasonable suspicion is a particularized . . . basis for suspecting the subject of a
stop of criminal activity, and it is determined by considering the totality of the
circumstances surrounding the stop.” Binette, 33 S.W.3d at 218 (internal citations
omitted). This determination includes considerations relative to “‘(i) the public interest
served by the seizure, (ii) the nature and scope of the intrusion, and (iii) the objective
facts upon which the law enforcement officer relied in light of his knowledge and
experience.’” Pulley, 863 S.W.2d at 34 (quoting United States v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S.
544, 561 (1980) (Powell, J., concurring)). The objective facts upon which the officer
relied may include, but are not limited to, the officer’s observations, information received
from fellow officers, information received from citizens, and the “pattern of operation of
certain offenders.” State v. Watkins, 827 S.W.2d 293, 294 (Tenn. 1992). “As a general
rule . . . the stop of an automobile is constitutionally reasonable, under both the state and
federal constitutions, if the police have probable cause or reasonable suspicion to believe
that a traffic violation has occurred. Vineyard, 958 S.W.2d at 734 (citing Whren, 517
U.S. at 806).
The record reflects that at the time Deputy Miller activated his blue lights, a
confidential informant had provided information that a silver, four-door Jaguar was
expected to drive to Ms. Long’s house in the evening hours of May 16, that the driver
-15-
would be an African-American man, and that the driver would have at least one-half
pound of marijuana to sell the informant by way of Ms. Long. Defense counsel
stipulated to the informant’s reliability at the suppression hearing, and we note the
informant’s reliability was also established at the hearing. Deputy Miller testified that the
informant had worked with police in multiple counties, that the informant’s assistance
resulted in several arrests and the recovery of significant quantities of controlled
substances, and that the informant’s information had always proven accurate and reliable.
In addition, the Jaguar matched the description provided by the informant and appeared at
the expected time and location. Deputy Miller’s observations corroborated the
informant’s tip such that he had probable cause to believe a crime was being
committed—the unlawful possession of a controlled substance. The record does not
preponderate against the trial court’s concluding that Deputy Miller had both reasonable
suspicion and probable cause to stop the car the Defendant was driving. The Defendant
is not entitled to relief on this basis.
III
Batson Challenge
The Defendant contends that the State improperly exercised a peremptory
challenge to a prospective juror for a race-based reason, in violation of Batson v.
Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1985). The Defendant argues that the prosecutor’s stated
reasoning for challenging a female African-American juror was not sufficient to establish
a non-racial motive for striking the juror because other prospective jurors reported similar
experiences and were not challenged by the State. The State responds that the Defendant
“has failed to establish a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination . . . because the
State had neutral and acceptable explanations for striking the potential jurors.”1
In Batson, the United States Supreme Court held that the Equal Protection Clause
prohibits the prosecution from excluding potential jurors based solely upon race. Batson,
476 U.S. at 89; see Georgia v. McCollum, 505 U.S. 42, 59 (1992) (extending the
prohibition against race-based peremptory challenges to those challenges made by a
defendant). When a party raises a Batson claim, the party must first establish a prima
facie case of purposeful discrimination. Batson, 476 U.S. at 96. A defendant establishes
1
We note that the State’s argument implicates both the first and third portions of the Batson analysis. If
the State’s intent is to argue that the Defendant did not establish a prima facie case of discrimination
because the trial court did not place a finding to that effect on the record, its argument is without merit
because the prosecutor explained his reasoning to the court. See Zakour v. UT Medical Group, Inc., &
Scott Craig, M.D., 215 S.W.3d 763, 770 (Tenn. 2007) (“Because the Defendants explained their reasons
for the peremptory challenges without prompting by the trial court . . . such a ruling [was not] necessary
under the circumstances.”). The Defendant’s argument, which we address below, pertains only to the
third portion of the Batson analysis, the court’s determination relative to the credibility of the prosecutor’s
explanation.
-16-
a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination by showing that the State “excluded
members of a cognizable racial group from the jury pool.” State v. Echols, 382 S.W.3d
266, 281-82 (Tenn. 2012); State v. Ellison, 841 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tenn. 1992); see
Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 416 (1991). Second, the party who exercises the
peremptory challenge is allowed the opportunity to rebut the prima facie showing by
offering a race-neutral reason for its peremptory challenge. Batson, 476 U.S. at 97.
Third, a trial court must determine whether the objecting party has established purposeful
discrimination. Id.
A party’s race-neutral explanation that merely consists of a denial of
discriminatory motive or an assurance of good faith is insufficient. See id. Rather, the
race-neutral reason must be “related to the particular case to be tried.” Id. at 98.
However, the explanation itself need not be “persuasive, or even plausible.” Purkett v.
Elem, 514 U.S. 765, 767-68 (1995) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
“Unless a discriminatory intent is inherent in the prosecutor’s explanation, the reason
offered will be deemed race neutral.” Id. at 768. In response to the race-neutral
explanation, the trial court must examine and assess the plausibility of the explanation in
light of all the evidence. Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 251-52 (2005); see Woodson
v. Porter Brown Limestone Co., 916 S.W.2d 896, 906 (Tenn. 1996). In this regard, the
opponent of the peremptory challenge bears the burden of proving purposeful
discrimination. Purkett, 514 U.S. at 768. A party may raise a Batson claim on behalf of
a juror without the party’s being part of the improperly excluded group. See Powers, 499
U.S. at 400; see also Ellison, 841 S.W.2d at 824. In making its determination,
The trial [court] must carefully articulate specific reasons for each finding
on the record, i.e., whether a prima facie case has been established; whether
a neutral explanation has been given; and whether the totality of the
circumstances support a finding of purposeful discrimination. The trial
court’s factual findings are imperative in this context. On appeal, the trial
court’s findings are to be accorded great deference and not set aside unless
clearly erroneous.
Woodson, 916 S.W.2d at 906; see State v. Hugueley, 185 S.W.3d 356, 374 (Tenn. 2006).
In Miller-El, the prosecutor challenged two African-American jurors because the
prosecutor was concerned about the jurors’ beliefs regarding the death penalty. 545 U.S.
at 243. However, white panelists who had expressed similar views were not challenged.
Id. at 244. The United States Supreme Court concluded, “If a prosecutor’s proffered
reason for striking a black panelist applies just as well to an otherwise-similar nonblack
who is permitted to serve, that is evidence tending to prove purposeful discrimination to
be considered at Batson’s third step.” Id. at 241. The Court noted relative to the first
juror,
-17-
[N]onblack jurors whose remarks on rehabilitation could well have signaled
a limit on their willingness to impose a death sentence were not questioned
further and drew no objection, but the prosecution expressed apprehension
about a black juror’s belief in the possibility of reformation even though he
repeatedly stated his approval of the death penalty and testified that he
could impose it . . . even when the alternative sentence of life imprisonment
would give a defendant (like everyone else in the world) the opportunity to
reform.
Id. at 245; see Zakour 215 S.W.3d at 770-71 (holding that a Batson violation occurred in
a civil case when the defendants’ reason for challenging an African-American juror was
inconsistent with how they questioned other potential jurors and based upon incorrect
information).
As a preliminary matter, we note that the Defendant challenges the proportionality
of the jury venire, arguing that Bedford County is comprised of 8% African-American
residents and that as a result, the presence of only one or two African-Americans in the
venire of prospective jurors demonstrates systematic exclusion of African-Americans.
See Taylor v. Louisiana, 419 U.S. 522, 527-28 (1975) (holding that a criminal defendant
has a right to a venire of prospective jurors reflecting a “representative cross section of
the community”); see also State v. Hester, 324 S.W.3d 1, 39 (Tenn. 2010), superseded by
statute on other grounds. However, the Defendant has not provided the overall size of
the jury pool, alleged that a practice of systematic exclusion exists, or established a
statistical pattern of exclusion in other cases. See Duren v. Missouri, 439 U.S. 357, 366
(1979) (holding that a petitioner established a prima facie case of systematic exclusion of
women from the jury venire where the petitioner showed a large discrepancy in the ratio
of women to men “occurred not just occasionally but in every weekly venire for a period
of nearly a year” and introduced “statistics and other evidence” to show when in the jury
selection process the exclusion occurred). Although the Defendant raises allegations of
discrimination based upon race in who is selected for a venire, he presents no evidence or
information to support his allegations. Therefore, the record is insufficient for us to
conclude whether a Batson violation occurred as a result of systemic practices in Bedford
County, and the Defendant is not entitled to relief on this basis.
However, we conclude that the prosecutor improperly exercised a peremptory
challenge. The record reflects that during voir dire, defense counsel asked the jury pool
if anyone had a “relative or somebody that has had a drug problem.” Ten prospective
jurors answered affirmatively, specifying that drugs had affected “[s]omebody’s child
and mother,” “a child of a cousin,” “a brother,” “a family member,” “a couple of my
family members,” and “three family members.” When asked whether their experiences
prevented them from fairly evaluating the proof, the prospective jurors indicated their
experiences would not impact their ability to evaluate the proof fairly, with the exception
-18-
of Juror L.,2 who answered, “I don’t think so.” Juror S. answered that there had been a
problem with drugs “[in] my family” and that nevertheless, she could fairly evaluate the
proof.
The State exercised a peremptory challenge against Juror S., the only African-
American member of the venire,3 in the fifth round of challenges, and defense counsel
requested a meeting in chambers. The trial court asked the prosecutor if he had a race-
neutral reason for challenging Juror S. The prosecutor stated that Juror S. said she had “a
family problem with drugs. That could be people that have used drugs; that could be
people in the distribution of drugs.” Defense counsel responded that his question did not
involve drug distribution, that other prospective jurors indicated that they had family
members or friends affected by drug use, that the prosecutor did not strike any similarly
situated jurors, and that the proffered explanation was insufficient. The court concluded
that the stated reason was race-neutral and that “the mere fact he hasn’t challenged
everybody who had a drug connection in their family doesn’t mean he can’t use that as a
basis for this particular challenge.”
The appellate review of this issue is frustrated by the parties’ failure to identify the
members of the venire. Four jurors who answered counsel’s drug question affirmatively
are identified in the voir dire transcript by name—Jurors K., L., Ly., and S.—and the
remaining six jurors are only identified as “Juror,” but the jurors’ statements reflected in
the transcript show they are distinct individuals. Because the jurors are not identified by
name in the transcript, we cannot ascertain whether any of them were excused as a result
of a peremptory challenge. We note, however, that defense counsel asserted during the
in-chambers conference that the prosecutor had not exercised a peremptory challenge
against any other juror who had answered the drug question affirmatively and that the
prosecutor and the trial court did not dispute the statement. We also note that Juror K.,
who was excused as a result of a peremptory challenge, indicated that he knew someone
affected by drug use, but the record does not reflect whether the peremptory challenge
was exercised by counsel or by the prosecutor, and the record does not contain copies of
the peremptory challenges.4 We urge trial courts to make detailed findings when
assessing a Batson challenge, which includes identifying jurors appropriately in the
record for purposes of appellate review. See State v. Hugueley, 185 S.W.3d 356 (Tenn.
2006) (stating generally the need for trial courts to make findings at each stage of the
Batson analysis).
2
We abbreviate the names of the prospective jurors out of consideration for their privacy.
3
The trial court said relative to African-American jury members in the venire, “I think there is another
woman out there,” but no one commented further.
4
We note that the Defendant has the burden of preparing a fair, accurate, and complete account of what
transpired in the trial court relative to the issues raised on appeal. See, e.g., State v. Bunch, 646 S.W.2d
158, 160 (Tenn. 1983).
-19-
In any event, the record reflects that the prosecutor excused the only prospective
African-American juror, that the trial court asked for a race-neutral explanation, and that
the prosecutor did not dispute the allegation that he did not challenge other jurors for the
reason he challenged Juror S. The prosecutor’s explanation for challenging Juror S. was
not consistent with his treatment of other similarly situated jurors. Jurors L. and Ly. were
not challenged in spite of their experiences with a “drug problem,” and we note that Juror
L. did not answer unequivocally when asked whether Juror L.’s experience with drugs
would prevent fair consideration of the Defendant’s case. Last, counsel’s question was
whether anyone the jurors knew had a “drug problem,” which generally would not
implicate drug distribution. Nevertheless, the prosecutor said that he challenged Juror S.
because her answer indicated her family could be involved in the use or distribution of
drugs, which the record does not support. These circumstances make the credibility of
the prosecutor’s explanation questionable, at best, and we conclude that the court’s
determination that in light of all the evidence, the explanation was plausible was clearly
erroneous. See Woodson, 916 S.W.2d at 906.
The existence of a single improperly challenged juror is grounds for relief under
Batson. Zakour, 215 S.W.3d at 771 (citing J.E.B. v. Alabama, 511 U.S. 127 (1994)).
Because the trial court gave the prosecutor an opportunity to explain his reasoning during
jury selection, we need not remand the case for a more detailed hearing, and the proper
remedy is a new trial. State v. Spratt, 31 S.W.3d 587, 598 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000); see
T.R.A.P. 36(b) (stating that relief may be granted when an error would “result in
prejudice to the judicial process.”).
IV
Identity of Confidential Informant
The Defendant contends that the trial court erred by declining to order the
prosecutor to disclose the identity of the confidential informant. The Defendant argues
that the informant’s identity was material to preparing his defense. The State responds
that the Defendant did not make any such request before the trial and that as a result, the
issue is waived.
In the amended motion for a new trial and at the motion for a new trial hearing,
defense counsel argued that the identity of the confidential informant was exculpatory
evidence pursuant to Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). However, on appeal, the
Defendant argues the issue is based upon the standard expressed in State v. Vanderford,
980 S.W.2d 3990 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). The Defendant may not argue a different
basis for relief for the first time on appeal. See T.R.A.P. 36(a) (stating that “relief may
not be granted in contravention of the province of the trier of fact.”).
-20-
In any event, the record does not reflect that the Defendant filed a pretrial motion
to compel the disclosure of the confidential informant’s identity or that he made an oral
request at a hearing. The amended motion for a new trial states, “At the [suppression
hearing] . . . [o]ver objection of the Defense, the Trial Court did not compel the State to
produce the identity of the confidential informant, nor did the State disclose any such
evidence.” However, the record does not reflect that such an objection was made at the
suppression hearing. In addition, the record does not reflect any discovery motions were
filed. Because the record reflects that no issue relative to the informant’s identity was
raised before or during the trial, this issue has been waived. See T.R.A.P. 36(a).
V
Double Jeopardy
The Defendant contends that the trial court erred by failing to merge Count 1,
evading arrest, with Count 2, reckless endangerment. The Defendant argues that this
court concluded that dual convictions for these offenses were not permissible in State v.
Jimmy Lee Cullop, Jr., No. E2000-00095-CCA-R3-CD, 2001 WL 378543 (Tenn. Crim.
App. Apr. 17, 2001), no perm. app. filed. The State responds that dual convictions for
these offenses are permissible due to our supreme court’s opinion in State v. Cross, 362
S.W.3d 512 (Tenn. 2012).
The Fifth Amendment of United States Constitution and Article I, section 10 of
the Tennessee Constitution provide that no person should be put “in jeopardy of life or
limb” twice for the same offense. U.S. Const. amend. V, Tenn. Const. art. I, § 10.
Double jeopardy principles proscribe multiple punishments for the same conduct. See
State v. Watkins, 362 S.W.3d 530, 541-42 (Tenn. 2012).
In Watkins, our supreme court abandoned the analysis provided previously in State
v. Denton, 938 S.W.2d 373 (Tenn. 1996), and adopted the “same elements” analysis
delineated by the United States Supreme Court in Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S.
299, 304 (1932). Therefore, whether dual convictions violate double jeopardy principles
requires a determination of “whether the convictions arise from the same act or
transaction.” Watkins, 362 S.W.3d at 557. If the convictions arise from the same act or
transaction, the second inquiry is whether the elements of the offenses are the same or
whether one offense is a lesser included offense of the other. Id. If the elements are the
same or one offense is a lesser included offense of the other, dual convictions violate
double jeopardy principles. Id. Appellate courts “will presume that multiple convictions
are not intended by the General Assembly” when the elements of the offenses are the
same or when one offense is a lesser included offense of the other. Id.
We note that in Jimmy Lee Cullop, Jr., this court’s conclusion that dual
convictions for Class D felony evading arrest and reckless endangerment violated
-21-
principles of double jeopardy was based upon the Denton “same evidence” test, which
was abrogated by Watkins and Cross. See Cross, 362 S.W.3d at 519; Watkins, 362
S.W.3d at 557. The facts of the present case are substantially similar to the facts in
Cross, which also involved a high-speed chase. Cross, 362 S.W.3d at 515. In Cross, our
supreme court concluded that dual convictions for Class D felony evading arrest and
Class E felony reckless endangerment did not violate principles of double jeopardy
because each offense required elements the other did not. Id. at 519. The record reflects
that the Defendant was charged with and convicted of Class D felony evading arrest and
Class E felony reckless endangerment. Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did
not err by declining to merge the Defendant’s convictions for evading arrest and reckless
endangerment. The Defendant is not entitled to relief on this basis.
In consideration of the foregoing and the record as a whole, we conclude that the
Defendant is entitled to a new trial based upon the State’s improper use of a peremptory
challenge in violation of Batson. The judgments of the trial court are reversed, and the
case is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
_____________________________________
ROBERT H. MONTGOMERY, JR., JUDGE
-22-