State of Tennessee v. Alvin Carroll ( 2003 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs December 11, 2002
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. ALVIN CARROLL
Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Lewis County
No. 6234 Robert E. Lee Davies, Judge
No. M2002-01012-CCA-R3-CD - Filed May 30, 2003
After being indicted for the sale of a controlled substance, the defendant filed an Affidavit of
Indigency to obtain a court-appointed lawyer. The State dismissed the drug charges against the
defendant and later charged the defendant with aggravated perjury, a Class D felony, regarding his
answers to the trial court considering his request for a court-appointed lawyer. He was found guilty
and sentenced as a Range I standard offender to two years in the Tennessee Department of
Correction, with 180 days to serve and the balance on supervised probation. In this appeal, the
defendant presents the following issues for review: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support the
jury verdict; (2) the trial court erred in requiring the defendant to go to trial without an attorney; and
(3) the trial court erred in sentencing the defendant. This is a case of first impression in Tennessee
regarding an aggravated perjury conviction for making false statements to the trial court when
requesting a court-appointed lawyer. We conclude the evidence is sufficient to sustain a conviction
of aggravated perjury. We conclude the trial court did not err in requiring the defendant to go to trial
without an attorney.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Affirmed
JOHN EVERETT WILLIAMS, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which DAVID G. HAYES and
NORMA MCGEE OGLE , JJ., joined.
Daniel J. Freemon (on appeal), Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, for the appellant, Alvin Carroll.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Braden H. Boucek, Assistant Attorney General;
Ronald L. Davis, District Attorney General; and Jeffrey L. Long, Assistant District Attorney General,
for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
This case is one of first impression in Tennessee wherein the defendant, Alvin Carroll, was
charged with aggravated perjury for making false statements during an official proceeding
concerning his financial status in a hearing to determine his eligibility for court-appointed counsel.
Subsequent to being appointed counsel by the court, all charges against the defendant were dismissed
by the State. The defendant appeals from a jury trial conviction for aggravated perjury, a Class D
felony. The defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to support the jury verdict, the trial
court erred in requiring him to go to trial in the instant case without an attorney, and the trial court
erred in sentencing.
On January 9, 2001, the defendant was indicted for the sale of a controlled substance. The
defendant filed an Affidavit of Indigency to obtain court-appointed counsel and appeared before the
trial court to testify concerning his need for a court-appointed lawyer. On February 28, 2001, the
trial court entered an order of nolle prosequi and the drug charges against the defendant were
dismissed. On April 2, 2001, the defendant was indicted for aggravated perjury, a Class D felony,
relating to the testimony given during his request for a court-appointed lawyer. He was found guilty
and sentenced as a Range I standard offender to two years in the Tennessee Department of
Correction with 180 days to serve and the balance on supervised probation.
The record reflects that on July 19, 2001, the defendant, the Assistant District Attorney
General, and the trial judge met in the judge’s chambers to discuss the order of the trial. The trial
judge found that the defendant was not indigent and would not appoint a lawyer to represent the
defendant. Because the defendant refused to obtain counsel prior to trial, the defendant proceeded
pro se.
In this appeal, the defendant presents the following issues for review: (1) the evidence was
insufficient to support the jury verdict; (2) the trial court erred in requiring the defendant to go to trial
without an attorney; and (3) the trial court erred in sentencing the defendant. In determining whether
the evidence is sufficient to support the verdict of the jury, we will review the facts as set out in the
trial transcript.
I. Facts
Donna Couch, the Lewis County Circuit Court Clerk, testified that she was present when the
defendant was before the court seeking appointment of counsel. She said that he submitted an
Affidavit of Indigency and that she had the original form. She explained to the jury that an Affidavit
of Indigency is a form made available to people who are unable to afford their own attorney, asking
the court to consider them eligible for court-appointed counsel. She said that the defendant signed
his name to the form. She explained that after the form is prepared and the defendant’s name is
called, the defendant comes before the judge and makes an oath before the court that everything on
the form is true and correct to the best of his knowledge. She said the defendant made an oath and
attested to the information on the form. She said the defendant listed his address, date of birth, and
telephone number, and answered “no” when asked if he was employed. She said he did not answer
the question concerning his income from work. She said he answered that he received governmental
assistance in the form of monthly disability payments of $530. She said he did not list any other
income. She said the form asked the defendant to list all money available from any source, and he
answered “none.” She said the defendant answered “none” to questions concerning all vehicles or
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vessels owned, their value, and what is owed on each. She said the defendant answered “none” when
asked to list all real estate owned, solely or jointly, within the last six months, its value, and what
is owed. The defendant answered “none” when asked to list all assets or property not already listed
as owned within the last six months or expected in the future. She said that he put on the affidavit
that he last filed his income tax in 1995, when he made $8000. She said he submitted the form to
the court while under oath during an official proceeding of the Circuit Court of Lewis County. At
this time, the State entered the Affidavit of Indigency into evidence. The pro se defendant did not
cross-examine this witness.
Wanda Graham, the court reporter, testified that on January 29, 2001, the defendant was
before the court to submit his Affidavit of Indigency. She said she prepared the recordings and
transcripts during the defendant’s indigency proceeding. The State introduced the transcripts of the
defendant’s indigency hearing, and the witness read the transcripts into the record. She said there
was a conflict with Mr. Drolsum, who was the assistant public defender for the district, because he
had something to with another defendant or another case that the defendant was involved in that
would prevent him from representing the defendant. She said that because there was a conflict, the
court would have to appoint a private attorney to represent him. The State marked the defendant’s
initial indigency hearing transcript into evidence.
The indigency hearing transcript reflects a January 29, 2001, colloquy between the defendant
and the trial court judge. After taking an oath, the defendant testified that the information he put
forth on the Affidavit of Indigency was true and correct. The defendant stated he receives a monthly
disability check in the amount of $530. The defendant stated that he and his wife were unemployed.
The defendant stated that he has two children, ages four and three. The trial court judge stated that
he found the defendant indigent within the meaning of the statute and appointed the defendant
counsel.
Jackie Lawson, an employee of Child Support Services of Tennessee, testified that her office
is responsible for aiding in the collection of child support if someone owes and is in arrears of
making these payments. She said she was in court on February 21, 2001, in a hearing with the
defendant concerning his child support and heard the defendant’s testimony. She said that her office
collects back child support by placing liens on property, garnishing wages, or taking someone to
court for contempt hearings for not paying support despite having the means to pay. She said that
when her office puts a lien on property or equipment in the amount of child support owed, the
defendant cannot sell the property or equipment until they satisfy their lien. She stated that her office
had a lien on fifty-three acres of the defendant’s property on Happy Hollow Drive. She said the
defendant owned three pieces of property at the time her office placed the original lien on his
property.
On cross-examination, Ms. Lawson stated that her office placed a lien on the defendant’s
property on June 17, 1999. She stated the defendant was found to be in contempt of court before
paying $5500 in back child support. She said her office did not release the lien on his property after
he paid his delinquent child support, and the lien remained in effect for almost a year when the
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defendant was once again in arrears. She said even after the defendant paid his child support in full,
her office did not release his property. She said she did not know why the lien was still on the land
after he paid his debts. She said the lien on the defendant’s property was still on his land the day he
filled out the Affidavit of Indigency. She said she did not know if the defendant’s land was worth
anything to the defendant with the liens on the land. The defendant asked the witness if she
remembered when he came into her office to pay the second lien on his property, and she said she
did. The defendant asked the witness if she remembered that he had to call Lori Reed, begging her
to release the lien after his debt was paid so that he could get an attorney. She said she remembered
the defendant tried to get the lien released so it could be sold. The defendant entered the cancelled
check into evidence.
On redirect, Ms. Lawson testified that she types the lien documents, but attorneys on staff
with her office prepare and approve the liens. She said the attorneys in her office make the
determination as to when a lien is released and make decisions about filing liens. She said that
although her office may place a lien against someone’s property, this does not affect their ownership.
She said the property remained in the defendant’s name on the tax rolls and elsewhere throughout
the period that her office kept a lien on his property.
Bob Johnston, the Lewis County Property Assessor, testified that he maintains ownership
records and evaluation records of all taxable property in the county. He said his records show the
defendant owns two pieces of property in his name only and one piece of property with his first wife.
He said the property was on file on January 29, 2001. He stated that the defendant owns fifty-seven
acres, a residence, and a small lot. He said the appraised value of the defendant’s residence was
$113,500 for both the land and the structure. He said the appraised value of the smaller tract of land
was $25,700. He said the defendant also owned another parcel of land on Columbia Pike, valued
at $3600. The prosecution entered the Lewis County documents of the defendant’s land descriptions
into evidence.
On cross-examination, Mr. Johnston testified that the defendant had been to his office several
times to find his parcel of land on Columbia Pike, and the surveyor was unable to locate it. He said
he thought the land had been sold off, leaving a smaller piece of land. He said he was unaware that
he had a mortgage on his property on Happy Hollow Drive.
Kenneth Turnbow, the Lewis County Clerk, testified that it is his job to title and register
vehicles. He stated he searched the State’s database and came up with five vehicles in the
defendant’s name and held jointly with his wife. He stated the State’s database lists the defendant
as the owner of the following five vehicles: 1994 Ford coupe, 1975 truck, 1996 Ford station wagon,
1990 Ford F-150 pickup, and a 1972 Mast mobile home. He stated that the database information did
not indicate the defendant had transferred ownership of any of the vehicles listed. The prosecution
entered the vehicle information into evidence.
On cross-examination, Mr. Turnbow testified that the records go back five or six years and
will show the defendant as the owner of the vehicles, even if he transferred his property. He said the
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defendant’s property continues to show up as belonging to the defendant, even if he transferred the
property to someone else. He said that until the next owner comes into the office, applies for a title,
and registers the vehicle, the records do not show transfer of ownership.
Bill Bates, the vice-president of the Bank of Perry County, testified that he handles most of
the decisions to grant loans to bank customers. He stated he has done quite a bit of business with
the defendant over the years. He said the defendant presently has a checking account and had a joint
account with his wife on January 29, 2001. He said the deposit amounts from December 8, 1999
to February 7, 2001, totaled $26,500. The prosecution entered the bank statement of the defendant
into evidence. He stated the defendant has five active loans with his bank, totaling $108,000. He
said the defendant pays approximately 10% interest on his loans. He said the defendant obtained a
loan for his home for approximately $60,000. He said the defendant has a second mortgage on his
house for $10,000. He said the defendant has a loan for his mobile home in the amount of $21,000.
He said the defendant got a loan in 1999 for $12,000 on a 1986 bulldozer, and the loan is still
current. He said the bank has a secured interest in property and equipment owned by the defendant.
He said the defendant has a loan from his bank for $8700 for a 1963 Ford dump truck. The
prosecution entered the loan documents from the bank into evidence. Mr. Bates said the defendant
is in “good shape” and “paid up” on all of his loan payments to the bank. On cross-examination, Mr.
Bates testified that if the defendant came into the bank and attempted to get a loan for a lawyer, he
would have probably given him a loan.
The defendant recalled Donna Couch. She testified the defendant came into her office and
brought a deed of trust to make a bond for $10,000. She said that at one time the defendant told her
that he was putting up his property on another case. She said that the defendant asked her to approve
some of his property for another case, and she said “no.”
On cross-examination, Ms. Couch, the clerk for Circuit Court and Juvenile Court, said the
court has specific rules, set by the judges, as to how a bond is approved. She said that if the bond
is for $10,000, the equity in the property has to equal one and one-half times the value of the
property. She said that in order to prove this with the court, the property “can’t be tied up or have
other lien holders on it.” She said someone can make bond by using a bondsman or by paying cash.
She said she told the defendant that he could not put his property up for someone else because he had
other liens on his property and other issues going on at that time. She said she did not feel that
taking property from the defendant as a bond for someone else would secure a good and proper bond
for the State of Tennessee.
The defendant then called himself as a witness. The defendant testified that he was charged
with perjury for “lying in our court system or something.” He said the indictment reads “aggravated
perjury,” but he doesn’t know what that means. He said the perjury charge comes from a false
charge the State had against him. He said he applied for a lawyer, which he neither needed or used.
He said he talked to the attorney for approximately two minutes and did not know if the State paid
him any money to talk to him. He said the next day he was told by the attorney that the State had
dismissed all charges against him. He said that a few days after the dismissal, he received a call that
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the State was going to “get me for perjury, lying to the court system, filling out some kind of form
saying I didn’t have no money.” He said that at that time, he did not have any money for a lawyer
in this case. He said because he had to make a $10,000 bond and they would not accept his land for
the bond, he had to borrow the money from his son to make a bond for $1025. He said the
bondsman took him to the bank and cashed his disability check, the first one he had gotten for four
months back pay owed to him, to make the $10,000 bond. He said that he did not complete or sign
the Affidavit of Indigency. He said his niece filled out the Affidavit of Indigency. He said that he
wanted the jury to compare his signature on the lien documents with the signature on the Affidavit
of Indigency.
On cross-examination, the defendant stated that Kimberly Diane Carroll is his wife, and the
State charged her, as they had him, with selling Lortabs. He said his wife pled guilty to the charges
and was sentenced. He said Bill Bates would not have loaned him money for an attorney, because
he received something in his mail box that can verify Mr. Bates made a false statement. He said he
obtained the money for the $10,000 bond from his disability check. He said he never had the
Affidavit of Indigency and never filled it out. He said his niece asked him questions from the
Affidavit of Indigency, and she filled in the answers. He said his niece asked him if he had any real
estate, and he responded by saying, “Yeah, I got a bunch of ole real estate, but I can’t’ touch it, can’t
do nothing with it.” He said he first saw the form when he went to Donna Couch’s office, after he
found out about the perjury charges against him. He said he remembered being under oath and
answering the judge’s questions regarding the Affidavit of Indigency. He said he was not wearing
glasses that day, and he thought his niece wrote down only what he told her to write. He said his
current expenses consist of a $540 house payment, an $80 light bill, and a $34 telephone bill. He said
he consolidated his bills when he began receiving disability, and his son pays the payments on his
backhoe and bulldozer. He said he pays fifteen to twenty dollars each month on his water bill and
pays only the interest on his van payment. He said he consolidated all of the loan payments from the
bank into a $60,000 note with just one monthly payment. He said he pays approximately $890 each
month in bills. He said that, before she went to jail, his wife helped with the bills by babysitting and
working. He said that on January 29, 2001, he owned the pieces of land. He said that two pieces
of land cannot be found and one piece of land is made up of 53 acres. He said he is only able to pay
taxes on the 53 acre lot because city officials will not allow him to obtain building permits or sell
the lot. He said the property remains in his name. He said he still has a dump truck in his name,
even though it was sold on June 19, 1999. He said that under the Uniform Commercial Code,
property “that you ever owe on, you can’t sell, give away or nothing as long as the State of Tennessee
has a lien against you.” He said the $26,000 in deposits to his bank account was money he borrowed
from the bank and then deposited back into his account to finish his house. He said that he needed
the money to finish his house and that he “ain’t worked in seven months.” He said he was depositing
his loan money into his account because he was not drawing a check from anyone else. He said he
was “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” He said his disability check now goes to the bank on the first of
every month. He said he has rental property, but the rental income goes to the bank. He said that
has sold one of his lots in the last year to pay on back child support. He said he sold additional lots
for $8500, and he received $4000 from the sale. He said Mr. Bates’ testimony was a surprise to him
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because when he tried to borrow $2200 from the bank, Mr. Bates said, “No, I can’t’ ‘cause you’re
going to have to get some of these paid off before I can give you another nickel.”
II. Analysis
A. Sufficiency of evidence
The defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to support the jury verdict of
aggravated perjury and argues that his alleged perjury was not material to his appointment of
counsel. The State argues that false information on an indigency form is material and is absolutely
integral to the determination of appointment of counsel.
In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court will not reweigh or reevaluate the
evidence. State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 305 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). All questions involving
the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given the evidence, and all factual issues are
resolved by the trier of fact. State v. Pappas, 754 S.W.2d 620, 623 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). A
guilty verdict, approved by the trial judge, credits the testimony of the State’s witnesses and resolves
all conflicts of testimony in favor of the theory of the State. State v. Hatchett, 560 S.W.2d 627(Tenn. 1978). Since a verdict of guilt removes the presumption of innocence and replaces it with
a presumption of guilt, the defendant has the burden of demonstrating why the evidence is
insufficient to support the verdict returned by the jury. State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913 (Tenn.
1982), State v. Butler, 900 S.W.2d 305, 309 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). Therefore, this Court will
not disturb a guilty verdict due to the sufficiency of evidence unless the facts contained in the record
and any inferences which may be drawn from the facts are insufficient, as a matter of law, for a
rational trier of fact to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Tuggle at 914, Butler
at 309.
Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-16-702(a), a person commits perjury who,
“with the intent to deceive:
(1) Makes a false statement, under oath;
(2) Makes a statement, under oath, that confirms the truth of a false statement
previously made and the statement is required or authorized by law to be made
under oath; or
(3) Makes a false statement, not under oath, but on an official document required or
authorized by law to be made under oath and stating on its face that a false
statement is subject to the penalties of perjury.”
Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-16-703 defines aggravated perjury as an offense
committed by a person who, with the intent to deceive: (1) commits perjury as defined in section 39-
16-702; (2) the false statement is made during or in connection with an official proceeding; and (3)
the false statement is material. Aggravated perjury is a Class D felony. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-
703.
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A conviction for aggravated perjury requires that the false statement be material. See Tenn.
Code Ann. § 39-16-703(a)(3). The Code defines the test for the materiality element of perjury as
whether “the statement, irrespective of its admissibility under the rules of evidence, could have
affected the course or outcome of the official proceeding.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-701(1).
If we were to conclude that the phrase, “official proceeding,” related to the defendant’s initial
drug charges, we would fail to see how the appointment of a public defender versus the retention of
a private attorney would have affected the outcome of the drug charge. We conclude that the phrase
“official proceeding,” in the context of the instant case, means the defendant’s request for a court-
appointed attorney in his drug case.
There are many stages to an “official proceeding,” and Tennessee courts have held that some
of those proceedings are appropriate for prosecution of aggravated perjury. See State v. Joseph and
Evangeline Combs, No. E2000-2801-CCA-R3-CD, 2002 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 799, *194-95,
(Tenn. Crim. App. September 25, 2002, at Knoxville)(conservatorship proceeding); State v. Melvin
E. Beard, No. M2000-02207-CCA-R3-CD, 2002 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 78, (Tenn. Crim. App.
January 31, 2002, at Nashville)(community corrections revocation hearing); State v. Lane, 56
S.W.3d 20 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000)(“no contact” hearing); State v. Charles E. Bowden, No. M1998-
00469-CCA-R3-CD, 1999 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 1337, (Tenn. Crim. App. December 30, 1999,
at Nashville)(grand jury proceedings); State v. Johnny Lee Bowman, No. 03C01-9606-CC-00226
LEXIS 89, (Tenn. Crim. App. January 21, 1998, at Knoxville)(sworn statement to law enforcement);
State v. Forbes, 918 S.W.2d 431 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995)(deposition); State v. Ronnie Calvin “Pig”
Styles, No. 03S01-9108-CR-67 LEXIS 24, (Tenn. Crim. App. January 25, 1993, at Knoxville)(post-
conviction hearing).
In the instant case, the evidence is sufficient to support the jury’s verdict. The defendant
either completed the Affidavit of Indigency or allowed someone else to complete his Affidavit. In
any event, the defendant signed the Affidavit of Indigency, attesting to its truth and correctness. The
defendant’s Affidavit contained at least four material false statements relating to his financial status.
After taking an oath at his indigency hearing, the defendant made a material false statement to the
trial court when he affirmed all of the false statements contained in his Affidavit of Indigency. The
record reveals that the defendant owns several vehicles and tracts of land, despite encumbrances
upon his property. Indeed, his home is valued on the tax rolls at $113,500. The defendant contends
that because of encumbrances on the property its value is zero. While we may accept this as true, the
defendant failed to fully disclose to the trial court ownership of any and all property. For this reason,
we conclude sufficient evidence exists to sustain the defendant’s conviction for aggravated perjury.
B. Right to Counsel
The defendant argues the trial court erred in requiring the defendant to go to trial without an
attorney. The State contends the defendant waived his argument regarding the appointment of
counsel for failure to prepare a proper appellate record.
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Whenever an accused represents that he is financially unable to retain his own attorney and
desires that an attorney be appointed to represent him, it is the duty of the trial court “to conduct a
full and complete hearing as to the financial ability of the accused to obtain the assistance of counsel,
and make a finding as to the indigency of the accused.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-14-202(b); See Tenn.
Sup. Ct. Rule 13(1). An indigency hearing is required at any point the defendant claims indigency.
State v. Dubrock, 649 S.W.2d 602, 605 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1983). If the trial court finds that the
accused is indigent, but capable of defraying a portion of the cost of his representation, it is the duty
of the trial court to enter an order directing the accused to pay into the registry of the court a sum that
the trial court determines the accused is capable of paying. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-14-202(e). In the
instant case, the trial court referred to his ruling regarding the defendant’s indigency by stating the
following:
Mr. Carroll has asked for a lawyer, but I’m not going to appoint him a lawyer. That’s
where we are at this stage of the proceedings, because I have found that Mr. Carroll
is not indigent. So if you remember, General when I set this case two months ago or
whenever it was, the case had been continued several times and I was waiting for Mr.
Carroll to inform me who was going to represent him and Mr. Carroll kept telling me
he did not have a lawyer and couldn’t afford a lawyer. I told him that I was not going
to accept that, that I thought he could afford a lawyer and, therefore, I set the case for
trial and I left it up to Mr. Carroll to come to court today with or without his lawyer.
Indigency, in and of itself, does not necessarily mean total destitution. The judge need only
be satisfied that representation essential to an adequate defense is beyond the means of the defendant.
United States v. Cohen, 419 F.2d 1124, 1127 (8th Cir. 1969). Conversely, there is authority to
support the proposition that when an accused has sufficient income and assets to employ private
counsel, but stubbornly refuses to employ counsel, the conduct of the accused constitutes a knowing
and intelligent waiver of the right to the assistance of counsel. See United States v. Titus, 576 F.2d
210, 211 (9th Cir. 1978); United States v. Sparlin, 569 F.2d 1314 (5th Cir. 1978); United States v.
Gates, 557 F.2d 1086 (5th Cir. 1977) United States v. Rubinson, 543 F.2d 951 (2nd Cir. 1976) After
requesting the trial court to proceed pro se, the defendant represented himself at his trial on July 19,
2001.
The defendant and the State both agree that the record is devoid of anything that would allow
adequate review of what evidence the Court considered in making the determination that the
defendant was indigent for the purposes of defending himself in the instant case. The State argues
that the record supports the existence of a pretrial ruling relating to this issue, and the defendant
failed to include transcripts of such an indigency hearing in the record. However, the record does
not include transcripts of an indigency hearing concerning the instant case. The defendant is entitled
to relief if he was indigent at the time of arraignment and the trial judge arbitrarily denied him
counsel. See McKeldin v. State, 516 S.W.2d 82 (S.Ct. 1974). However, the defendant is not entitled
to relief if he was not indigent or if he chose not to have an attorney. The trial court has wide
discretion in matters regarding the appointment and relief of counsel, and its actions are not set aside
absent a plain abuse of that discretion. State v. Branum, 855 S.W.2d 563, 566 (Tenn. 1993).
Because we conclude that the appellate record is inadequate to review this issue, we must presume
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the trial court ruled correctly. See State v. Ivy, 868 S.W.2d 724, State v. Oody, 823 S.W.2d 554, 559
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1991).
C. Sentencing
The defendant argues the trial court erroneously based its decision to deny him probation on
the need for deterrence. The defendant argues he should have been sentenced to community
corrections or full probation.
When there is a challenge to the length, range, or manner of service of sentence, it is the duty
of this Court to conduct a de novo review with a presumption that the determinations made by the
trial court are correct. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-01(d). This presumption is conditioned upon the
affirmative showing in the record that the trial court considered the sentencing principles and all
relevant facts and circumstances. State v. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991). If the trial
court followed procedures, made findings of fact that are adequately supported in the record, and
weighed and considered the factors and principles of sentencing, we may not disturb the sentence,
even if a different result would have been preferred. State v. Fletcher, 805 S.W.2d 785, 789 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1991). The burden is now on the defendant to demonstrate the impropriety of his
sentence.
A standard offender convicted of a Class D felony is subject to a sentence ranging from no
less than two to no more than four years. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-112(a)(4). The sentence to be
imposed by the trial court for a Class D felony is presumptively the minimum sentence in the range,
when no enhancement or mitigating factors are present. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(e). The trial
court is to increase the sentence within the range as appropriate, based on the presence of any
applicable enhancement factors, and then reduce the sentence as appropriate, based on the presence
of any mitigating factors. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(e).
In conducting a de novo review of a sentence, this Court must consider (a) any evidence
received at the trial and/or sentencing hearing, (b) the presentence report, (c) the principles of
sentencing, (d) the arguments of counsel relative to sentencing alternatives, (e) the nature and
characteristics of the offense, (f) any mitigating or enhancement factors, (g) any statements made by
the accused in his own behalf, and (h) the accused’s potential or lack of potential for rehabilitation
or treatment. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-35-103 and -210; State v. Scott, 735 S.W.2d 825, 829 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1987).
The defendant was the only witness to testify at his sentencing hearing. The defendant
testified that he is the sole care giver to his three of his five children. He said his children range in
age from three to twelve years old. He said he is on medication for heart trouble and is under a
doctor’s care. He said he is disabled and unemployed, due to his heart condition. He said he did not
feel he had committed perjury, because he did not intentionally lie to anyone. He said it was not his
intention to lie when the application was filled out. He said he did not understand what “category”
he needed to be in to have a court-appointed attorney. He said he was under the impression that
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“when you’s under a doctor’s care and on disability, anyways, that’s what the court-appointed
lawyers were for, somebody that wasn’t able to work or whatever.” The presentence report reflects
the defendant was fifty-nine years old at the time of his sentencing hearing and was arrested for first
degree burglary over thirty years ago.
The trial court began sentencing at two and one-half years after enhancing the defendant’s
conviction based upon his 1967 conviction for first degree burglary. The trial court reduced his
sentence from two and one-half years to two years after considering that the defendant’s crime did
not involve any serious harm to anybody but himself, his reputation in his community, and the court.
The trial court stated that it considered whether the defendant qualified for full probation, but found
that he did not. The trial court commented that the defendant failed to express remorse for the crime
at issue and determined that to grant full probation would unduly depreciate the seriousness of the
offense. The trial court stated that there is a need to provide an effective deterrent against
committing aggravated perjury. Specifically, the trial court stated that “people in this county need
to know that if you are caught lying in court, you will go to jail for that offense, because that’s just
one thing I’m not going to tolerate.” The trial court determined that the defendant was eligible for
an alternative sentence of split confinement and probation. The defendant was sentenced to 180 days
in the Lewis County Jail with the remainder of his two-year sentence to be served on probation. The
defendant contends that the trial court improperly sentenced the defendant, based upon its reasons
for denying full probation. We disagree.
Because the defendant was found guilty of a Class D felony and was sentenced as Range I
standard offender, he is presumed to be a favorable candidate for alternative sentencing. Tenn. Code
Ann. § 40-35-102(5), (6) (1997). Once a defendant is entitled to a statutory presumption of
alternative sentencing, the State bears the burden of overcoming the presumption. State v. Bingham,
910 S.W.2d 448, 455 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995), overruled on other grounds by State v. Hooper, 29
S.W.3d 1, 9 (Tenn. 2000). However, if a defendant seeks full probation, the burden shifts in that he
bears the burden of establishing his suitability for probation. Id.The record reflects that the defendant never admitted his crime and continued to justify his
actions. We conclude that there is a definite need for deterrence for the crime of aggravated perjury
and that this crime is particularly serious. We agree with the trial court that to sentence the
defendant to full probation would be to depreciate the seriousness of the offense. Furthermore, the
defendant failed to meet his burden of proving that full probation would subserve the ends of justice.
Conclusion
For the aforementioned reasons, we affirm the judgements of the trial court.
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JOHN EVERETT WILLIAMS, JUDGE
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