State v. Rosa

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE FILED
SEPTEMBER 1998 SESSION
January 6, 1999
Cecil Crowson, Jr.
Appellate C ourt Clerk
STATE OF TENNESSEE, )
) C.C.A. NO. 03C01-9707-CR-00261
Appellee, )
) KNOX COUNTY
VS. )
) HON. RICHARD BAUMGARTNER,
JOANNA GAIL ROSA, ) JUDGE
)
Appellant. ) (First-Degree Murder)
FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE:
M. JEFFREY WHITT JOHN KNOX WALKUP
706 Walnut St., Suite 902 Attorney General & Reporter
Knoxville, TN 37902
ELIZABETH B. MARNEY
Asst. Attorney General
John Sevier Bldg.
425 Fifth Ave., North
Nashville, TN 37243-0493
RANDALL E. NICHOLS
District Attorney General
GREGORY H. HARRISON
-and-
S. JO HELM
Asst. District Attorneys General
P.O. Box 1468
Knoxville, TN 37901-1468
OPINION FILED:____________________
AFFIRMED
JOHN H. PEAY,
Judge
OPINION
A jury found the defendant guilty of the first-degree premeditated murder
of James Dalton and sentenced her to life imprisonment. The defendant now appeals,
presenting the following issues for review:
I. Whether the evidence was sufficient to prove
premeditation and deliberation;
II. Whether the trial court should have suppressed the
defendant’s confession on the theory it was involuntarily
given;
III. Whether the trial court committed reversible error by not
allowing the defendant to call her co-defendant to the witness
stand, when the co-defendant would have merely invoked his
Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination; and
IV. Whether the trial court properly charged the jury with
range of punishment, when the State failed to request such
an instruction until after the conclusion of the proof.
Finding no merit to the defendant’s arguments, we affirm.
On March 25, 1995, the defendant; her co-defendant, Dennis Halcomb; the
murder victim, James Dalton; and two friends, Teresa Dake and Larry Davis, rented two
adjoining motel rooms in Athens, Tennessee, and spent the evening “partying.” The next
day, the group decided to spend another evening at the motel. That evening, while
Dalton and Davis remained at the motel, the defendant, co-defendant Halcomb, and
Dake robbed the gas station where Dake worked.
Early the next morning, on March 27, 1995, the group left Athens and drove
to Knoxville, stopping at another motel, where they again rented adjoining rooms. The
defendant, co-defendant Halcomb, and Dake expressed concern that Dalton would report
the robbery to authorities. The defendant said they were going to have to “do something”
to keep him from “saying anything.” Later, while Davis and Dake slept in one of the motel
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rooms and Dalton slept in the other, the defendant and co-defendant Halcomb discussed
what to do about Dalton. They planned to take Dalton’s wallet and car, and Halcomb said
he was going to knock Dalton out. The defendant took Dalton’s keys and wallet and put
them in the room where Dake and Davis were sleeping.
When the defendant returned, Dalton confronted co-defendant Halcomb
about his missing keys and wallet. Halcomb, who was approximately 6'3" and weighed
over 200 pounds, began hitting Dalton, who was approximately 5'4" and 145 pounds.
Halcomb held Dalton’s neck in a choke-hold and asked the defendant to help him. While
Dalton was on his knees leaning over the bed, the defendant grabbed the front of
Dalton’s throat and choked him, even while Dalton gasped for air and begged her to stop.
Halcomb removed Dalton’s belt from his pants, placed it around Dalton’s neck, and told
the defendant to hold the belt. While Halcomb went to the restroom, the defendant
choked Dalton with the belt until his face turned blue. When Halcomb returned, the
defendant checked Dalton for a pulse, but did not find one.
They drove Dalton’s body to an area of town with which the defendant was
familiar. After the defendant sliced Dalton’s throat with a box cutter to ensure he was
dead, they dumped his body on the side of the road, covering it with leaves. They
returned to the motel, picked up Dake, and traveled in Dalton’s car to Illinois to visit the
defendant’s family and then to Daytona Beach, Florida.
Meanwhile, Dalton was reported missing. On April 3, 1995, Sherry Wade,
a friend of Dake and the defendant, received a call from the defendant. Knowing Dalton
was missing and thinking he might be with them, Wade asked the defendant where
Dalton was. At first, the defendant replied she did not know, but then she told Wade “he
was gone; he’s gone; he’s under a tree.” A couple of days later, Wade reported this
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conversation to the McMinn County Sheriff’s Department.
On April 6, 1995, the defendant, her co-defendant, and Dake were
apprehended in a traffic stop while driving Dalton’s vehicle in Florida. During an interview
by the Florida authorities, the defendant initially denied knowing anything about Dalton’s
disappearance, but she later drew a map showing where his body was buried. Using the
map, Tennessee authorities found the body. The defendant was arrested and waived
extradition to Tennessee where she was indicted. Following her jury trial, which was
severed from co-defendant Halcomb’s trial, the defendant was found guilty of first-degree
murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The defendant first argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove that
she killed Dalton after premeditation and deliberation. See T.C.A. § 39-13-
202(a)(1)(Supp. 1994)(defining first-degree murder as the “intentional, premeditated and
deliberate killing of another” person). Premeditation requires proof that the defendant
had a previously formed design or intent to kill and acted after exercising reflection or
judgment. T.C.A. § 39-13-201(b)(2) (1991); State v. Brown, 836 S.W.2d 530 (Tenn.
1992); State v. West, 844 S.W.2d 144 (Tenn. 1992). Deliberation requires a showing of
a “cool purpose,” that is, that the defendant had some time to reflect and that his or her
mind was free of impulse and passion prior to the killing. T.C.A. § 39-13-201(b)(1)(1991);
Brown, 836 S.W.2d at 540. The elements of premeditation and deliberation are jury
questions that may be established by proof of the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Id. at 539. Several factors support the existence of these elements, including the use of
a deadly weapon upon an unarmed victim; the particular cruelty of the killing; declarations
by the defendant of an intent to kill; evidence of procurement of a weapon; preparations
before the killing for concealment of the crime; and calmness immediately after the killing.
State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 660 (Tenn. 1997).
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Here, the evidence shows that prior to their attack on Dalton, the defendant,
co-defendant Halcomb, and Dake discussed their concern that Dalton would report the
robbery they had committed. The defendant said they were going to have to “do
something” to keep him from “saying anything.” Later, the defendant and co-defendant
Halcomb discussed what to do about Dalton. According to the defendant’s confession,1
she and Halcomb planned to take Dalton’s wallet and car. The defendant admitted
helping Halcomb choke Dalton, first with her hand and then with Dalton’s belt, even
though he begged her to stop. After Halcomb left the room, the defendant continued to
choke Dalton until his face turned blue. When asked what she was trying to accomplish
by choking him, the defendant told authorities, “Kill him, I guess.” These circumstances
establish that the defendant acted after the exercise of reflection or judgment and with
a previously formed intent to kill, which supports a finding of premeditation. See T.C.A.
§ 39-13-201(b)(2) (1991); Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 660.
The evidence also showed that immediately after the killing, the defendant
helped choose an isolated area to dump Dalton’s body and then covered the body with
leaves to prevent detection. The defendant told authorities that she kept Dalton’s wallet
in order to prevent the body from being identified. She also admitted in her confession
that she sliced Dalton’s throat to ensure he was dead. Then, she, co-defendant
Halcomb, and Dake fled to Illinois, where they visited the defendant’s family as if nothing
had happened. These circumstances indicate a calmness immediately following the
killing, which supports a finding of deliberation. See Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 660; Brown,
836 S.W.2d at 540.
We recognize that at trial, the defendant contradicted her confession,
1
Regardless of the defendant’s argument that her statement should have been suppressed, the
sufficien cy of the co nvicting evid ence m ust be ex amin ed in light of all evid ence p resente d to the jury.
See, e.g., State v. Longstreet, 619 S.W .2d 97 (T enn. 198 1); State v. Ro bert L ee “F lippo” Mor ris, No.
1195, Ham ilton County (Tenn. Crim. App. filed Novem ber 20, 1991, at Knoxville).
5
testifying that she did not choke Dalton or intend to kill him; that she loosened the belt
around his neck in order to allow him to breathe; that Halcomb, who was upset, choked
Dalton until he died; and that she cut Dalton’s throat solely to prevent his suffering.
Factual discrepancies such as these are properly resolved by the jury, not by this Court.
State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn. 1978). Thus, regardless of the
defendant’s testimony, sufficient evidence remains in the record to support the jury’s
findings of premeditation and deliberation.
Next, the defendant argues that the trial court erred in failing to suppress
statements she made to Tennessee authorities. She first argues that her statements
should have been suppressed because she was denied her Sixth Amendment right to
counsel by not being informed of her right to counsel or offered an attorney by a neutral
magistrate within twenty-four hours of her arrest in Florida. She fails, however, to cite any
authority on this point, thus waiving this issue for review. Rules of the Court of Criminal
Appeals of Tennessee 10(b); State v. Killebrew, 760 S.W.2d 228, 231 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1988). Even so, the defendant’s argument lacks merit because at the suppression
hearing, a Florida law enforcement agent testified that the defendant appeared before a
judge on April 7, 1995, within twenty-four hours of her arrest, at which time she would
have again been advised of her right to counsel. Although the defendant argues she did
not appear before a judge until April 11, and then appeared only to waive extradition, the
trial court was within its authority to accredit the testimony of the Florida law enforcement
agent over the testimony of the defendant. Because the evidence supports the trial
court’s finding that the defendant was advised of her right to counsel by a neutral
magistrate within twenty-four hours of her arrest, the defendant’s contentions lack merit.
See State v. Kelly, 603 S.W.2d 726, 728-29 (Tenn. 1980)(findings of a trial court will not
be disturbed on review unless the evidence preponderates against those findings).
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The defendant also argues that the totality of the circumstances---
specifically, her age, her limited education, her lack of experience with the law, the length
of the interrogation, and her lack of food and sleep---indicate her confession was
involuntary. We do not agree.
In order to determine whether a defendant’s waiver of Miranda rights was
made voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently, we must consider the totality of the
circumstances surrounding the case. State v. Benton, 759 S.W.2d 427, 431-32 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1988). The wisdom of the defendant in deciding to make a statement, or his
or her failure to foresee the effects of that statement, are irrelevant to the determination
of a valid waiver. See Harris v. Riddle, 551 F.2d 936, 939 (4th Cir. 1977).
Here, the evidence at the suppression hearing showed that the defendant
voluntarily confessed her involvement in Dalton’s death and was arrested in Florida on
April 6, 1995; appeared before a Florida judge on April 7 and 11; and traveled with
authorities by plane to Tennessee on April 19, arriving in the evening. She was
immediately read her Miranda rights, waived those rights at 10:53 p.m., was served with
the capias charging her with first-degree murder at 11:15 p.m., and then was interviewed.
The interview concluded by 1:30 a.m. on April 20.
At the time of her statement, the defendant was twenty-three years old, had
completed only the eighth grade, and could read and write fairly well. She testified she
had been previously charged with felony theft and had pled guilty without requesting the
aid of an attorney. During the days leading up to her transfer to Tennessee, she did not
eat or sleep much because she was not feeling well, but she has never claimed that her
lack of food or sleep prevented her from appreciating the seriousness of her
circumstances or understanding what was happening. She testified that she had been
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read and had understood her Miranda rights in Florida and had voluntarily given a
statement to the Florida authorities confessing her involvement in Dalton’s death. She
further admitted she understood at the time she was being brought back to Tennessee
for charges involving Dalton’s death, that Detective Johnson of the Knox County Sheriff’s
Department had informed her of her Miranda rights, and that she had waived those rights.
She also testified that Detective Johnson had told her she would not need an attorney for
the interrogation that followed, but Detective Johnson denied so advising the defendant.
The defendant admitted that at no time was she coerced or forced to give a statement.
The trial court specifically discredited the defendant’s testimony that
Detective Johnson had advised her she would not need an attorney. The trial court also
found that the defendant had been properly advised of her rights, had understood her
rights, and had voluntarily given statements to the authorities. The evidence supports
these findings. Considering the totality of the circumstances, there is simply no indication
that the defendant’s statement was anything other than voluntary. That being so, the trial
court properly denied the defendant’s motion to suppress.
Next, the defendant argues that the trial court committed reversible error by
not allowing her to call co-defendant Halcomb to the witness stand, even though Halcomb
would have merely invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination
because his trial was pending. The defendant fails to cite any authority to support her
argument, thus waiving review of it. Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee
10(b); Killebrew, 760 S.W.2d at 231. Even so, the defendant’s argument lacks merit.
The propriety, scope, manner, and control of examination of witnesses is
within the trial court’s sound discretion. State v. Harris, 839 S.W.2d 54, 72 (Tenn. 1992).
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“It is not error to refuse to force a witness to take the stand to claim his Fifth Amendment
privilege in front of a jury, nor may a jury draw inferences from the decision of a witness
to exercise his constitutional privilege against self-incrimination.” Id. Here, the defendant
claims she wanted to call Halcomb to the witness stand not just so the jury could see him
invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege, but also to show the jury the difference between
Halcomb’s size and Dalton’s size (even though the jury was told of this discrepancy in
size) and to question him about topics that might not cause him to incriminate himself,
such as his relationship with Dalton. Halcomb stood accused of the same crime as the
defendant, and the record demonstrates that the defendant and Halcomb acted in
concert to kill Dalton. By inference, then, almost anything Halcomb could have said was
potentially incriminating. See State v. Zirkle, 910 S.W.2d 874, 890-91 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1995). Thus, the trial court properly refused to allow the defendant to call Halcomb as
a witness. Harris, 839 S.W.2d at 72.
Finally, the defendant argues that the trial court erred in charging the jury
with range of punishment, when the State first requested such an instruction after the
conclusion of the proof. The defendant relies upon T.C.A. § 40-35-201(b)(1), which
states, “In all contested criminal cases . . . upon the motion of either party, filed with the
court prior to the selection of the jury, the court shall charge the possible penalties for the
offense charged and all lesser included offenses.” The defendant argues that because
the State requested the instruction after jury selection, she was prejudiced because she
was prevented during voir dire from questioning potential jurors about their beliefs
regarding the length of punishment.
The defendant has not shown reversible error. At the conclusion of the
proof, the State requested an instruction on the range of punishment for first-degree
murder and all lesser included charges. According to § 40-35-201(b)(1), the trial court
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was not required to give these requested instructions because the State had failed to
request them prior to jury selection. Regardless, the trial court instructed the jury on the
ranges of punishment for first-degree murder, second-degree murder, reckless homicide,
and criminally negligent homicide. Even assuming the trial court erred in giving this
instruction, the defendant has not suffered prejudice because she was convicted of first-
degree murder, not any of the lesser-included offenses, and was sentenced to the
minimum sentence for first-degree murder, life imprisonment. Thus, to the extent the trial
court’s decision to instruct the jury on the ranges of punishment might have been error,
it was harmless. Tenn. R. Crim. P. 52(a).
Finding no merit in the defendant’s arguments, we affirm her conviction and
sentence.
_______________________________
JOHN H. PEAY, Judge
CONCUR:
______________________________
JOSEPH M. TIPTON, Judge
______________________________
DAVID G. HAYES, Judge
DISSENT
I respectfully dissent. The majority holds that an indictment which
references a lesser culpable mental state than is required by statute must be attacked
pretrial or any complaint concerning the defect is waived. The majority bases its holding
on the curious notion that “[s]ince proof of 919
S.W.2d 305, 310 (Tenn. 1996).
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The majority's holding allows the State to play fast and loose with
indictments because, under its holding, so long as there is sufficient proof at trial of the
required mental state, it matters not what mental state was alleged in the indictment. Our
Supreme Court has noted, however, that “it is unnecessary to charge guilty knowledge
unless it is included in the statutory definition of the offense.” State v. Hill, 954 S.W.2d
725, 729 (Tenn. 1997) (emphasis added). Guilty knowledge is included in the statutory
definition of evading arrest and it was therefore necessary to charge it. The State should
not now be allowed to shirk its accountability for its mistake by crying “waiver.”
Nor am I consoled by the indictment's reference to the relevant statute.
Taken to its logical extreme, this line of reasoning will soon allow the State to allege
nothing more in an indictment than that the defendant “violated Tennessee Code
Annotated Section [insert appropriate statute here].” I do not think that this result is what
the framers of our constitutions, much less the drafters of our current criminal code, had
in mind.
Even if, however, the majority is correct in holding that mental states may
be freely substituted for one another in indictments, I would find the instant indictment
fatally defective on other grounds. The relevant count of the indictment provides in
pertinent part that “on or about the 14th day of December 1993 . . . [the defendant] did
unlawfully and knowingly flee from Sheriff Delphus Hicks and Deputy Doug Brown . . .
known to [the defendant] to be . . . law enforcement officers from [sic] effecting [his]
arrest.” The statute which the defendant was thereby accused of violating provides as
follows: “It is unlawful for any person to intentionally flee from anyone the person knows
to be a law enforcement officer and the person: (1) Knows the officer is attempting to
arrest the person; or (2) Has been arrested.” T.C.A. § 39-16-603(a) (1991). Thus, the
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crime of evading arrest consists of the following essential elements: (1) the defendant
intentionally flees from persons he knows to be law enforcement officers and (2) the
defendant knows the officers are attempting to arrest him or they already have arrested
him. T.C.A. § 39-16-603(a) (1991). It is not a crime under this statute for a person to
intentionally flee police officers because, for instance, he does not want to be questioned,
he simply dislikes or fears officers, or because he enjoys taunting them. The crime is
committed when a person flees in a deliberate attempt to escape arrest. Of course, such
deliberate conduct requires that the person know an arrest is being attempted.
The indictment in the instant case makes absolutely no reference to the
defendant's awareness that the officers were attempting to arrest him. Nor is it possible
to logically infer the missing element from the words “from effecting [the defendant's]
arrest.” Cf. Hill, 954 S.W.2d at 727 (holding an indictment containing no reference to the
mens rea element valid if it otherwise meets constitutional and statutory requirements and
“the mental state can be logically inferred from the conduct alleged.”) Nor is this element
necessarily implied by the remaining allegations. Cf. Marshall, 870 S.W.2d at 538
(holding an indictment valid where a missing element of the offense is “necessarily
implied” from the allegations made). Thus, while we do not doubt that the police officers
were in fact attempting to arrest the defendant, there is no language in the indictment
which establishes that the defendant knew or was aware of the officers' intent. As set
forth above, the defendant may have been knowingly running from persons he knew to
be police officers without knowing that they were trying to arrest him. Given the plain
language of the statute, this omission is fatal.
Because the indictment charging evading arrest fails to allege the essential
element that the defendant knew the officers were trying to arrest him, it cannot support
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his conviction. Accordingly, I would reverse the defendant's conviction for that offense
and dismiss the charge.
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