State of Tennessee v. James Kimbrough

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
July 20, 2004 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. JAMES WAYNE KIMBROUGH
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
No. 2001-D-2439 Steve R. Dozier, Judge
No. M2003-00719-CCA-R3-CD - Filed January 31, 2005
The appellant, James Wayne Kimbrough, was convicted in the Davidson County Criminal Court of
first degree premeditated murder, felony murder, and two counts of spousal rape. Following a
capital sentencing hearing, the jury imposed a sentence of life imprisonment in the Tennessee
Department of Correction without the possibility of parole for his felony murder conviction.
Additionally, he received a sentence of fifteen years for each of his spousal rape convictions as a
Range III, persistent offender. On appeal, the appellant contends that the trial court erred in failing
to grant “all aspects” of his motions to suppress, that the evidence is not sufficient to support his
convictions, and that the trial court made numerous errors during the sentencing phase of his trial.
Upon our review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Criminal Court are Affirmed.
NORMA MCGEE OGLE, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which JOSEPH M. TIPTON and
ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER , JJ., joined.
Richard McGee (at trial and on appeal) and Wendy S. Tucker (at trial), Nashville, Tennessee, for the
appellant, James Wayne Kimbrough.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Helena Walton Yarbrough, Assistant Attorney
General; Victor S. Johnson, III, District Attorney General; and Katrin Novak Miller, Brian K.
Holmgren, and Kathy Morante, Assistant District Attorneys General, for the appellee, State of
Tennessee.
OPINION
I. Factual Background
In December 1999, the victim, Jennifer Kimbrough, was working at Kathy’s Massage Parlor,
which business was a front for prostitution. At that time, the victim was separated from her husband,
the appellant, whom she had married in February 1999. The appellant had repeatedly expressed his
displeasure with the victim’s job, frequently calling her a “whore.” The appellant had also stated that
he was “tired of” the victim’s job.
On December 11, 1999, the victim requested that a co-worker, Mary Ann Heidi McMillan,
drive her to The Place, a bar and restaurant located at the intersection of Nolensville Pike and Polk
Avenue in Nashville. The victim, wearing a black velvet outfit and carrying a duffle bag, makeup
bag, and extra clothes, entered The Place alone. After leaving the victim, McMillan drove home.
The Place was owned by Al Pedro, a friend of the appellant. While the victim and the
appellant were living together, they had frequented The Place together. When the victim entered The
Place on December 11, she began speaking with the appellant, who was seated at the end of the bar.
The bartender, Ruth Greenfield, and Pedro witnessed the appellant and the victim repeatedly argue
and then make up. Greenfield also noticed that the appellant’s right hand was bandaged with gauze
and had been for several days. At one point in the evening, Pedro suggested that the appellant buy
the victim a drink. The victim stated that she could buy her own drinks because she had her own
money. The appellant responded that “she was whoring around, and that’s how she got the money.”
Between 12:00 and 12:30 a.m. on December 12, 1999, the appellant and the victim left The
Place together. The appellant returned to The Place alone between 2:30 and 3:00 a.m. He was no
longer wearing the gauze bandage that had been on his hand earlier in the evening. In response to
Pedro’s inquiry regarding where he had been in the interim, the appellant told Pedro that when he
left The Place, he and the victim had sat in his car and talked for a while. Afterward, the appellant
went to a Waffle House and to visit his father before returning to The Place.
Thereafter, between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. on December 12, 1999, Jean Donegan, who lived at
14566 Old Hickory Boulevard in Antioch, woke from her sleep and looked outside her window. She
saw something “white” in her driveway, and woke her husband. He advised his wife that it was
probably a deer and suggested that she return to bed.
Later that morning, at approximately 6:00 a.m., the Donegan’s newspaper carrier, David
Williams, arrived to deliver their newspaper. Because of the Donegan’s age and the length of their
driveway, Williams usually parked his car and walked up the driveway to the house. That morning,
when he pulled into the driveway he saw something in the driveway. He initially thought the object
was a dead animal. However, when Williams got out of his car and approached the object, he
realized that it was a person. He was able to determine that the person was a woman and that she
was dead. Williams did not have a cellular telephone; therefore, he ran back to his car, drove to his
home and called 911 to report his discovery of the body.
When police arrived at the Donegan’s residence, they found no identification on the body.
The victim’s body was battered and bloody. Police found tire tracks, a footprint, and three small
silver-type beads near the body. In an effort to identify the victim or develop information that would
lead to the perpetrator’s identity, police spoke with neighbors and began canvassing area motels.
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Ultimately, Detectives Tim Mason and David Carrell, with the Nashville Metropolitan Police
Department (Metro) Murder Squad, determined the victim’s identity.
Detectives Mason and Carrell also determined that the appellant, who shared the victim’s
surname, was registered in room 121 at the nearby Knights Inn at the intersection of I-24 and Bell
Road in Nashville. During their investigation at the Knights Inn, officers discovered personal items
belonging to the victim in a trash can outside room 129. The trash can was located only a short
distance from room 121. The items included a black skirt, blouse, and bra; a purse; a necklace; a
wallet containing the victim’s identification; a makeup bag containing beige makeup and condoms;
and pillowcases, towels, and a capped beer bottle all bearing the victim’s blood. Also found in the
trash can were a gauze bandage which was stained with beige makeup and marked with the
appellant’s DNA, a prescription medicine bottle bearing the appellant’s name, and a Coke can with
the appellant’s fingerprint. A beer can bearing the victim’s fingerprint was found either in the trash
or in room 127, a room which was also searched by police in connection with the case.
After discovering the appellant’s name and the victim’s belongings in the trash can, a search
warrant was obtained for the appellant’s room at Knights Inn. The search of the room yielded few
clues. Thereafter, Detective Mason learned that the appellant was at The Place. Detective Mason
proceeded to The Place and took the appellant into custody. While in custody, the appellant
consented to a search of his car.
During the search of the appellant’s car, officers discovered a small silver bead and a blank
notepad. However, they noticed that the pad bore imprints of writing. A technique called “cross-
lighting” revealed what had been written on the page preceding the blank page. The indentation
revealed the following note:
I don’t want nothing to do with you. You are a liar. I will be back for
my stuff. Leave me alone. Whatever you are doing, keep on. No,
I’m not your wife anymore. So, f**k you. Don’t call me at all. I hate
slut puppy you.
Finally, a Luminol test revealed the presence of blood in the appellant’s vehicle.
Dr. Janet Ruth Pillow testified at trial that on December 13, 1999, she conducted an autopsy
on the victim. Dr. Pillow stated that when the victim’s body was received, there was dried blood on
the victim’s face, around her pubic area, along her thighs, and around her rectum. Dr. Pillow
observed bruising around the victim’s eyes and abrasions to her left eye, chin, and neck. Yellow
abrasions running parallel to each other extended from the victim’s left knee to the top of the left
foot. The same yellow abrasion pattern was observed on the right ankle and right foot. The yellow
color of the abrasions indicated that the abrasions occurred after the victim’s death.
Dr. Pillow said that the victim had blood around and inside her mouth. She found in the front
part of the victim’s mouth what appeared to be tissue. Additionally, in the farthermost part of the
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victim’s throat, Dr. Pillow discovered a “black object.” Upon removal, Dr. Pillow determined that
the object was a pair of women’s panties. Farther back in the throat, Dr. Pillow found a panty shield.
The items were packed “very tightly” in the victim’s throat, requiring the use of forceps for removal.
Dr. Pillow described the injuries to the victim’s genital area. She related that the opening
into the vagina was lacerated and she found blood around and within the vagina. Deeper into the
vagina, Dr. Pillow found more extensive lacerations. At the uppermost part of the vagina, adjacent
to the cervix, was a laceration measuring four centimeters. The laceration extended through the full
thickness of the vagina into the pelvic cavity. Additional multiple small lacerations were also found.
Dr. Pillow concluded that these injuries occurred while the victim was alive. Dr. Pillow opined that
an unopened capped beer bottle “coming into contact with vaginal tissue would be capable of
producing this type of injury.”
Upon her examination of the victim’s rectum, Dr. Pillow found “many lacerations of varying
sizes, all around the anus and even extending as much as four inches into the anal opening, into the
lower intestine.” The presence of blood and bruising farther into the pelvic cavity indicated that the
victim was alive when the injuries were inflicted. Further, Dr. Pillow testified that “[a]s the
abdomen was being opened, before it had been completely opened, there was a white, foreign object
readily apparent in the abdominal cavity. . . . Then the abdomen was completely opened, and that
foreign object was a white, aerosol can.” Dr. Pillow stated that the tip of the can had nearly reached
the victim’s diaphragm.
Dr. Pillow explained that the aerosol can would not have fit through the laceration of the
vagina. However, “[t]here was a laceration through the rectum, the lower part of the rectum, four
inches inside the rectum from the anal opening.” This laceration “went through the full thickness
of the wall of the rectum,” continuing on “a path of lacerations in the small bowel mesentery.” Dr.
Pillow further explained that “[t]he path could be followed from the laceration in the rectum through
these lacerations in the mesentery and the hemorrhages, to the point of the aerosol can.”
Regarding the cause of the victim’s death, Dr. Pillow observed that
[h]emorrhages extended from the top of the neck, in the area of the
hyoid bone, the thyroid cartilage, which is a larger cartilage that lies
just below the hyoid bone. In fact, the hemorrhage continued to just
below the thyroid gland.
There was also hemorrhage that extended behind the
esophagus, or the food tube it might be commonly called. In fact, the
hemorrhaging extended from the front of the neck all the way to the
anterior part of the cervical vertebrae, or the bones of the back of the
neck.
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From these observations, Dr. Pillow opined that the victim died as a result of manual strangulation
by a hand or hands.
Dr. Pillow explained that “victims of strangulation do not actually die from suffocation or
having their air cut off; they die from lack of oxygen to the brain.” Additionally, Dr. Pillow
maintained that death would occur in three to seven minutes during manual strangulation if the
pressure on the neck remained constant. However, in cases involving a struggle “survival could be
. . . a few minutes longer.”
At the conclusion of trial, the appellant was found guilty of premeditated first degree murder,
first degree felony murder, and two counts of spousal rape. The trial court merged the first degree
premeditated murder conviction into the appellant’s conviction for felony murder. At the conclusion
of the penalty phase, the jury sentenced the appellant to life imprisonment without the possibility of
parole for the offense of felony murder. Thereafter, the trial court imposed a sentence of fifteen
years for each of the spousal rape convictions, which sentences were to run concurrently to each
other but consecutively to the conviction for felony murder, for a total effective sentence of life
without the possibility of parole plus fifteen years. On appeal, the appellant challenges the trial
court’s rulings regarding his motions to suppress, the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his
convictions and sentencing.
A. Motions to Suppress
Prior to trial, the appellant filed several motions to suppress evidence, raising numerous
issues. Specifically, the appellant challenged the initial warrantless entry into his motel room, the
validity of the search warrant issued for the search of his motel room, his warrantless arrest, the
search of his vehicle, and the admissibility of his statements to police following his arrest. On
appeal, the appellant argues that the trial court should have granted his motions to suppress “in toto.”
In reviewing a trial court’s determinations regarding a suppression hearing, “[q]uestions of
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.” State v. Odom, 928 S.W.2d 18,
23 (Tenn. 1996). Thus, “a trial court’s findings of fact in a suppression hearing will be upheld unless
the evidence preponderates otherwise.” Id. Nevertheless, appellate courts will review the trial
court’s application of law to the facts purely de novo. See State v. Walton, 41 S.W.3d 75, 81 (Tenn.
2001). Furthermore, the State, as the prevailing party, is “entitled to the strongest legitimate view
of the evidence adduced at the suppression hearing as well as all reasonable and legitimate inferences
that may be drawn from that evidence.” Odom, 928 S.W.2d at 23. Moreover, we note that “in
evaluating the correctness of a trial court’s ruling on a pretrial motion to suppress, appellate courts
may consider the proof adduced both at the suppression hearing and at trial.” State v. Henning, 975
S.W.2d 290, 299 (Tenn. 1998).
The first witness to testify at the hearing on the appellant’s motion to suppress was Detective
Tim Mason. Detective Mason testified that on December 12, 1999, the victim’s body was
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discovered a short distance from the Knights Inn on Bell Road and I-24. While a search was being
conducted of area motels, the victim was identified through a fingerprint match. Shortly after the
victim’s identity was established, Detective Mason talked with a clerk at Knights Inn and discovered
that the appellant was registered in room 121 of the motel. Further investigation revealed that the
victim and the appellant were once arrested at the same time and had provided the same address.
Based upon that information, along with the knowledge of the shared surname, police surmised that
there might be a connection between the victim and the appellant.
Detective Mason testified that because of his concern that the appellant might also be injured
or dead, he entered room 121 using the manager’s key. No one was in the room; in fact, the room
appeared to have been vacated. Without conducting a full search, Detective Mason exited the room
and left to obtain a search warrant for room 121. Prior to obtaining the warrant, police discovered
items belonging to the victim in a trash can located a short distance from the appellant’s room at the
motel.
After the items were found in the trash can, the search warrant was obtained and executed.
While the Identification Unit (ID) processed room 121, Detective Mason went to the appellant’s
residence at Danby Drive and Harding Place to interview the appellant’s father, Grady Kimbrough.
Kimbrough told Detective Mason that he also was looking for the appellant and the victim because
they had “knocked him around and robbed him.” He opined that the appellant might be at The Place.
Following this lead, police arrived at The Place at 3:00 p.m. on December 12, 1999, and
found the appellant’s vehicle in the parking lot. Detective Mason used a photograph of the appellant
in order to identify him. Approximately fifteen minutes after police arrived, Detective Mason
witnessed the appellant emerge from The Place.
After the appellant got into his vehicle, Detective Mason approached the driver’s side of the
vehicle with his gun drawn. With the help of another officer, Detective Mason pulled the appellant
from the car, placed him on the ground, and handcuffed him. Detective Mason explained that the
appellant was a suspect in a murder; thus, he did not want to approach the appellant unarmed.
Detective Mason told the appellant that his wife was dead and the police needed to talk to him.
Then, before placing the appellant in the back of a marked police car, Detective Mason informed him
of his Miranda rights.1 At the suppression hearing, Detective Mason recalled, “I asked him to come
downtown with us so we could talk and get it straightened out, if he wasn’t involved, we’d let him
go home.” However, Detective Mason stated that the appellant would not have been free to leave
at that point.
While the appellant was seated in the police car, Detective Mason asked him for permission
to search his car. The appellant signed a consent to search form at 3:55 p.m. while he was seated in
the rear of the police car. Another officer transported the appellant to the Criminal Justice Center
1
See M iranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602 (1966).
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(CJC). Detective David Carrell arrived at the CJC shortly thereafter and conducted the interview
of the appellant.
Detective Carrell testified that he was unaware of the circumstances surrounding the
appellant’s apprehension. He stated that he believed the appellant had agreed of his own volition
to come to the CJC to speak with police. Detective Carrell recalled that when the appellant was
informed of the victim’s death, the appellant initiated conversation relating to when he last saw the
victim, claiming he saw her briefly on the night of December 11, 1999, at The Place and that he had
bought her a drink. After a short discussion, during which the appellant gave three versions of a
possible alibi for himself, Detective Carrell asked the appellant to submit to a polygraph
examination. Detective E.J. Bernard conducted the examination and informed Detective Carrell that
the results indicated the appellant was being untruthful, particularly regarding his knowledge of the
victim’s death.
Based upon this information, Detective Carrell strongly believed the appellant to be a suspect
in the victim’s death. He read the appellant his Miranda rights, and the appellant signed a waiver
of those rights. Prior to the reading of the rights, Detective Carrell noticed brown and red stains on
the appellant’s jacket. Detective Carrell believed that the red stains were blood and the brown stains
were similar to makeup found in the trash can containing the victim’s belongings. The appellant’s
jacket, shoes, and necklace were taken for testing. Additionally, the appellant’s hands were
photographed because they were covered with scratches.
As we have noted, the appellant contends that the trial court should have suppressed
information obtained during the search of his room at the Knights Inn, during the search of his
vehicle, and his statements to police following an allegedly illegal arrest. We will address each of
those issues in turn.
1. Room 121
The appellant first challenges the search of room 121, the room he had rented at Knights Inn.
We will examine both Detective Mason’s initial, warrantless entry into the room and the subsequent
search which was conducted pursuant to search warrant.
a. Warrantless Entry
Both the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 7 of the
Tennessee Constitution provide protection for citizens against “unreasonable searches and seizures.”
Generally, a warrantless search is considered presumptively unreasonable, thus violative of
constitutional protections. See State v. Walker, 12 S.W.3d 460, 467 (Tenn. 2000). The same
protection enjoyed by a citizen in his home is extended to a citizen in a “hotel room[] and other
temporary living spaces.” State v. Ross, 49 S.W.3d 833, 840 (Tenn. 2001).
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At the conclusion of the appellant’s suppression hearing, the trial court entered a lengthy and
detailed order denying in part and granting in part the appellant’s motion to suppress. In the order,
the trial court found that Detective Mason’s initial entry into room 121, which Detective Mason
stated was for the purpose of checking for other potential victims, was illegal. The trial court found
that because the appellant had a legitimate expectation of privacy in room 121, “the warrantless
search of the room was illegal unless it [fell] within an exception to the warrant requirement.” On
appeal, the appellant contends that the trial court was correct in finding that the initial entry into
room 121 was illegal.
Exigent circumstances may exist in any one of the three following situations:
“(1) when the officers [are] in hot pursuit of a fleeing suspect; (2)
when the suspect represent[s] an immediate threat to the arresting
officers or the public; and (3) when immediate police action [is]
necessary to prevent the destruction of vital evidence or thwart the
escape of known criminals.”
State v. Rodney Ford, No. 01C01-9708-CR-00365, 1999 WL 5437, at *3 (Tenn. Crim. App. at
Nashville, Jan. 7, 1999) (quoting Jones v. Lewis, 874 F.2d 1125, 1130 (6th Cir. 1989)). Further,
“[i]n addition to the ‘exigent circumstances’ situations set out in Ford, law enforcement officers may
also make a warrantless entry in an emergency to protect human life.” State v. Robbie W. Fields,
No. E2004-00716-CCA-R3-CD, 2005 WL 35184, at *6 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knoxville, Jan. 7,
2005.)
In the instant case, after examining the proof presented supporting the State’s claim of
exigent circumstances, the trial court commented that
[n]oticeably absent from the record, however, is any basis for a belief
that there was more than one victim of the late-night or early-morning
attack on [the victim]. Likewise, the State presented no proof that, at
the time he entered the [appellant’s] motel room, Detective Mason
possessed any information which suggested that the victim was killed
anywhere other than the driveway in which her body was discovered,
that the motel was the scene of the victim’s murder, or that the victim
and the [appellant] had had any recent contact with one another.
From our review of the record, we agree with the trial court that the initial, warrantless entry
into room 121 was illegal. However, our review is not yet complete. After his initial, warrantless
entry into room 121, Detective Mason obtained a search warrant for the appellant’s room.
Accordingly, we must now determine the validity of the search of the room which was conducted
pursuant to the search warrant.
b. Search Warrant for Room 121
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The appellant claims that the affidavit supporting the issuance of the search warrant
contained misleading or false information. He claims that without this information, the affidavit
failed to establish probable cause to search his motel room. Contrarily, the State argues that the
affidavit supports the issuance of the search warrant. Our supreme court has explained that
[t]he Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution requires
that search warrants issue only “upon probable cause, supported by
Oath or affirmation.” Article I, Section 7 of the Tennessee
Constitution precludes the issuance of warrants except upon
“evidence of the fact committed.” Therefore, under both the federal
and state constitutions, no warrant is to be issued except upon
probable cause.
State v. Henning, 975 S.W.2d 290, 294 (Tenn. 1998) (footnote and citations omitted). “A showing
of probable cause requires, generally, reasonable grounds for suspicion, supported by circumstances
indicative of an illegal act.” State v. Stevens, 989 S.W.2d 290, 293 (Tenn. 1999).
Moreover, “a finding of probable cause supporting issuance of a search warrant must be
based upon evidence included in a written and sworn affidavit.” Henning, 975 S.W.2d at 294.
Specifically, this court has observed that “[p]robable cause to support the issuance of a warrant must
appear in the affidavit, and judicial review of the existence of probable cause will not include
looking to other evidence provided to or known by the issuing magistrate or possessed by the
affiant.” State v. Barbara Copeland, No. 03C01-9402-CR-00079, 1996 WL 368209, at *3 (Tenn.
Crim. App. at Knoxville, June 28, 1996); see also State v. Moon, 841 S.W.2d 336, 337-38 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1992). Additionally, to establish probable cause, an affidavit must set forth facts from
which a reasonable conclusion may be drawn that evidence will be found in the place to be searched.
See State v. Norris, 47 S.W.3d 457, 470 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). Furthermore, “‘affidavits must
be looked at and read in a commonsense and practical manner’, and . . . the finding of probable cause
by the issuing magistrate is entitled to great deference.” State v. Bryan, 769 S.W.2d 208, 211 (Tenn.
1989) (quoting State v. Melson, 638 S.W.2d 342, 357 (Tenn. 1982)). Moreover, we note that should
certain portions of an affidavit be used impermissibly to determine probable cause, such portions
may be redacted and the remainder of the affidavit examined to see if probable cause exists without
the challenged statements. See State v. Carpenter, 773 S.W.2d 1, 6 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1989).
Accordingly, we must review the affidavit to determine whether there was sufficient evidence
contained therein to support the issuance of the search warrant.
In the instant case, the affidavit in support of the issuance of the search warrant, which
affidavit was drafted by Detective Mason, provided, in pertinent part:
Your affiant is a detective assigned to the Murder Squad of the
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, who has been assigned as
one of the investigators on this case. . . . Probable cause is as follows:
On December 12, 1999 at approximately 0630 the nude body of
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Jennifer Kimbrough was found in the driveway at 14566 Old Hickory
Blvd. Antioch Tennessee. The body of the victim had been beaten
and possibly strangled. It was learned that this victim had been
staying in a room of the Knight Inn at 1111 Bell Rd. Antioch
Tennessee. Your affiant found through the motel records that said
room to be searched is rented to James Wayne Kimbrough, who your
affiant believes to be the victims husband. Detectives found the
victim’s wallet and identification as well as womens clothing and a
towel with what appears to be blood on it in a trash can located near
the parking lot of said hotel. There was no response at the door of
said room. Your affiant believing James Wayne Kimbrough may
have also been a victim of foul play entered the room and found that
James Wayne Kimbrough had removed most of his [possessions].
Witnesses who were staying at said hotel stated to Detectives that
there was an argument in the parking lot near the victim’s room
during the night preceding the discovery of the body. Your affiant is
praying for a search warrant to be issued so that a complete search of
the above listed room be conducted and forensic testing be conducted
so that any evidence found can be sent to the proper crime lab for
testing to be used in any Criminal Prosecution related to this case.
Your affiant has also learned through the motel records that James
Wayne Kimbrough has rented said room through the date of
December 13, 1999.
On appeal, the appellant raises several complaints regarding the contents of this affidavit.
Specifically, he challenges the use of the following information to establish probable cause: that the
victim was staying in a room at Knights Inn, that the victim and the appellant were married, that the
warrantless entry revealed that the room was devoid of possessions, and that there was an argument
in the parking lot near the victim’s room. The State concedes that no information exists specifically
linking the victim with Knights Inn; however, the State argues that the remainder of the information
was correctly included in the affidavit to establish probable cause.
The court began its review by noting that because the initial, warrantless entry into room 121
was illegal, the court could not consider the information obtained therein in determining probable
cause. Thus, the portion of the affidavit which reads “[y]our affiant believing James Wayne
Kimbrough may have also been a victim of foul play entered the room and found that James Wayne
Kimbrough had removed most of his [possessions],” was not considered by the trial court in
determining probable cause. We conclude that the trial court correctly found that this information
should not have been used to establish probable cause.
Additionally, the trial court noted that the statement, “Witnesses who were staying at said
hotel stated to Detectives that there was an argument in the parking lot near the victim’s room during
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the night preceding the discovery of the body,” was “misleading because . . . the record does not
provide a basis for the conclusion that the victim had ever stayed in the motel.” The trial court
determined that the proper course of action was to “excise the portion of the affidavit which refers
to the victim.” However, the court declined to find that the lack of information regarding the
informants’ veracity or basis of knowledge required the statement to be completely disregarded
This court has observed that the “probable cause requirement essentially encompasses the
Aguilar-Spinelli two-pronged test adopted by our Supreme Court in State v. Jacumin [778 S.W.2d
430 (Tenn. 1989)].” State v. Tays, 836 S.W.2d 596, 600 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992); see Spinelli v.
United States, 393 U.S. 410, 89 S. Ct. 584 (1969); Aguilar v. Texas, 378 U.S. 108, 84 S. Ct. 1509(1964). In other words, the hearsay statement relied upon by police must establish the informant’s
basis of knowledge and demonstrate the informant’s reliability. However, our courts have also noted
that the Aguilar-Spinelli test does not apply to “citizen informants.” See State v. Luke, 995 S.W.2d
630, 636 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998).
The trial court determined that “the informants were hotel guests who provided relatively
innocuous information which did not implicate a particular person or persons in criminal activity.”
In other words, the trial court found that the informants were citizen informants, who are presumed
to be reliable. We cannot conclude that the trial court erred in permitting this statement to be used
in determining probable cause. However, given the paucity of information regarding the number or
gender of the participants in the argument, we question the value of this statement to the
determination of probable cause.
Next, the trial court found that Detective Mason recklessly disregarded the truth when he
asserted in his affidavit that the victim had been staying in a room at Knights Inn. In State v. Little,
560 S.W.2d 403, 407 (Tenn. 1978), our supreme court held that “there are two circumstances that
authorize the impeachment of an affidavit sufficient on its face, (1) a false statement made with
intent to deceive the Court, whether material or immaterial to the issue of probable cause, and (2)
a false statement, essential to the establishment of probable cause, recklessly made.” The appellant
bears the burden of establishing the allegation of perjury or reckless disregard by a preponderance
of the evidence. See State v. Yeomans, 10 S.W.3d 293, 297 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).
As the trial court noted, there was no proof presented at the hearing on the motion to suppress
or at trial that the victim had been staying at Knights Inn. Specifically, the trial court observed that
the appellant’s motel registration card bore only his name and indicated that the room had a single
occupant. Moreover, Detective Mason could not recall the source of any information regarding the
victim staying at the motel. As there was no proof presented during the hearing or at trial from
which Detective Mason could have derived an inference that the victim was staying at Knights Inn,
we agree with the trial court that the inclusion of this statement was false and recklessly made. Thus,
the statement should not be considered when determining probable cause.
Contrarily, the court found that the assertion that Detective Mason believed the appellant to
be the victim’s husband was not false or recklessly made. The court stated that
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although it would have been helpful for the State to provide the Court
with additional information regarding the basis for the detectives’
belief, the [appellant] had failed to prove that Detective Mason’s
statement concerning his belief was in fact false or that he made any
alleged false statement recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally.
From our review of the record, we agree with the trial court. Although Detective Mason did
not specify the source of his information, we conclude that the statement was reasonable based upon
information gathered by Detective Mason in the course of his investigation. See State v. Dellinger,
79 S.W.3d 458, 470 (Tenn. 2002). Detective Mason had learned that the appellant and the victim,
who shared a surname, were once arrested at the same time and they gave the same address upon
their arrest. Detective Mason could reasonably infer, based upon this information, that some type
of familial connection existed between the appellant and the victim. We conclude that the trial court
correctly considered this information.
Ultimately, the trial court found that the pertinent portions of the affidavit should have read
as follows:
On December 12, 1999 at approximately 0630 the nude body of
Jennifer Kimbrough was found in the driveway at 14566 Old Hickory
Blvd. Antioch[,] Tennessee. The body of the victim had been beaten
and possibly strangled. Your affiant found through the motel records
that a motel room at Knights Inn at 1111 Bell Rd. Antioch Tennessee
is rented to James Wayne Kimbrough, who your affiant believes to be
the victim[’]s husband. Detectives found the victim’s wallet and
identification as well as women[’]s clothing and a towel with what
appears to be blood on it in a trash can located near the parking lot of
said hotel. There was not response at the door of said room. Your
affiant believing James Wayne Kimbrough may have also been a
victim of foul play entered the room. Witnesses who were staying at
said hotel stated to Detectives that there was an argument in the
parking lot near [James Kimbrough’s] room during the night
preceding the discovery of the body. Your affiant is praying for a
search warrant to be issued so that a complete search of the above
listed room be conducted and forensic testing be conducted so that
any evidence found can be sent to the proper crime lab for testing to
be used in any Criminal Prosecution related to this case. Your affiant
has also learned through the motel records that James Wayne
Kimbrough has rented said room through the date of December 13,
1999.
Based upon the contents of the affidavit after removal of the redacted statements, we
conclude that there was sufficient probable cause to support the issuance of the search warrant. The
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affidavit asserted that the victim and the appellant were married at the time of the offense.
Moreover, the appellant was a registered guest at the Knights Inn near where the victim’s body was
discovered.2 Further, several bloody items belonging to the victim were discovered in a trash can
near the appellant’s room at Knights Inn. Accordingly, we conclude that the search of the appellant’s
room at the Knights Inn was legal and the fruits of the search thereof were admissible.
2. Seizure of the Appellant
The appellant next contends that the seizure of his person was illegal because the seizure was
not supported by probable cause. The appellant further alleges that his illegal seizure tainted
subsequently given statements, photographs of his hands, and his consent to search his vehicle. To
address the appellant’s concerns, we must first determine if the appellant was seized and if the
seizure was legal.
In relation to the Fourth Amendment, our courts have recognized three distinct types of
interactions between law enforcement and the citizenry, namely “(1) a full scale arrest which must
be supported by probable cause; (2) a brief investigatory detention which must be supported by
reasonable suspicion; and (3) brief police-citizen encounters which require no objective
justification.” State v. Daniel, 12 S.W.3d 420, 424 (Tenn. 2000) (citations omitted). Moreover,
“‘[o]nly when the officer, by means of physical force or show of authority, has in some way
restrained the liberty of a citizen may we conclude that a “seizure” has occurred.’” Id. (citing Terry
v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 19 n.16, 88 S. Ct. 1868, 1879 n.16 (1968)). In other words, “a ‘seizure’
implicating constitutional concerns occurs only if, in view of all the circumstances surrounding the
incident, a reasonable person would have believed that he or she was not free to leave.” Id. at 425.
In determining when an encounter becomes a seizure, a court should consider all of the
circumstances pertaining to the encounter. Id. Some relevant factors are as follows:
the time, place and purpose of the encounter; the words used by the
officer; the officer’s tone of voice and general demeanor; the officer’s
statements to others who were present during the encounter; the
threatening presence of several officers; the display of a weapon by
an officer; and the physical touching of the person of the citizen.
Id. at 426. Furthermore,
[i]n Tennessee, an arrest is more specifically defined as the “taking,
seizing, or detaining of the person of another, either by touching or
putting hands on him, or by any act which indicates an intention to
take him into custody and subjects the person arrested to the actual
control and will of the person making the arrest.” An arrest may be
2
The trial court took judicial notice of the fact that “Old Hickory Boulevard becomes Bell Road in the Antioch
area, and that the Antioch area is relatively small.”
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affected without formal words or a station house booking. However,
there must be actual restraint on the arrestee’s freedom of movement
under legal authority of the arresting officer.
State v. Crutcher, 989 S.W.2d 295, 301-02 (Tenn. 1999) (citations omitted).
Detective Mason testified that he had his gun drawn when he approached the appellant as he
was driving away from The Place. Thereafter, Detective Mason and another officer pulled the
appellant from his vehicle, placed him face down upon the ground, and handcuffed him. The
officers then placed the appellant in the back of a police vehicle. We conclude that this was more
than a brief police-citizen encounter and more than an investigatory stop. The nature of the
appellant’s detention rose to the level of an arrest. See State v. Johnson, 980 S.W.2d 414, 422
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1998) (explaining that detention for the purpose of custodial interrogation triggers
the safeguards against illegal arrest). Accordingly, the actions of police needed to be supported by
probable cause. See State v. Downey, 945 S.W.2d 102, 106 (Tenn. 1997).
Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-7-103(a)(3) (2003) provides that an officer may arrest
a person without a warrant “[w]hen a felony has in fact been committed, and the officer has
reasonable cause for believing the person arrested to have committed it.” In the instant case, upon
the discovery of the victim, it was clear that a homicide had been committed. Homicide, in its
varying forms, is a felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-201, et. seq. (2003); see also State v.
Larico S. Ficklin, No. W2000-01534-CCA-R3-CD, 2001 WL 1011470, at *7 (Tenn. Crim. App. at
Jackson, Aug. 27, 2001). Thus, our next inquiry is whether Detective Mason reasonably believed
the appellant committed the offense. See State v. Lewis, 36 S.W.3d 88, 98 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000);
see also State v. Robert A. Cummins, No. W2000-00277-CCA-R3-CD, 2001 WL 912792, at *5
(Tenn. Crim. App. at Jackson, Aug. 10, 2001) (“Our courts make little, if any, distinction between
the terms ‘reasonable cause’ and ‘probable cause’ in determining whether there exists a basis for an
arrest.”). Our supreme court has explained that “a reasonable ground for suspicion, supported by
circumstances indicative of an illegal act,” constitutes probable cause. State v. Henning, 975 S.W.2d
290, 294 (Tenn. 1998).
Courts should determine the existence of probable cause after assessing all of the information
available to the officer at the time of arrest. See State v. Woods, 806 S.W.2d 205, 212 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1990). To this end, Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 4(b) provides that in the application
for the issuance of an arrest warrant, “[t]he finding of probable cause shall be based upon evidence,
which may be hearsay in whole or in part provided there is a substantial basis for believing the
source of the hearsay to be credible and for believing that there is a factual basis for the information
furnished.” It has long been established that “[w]hile this rule applies itself particularly to warrants
for arrest, the same principle must be considered applicable to establish probable cause where an
arrest has been made without a warrant.” State v. Raspberry, 640 S.W.2d 227, 228 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1982); see also State v. Tays, 836 S.W.2d 596, 600 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992).
The trial court determined that
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[w]hen considered as a whole, the information available to Detective
Mason established sufficient probable cause to arrest the [appellant].
Through a computer search of the victim’s arrest record as well as
through a conversation with the [appellant’s] father, Detective Mason
learned that the victim and [the appellant] had previously had a
relationship. Moreover, because the [appellant] and his father resided
at the same address and the [appellant’s] father was looking for the
[appellant] and victim because they had robbed him, it was
reasonable for Detective Mason to conclude that the relationship
between the [appellant] and victim was ongoing. . . . Detective
Mason was also aware that the [appellant] had rented a motel room
in the same general area in which the victim’s body was discovered,
that the victim was nude at the time her body was discovered, and that
women’s clothing, a towel with what appeared to be blood, and the
victim’s wallet and identification were discovered in a dumpster in
the vicinity of the [appellant’s] motel room. Finally, motel guests
heard an argument near the [appellant’s] motel room the night before
the victim’s body was discovered.
Based upon the foregoing, the trial court found that Detective Mason had probable cause to arrest
the appellant for homicide. Our review of the relevant facts leads us to the same conclusion. We
agree with the trial court.
a. Search of the Appellant’s Vehicle
The appellant next contends that the search of his vehicle was illegal. The appellant asserts
that he “was illegally seized and gave consent [to search his vehicle] only after both express and
implied coercion by Detective Mason.”
Our supreme court has said that, “[i]t is, of course, well settled that one of the exceptions to
the warrant requirement is a search conducted pursuant to consent.” State v. Bartram, 925 S.W.2d
227, 230 (Tenn. 1996) (citing Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 219, 93 S. Ct. 2041, 2043-
44 (1973), and State v. Jackson, 889 S.W.2d 219, 221 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993)). “The sufficiency
of consent depends largely upon the facts and circumstances in a particular case.” Jackson, 889
S.W.2d at 221. The prosecution bears the burden of proving that the appellant freely and voluntarily
gave consent. See State v. McMahan, 650 S.W.2d 383, 386 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1983). We further
observe that “‘[t]he existence of consent and whether it was voluntarily given are questions of fact.’”
State v. Ashworth, 3 S.W.3d 25, 29 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999) (quoting McMahan, 650 S.W.2d at
386). In determining the validity of consent, this court has utilized the following factors:
(1) voluntariness of the accused’s custodial status; (2) the length of
the detention of the accused before he or she gave consent; (3) the
presence of coercive police procedures; (4) the accused’s awareness
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of his or her right to refuse to consent; (5) the accused’s age,
education and intelligence; (6) whether the accused understands his
or her constitutional rights; (7) the extent of his or her previous
experience with the police; and (8) whether the accused was injured,
intoxicated, or in ill health.
State v. Waylon D. Knott, No. M2000-02524-CCA-R3-CD, 2001 WL 846031, at *3 (Tenn. Crim.
App. at Nashville, July 27, 2001).
As we concluded earlier, the seizure of the appellant was not illegal. Therefore, any search
conducted of the appellant’s vehicle was not tainted by an illegal seizure. The trial court found that
while the appellant was in custody at the time he gave consent to search his vehicle, that factor was
not dispositive. Indeed, the court accredited Detective Mason’s assertion that he read the consent
form to the appellant “and that the [appellant] appeared to understand his rights.” The consent form
clearly elucidated the appellant’s right to refuse consent. Further, the court noted that there was no
evidence that the appellant was threatened with physical harm, nor was he made any promises in
exchange for his consent to search his vehicle. The trial court summarized its findings as follows:
While the circumstances surrounding the [appellant’s] arrest do not
present an ideal situation for a consent request, it does not follow that
the consent was involuntary. The [appellant] was forcibly detained
as a result of the officers’ justifiable belief that he had committed a
homicide days or hours prior to that detention. Despite the nature of
the arrest, the remaining circumstances are such that the Court has no
hesitation concluding that the [appellant] voluntarily consented to a
search of his vehicle. Moreover, the [appellant] offered no
limitations as to the scope of the search and, to the Court’s
knowledge, never withdrew his consent. Therefore, any search or
searches of the [appellant’s] vehicle were valid. . . .
We can find no evidence in the record to dispute the trial court’s findings. Accordingly, we, like the
trial court, conclude that the appellant’s consent to search his vehicle was valid.3
b. Photographs and Statement
The appellant next contends that the statements made by and the photographs taken of the
appellant after he was transported to the police station were illegally obtained and should have been
excluded at trial. Specifically, the appellant maintains:
3
Additionally, we note that the trial court found that police “could have searched the passenger compartment
incident to the [appellant’s] arrest and the entire vehicle as an inventory search.” However, because we have concluded
that the search was valid pursuant to consent, we have chosen not to further address this issue.
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The statements made by the appellant are fruits of the illegal
seizure and are inadmissible. Although there were Miranda warnings
issued, the only valid warnings came after Mr. Kimbrough had been
questioned, his clothing seized, and submitted to a polygraph
examination. . . .
Detective Carrell did not read the appellant his Miranda rights
until after the polygraph test was performed and until after his
clothing was seized and pictures were taken of his hands. Mr.
Kimbrough was not read his Miranda rights until 8:35 p.m. on
December 12, 1999, even though he was arrested around 4:00 p.m. on
the same day. The appellant was in continuous custody from the time
of his arrest until the time when he was taken to the police department
to be questioned. There were no intervening circumstances, as he
was not given access to talk to counsel or family members while at
the police station. Finally, Detective Mason’s conduct was flagrant
and for the purpose of intimidating the appellant. The observations
of Mr. Kimbrough’s clothing and his hands, the photographs of his
hands were fruits of the illegal seizure and should not have been
admissible at trial.
The trial court found that the appellant’s first statement to police violated Miranda because
the appellant was inadequately advised of his rights; therefore, the State was not allowed to use the
statement during its case-in-chief. The trial court also noted that the search warrant authorized law
enforcement officials to search the appellant’s person as well as his motel room. Therefore, police
were authorized to seize the appellant’s clothing and photograph his hands. Further, the trial court
found that the seizure of the appellant’s clothing and the photographing of his hands were done
pursuant to searches following a lawful arrest. Finally, the trial court found that the second statement
made by the appellant was admissible because the appellant had at that time received proper Miranda
warnings and was free from coercion.
From our thorough examination of the record, we can discern no instance in which any
statements made by the appellant were admitted at trial. Furthermore, the appellant’s argument that
the photographs of his hands should have been excluded are based upon his contention that the
photographs were the result of an illegal arrest. We have previously concluded that the appellant was
not the subject of an illegal arrest and was in legal custody at the time Detective Carrell observed in
plain view the scratches on the appellant’s hands. These photographs were not illegally obtained.
Moreover, as the trial court noted, items of the appellant’s clothing were seized pursuant to a search
warrant. Accordingly, these items were admissible at trial.
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
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The appellant argues that the trial court erred in denying the appellant’s motion for judgments
of acquittal on the charged offenses due to a lack of proof. Initially, we note that this court has
observed that “[t]he standard by which the trial court determines a motion for judgment of acquittal
at the end of all the proof is, in essence, the same standard which applies on appeal in determining
the sufficiency of the evidence after a conviction.” State v. Thompson, 88 S.W.3d 611, 614-15
(Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). Therefore, we will address the appellant’s complaint as a challenge to the
sufficiency of the evidence.
On appeal, a jury conviction removes the presumption of the appellant’s innocence and
replaces it with one of guilt, so that the appellant carries the burden of demonstrating to this court
why the evidence will not support the jury’s findings. See State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914
(Tenn. 1982). The appellant must establish that no “reasonable trier of fact” could have found the
essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,
319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789 (1979); Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e).
Accordingly, on appeal, the State is entitled to the strongest legitimate view of the evidence
and all reasonable inferences which may be drawn therefrom. See State v. Williams, 657 S.W.2d
405, 410 (Tenn. 1983). In other words, questions concerning the credibility of witnesses and the
weight and value to be given the evidence, as well as all factual issues raised by the evidence, are
resolved by the trier of fact, and not the appellate courts. See State v. Pruett, 788 S.W.2d 559, 561
(Tenn. 1990).
The appellant was convicted of first degree premeditated murder, first degree murder of the
victim committed during the perpetration of spousal rape, which offense is otherwise known as
felony murder, and two counts of spousal rape.4 In order to obtain the appellant’s conviction for first
degree premeditated murder, the State was required to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the
appellant committed the “premeditated and intentional killing of [the victim].” Tenn. Code Ann. §
39-13-202(a)(1) (1997). Premeditation “is an act done after the exercise of reflection and judgment”
and “means that the intent to kill must have been formed prior to the act itself. [However,] [i]t is not
necessary that the purpose to kill pre-exist in the mind of the accused for any definite period of
time.” Id. at (d). We also note that, “[a] homicide, once proven, is presumed to be second degree
murder, and the state has the burden of proving premeditation to raise the offense to first degree
murder.” State v. Millsaps, 30 S.W.3d 364, 368 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). Although there is no
concrete test for determining the existence of premeditation, Tennessee courts have relied upon
certain circumstances to infer premeditation. See State v. Pike, 978 S.W.2d 904, 914 (Tenn. 1998).
Specifically, the following factors have been used to support a jury’s inference of premeditation: (1)
the appellant’s prior relationship to the victim which might suggest a motive for the killing; (2) the
appellant’s declarations of intent to kill; (3) the appellant’s planning activities before the killing; (4)
the manner of the killing, including the appellant’s using a deadly weapon upon an unarmed victim,
killing the victim while the victim is retreating or attempting escape, or killing the victim in a
4
The jury found the appellant guilty of both premeditated first degree murder and felony murder. The trial
court merged the appellant’s conviction for premeditated first degree murder into his felony murder conviction.
-18-
particularly cruel manner; (5) the appellant’s demeanor before and after the killing, including a calm
demeanor immediately after the killing. See Pike, 978 S.W.2d at 914-915; State v. Bland, 958
S.W.2d 651, 660 (Tenn. 1997). Additionally, this court has suggested that facts concerning the prior
relationship between the appellant and the victim from which motive could be inferred is indicative
of premeditation. See State v. Gentry, 881 S.W.2d 1, 5 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993).
Felony murder is defined as “[a] killing of another committed in the perpetration of . . . any
. . . rape.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202(a)(2) (1997). Spousal rape is defined as the unlawful
sexual penetration of one spouse by another when the appellant causes serious bodily injury to the
victim. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-15-507(b)(1)(B) (1997). This court has previously concluded
that the term “unlawful” generally refers to non-consensual acts. See State v. Jones, 889 S.W.2d
225, 227 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-501(7) (1997)
provides that sexual penetration is “sexual intercourse . . . or any other intrusion, however slight, of
any part of a person’s body or of any object into the genital or anal openings of the victim’s . . . body,
but emission of semen is not required.”
On count three, the appellant was charged with spousal rape based upon the penetration of
the victim’s vagina. On count four, the appellant was charged with spousal rape based upon the
penetration of the victim’s anus. The State elected to proceed on count three, the vaginal rape, as
the underlying felony for the appellant’s felony murder charge. At trial, Dr. Pillow testified that the
victim’s vagina bore multiple, extensive lacerations which produced bleeding, indicating that the
victim was alive at the time of the penetration. Dr. Pillow opined that the lacerations were consistent
with penetration by a capped beer bottle. A capped beer bottle coated in the victim’s blood was
found along with several of the victim’s personal belongings in a trash can near the appellant’s room
at the Knights Inn. Further, Dr. Pillow asserted that there were multiple lacerations of various sizes
around the victim’s anus and into her anal opening. The lacerations had bled, indicating the victim
was alive at the time of penetration. During the autopsy, Dr. Pillow discovered an aerosol can
lodged in the victim’s abdomen. The aerosol can was inserted into the victim’s anus and pushed into
her abdominal cavity. However, Dr. Pillow maintained that the cause of death was manual
strangulation by a hand or hands.
Because the crimes were sexual in nature, Dr. Pillow swabbed the victim’s breasts, and one
of the swabs tested positive for the appellant’s DNA. Additionally, the appellant was the last person
seen with the victim before her death. Moreover, the appellant admitted that he left the bar with the
victim, and they talked for a while in his car. The appellant had been wearing a gauze bandage on
his hand early in the evening while at The Place. However, when he returned to The Place after
leaving with the victim, the appellant was no longer wearing the bandage. Police discovered a gauze
bandage with the appellant’s DNA in the trash can along with other items belonging to the victim.
Further, the tissue recovered from the victim’s mouth also bore the appellant’s DNA. Also, the
appellant was upset that the victim engaged in prostitution, stating that he was “tired” of it. From
the foregoing evidence, we conclude that there was overwhelming proof to support the appellant’s
convictions for felony murder and two counts of spousal rape. Moreover, the proof revealed that the
victim was brutally raped and tortured before she was strangled, the victim struggled during the
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strangulation, and it would have taken a significant length of time to end the victim’s life. Therefore,
we conclude that the proof supports the appellant’s conviction for first degree premeditated murder.
C. Sentencing
After the appellant was found guilty of felony murder, the jury, pursuant to a capital
sentencing hearing, imposed a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Subsequently, the trial court held a sentencing hearing regarding the spousal rape convictions and
imposed a sentence of fifteen years for each conviction. The trial court further ordered the spousal
rape convictions to be served concurrently with each other but consecutively to the sentence for
felony murder for a total effective sentence of life without the possibility of parole plus fifteen years.
On appeal, the appellant raises several complaints relating to his sentences for felony murder and
spousal rape.
1. Felony Murder Sentencing
The appellant claims several instances of error on the part of the trial court during the penalty
phase of his felony murder conviction. Specifically, the appellant maintains that the trial court erred
in refusing to allow testimony regarding the impact of sentencing upon the appellant’s family, in
admitting certain graphic photographs of the victim’s injuries, in allowing the State to display a
photograph of the victim on a projector screen during closing argument, and in denying the
appellant’s requested instruction on the issue of residual doubt. Additionally, the appellant claims
that there was insufficient proof of the aggravating factors to justify the imposition of the sentence
of life without the possibility of parole.
a. Effect of Appellant’s Sentencing
The appellant contends that the trial court “erred in refusing to allow the jury to hear and
consider the impact of sentencing on the [appellant’s] family.” Specifically, the appellant complains
that the trial court refused to allow the appellant’s mother to testify as to “what impact a death
sentence for her son would have on her.” The appellant maintains that such evidence could have
been considered by the jury as mitigation evidence.
We note that the admissibility of evidence at a capital sentencing hearing is governed by
Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-204(c) (2003), which statute provides in pertinent part:
In the sentencing proceeding, evidence may be presented as to any
matter that the court deems relevant to the punishment and may
include, but not be limited to, the nature and circumstances of the
crime; the defendant's character, background history, and physical
condition; any evidence tending to establish or rebut the aggravating
circumstances enumerated in subsection (i); and any evidence tending
to establish or rebut any mitigating factors. Any such evidence which
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the court deems to have probative value on the issue of punishment
may be received regardless of its admissibility under the rules of
evidence; provided, that the defendant is accorded a fair opportunity
to rebut any hearsay statements so admitted. However, this subsection
shall not be construed to authorize the introduction of any evidence
secured in violation of the constitution of the United States or the
constitution of Tennessee.
See also Tenn. R. Evid. 401-403. Our supreme court has noted that “Tennessee Code Annotated
section 39-13-304 . . . for the liberal admission of mitigation evidence in the penalty phase and
ensures that a jury will have as much information as possible in making its sentencing
determination.” State v. Carter, 114 S.W.3d 895, 905 (Tenn. 2003). However, in the instant case,
we hesitate to conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to allow the appellant’s
mother to testify as to the impact the appellant’s death would have upon her. The appellant’s mother
was allowed to testify at length regarding the abusive nature of the appellant’s father and his brother
also testified extensively regarding the horrific nature of the appellant’s childhood. The appellant’s
mother further revealed that until the appellant was imprisoned for the instant offenses, she had not
seen the appellant since he was an infant. Thus, in light of the presence of ample mitigation
evidence, we conclude that if the trial court’s failure to allow the testimony of the appellant’s mother
regarding the impact of his death were error, such error was clearly harmless. See Tenn. R. Crim.
P. 52(a); Tenn. R. App. P. 36(b).
b. Photographs of the Victim’s Injuries
The appellant next complains about the use of certain photographs during the penalty phase.
Prior to the commencement of the sentencing hearing on the felony murder conviction, the appellant
objected to the admission of several photographs of the victim’s injuries. The photographs were
taken during the autopsy and depicted the nature of the injuries to the victim’s vagina, anus, face,
and neck. The appellant contends that the photographs of the victim’s injuries were extremely
prejudicial and thus inadmissible. Contrarily, the State argues that the photographs “were admitted
to establish that the ‘murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel in that it involved torture or
serious physical abuse beyond that necessary to produce death.’”
Generally, the decision regarding the admissibility of photographs lies within the sound
discretion of the trial court and that decision will not be overturned on appeal absent a showing of
an abuse of that discretion. See State v. Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d 516, 576 (Tenn. 2000); State v.
Banks, 564 S.W.2d 947, 949 (Tenn. 1978). “Moreover, the modern trend is to vest more discretion
in the trial judge’s rulings on admissibility.” Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d at 577.
As we noted earlier, trial courts possess great discretion over the admissibility of evidence
during a capital sentencing hearing. In ruling upon the admissibility of the photographs, the trial
court noted that the photographs were relevant to prove the heinous, atrocious, and cruel aggravating
factor advanced by the State. Moreover, the court found that the photographs had great probative
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value which outweighed any prejudicial effect. Ultimately, however, the trial court limited the
number of photographs admissible. Our examination of the photographs reveals that, while
unpleasant, they were highly relevant to prove the “heinous, atrocious, or cruel” aggravating factor
proposed by the State. See State v. Hall, 8 S.W.3d 593, 602 (Tenn. 1999). We note that our
supreme court “has repeatedly held that photographs relevant to proving the aggravating
circumstance that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel are admissible in the penalty
phase.” Carter, 114 S.W.3d at 903. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not err in allowing
the admission of photographs of the victim’s injuries.
c. Photograph of the Live Victim
The appellant also complains regarding the display of a photograph of the victim on a large
projector screen during the prosecution’s closing argument. The appellant argues that the use of this
photograph was “excessive” and “did not contribute anything to the jury except undue emotion.”
In its order denying the appellant’s motion for new trial, the trial court noted that the
appellant’s “argument regarding the size of the screen upon which the State intended to show the
photograph was a bit of an exaggeration.” Additionally, the court stated that the photograph was
“only briefly displayed by the State during its closing argument. Moreover, the State did not present
an overly-emotional closing argument.”
The admission of the photograph of the victim when she was alive was within the discretion
of the trial court. However, as a prerequisite to admissibility, the relevance of the photograph must
be established. It is well-established that closing argument is an important tool for both parties
during a trial; thus, counsel is generally given wide latitude during closing argument, and the trial
court is granted wide discretion in controlling closing arguments. See Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d at 577-
78 (appendix). “Notwithstanding such, arguments must be temperate, based upon the evidence
introduced at trial, relevant to the issues being tried, and not otherwise improper under the facts or
law.” State v. Goltz, 111 S.W.3d 1, 5 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2003).
Importantly, we note that the appellant did not object to the admission of the photograph
itself, merely to the manner in which it was displayed. The appellant specifically stated, “I don’t
have any objections, if they wanna hold the photograph, if they wanna present it to the jury.” In
overruling the appellant’s objection to the manner of display, the trial court stated that “if it gets to
the point of being a plea for vengeance or sympathetic motivation, then I’ll step in.” The trial court
did not find that the State used the victim’s photograph to unduly prejudice or emotionally sway the
jury. While we question the relevance of the live photograph of the victim, we note that the record
does not reflect the size of the photographic display. Therefore, we defer to the judgment of the trial
court. However, if the display of the photograph were error, such error is harmless.
d. Residual Doubt Instruction
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The appellant next complains that the trial court “erred in denying [his] proposed detailed
instruction on the issue of residual doubt as a mitigating factor.” It is well-established that the trial
court must give the jury “a complete charge on the law applicable to the facts of the case.” State v.
Phipps, 883 S.W.2d 138, 149 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). In Tennessee, it is required that “a
defendant be allowed to present evidence at a []sentencing hearing to establish residual doubt as a
nonstatutory mitigating circumstance.” State v. Hartman, 42 S.W.3d 44, 55 (Tenn. 2001) (citing
State v. Teague, 897 S.W.2d 248, 256 (Tenn. 1995)). Once the issue of residual doubt is raised by
the evidence, a jury instruction on residual doubt should be given. See State v. Andrew Thomas, No.
W2001-02701-CCA-R3-DD, 2004 WL 370297, at *33 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Jackson, Feb. 27,
2004), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 2004). Residual doubt evidence is typically established by
proof which casts doubt upon a defendant’s guilt, which proof is not limited to evidence mitigating
a defendant’s culpability for the offense. See Hartman, 42 S.W.3d at 57.
In the instant case, the appellant requested the following residual doubt instruction:
You must also consider as a mitigating circumstance any
residual or lingering doubt you may have about [the appellant’s] guilt.
Residual or lingering doubt differs from reasonable doubt. You have
already found beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty that
[the appellant] is guilty. Yet, some genuine doubt may still exist. It
may reflect the opinion of one juror or several. The absence of an
absolute certainty about guilt can be a valid reason for not imposing
the ultimate and irrevocable penalty of death.
Unless each and every one of you can say with certainty that
you do not possess a residual or lingering doubt about the degree of
the homicide committed and about the identity of the person who
committed it, then as a jury you must consider the existence of such
a residual or lingering doubt as a mitigating circumstance that
warrants a sentence of life imprisonment rather than death.
The trial court denied the appellant’s request to give the foregoing instruction, choosing instead to
give a more generalized instruction. The trial court’s instruction on residual doubt provided:
Tennessee law provides that, in arriving at the punishment, the
Jury shall consider, as previously indicated, any mitigating
circumstances raised by the evidence, which shall include, but are not
limited to, the following:
....
6. Any residual or lingering doubts you may have about the
[appellant’s] participation in the commission of the offense. Residual
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doubt means doubt somewhere between reasonable doubt, as defined
herein, and absolute certainty of guilt.
From our review of the jury instructions, we conclude that the trial court’s residual doubt
instruction was more than sufficient and “served to give the jury the opportunity and duty to consider
any residual doubts about his culpability.” Thomas, No. W2001-02701-CCA-R3-DD, 2004 WL
370297, at *33. Moreover, we note that the appellant’s proposed instruction appears to call for
absolute certainty of the appellant’s guilt before imposing sentence. Our case law does not mandate
the imposition of such a heavy burden as a prerequisite to capital sentencing. See State v. Bigbee,
885 S.W.2d 797, 813 (Tenn. 1994). This issue is without merit.
E. Aggravating Factors
The appellant styles his next issue as a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting
the existence of the aggravating factors justifying the imposition of a sentence of life without the
possibility of parole. However, the crux of the appellant’s argument is that “the mitigation
presented, especially in the form of residual doubt, should have resulted in a sentence of life and not
life without parole.” We will briefly address both of these complaints.
Upon a unanimous finding that the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt one of the
statutorily enumerated aggravating factors set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-
204(i), “the jury shall, in its considered discretion, sentence the defendant either to imprisonment for
life without the possibility of parole or imprisonment for life.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-207(c)
(2003); see also Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-204(i) (2003). In the instant case, the jury found the
existence of the following aggravating factors:
(1) The appellant was previously convicted of one or more felonies,
other than the present charge, the statutory elements of which involve
the use of violence to the person.
(2) The murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel, in that it
involved torture or serious physical . . . abuse, beyond that necessary
to . . . produce death.
(3) The murder was knowingly committed, solicited, directed, or
aided by the [appellant] while the [appellant] had a substantial role in
committing or was fleeing after having a substantial role in
committing spousal rape.
See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-204(i)(2),(5), and (7).
First, we note that the appellant stipulated that he had three prior convictions for aggravated
assault. See State v. Berry, 141 S.W.3d 549, 570 (Tenn. 2004). On appeal, the appellant does not
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challenge the application of this aggravating factor. From our review of the record, we conclude that
the evidence supports the application of this factor.
Further, proof of the heinous, atrocious, and cruel aggravator was overwhelming. As we
have previously noted, Dr. Pillow detailed the extensive and horrific injuries the victim received just
before her death. Among the violations was the insertion of an aerosol can into the victim’s rectum,
which can was then shoved by a foreign object into the victim’s abdominal cavity. Additionally, the
victim was brutally raped with a capped beer bottle. Dr. Pillow asserted that these injuries would
have been extremely painful. Moreover, Dr. Pillow testified that the victim was beaten and that she
died by means of manual strangulation, which would have taken three to seven minutes to result in
the victim’s death. See State v. Vann, 976 S.W.2d 93, 104 (Tenn. 1998). Further, evidence
indicated that the victim struggled with her attacker.
As the final aggravating factor, the jury found that “the murder was knowingly committed,
solicited, directed, or aided by the [appellant] while the [appellant] had a substantial role in
committing or was fleeing after having a substantial role in committing spousal rape.” Tenn. Code
Ann. § 39-13-204(i)(7). The proof adduced at trial and at the capital sentencing hearing amply
supports the finding that the appellant raped his wife and that he caused her death nearly
contemporaneously with that rape. Moreover, the strangulation of the victim would have required
the application of substantial force and would have lasted for three to seven minutes. Therefore, the
evidence is sufficient to support the application of this aggravating factor. See State v. Butler, 980
S.W.2d 359, 362-63 (Tenn. 1998); State v. Hodges, 7 S.W.3d 609, 629 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998).
Upon our review of the record, we conclude that the evidence supports the jury’s
determination that the aggravating factors outweigh any applicable mitigating factors. Accordingly,
the imposition of the sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole was justified.
2. Spousal Rape Sentencing
As we have noted, subsequent to the appellant’s convictions and the imposition of his
sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, the trial court conducted a sentencing
hearing to determine the appropriate sentence for the appellant’s spousal rape convictions. At the
conclusion of that hearing, the trial court imposed a sentence of fifteen years for each conviction.
The court ordered the appellant to serve his sentences for his spousal rape convictions concurrently
with each other but consecutively to his sentence for felony murder. On appeal, the appellant has
raised two separate issues regarding his sentences for spousal rape. The appellant challenges the
length of his individual sentences and the imposition of consecutive sentencing. We will address
each of these issues in turn.
1. Length of Sentence
Appellate review of the length, range or manner of service of a sentence is de novo.
See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d) (2003). In conducting its de novo review, this court considers
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the following factors: (1) the evidence, if any, received at the trial and the sentencing hearing; (2)
the presentence report; (3) the principles of sentencing and arguments as to sentencing alternatives;
(4) the nature and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved; (5) evidence and information
offered by the parties on enhancement and mitigating factors; (6) any statement by the appellant in
his own behalf; and (7) the potential for rehabilitation or treatment. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-35-
102, -103, -210 (2003); see also State v. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166, 168 (Tenn. 1991). The burden is
on the appellant to demonstrate the impropriety of his sentence(s). See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
401, Sentencing Commission Comments. Moreover, if the record reveals that the trial court
adequately considered sentencing principles and all relevant facts and circumstances, this court will
accord the trial court’s determinations a presumption of correctness. Id. at (d); Ashby, 823 S.W.2d
at 169.
To begin a sentencing determination, a court should begin at the presumptive minimum, then
“enhance the sentence within the range as appropriate for the enhancement factors, and then reduce
the sentence as appropriate for the mitigating factors.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(e). Spousal
rape is a Class C felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-507(2)(A) (2003). The presumptive
sentence for a Class C felony is the minimum sentence within the appropriate range. See Tenn. Code
Ann. § 40-35-210(c). The appellant was sentenced as a standard Range III persistent offender, and
on appeal, does not challenge this designation. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-107(a)(1) (2003).
Accordingly, the presumptive sentence for the appellant’s Class C felony convictions was ten years.
See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-112(c)(3) (2003).
The trial court applied five enhancement factors to the appellant’s sentence:
(2) The appellant has a previous history of criminal convictions in
addition to those necessary to establish the appropriate range;
(6) The appellant treated the victim with exceptional cruelty during
the commission of the offense;
(7) The personal injuries inflicted upon the victim were particularly
great;
(8) The offense involved a victim and was committed to gratify the
appellant’s desire for pleasure or excitement; and
(9) The appellant has a previous history of unwillingness to comply
with the conditions of a sentence involving release in the community.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114(2) and (6)-(9) (2003).
From our review of the record, we conclude that there are sufficient facts to warrant the
application of each of the enhancement factors found by the trial court. In fact, on appeal the
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appellant did not challenge the trial court’s findings. However, we are compelled to note that the
Supreme Court released Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. __, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004), after the
submission of briefs in the instant case. This court has recently recognized that Blakely “calls into
question the continuing validity of our current sentencing scheme.” State v. Julius E. Smith, No.
E2003-01059-CCA-R3-CD, 2004 WL 1606998, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knoxville, July 19,
2004); see also State v. Michael Wayne Poe, No. E2003-00417-CCA-R3-CD, 2004 WL 1607002,
at *9 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knoxville, July 19, 2004), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 2004).
In Blakely, the Supreme Court held that
the “statutory maximum” for Apprendi[v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466,
120 S. Ct. 2348 (2000)] purposes is the maximum sentence a judge
may impose solely on the basis of the facts reflected in the jury
verdict or admitted by the defendant. In other words, the relevant
“statutory maximum” is not the maximum sentence a judge may
impose after finding additional facts, but the maximum he may
impose without any additional findings. When a judge inflicts
punishment that the jury’s verdict alone does not allow, the jury has
not found all the facts “which the law makes essential to the
punishment,” and the judge exceeds his proper authority.
Blakely, 524 U.S. at __, 124 S. Ct. at 2537. Essentially, Blakely does not dispute the appropriateness
of enhancement factor (2), which is based on the existence of a defendant’s prior criminal history;
yet, the constitutionality of the remainder of our statutory enhancement factors without such facts
being found by a jury or admitted by a defendant remains to be seen. Accordingly, based upon
Blakely and the facts adduced in the instant case, we are confident that the trial court did not err in
applying enhancement factor (2) to the appellant.
Additionally, in the instant case, in sentencing the appellant for felony murder, the jury found
beyond a reasonable doubt that “the [felony] murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel, in
that it involved torture or serious physical . . . abuse, beyond that necessary to . . . produce death.”
We conclude that encompassed in this finding was a determination that the underlying felony,
spousal rape, was likewise heinous, atrocious, or cruel. Therefore, enhancement factor (6), that the
appellant treated the victim with exceptional cruelty during the commission of the offenses, was
supported by jury findings. See State v. Madden, 99 S.W.3d 127, 139 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2002); cf.
State v. Chester Wayne Walters, No. M2003-03019-CCA-R3-CD, 2004 WL 2726034, at *22 (Tenn.
Crim. App. at Nashville, Nov. 30, 2004).
Next, we turn to the application of enhancement factor (7), that the personal injuries inflicted
upon the victim were particularly great. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114(7). As we stated earlier,
spousal rape is defined as the unlawful sexual penetration of one spouse by another when the
appellant cause serious bodily injury to the victim. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-15-507(b)(1)(B)
(1997). Ordinarily, if an enhancement factor is an essential element of the offense, the factor may
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not be used to enhance the sentence. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114. However, if the victim
“‘sustained appreciable personal injuries beyond those incidental to the crime,’” the enhancement
factor may be utilized. State v. Dean, 76 S.W.3d 352, 380 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). We conclude
that, in light of the undisputed evidence that the victim was alive at the time of the injuries were
inflicted, the jury’s finding of exceptional cruelty in the form of physical abuse would support the
application of this enhancement factor.
In examining the remaining enhancement factors found by the court, we note that the record
does not indicate that the jury found the existence of enhancement factors (8) or (9). Additionally,
there is nothing in the record reflecting that the appellant admitted the existence of these two
enhancement factors. Therefore, we are constrained to conclude that the application of these factors
was error in light of Blakely. See State v. Terry Lynn Byington, No. E2003-02316-CCA-R3-CD,
2004 WL 1606993, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knoxville, July 19, 2004), perm. to appeal denied,
(Tenn. 2004).
Additionally, we note that the trial court did not find the existence of any mitigating factors.
On appeal, the appellant does not contend that the trial court erred in failing to find any mitigating
factors. Our review of the record likewise reveals no mitigation. Therefore, notwithstanding the
erroneous application of enhancement factors (8) and (9), we conclude that the three enhancement
factors remaining justify the trial court’s imposition of the maximum sentence of fifteen years.
2. Consecutive Sentencing
Finally, we turn to the appellant’s complaints regarding the imposition of consecutive
sentencing. Initially, we note that “[w]hether sentences are to be served concurrently or
consecutively is a matter addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court.” State v. Adams, 973
S.W.2d 224, 230-31 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115(b)
(2003) contains the discretionary criteria for imposing consecutive sentencing.5 See also State v.
Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d 933, 936 (Tenn. 1995). The trial court may impose consecutive sentencing
upon finding the existence of any one of the following criteria:
(1) The defendant is a professional criminal who has knowingly
devoted such defendant’s life to criminal acts as a major source of
livelihood;
(2) The defendant is an offender whose record of criminal activity is
extensive;
5
This court has previously determined that Blakely does not impact Tennessee’s consecutive sentencing
scheme. See State v. Rose M arie Hernandez, No. M2003-01756-CCA-R3-CD, 2004 W L 2984844, at *4 (Tenn. Crim.
App. at Nashville, Dec. 16, 2004); State v. Earice Roberts, No. W 2003-02668-CCA-R3-CD, 2004 W L 2715316, at *12
(Tenn. Crim. App. at Jackson, Nov. 23, 2004).
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(3) The defendant is a dangerous mentally abnormal person so
declared by a competent psychiatrist who concludes as a result of an
investigation prior to sentencing that the defendant’s criminal conduct
has been characterized by a pattern of repetitive or compulsive
behavior with heedless indifference to consequences;
(4) The defendant is a dangerous offender whose behavior indicates
little or no regard for human life, and no hesitation about committing
a crime in which the risk to human life is high;
(5) The defendant is convicted of two (2) or more statutory offenses
involving sexual abuse of a minor with consideration of the
aggravating circumstances arising from the relationship between the
defendant and victim or victims, the time span of defendant’s
undetected sexual activity, the nature and scope of the sexual acts and
the extent of the residual, physical and mental damage to the victim
or victims;
(6) The defendant is sentenced for an offense committed while on
probation; or
(7) The defendant is sentenced for criminal contempt.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-115(b)(1)-(7) (2003).
In the instant case, the trial court found three criteria.6 Specifically, the trial court found that
the appellant was an offender whose record of criminal activity is extensive; that the offenses were
committed while on probation, and that the appellant is a dangerous offender. See Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 40-35-115(2), (4), and (6).
The record reflects that the appellant’s criminal history consists of multiple felony and
misdemeanor convictions, warranting the trial court’s finding that the appellant’s criminal history
is extensive. Additionally, there is proof in the record that the appellant was on probation for theft
offenses when the instant offense was committed. Moreover, the sheer brutality and savagery of the
offenses illustrate that the appellant has little regard for human life. However, our analysis is not yet
complete.
In order to find that a defendant is a dangerous offender, a court must also find that “(1) the
sentences are necessary in order to protect the public from further misconduct by the defendant and
(2) ‘the terms are reasonably related to the severity of the offenses.’” Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d at 938;
6
The appellant does not dispute the application of any of these criteria.
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see also State v. Lane, 3 S.W.3d 456, 461 (Tenn. 1999). In applying the dangerous offender criteria,
the trial court noted:
And, as I’ve already mentioned and will mention again, if this case
doesn’t qualify for consecutive sentencing, under State versus
Wilkerson, which talks about the necessity of protecting the public
and that it must reasonably relate to the severity of the offenses, and
goes on to say that not every case serious in nature is necessarily one
that would indicate a person is a dangerous offender; that, in the
Court’s opinion, this factual scenario merits that finding.
We conclude that the trial court did not err in imposing consecutive sentencing.
III. Conclusion
Finding no reversible error, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
___________________________________
NORMA McGEE OGLE, JUDGE
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