State of Tennessee v. Gary S. Holman

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
Assigned on Briefs July 23, 2013
STATE OF TENNESSEE V. GARY S. HOLMAN
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Knox County
No. 92152B John Kerry Blackwood, Judge
No. E2012-01143-CCA-R3-CD - Filed January 27, 2014
The defendant, Gary S. Holman, stands convicted of aggravated burglary, employing a
firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony, false imprisonment, first degree felony
murder, and especially aggravated robbery. He is currently serving an effective sentence of
life plus eleven years. On appeal, the defendant contends that: (1) the trial court erred by not
allowing extrinsic evidence to be used to impeach a witness under Tennessee Rules of
Evidence Rule 613(b);(2) that the trial court erred by allowing prejudicial photographs of a
victim into evidence; and (3) that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions.
Following review of the record, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient to support the
convictions. However, the petitioner’s remaining two issues are waived for failure to prepare
an adequate record on appeal. As such, the judgments of conviction are affirmed.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Criminal Court Affirmed
J OHN E VERETT W ILLIAMS, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which J EFFREY S. B IVINS,
J., joined and N ORMA M CG EE O GLE, J., concurred in part and dissented in part.
Richard L. Gaines, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Gary S. Holman.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Deshea Dulany Faught, Assistant
Attorney General; Randall Nichols, District Attorney General; and Ta Kisha Fitzgerald,
Assistant District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
Procedural History
The charges against the defendant arose from his participation in a home invasion
burglary which resulted in the death of one of the residents. Vickie Graves testified that she
and her husband, Bill, were inside their home on the evening of May 2, 2009, watching a
movie in their living room. Ms. Graves testified that she heard a sensor located in their
driveway go off twice, which indicated the presence of someone or something, and saw a
motion-sensor flood light come on at the end of the house. As Mr. Graves went towards the
front door to investigate, a man, later identified as co-defendant Josh Bowman, rushed into
the house and grabbed Mr. Graves in a “bear hug.” Ms. Graves testified that a second man,
the defendant, immediately followed Mr. Bowman inside the home. According to Ms.
Graves, the defendant was armed with a handgun. The defendant immediately approached
Ms. Graves and ordered her to sit down. When she refused, the defendant put the gun to her
head and tried to push her down onto the couch. Ms. Graves continued to refuse to sit.
At the same time, a struggle was continuing between Mr. Graves and Mr. Bowman.
When Mr. Graves saw that his wife had a gun pointed at her head, he broke free from Mr.
Bowman and ran behind the love seat. During this time, Ms. Graves heard a “pop,” and she
screamed for her husband, who did not answer. According to Ms. Graves, the “pop”
distracted the defendant, and she pushed him backwards, causing him to fall over a basket.
She dove beside a chair where a gun and ammunition were kept, and she managed to retrieve
the gun. She pointed the weapon at the defendant and told him that she was going to blow
his head off. Ms. Graves pulled the trigger of the gun several times, but nothing happened.
The defendant proceeded to grab Ms. Graves and the gun, and a struggle between the
two ensued. During the scuffle, the pair fell over a coffee table and knocked over various
furniture. While this was occurring, Ms. Graves heard Mr. Bowman yell at the defendant to
“get the safe,” to which the defendant replied that he could not because she had a gun. The
scuffle between the two continued, and, at some point, Ms. Graves was able to pull down the
toboggan and bandana covering the defendant’s face and see him clearly by the light of the
television. During this struggle, the defendant eventually bit Ms. Graves on the arm and was
able to wrest the gun away from her. At that point, he “pushed [her] head down into [the]
loveseat.” The defendant then retrieved a safe from the closet near the front door before
running out of the house. Ms. Graves continued to lie on the loveseat, and she heard Mr.
Bowman come from the back of the home and exit the front door as well.
After first attempting to pursue the two men to possibly see their car, Ms. Graves
returned to the house and discovered her husband, bleeding profusely, on the floor between
the bedroom and the living room. She immediately called 911 and tried to stop the bleeding
by applying pressure to the wound in her husband’s upper thigh. The ambulance and police
arrived on the scene, and Mr. Graves was rushed to the hospital where he endured several
surgeries prior to passing away approximately twenty-four hours later.
-2-
While at the hospital with her husband, Ms. Graves was interviewed by the police and
related the events of the evening. During the recorded interview, with regard to the man later
identified as the defendant, Ms. Graves stated that he “did not seem to want to hurt [her.]”
She also made the statement that, while she was sure that the defendant had pointed
something with a barrel at her head, she “couldn’t swear [the defendant] had a gun in his
hand,” but stated that it felt like it. She also noted that, while the two did struggle over the
gun, the defendant did not hit or strike her at any time, rather he only pushed and shoved her.
She also related that the defendant bit her arm, but noted he did not break the skin. Ms.
Graves also made the statement that the defendant was either “not very strong or he was real,
real gentle with me.” Ms. Graves also noted that she had never seen the two men who
invaded her home before that evening.
Based upon his actions, the defendant, along with Mr. Bowman and Mr. Chad
Medford, were indicted by a Knox County grand jury. On July 21, 2009, the defendant was
indicted, in a ten-count indictment, for: two alternative counts of aggravated burglary; two
alternative counts of employing a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony;
aggravated kidnapping; three alternative counts of first degree felony murder; and especially
aggravated robbery. At trial, the State presented the testimony of Ms. Graves as noted above.
The State also called multiple law enforcement officials to testify. The first witness,
Michael Mays with the Knox County Emergency Communications District, testified that on
May 2, 2009, a 911 call was received from 9920 Washington Road and that officers from the
sheriff’s department were dispatched. Officer Frank Phillips with the Knoxville County
Sheriff’s Department responded to the remote location. Upon approaching the area, he
observed a small box, which was open, and some contents lying in the roadway
approximately one hundred yards from the residence. He radioed other officers to stop and
check the box before he proceeded to the house. Upon entering, Officer Phillips found Ms.
Graves kneeling over her husband trying to stop the bleeding. Mr. Graves, who appeared to
have a fatal wound, was lying in the floor in an area between the living room and a bedroom.
During this initial meeting, Officer Phillips was able to learn from Ms. Graves that two men
had entered their home and fought with her husband before a gun was eventually fired. She
explained that her husband had been attempting to retrieve a gun from the bedroom.
The next witnesses called by the State were multiple officers from the forensic
services division. Officer Mackenzie Alleman testified that he examined and photographed
a large safe which was in the middle of the road on Washington Pike. She noted that the safe
had burst open and that contents, mostly coins and papers, were scattered around it. Inside
the front door of the home, she found a black toboggan and a loaded Mauser 9-millimeter
handgun. Officer Alleman also recovered a spent .45 caliber casing next to the front door,
but she noted that the round went through the rear wall, landing near the kitchen sink. In
-3-
front of the bedroom door, she recovered a second spent casing. She testified that there was
also a large indentation and blood where another round had gone through the bedroom wall,
before lodging in a book.
Officer Aaron Allen of the forensic services division also responded to the scene that
evening and helped with the collection of evidence and the documentation of the scene. He
was responsible for sketching the crime scene, as well as mapping the trajectory of the two
bullets discovered in the home. Approximately one week later, Officer Allen returned to the
scene to collect a .45 Ruger P97 discovered by a tracking team in the wood line underneath
some leaves. The weapon was found approximately 243 feet from the Graves’ mailbox.
Officer Tom Finch with the forensic services division also assisted in the collection
of evidence in the case. Months later, in January 2010, Officer Finch assisted in the recovery
of a Colt .45, which was found by officers across the street from the Graves’ residence. It
was later determined that the gun belonged to Mr. Graves.
Officer Michael McMahan, also with the forensic division, initially responded to the
scene that evening but was rerouted to another call. Several days later, he was responsible
for processing a silver Mercury automobile belonging to Mr. Bowman in connection with the
case. He discovered what he believed to be smears of blood in the car, and he collected
samples for later testing. In the car’s trunk, Officer McMahan also found a bandana, a pair
of black boots, a toboggan, a glove, and a small black bag. It appeared that there was a blood
smear on the boots.
Kimberly Bryant with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) crime lab also
testified, stating that she worked in the serology and DNA unit. She received several pieces
of evidence in the case for testing, although she was unable to extract DNA profiles from
much of it. She did test a pair of work gloves that she received and found that the DNA on
the gloves was a “mixture of at least three individuals,” with the main contributor being Mr.
Graves. However, testing revealed that the defendant could not be excluded as one of the
other contributors. Ms. Bryant also tested a pair of work boots and found human blood,
which she subsequently identified as Mr. Graves’.
Also testifying was Kevin Warner, a forensic scientist in the firearms identification
unit of the TBI. He received multiple pieces of evidence to examine in the case, specifically
a .45 caliber Ruger pistol, two fired cartridge cases, a bullet jacket and fragment, another
bullet, a magazine from the pistol, and three unfired cartridges. After testing, Mr. Warner
determined that the two fired cartridges had been shot from the Ruger pistol. He also
determined that the bullet and bullet jacket were fired from that same pistol.
-4-
Don Carmen, also with the TBI firearms identification unit, testified that several
months after Mr. Warner’s examination of the Ruger pistol, a second gun was submitted for
examination. Mr. Carmen explained that the gun was a colt 45 and was not in workable
condition when he received it. After soaking the gun, he was able to fire the gun.
Dr. Steven Cogswell, with the Knox County Medical Examiner’s Officer, performed
an autopsy on the body of Mr. Graves. He noted that Mr. Graves had a gunshot wound,
which entered his left buttock, severed his femoral artery and vein, and exited through the
thigh. Dr. Cogswell testified that Mr. Graves’ leg had received severe damage and that
medical personnel had planned to amputate the leg prior to Mr. Graves’ death. He testified
that there were multiple fasciotomy incisions, one of which obscured the exit wounds, on Mr.
Graves, the purpose of which were to relieve pressure from dying muscle and tissue in the
body. Looking at crime scene photographs, Dr. Cogswell testified where the victim had been
standing when he was shot and observed that the scene was consistent with one who suffered
from such a wound.
Detective Brad Hall, a detective with the major crimes unit, also assisted in the case.
His only involvement, however, was assisting in the defendant’s arrest on May 12, 2009, and
participating in an interview with the defendant. In the interview, a statement was given, and
the defendant admitted that he and Mr. Bowman had entered the Graves’ home with the
intent to rob it. However, he was insistent that Mr. Bowman and Mr. Medford had told him
that no one would be inside the home when they entered. He acknowledged that he and Ms.
Graves engaged in an altercation in the living room, while Mr. Bowman fought with Mr.
Graves.
The defendant testified at his trial in a manner consistent with the statement he had
given to police. At no time did the defendant ever deny that he was in the home, that he had
gone there with the intent to burglarize the home, or that he was involved in an altercation
with Ms. Graves.
The defendant testified that he had been friends with Mr. Bowman since high school
and that he regularly purchased drugs from Mr. Bowman. The defendant also stated that he
had no real residence at the time, and he would stay in a motel with Mr. Bowman when he
came to town. On May 1, 2009, the defendant and Mr. Bowman were in a room at a Motel
6, and Mr. Medford arrived. The defendant testified that he did not know Mr. Medford well.
However, he was in the room when Mr. Bowman and Mr. Medford were discussing plans
for a burglary on the following day. Initially, the two men planned to seek the assistance of
the defendant’s younger brother to help them.
The next day, Mr. Bowman was not able to locate the defendant’s brother so instead
-5-
asked the defendant to assist him. Mr. Bowman told the defendant that if he helped them,
he would receive pills. The defendant and Mr. Bowman left in Mr. Bowman’s car and drove
to Mr. Medford’s home. The trio waited until it was darker and eventually left the home with
Mr. Medford driving Mr. Bowman’s car. According to the defendant, Mr. Medford told
them that they were supposed to find a safe with money inside it, as well as some “oxies” in
the medicine cabinet, inside the home. The defendant was clear that Mr. Medford said that
no one was supposed to be home. He also stated that he was not armed, and he saw neither
Mr. Medford nor Mr. Bowman with a weapon.
The trio drove by the Graves’ home around dusk. The defendant said that he did not
see any lights on, but he did see a “blue light” on in the front room “like if you’re watching
a TV and like if a movie goes off . . . .” He also noted that a blue pickup truck was parked
in the driveway. After driving around for awhile, Mr. Medford let the other two out on a side
street near the Graves’ home. As he was approaching the home, the defendant donned a
dark-colored hoodie, a toboggan, a pair of gloves, and wrapped a piece of a shirt around his
face. The defendant found these items in Mr. Bowman’s car. As the two neared the house,
a light clicked on, and the defendant stated that he told Mr. Bowman that he did not feel
comfortable doing this. However, Mr. Bowman ran up to the front door and let himself in.
The defendant acknowledged that he followed Mr. Bowman inside the home. Once inside,
the defendant said he saw Mr. Bowman and Mr. Graves wrestling. He maintained that he
never saw Mr. Bowman with a gun. He further claimed that he did not hear any gunshots
fired while he was in the home.
At the same time, Ms. Graves began screaming for them not to hurt her husband, and
the defendant said he told her that they would not. While admitting that Ms. Graves appeared
scared, he denied that he had rushed into the home and put a gun to her head. The defendant
said that Ms. Graves went over to a chair and bent down. When she raised up, she was
pointing a gun at him and pulling the trigger, although no bullets were discharged.
According to the defendant, he grabbed the gun with his left hand, and the two began
wrestling. He testified that after Ms. Graves picked up the gun, he got her on the ground and
pinned her left arm “under the pit of [his] arm.” During the ensuing struggle, the defendant
heard Mr. Bowman yell at him to get the safe. The defendant replied that he couldn’t
because Ms. Graves had a gun. During this struggle, the toboggan the defendant was
wearing got pulled down, and Ms. Graves saw the defendant’s face. The defendant then saw
Mr. Bowman retrieve the safe from the closet and leave the house. At the time, he was still
attempting to wrest the gun from Ms. Graves. At some point during the fray, the defendant
bit Ms. Graves and pulled back her thumb, as well as pushing her down into the loveseat.
After finally getting the gun, the defendant ran out of the house. As he was running, he
tossed the gun he had taken from Ms. Graves into a wooded area. Afterwards, the trio went
back to the Motel 6. The defendant testified that he did not take any of the proceeds from
-6-
the robbery.
It was also established during the investigation that Ms. Graves’ nephew was married
to the sister of the third co-defendant in the case, Mr. Medford. Ms. Graves’ nephew had
suffered several strokes and was placed on several medications, which his wife refused to
keep in their home. Accordingly, Ms. Graves and her sister took care of him, and Ms. Graves
kept the medications in the safe which was eventually stolen from her home by the defendant
and co-defendant. However, Ms. Graves’ nephew had passed away, and she removed the
medications. Thereafter, several important papers and multiple coin collections were kept
in the safe. According to Ms. Graves, the only people who knew the location of the safe
were herself, Mr. Graves, their son, and her nephew’s wife.
At the trial, Ms. Graves specifically testified that she did not comply with the orders
given to her by the defendant and that she resisted him at all times.
After hearing all the above evidence, the jury found the defendant guilty of two counts
of aggravated burglary, employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony,
three counts of first degree felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, and the lesser-
included offense of false imprisonment. The trial court subsequently sentenced the defendant
to five years on the burglary charges, six years for the firearm conviction, life for the murder
convictions, twenty years for the especially aggravated robbery, and eleven months and
twenty-nine days for the false imprisonment. The court merged the two burglary convictions,
as well as the three murder convictions. After ordering the burglary and firearm convictions
to be served consecutively to the remaining sentences, the defendant received an effective
sentence of life plus eleven years. The defendant thereafter filed a motion for new trial,
which the trial court denied by written order. The defendant has timely appealed.
Analysis
On appeal, the defendant raises three issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court
erred by not allowing extrinsic evidence to be used to impeach a witness under Tennessee
Rule of Evidence 613(b); (2) whether the court erred by allowing prejudicial photos of the
victim into evidence; and (3) whether the evidence is insufficient to support each of his
convictions. Our review of each issue follows.
I. Extrinsic Evidence
First, the defendant contends that the trial court abused its discretion by not allowing
him to introduce extrinsic evidence under Tennessee Rules of Evidence Rule 613(b).
Specifically, at trial, the defendant requested that he be allowed to introduce the recording
-7-
of Ms. Graves’ statement to police just hours after the events. According to the defendant,
her testimony at trial was “markedly different” from that statement because her “demeanor
and attitude were particularly different when comparing her in court testimony to the
statement she gave police.”
The defendant correctly notes that Rule 613(b) of the Tennessee Rules of Evidence
allows for admission of extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement made by a
witness if the witness is given the opportunity to explain or deny the inconsistent statement
and the opposing party has an opportunity to question the witness regarding the inconsistent
statement. The extrinsic evidence may be either written or recorded evidence of a prior
statement. State v. Reid, 164 S.W.3d 286, 313-14 (Tenn. 2005). However, if the witness
admits to making the prior statement, then extrinsic evidence of the prior inconsistent
statement is inadmissible because it would be cumulative and consistent with the witness’
testimony at trial. State v. Martin, 964 S.W.2d 564, 567 (Tenn. 1998). Generally, this court
will not overturn a trial court’s decision regarding the admissibility of evidence absent an
abuse of discretion. State v. Banks, 271 S.W.3d 90, 116 (Tenn. 2008).
It has been established on this record that just hours after the shooting, Ms. Graves
spoke with the police at the hospital and gave them a statement, which was recorded. Ms.
Graves does not deny that she gave this statement on that night. The defendant contends that
her subsequent testimony at trial was given in “a very direct and assertive matter” in detailing
the events of the evening, including a statement that the defendant “tackled [her] and throwed
[her] back.”
The record also established that during cross-examination, trial counsel for the
defendant asked Ms. Graves several questions about statements she had made in her initial
interview with police. These statements included that “he did not seem to want to hurt me”
and that she could not “swear he had a gun in his hand.” She also stated that the defendant
was not hitting or striking, but was struggling with her over the gun. Ms. Graves told police
that the defendant was “not very strong, or he is real, real gentle with me.” With regard to
the bite given to her by the defendant, Ms. Graves said “he did not bite [her] very hard.” We
know that Ms. Graves made these statements in that interview because she acknowledged
that she did on cross-examination.
The defendant does not argue that Ms. Graves denied making the statements, and in
fact, she did not. His argument is that because her demeanor was different from the initial
interview than at trial, allowing the jury to hear the tape might have created a more favorable
“atmosphere” for the defendant. He also contends that admission of the tape would have
created a more accurate picture for the jury because her direct testimony was “soften[ed]
considerably when taken in context with her interview with police immediately after the
-8-
incident.” His contention for an abuse of discretion is based upon the differences in
demeanor.
Initially, we note that the argument is not well-taken. The law in this area is clear that
if the witness admits to making the prior statement, extrinsic evidence of the prior
inconsistent statement is inadmissible because it would be cumulative and consistent with
the witness’ testimony at trial. See Martin, 964 S.W.2d at 567. That did not occur in this
case. Ms. Graves admitted that she did in fact make the statements. The defendant is
attempting to extend the law to allow evidence that she may or may not have used a different
demeanor or tone on the two separate occasions.
Regardless, the defendant has waived consideration of this issue by failing to include
within the record a copy of the initial interview he urges should have been admissible. The
appellant in a case has a duty to prepare a record which conveys “a fair, accurate and
complete account of what transpired with respect to those issues that are the bases of appeal.”
Tenn. R. App. P. 24(b). In the absence of an adequate record on appeal, this court must
presume that the trial court’s ruling was supported by the evidence. State v. Bibbs, 806
S.W.2d 786, 790 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991).
II. Photographs
Next, the defendant contends that the trial court erred by allowing into evidence
prejudicial photographs of the victim’s body. The admissibility of photographic evidence
lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Hall, 8 S.W.3d 593, 602 (Tenn.
1999). Generally, Tennessee Rules of Evidence 401, 402, and 403 govern the admissibility
of photographs. Banks, 564 S.W.2d at 949-51. Photographic evidence is relevant, and thus
admissible, if it has “any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence
to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without
the evidence.” Tenn. R. Evid. 401. Once the trial court determines that a photograph is
relevant, it must then determine whether the probative value of the photograph is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Tenn. R. Evid. 403; Banks, 564
S.W.2d at 950-51. “Unfair prejudice” is “‘[a]n undue tendency to suggest decision on an
improper basis, commonly, though not necessarily, an emotional one.’” Banks, 564 S.W.2d
at 951 (quoting Tenn. R. Evid. 403, Adv. Comm’n Note).
In this case, over the defense objection, the trial court allowed admission of what the
defendant characterizes as two “gruesome” photographs of the body of the victim. The State
initially sought admission of three photographs and argued that each was admissible to show
the manner of death of the victim during the testimony of the medical examiner. The trial
court excluded one photograph, admitted one photograph in its entirety, and admitted half
-9-
of one photograph, ordering the remainder to be covered. The defendant contends that, while
relevant, the probative value of the admitted photographs was substantially outweighed by
the danger of unfair prejudice. His assertion is based upon his contention that the medical
examiner’s testimony would have been more than sufficient for the State to prove the death
of the victim.
However, the State contends that the defendant has waived consideration of this issue
on appeal, and we agree. Again, an appellant has a duty to prepare a record which conveys
“a fair, accurate and complete account of what transpired with respect to those issues that are
the bases of appeal.” Tenn. R. App. P. 24(b). Here, the defendant has failed to include
within the appellate record the two challenged photographs. We cannot reach a
determination of whether an abuse of discretion occurred with their admission absent review
of the photographs themselves. Absent a proper record, we have no basis to conclude that
the trial court abused its discretion and must “conclusively presume” that the court’s ruling
was correct. See State v. Bibbs, 806 S.W.2d 786, 90 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). The
defendant has failed to establish his entitlement to relief.
III. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Finally, the defendant contends that the evidence presented was insufficient to find
him guilty “in each and every count of the charges against him.” “When the sufficiency of
the evidence is challenged, the relevant question is whether, after reviewing the evidence in
the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d 370, 379
(2011); Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). “[O]n appeal, the State must be
afforded the strongest legitimate view of the evidence and all reasonable inferences that may
be drawn therefrom.” Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d at 379 (internal quotation omitted). It is the
trier of fact who resolves all questions of witness credibility, the weight and value of the
evidence, as well as all factual issues raised by the evidence. State v. Pappas, 754 S.W.2d
620, 623 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). Reviewing courts should neither re-weigh the evidence
nor substitute their own inferences for those drawn by the jury. State v. Evans, 108 S.W.3d
231, 236 (Tenn. 2003).
The trial court’s approval of the jury’s verdict accredits the State’s witnesses and
resolves all conflicts in the evidence in the State’s favor. State v. Moats, 906 S.W.2d 431,
433-34 (Tenn. 1995). “Because a guilty verdict removes the presumption of innocence and
replaces it with a presumption of guilt, on appeal a defendant bears the burden of showing
why the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction.” State v. Thacker, 164 S.W.3d
208, 221 (Tenn. 2005). These rules apply whether the verdict is predicated upon direct
evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a combination of both. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d at 379.
-10-
In weighing the sufficiency of the evidence, circumstantial and direct evidence are treated
the same, and the State is not required to exclude every reasonable hypothesis other than that
of guilt. Id. at 381.
The defendant was convicted of first degree felony murder, especially aggravated
robbery, aggravated burglary, employing a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony,
and false imprisonment. In his brief, his argument, despite asserting a challenge to all
convictions, seems to focus only on the offense of false imprisonment. Specifically, he
contends that Ms. Graves’ own testimony established that she continually resisted the
defendant’s request and that she was “never constrained in such a manner as to substantially
interfere with her liberty and freedom.”
First degree murder, as relevant in this case, is “[a] killing of another committed in
the perpetration of or attempt to perpetrate any . . . robbery, burglary, [or] theft.” T.C.A. §
39-13-202(a)(2) (2010). “Especially aggravated robbery is robbery as defined in [section]
39-13-401 . . . [a]ccomplished with a deadly weapon; and . . . [w]here the victim suffers
serious bodily injury.” T.C.A. § 39-13-403(a). Robbery is the intentional or knowing theft
of property from the person of another by violence or putting the person in fear. T.C.A. §
39-13-401. “Aggravated burglary is burglary of a habitation as defined in [sections] 39-14-
401 and 39-14-402.” T.C.A. § 39-14-403(a). Burglary is defined as entering or remaining
concealed in a place without the effective consent of the owner with the intent to commit a
felony, theft, or assault. T.C.A. § 39-14-402. As charged in this case, “it is an offense to
employ a firearm during the . . . [c]ommission of a dangerous felony.” T.C.A. § 39-17-
1324(b)(1). Aggravated burglary is considered a dangerous felony. T.C.A. § 39-17-
1324(i)(1)(H). A person commits the offense of false imprisonment who “knowingly
removes or confines another unlawfully so as to interfere substantially with the other’s
liberty.” T.C.A. § 39-13-302(a).
“A person is criminally responsible as a party to an offense if the offense is committed
by the person’s own conduct, by the conduct of another for which the person is criminally
responsible, or by both.” T.C.A. § 39-11-401(a). Criminal responsibility for the actions of
another arises when the defendant, “[a]cting with intent to promote or assist the commission
of the offense, or to benefit in the proceeds or results of the offense, . . . solicits, directs, aids,
or attempts to aid another person to commit the offense.” T.C.A. § 39-11-402(2); State v.
Lemacks, 996 S.W.2d 166, 170 (Tenn. 1999) (“As reflected in this case, criminal
responsibility is not a separate, distinct crime. It is solely a theory by which the State may
prove the defendant’s guilt of the alleged offense . . . based upon the conduct of another
person.”).
After review of the record, we conclude that the evidence is more than sufficient to
-11-
support the crimes in this case. There is no dispute in the record that the defendant, after
being privy to the planning of the robbery, donned dark colored clothing, covered his face,
and entered the Graves’ home. Further, the defendant admitted that he entered the home with
the intent to commit a robbery and receive pills from that robbery. It is also clear that Mr.
Bowman, who was acting with the defendant’s help, entered the home with a weapon, and
Mr. Graves died as a result of a gunshot wound from that weapon. Ms. Graves testified that
the defendant also entered the home with a gun and proceeded to point that weapon at her
head. Further, it is undisputed that a safe was removed from the home without the consent
of the owners. Based upon this, it is clear that the evidence is sufficient to support the
convictions for felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and
employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. That the defendant
believed no one was home does not negate the actions he took while inside the Graves’
home.
As noted, the defendant’s main argument is made with regard to the conviction for
false imprisonment. Specifically, his argument is based on the fact that Ms. Graves
continually resisted him and failed to comply with his commands. He contends that the
evidence does not establish that she was constrained in a manner so as to substantially
interfere with her liberty and freedom.
We disagree with the defendant’s claims. The sufficiency of the evidence for false
imprisonment is not based upon the fact that the victim resisted. Proving that there was no
resistence is not an element of the offense. While Ms. Graves did resist the defendant, that
does not mean that her liberty was not constrained or interfered with. The defendant
knowingly entered the home, armed with a gun, and placed that gun to Ms. Graves head in
furtherance of a robbery. During the ensuing struggle, the defendant physically manhandled
Ms. Graves, admitting that he pinned her to the ground at one point and shoved her head into
the loveseat. Viewing the evidence in its entirety, and in the light most favorable to the State,
we conclude that these facts are sufficient to establish the conviction. The defendant is not
entitled to relief.
Having concluded that the evidence is sufficient to support the false imprisonment
conviction under a standard sufficiency review, we turn now to a possible due process issue,
although raised by neither the State nor the defendant, which could affect the validity of the
conviction. For years, possible violations of due process with regard to kidnapping and false
imprisonment crimes were governed by State v. Anthony, 817 S.W.2d 299, 300 (Tenn. 1991)
and State v. Dixon, 957 S.W.2d 532, 535 (Tenn. 1997). Under Anthony, the test to be applied
on appellate review was: “whether the confinement, movement, or detention is essentially
incidental to the accompanying felony and is not, therefore, sufficient to support a separate
conviction for kidnapping, or whether it is significant enough, in and of itself, to warrant
-12-
independent prosecution and is, therefore, sufficient to support such a conviction.” Anthony,
817 S.W.2d at 306. The standard was amended to a two part test by the Dixon court, that
being: (1) whether the defendant’s movement or confinement of the victim was beyond that
necessary to consummate the accompanying felony, and, if so; (2) whether the additional
movement or confinement prevented the victim from summoning assistance, lessened the
defendant’s risk of detection, or created a significant danger or increased the victim’s risk
of harm. Dixon, 957 S.W.2d at 535. In State v. Richardson, 251 S.W.3d 438, 443 (Tenn.
2008), our supreme court recognized that the test set forth in Dixon replaced the Anthony test.
However, in 2012, the Tennessee Supreme Court explicitly overruled Anthony and
its progeny, including Dixon and Richardson. State v. White, 362 S.W.3d 559, 578 (Tenn.
2012). The court, in analyzing whether the defendant’s dual convictions for aggravated
robbery and especially aggravated kidnapping could stand, rejected Anthony’s reliance on an
appellate court’s due process scrutiny of kidnapping convictions imposed in conjunction with
convictions of an accompanying felony. Id. at 577-78. Rather, the court shifted the appellate
analysis to a standard sufficiency of the evidence review of a properly instructed jury’s
assessment of the facts. Id. The court further emphasized that it was the jury’s “primary
obligation . . . to ensure that a criminal defendant has been afford due process.” Id. at 577.
The court, in order to ensure that the jury can carry out its function, delineated a specific jury
instruction to be given:
To establish whether the defendant’s removal or confinement of the
victim constituted a substantial interference with his or her liberty, the State
must prove that the removal or confinement was to a greater degree than that
necessary to commit the offense of [insert offense], which is the other offense
charged in this case. In making this determination, you may consider all the
relevant facts and circumstances of the case, including, but not limited to, the
following factors:
• the nature and duration of the victim’s removal or confinement
by the defendant;
• whether the removal or confinement occurred during the
commission of the separate offense;
• whether the interference with the victim’s liberty was inherent
in the nature of the separate offense;
• whether the removal or confinement prevented the victim from
summoning assistance, although the defendant need not have
succeeded in preventing the victim from doing so;
• whether the removal or confinement reduced the defendant’s
risk of detection, although the defendant need not have
-13-
succeeded in this objective; and
• whether the removal or confinement created a significant danger
or increased the victim’s risk of harm independent of that posed
by the separate offense.
Id. at 580-581 (footnote omitted) (emphases added). In Cecil, our supreme court made clear
that White applied to cases then in the appellate “pipeline.” State v. Cecil, 409 S.W.3d 599,
608 (Tenn. 2012).1
The case also instructs that this instructional deficit, if the instruction is not given, is
a constitutional error. Id. at 610. Such a non-structural constitutional error mandates reversal
unless the State demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt that the error was harmless. Id.
(citing State v. Rodriguez, 254 S.W.3d 361, 371 (Tenn. 2008)). “[T]he touchstone of this
inquiry is whether a rational trier of fact could interpret the proof at trial in different ways.”
Id. (citing White, 362 S.W.3d at 579). If the proof could be interpreted in a manner that
would not support a defendant’s kidnapping conviction, then the defendant is entitled to a
new trial Id. at 611-12.
As an initial matter, we note that the White opinion had been issued prior to the
hearing on the motion for new trial in this case, and the issue should have been raised in the
trial court. In addition to that omission, neither party has raised the issue on appeal. Thus,
we may reach this issue only by plain error review. See Tenn. R. App. P. 36(b). In this case,
the record reveals that the White instruction was not given to the jury.2
Before turning to our review of whether the defendant’s due process rights were
violated by this failure, we acknowledge that panels of this court have reached differing
conclusions on this issue. However, we respectfully disagree with the dissent and adopt the
conclusion and analysis set forth in State v. Ricco R. Williams, No. W2011-02365-CCA-RM-
CD, 2014 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 11 (Tenn. Crim. App. Jan. 7, 2014); see also State v.
Jerome Maurice Teats, No. M2012-01232-CCA-R3-CD, 2014 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 18
1
At this juncture, we note that we are not convinced that this case was in the appellate “pipeline,”
as we believe our supreme court used the term. The defendant was convicted and sentenced in 2011. On
May 26, 2011, he filed a timely motion for new trial, which was later amended on April 27, 2012. Following
a May 1, 2012 hearing, the court filed a written order denying the motion on May 7, 2012. The defendant
filed notice of appeal on May 29, 2012, more than two months are the March 9, 2012 filing of White. Thus,
at the time of his filing of his notice of appeal to begin the appellate process, White had already been decided
and filed. Nonetheless, in the interest of justice and finality, we briefly address the issue.
2
We do not fault the trial court for failing to give a jury instruction which had not yet been
promulgated at the time of the 2011 trial.
-14-
(Tenn. Crim. App. Jan. 10, 2014); State v. Gregory Mathis, No. M2011-01096-CCA-R3-CD,
2013 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 757 (Tenn. Crim. App. Sept. 5, 2013); State v. Richard
Lacardo Elliot, No, M 2001-01990-CCA-R3-CD, 2002 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 987 (Tenn.
Crim. App. Nov. 15 2002); but see State v. Josh L. Bowman, No. E2012-00923-CCA-R3-CD,
2013 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 735 (Tenn. Crim. App. Aug. 29, 2013).3
The majority in Williams notes that the White instruction appears to have been drafted
with the assumption that the defendant is being tried for dual offenses against a single victim.
Ricco R. Williams, 2014 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 11, at *21. The Williams majority also
noted our supreme court’s reliance upon State v. Salamon, 949 A.2d 1092, 1120 (Conn.
2008), a case which involved a single victim, in which the court “clarified that the jury was
to be instructed that ‘if it finds that the defendant’s restraint of the victim was merely
incidental to the defendant’s commission of another crime against the victim, that is, assault,
then it must find the defendant not guilty of the crime of kidnapping.’” Id. (citing White, 362
S.W.3d at 579 n.15) (emphasis added). The Williams majority noted that “[l]ogic dictates
that, if the White, court intended the instruction to be required in cases involving a
kidnapping charge that was not accompanied by a robbery (or rape) charge involving the
same victim, the White court would have phrased the instruction as “the victim of the
underlying felony.” Id. at *21-22 The Williams majority “read White as requiring the
expanded kidnapping charge only when the jury is required to determine whether the
defendant committed dual offenses of kidnapping and an accompanying crime for which
some measure of detention was necessary against the same victim.” Id. at *24-25. We are
persuaded the conclusion reached was the correct one and conduct our review of the
defendant’s conviction within those parameters.
In this case, the defendant was convicted of the false imprisonment of Ms. Graves and
the aggravated robbery of Mr. Graves, as he was the only named victim on the indictment
issued for the robbery. Thus, the false imprisonment conviction in this case presents a
significantly different situation than the situation which triggered the underlying concerns
our supreme court first articulated in Anthony. The defendant was convicted of only one
crime against Ms. Graves; there is no accompanying felony. Due process did not require that
3
The need for guidance and clarification on this issue is demonstrated by the outcomes of the three
defendants involved in this one crime. As cited above, Josh L. Bowman was indicted and tried for the same
crimes as the instant defendant, including the especially aggravated kidnapping of Ms. Graves. He raised
the White issue on appeal and was granted a new trial on that charge. See Josh L. Bowman, 2013 Tenn. Crim.
App. LEXIS 735, *37-48. As we noted within this opinion, the defendant, Mr. Holman, who was convicted
only of false imprisonment, did not raise the issue. Nonetheless, we have afforded review, but concluded
he was not entitled to relief. The third defendant, Chad Medford, likewise did not raise the White issue, and
he was afforded no review through plain error. State v. Chad Medford, No. E2012-00335-CCA-R3-CD, 2013
Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 475 (Tenn. Crim. App. June 5, 2013).
-15-
the instruction be given in this case. Having previously determined that the evidence is
sufficient under a sufficiency standard, we conclude that the defendant is entitled to no relief.
CONCLUSION
Based upon the foregoing, the judgments of conviction are affirmed.
_________________________________
JOHN EVERETT WILLIAMS, JUDGE
-16-