State of Tennessee v. Brian Dunkley & William Miller

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
February 11, 2014 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. BRIAN DUNKLEY and WILLIAM MILLER
Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
No. 2009B1419 Steve R. Dozier, Judge
No. M2012-00548-CCA-R3-CD - Filed June 25, 2014
A Davidson County jury convicted Defendant Brian Dunkley of conspiracy to commit first
degree murder. The jury convicted Defendant William Miller of one count of conspiracy to
commit first degree murder, one count of attempted aggravated burglary, and one count of
attempted first degree murder. The trial court sentenced both defendants to effective
sentences of twenty-five years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal,
Defendant Dunkley asserts that: (1) the trial court erred when it admitted text messages into
evidence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Evidence 404(b); (2) the trial erred when it denied
his motion for new trial because the trial court failed to function as the thirteenth juror and
because newly discovered evidence warranted a new trial; (3) there is insufficient evidence
to support his conviction; and (4) the trial court improperly applied enhancement factors
when it sentenced him. Defendant Miller asserts that: (1) there is insufficient evidence to
support his convictions; (2) the trial court erred when it denied his motion for new trial
because the trial court failed to function as the thirteenth juror; and (3) the trial court erred
when it imposed consecutive sentences. After a thorough review of the record and applicable
law, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.
Tenn. R. App. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Criminal Court Affirmed
R OBERT W. W EDEMEYER, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which J ERRY L. S MITH
and J EFFREY S. B IVINS, JJ., joined.
Michael A. Colavecchio, Nashville, Tennessee for the appellant, William Miller.
Hershell D. Koger (on appeal), Pulaski, Tennessee, and Kara Everett (at trial), Nashville,
Tennessee, for the appellant, Brian Dunkley.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Brent C. Cherry, Senior Counsel;
Victor S. Johnson, III, District Attorney General; Pamela Anderson and Rachel Sobrero,
Assistant District Attorneys General for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
I. Background and Facts
This case arises from charges that the defendants entered into a conspiracy to kill the
victim, Kristi Dunkley.1 A Davidson County grand jury indicted Defendant Dunkley and
Defendant Miller for one count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, one count of
attempted aggravated burglary, and one count of attempted first degree murder. Defendant
Dunkley was additionally indicted for two counts of solicitation to commit first degree
murder.2 The grand jury also indicted Stephanie Frame 3 and Donte Chestnut for these
offenses.
At the April 2011 trial on these charges, the parties presented the following evidence:
Herman Marshall testified that Mr. Chestnut was his brother-in-law and that he and Mr.
Chestnut had an “unusual” telephone conversation on February 22, 2009. He stated that Mr.
Chestnut said he had something to tell Mr. Marshall that could not be said over the telephone.
The two men met about a week later at Mr. Chestnut’s house where Mr. Chestnut asked Mr.
Marshall if he “want[ed] to make $10,000[.]” When Mr. Marshall said “yes” and asked what
Mr. Chestnut wanted done, Mr. Chestnut made a horizontal motion across his neck with his
hand. Mr. Marshall said that he interpreted this motion to mean that Mr. Chestnut wanted
him to kill someone, which Mr. Marshall said to Mr. Chestnut he could not do. Mr. Chestnut
told him it was a “girl” who needed to be killed by March 6. Mr. Marshall told his family
about his conversation with Mr. Chestnut, and then he met with Mr. Chestnut to gain more
information about the request. Mr. Chestnut told Mr. Marshall that the woman who would
pay him to commit the crime would provide $2,000 “up front.” After this second meeting,
Mr. Marshall testified that he thought about taking the $2,000 and “running.” Mr. Marshall
testified that, instead, he called Mr. Chestnut and said he would do the killing, and then he
contacted police regarding these discussions.
The police asked Mr. Marshall to participate in a recorded telephone conversation
1
Ms. Dunkley’s name has since been changed to Kristi Alderson. For the purposes of consistency
throughout this opinion, we will address her as Ms. Dunkley
2
Before trial, the State declared nolle prosequi on the two counts of solicitation of first degree
murder.
3
The indictment named “Stephanie Frame, a.k.a. Stephanie Ferguson” as a defendant in this case.
Throughout the trial testimony, she was identified by both names. For the purposes of consistency
throughout this opinion, we will address her as Ms. Frame.
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with Mr. Chestnut, which he did. During the recorded telephone conversation, Mr. Chestnut
stated that “Stephanie” was the person who was going to pay Mr. Marshall to do the killing.
The police then asked Mr. Marshall to participate in a recorded telephone conversation with
“Stephanie.” Mr. Marshall again agreed to help police by contacting the woman, who turned
out to be Stephanie Frame. A transcript of this telephone conversation was admitted into the
record as evidence. Mr. Marshall said police detectives instructed him to arrange to meet
Ms. Frame and then fitted him with a recording device for the meeting.
Mr. Marshall testified that he arranged to meet with Ms. Frame in a hospital parking
lot inside her vehicle. Once inside Ms. Frame’s vehicle, she handed Mr. Marshall a Kroger
bag containing a handgun, a body suit, a hairnet, and a can of pepper spray. She also showed
him a picture on her cellular telephone of the target, Ms. Dunkley. The recording of Mr.
Marshall’s conversation with Ms. Frame was admitted into evidence and played for the jury.
Mr. Marshall recalled that Ms. Frame gave him $200, and then drove him to Ms. Dunkley’s
apartment complex to show him where it was located. He told Ms. Frame he would, “get it
done.” Immediately following this meeting, Mr. Marshall met with the police detectives and
gave them the $200.
On cross-examination, Mr. Marshall stated that he did not know Defendant Dunkley.
He agreed that Mr. Chestnut never asked him “to do anything” and that Mr. Chestnut simply
“told him about” doing the killing. He agreed that there was never any formal agreement
between the two men about the murder of Ms. Dunkley.
On redirect-examination, Mr. Marshall agreed that Mr. Chestnut had said he wanted
someone killed and had given Mr. Marshall a time frame during which it needed to be done.
Sue Johnson, a custodian of records for T-Mobile, testified that her company kept
phone records in the normal course of business, and she identified a particular set of records
associated with a telephone number registered to Mr. Chestnut for the dates March 1 through
4, 2009. She identified a second and third set of records associated with a telephone number
registered to Ms. Frame, for the dates March 1 through 4, 2009 and February 10 through
March 10, 2009. The telephone records were admitted into evidence.
Tatiana Steven testified that she was a records custodian for T-Mobile. She identified
two sets of telephone records registered to Defendant Dunkley for the dates February 28
through March 2, 2009. She identified a third set of records registered to Defendant Dunkley
for the dates June 7, 2008 through May 26, 2009. The telephone records were admitted into
evidence.
Valinda Burks testified that she was an insurance agent for State Farm Insurance. She
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testified that Defendant Dunkley and Ms. Dunkley had been clients of her agency since 2001.
She stated that a “permanent life insurance policy” for $50,000 was taken out on July 19,
2006, insuring Ms. Dunkley’s life and listing Defendant Dunkley as the beneficiary. She
stated that the policy was “current” at the time of trial. She also stated that a twenty-year
term life insurance policy, in the amount of $250,000, insuring Ms. Dunkley’s life with
Defendant Dunkley as the beneficiary, had been taken out with her agency but was not
current. She stated that this policy had been terminated July 19, 2009. Both life insurance
policies were admitted into evidence. Ms. Burks testified that Defendant Dunkley did not
have a life insurance policy on himself and that he had declined to insure himself when she
encouraged him to do so.
On cross-examination, Ms. Burks stated that if the beneficiary of a life insurance
policy killed the insured the policy would not be paid out to that beneficiary.
On re-direct examination, Ms. Burks stated that the $50,000 and $250,000 policies
were taken out on Ms. Dunkley by Defendant Dunkley, naming him as the beneficiary, and
making him the “owner” of the policies. She stated that, because Ms. Dunkley was not the
owner, she could not change the beneficiary.
Officer Mike Dorris, a Goodlettsville police officer, testified that, on February 8,
2009, he responded to a call at Ms. Dunkley’s apartment. He stated that the front door of her
apartment appeared to have been struck by a sledgehammer and that he took a report from
Ms. Dunkley concerning the damage to her door. He stated that “no evidence linked
anybody” to the incident.
Officer Dorris testified that Ms. Dunkley indicated to him that the damage could have
been done by her “soon-to-be-ex-husband” but that she had no proof that it was him.
Detective Charles Robinson testified that he was a detective with the Metropolitan
Nashville Police Department and that on March 2, 2009, he contacted Mr. Marshall about
a “murder-for-hire scheme” Mr Marshall had reported to the police. Detective Robinson
spoke with Mr. Marshall and asked him to wear a body wire to record any of Mr. Marshall’s
further conversations with the people involved in the scheme. Mr. Marshall agreed, and
Detective Robinson and several other detectives went to Mr. Marshall’s house to fit him with
a recording device and record his telephone conversations with Ms. Frame. The detectives
then followed Mr. Marshall to his meeting with Ms. Frame, which took place in a hospital
parking lot. Detective Robinson testified that everything Mr. Marshall said could be heard
over the wire.
Detective Robinson testified that, at the hospital parking lot, he witnessed Mr.
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Marshall get inside Ms. Frame’s vehicle, a green Mercury Mountaineer, then he witnessed
the two leave the parking lot in Ms. Frame’s vehicle. He testified that other detectives
monitoring the wire told him that Ms. Frame was taking Mr. Marshall to the apartment of the
woman she wanted killed. Detective Robinson waited in the hospital parking lot for Ms.
Frame’s vehicle to return to drop off Mr. Marshall. After Ms. Frame returned to drop Mr.
Marshall off, and drove away again, her vehicle was pulled over, and she was taken into
custody.
Detective Jeff Weaver testified that he worked in the surveillance investigative
support unit for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and that he assisted with the
body wire that was attached to Mr. Marshall. He also was asked by another detective to
examine two cellular telephones, a G-1 T-Mobile telephone and a “Shadow phone,” both
belonging to Ms. Frame. From Ms. Frame’s G-1 telephone, Detective Weaver extracted the
telephone’s contact list, call log, and text messages in “report form.” The report was
admitted into evidence. Detective Weaver testified that the report listed all calls and text
messages received and made on the telephone beginning on January 18, 2009, and ending
on March 26, 2009. He testified that this information is contained on the telephone’s SIM
card. From Ms. Frame’s Shadow telephone, Detective Weaver was able to extract a report
containing the calls and text messages received and made from the telephone, ending on
March 26, 2009. The report was admitted into evidence. He testified that the SIM card was
not inside the Shadow telephone, but he was still able to extract information from the
telephone using a certain type of software, a “ZRT program.”
On cross-examination, Detective Weaver testified that the report from the G-1
telephone listed text messages sent and received beginning on January 18, 2009, and it listed
phone calls made and received beginning on February 23, 2009. He recalled that on the
Shadow telephone he was only able to retrieve incoming text messages, and he could not
recall whether the telephone contained any outgoing text messages. The trial court held a
jury-out hearing to determine the admissibility of the text messages contained on the G-1 and
Shadow telephones.
Detective Norris Tarkington testified that he worked in the homicide cold case unit
for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and that he conducted a recorded interview
with Mr. Marshall at Mr. Marshall’s home. He testified that he was also present on March
2 when Mr. Marshall met with Ms. Frame in the hospital parking lot and at the time of Ms.
Frame’s arrest. He testified that Ms. Frame was in possession of the G-1 telephone at the
time of her arrest. He stated that he also recovered from Ms. Frame’s vehicle a camera with
a photo of Defendant Dunkley on it, as well as a key chain with a photo of Ms. Frame and
Defendant Dunkley.
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Detective Tarkington testified that he conducted a recorded interview with Ms. Frame
at the police station. He testified that initially she did not provide truthful information about
the murder-for-hire scheme or her involvement. Detective Tarkington stated that, while in
jail, Ms. Frame placed or received several telephone calls that were recorded. He testified
that he monitored the telephone calls and that Ms. Frame mentioned Defendant Dunkley’s
and Defendant Miller’s names throughout those calls. He stated that she mentioned
Defendant Miller as being part of the scheme, and she stated that he had received $700 to
take part in the scheme. Detective Tarkington listened to Ms. Frame ask the person on the
other end of the call to “three-way call” Defendant Miller, and, once Defendant Miller was
on the line, Ms. Frame asked him to return the money he had been paid. It was also during
that call that Detective Tarkington learned of the existence of the Shadow telephone owned
by Ms. Frame. After securing the Shadow phone from Ms. Frame’s mother, Detective
Tarkington stated that he turned the Shadow and G-1 telephones over to Detective Weaver
for the extraction of reports from the telephones.
Detective Tarkington testified that he and another detective interviewed Ms. Dunkley
at her residence, the same apartment to which he had seen Ms. Frame escort Mr. Marshall.
Detective Tarkington testified that he reviewed the report from Ms. Frame’s G-1
telephone of the text messages, beginning on January 17, 2009, exchanged between Ms.
Frame and Defendant Dunkley. He testified as to the content of these text messages, which
included directions to Ms. Dunkley’s apartment and references to killing Ms. Dunkley at her
apartment, and their plan to break down Ms. Dunkley’s apartment door with a sledgehammer,
Ms. Dunkley’s work schedule, and her children’s school schedule. He testified that the text
messages also discussed Ms. Frame’s meeting with Mr. Marshall in the hospital parking lot.
Lieutenant Patrick Taylor testified that he worked for the Metropolitan Nashville
Police Department, and he was part of the group of detectives monitoring the meeting
between Ms. Frame and Mr. Marshall in the hospital parking lot on March 2, 2009. He
testified that he observed the interaction between Ms. Frame and Mr. Marshall, and he
witnessed Ms. Frame’s green SUV pull into the parking lot, as well as a black Hummer.
Lieutenant Taylor testified that he later learned that Defendant Dunkley owned a Hummer.
Stephanie Frame testified that she was charged for the same crimes as Defendant
Miller and Defendant Dunkley and that the charges against her were still pending at the time
of trial. Ms. Frame testified that she met Defendant Dunkley in 2005 and that Ms. Dunkley’s
uncle is married to Ms. Frame’s mother. Ms. Frame testified that she and Defendant Dunkley
entered into a sexual relationship in 2006, while he was still married to Ms. Dunkley. Ms.
Frame testified that before her incarceration, she was a customer service representative at T-
Mobile and a hair-stylist. Ms. Frame stated that Defendant Miller was her second cousin,
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and she identified him and Defendant Dunkley in the courtroom. She also stated that she
knew Mr. Chestnut from her work at T-Mobile.
Ms. Frame testified that, in January 2009, she purchased a G-1 Mobile phone and that,
before that purchase, she owned a T-Mobile “Shadow” phone. She testified that, on the SIM
card used in both of the phones, she had contact information for Defendant Dunkley and
Defendant Miller, listed as “Brian, my love” and “Cousin William” respectively. She
testified that the two men knew each other and that they were together during Thanksgiving
and Christmas of 2007 at Ms. Frame’s residence and her grandparents’ residence. She stated
that, after the 2007 holidays, Defendant Dunkley began making comments that Ms. Dunkley
“was on borrowed time.” Ms. Frame testified that, in January 2008, she took Defendant
Dunkley to Defendant Miller’s mother’s house, where the two men met outside, while Ms.
Frame went inside the house. She stated that, after his discussion with Defendant Miller,
Defendant Dunkley told her that Defendant Miller “was going to be the one to take [Ms.
Dunkley] out[]” and that he had given to Defendant Miller a picture of Ms. Dunkley, with
her work address, home address, and information about two vehicles that Ms. Dunkley drove.
Ms. Frame stated that, in early 2008, Defendant Dunkley showed Ms. Frame that same
photograph of Ms. Dunkley and the information attached to it.
Ms. Frame testified that, later in January 2008, Defendant Dunkley said to her, “To
show you how serious I am [about killing Ms. Dunkley], I gave [Defendant Miller] one of
my guns.” Ms. Frame recalled that Defendant Dunkley then showed her an empty weapon
holster in his bedside drawer. Ms. Frame said she was “aware” of the communication
between the two men at this time but that she was getting information about their
communication from Defendant Dunkley. Defendant Dunkley told Ms. Frame that
Defendant Miller was “watching” Ms. Dunkley to get information about “what’s going on
in her life.”
Ms. Frame testified that Ms. Dunkley “moved back in with [Defendant Dunkley] in
late March, beginning of April of 2008 so actually [Defendant Miller] had come to a halt.”
Ms. Frame stated that in the summer of 2008, Defendant Dunkley told her that he had asked
Defendant Miller why he had stopped watching Ms. Dunkley. According to Defendant
Dunkley, Defendant Miller responded that he had stopped because Ms. Dunkley had moved
back in with Defendant Dunkley, and Defendant Dunkley responded, “you don’t stop until
I tell you to stop.”
Ms. Frame testified that she invited Defendant Miller over for dinner in August 2008.
She told Defendant Miller that she knew what he and Defendant Dunkley “were up to[,]” and
Defendant Miller responded that he was “skeptical of doing the job” because he was not sure
Defendant Dunkley would pay him. Ms. Frame assured him that Defendant Dunkley was
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“trustworthy” but that Defendant Miller would not get paid until “it was done and . . . the
insurance [was] cashed out. . . .” Defendant Miller wanted to know how long payment would
take, and Ms. Frame asked Defendant Dunkley, who told her it would take no longer than
thirty days.
Ms. Frame testified that she had a conversation with Defendant Miller about the gun
Defendant Dunkley had given him. She stated that this was “during the times we [were]
actually outside [Ms. Dunkley’s] work building watching [her].” Defendant Miller told her
that the gun given to him by Defendant Dunkley had been “apprehended by the police
officers during an arrest in March 2008.” Ms. Frame stated that, at some point in August
2008, she gave Defendant Miller her daughter’s cellular telephone because “his cellular
service was disconnected.” Ms. Frame testified that during that time, she was using a T-
Mobile “Shadow” telephone, which contained the SIM card she eventually transferred to the
G-1 telephone.
Ms. Frame was asked to explain text messages contained in the report admitted into
evidence that were sent between she and Defendant Dunkley. The jury was furnished with
a copy of the report while Ms. Frame testified about their content. She testified that on
August 20, 2008, she and Defendant Dunkley exchanged text messages in regards to giving
Defendant Miller directions to Ms. Dunkley’s home and work. She stated that on August 22,
2008, she received text messages from Defendant Dunkley “giving [Ms. Dunkley’s]
schedule[,]” including when the doors to her work building would be locked, where she
parked her car, where security cameras were located, and what time Ms. Dunkley went in to
work. Defendant Dunkley also sent text messages describing the interior of Ms. Dunkley’s
work building.
Referencing the report, Ms. Frame stated that on September 19, 2008, Defendant
Dunkley sent her multiple text messages explaining Ms. Dunkley’s schedule and where she
parked her car at work. She stated that Defendant Dunkley sent a text message from inside
Ms. Dunkley’s work building, where he was getting his hair done, indicating that he would
give information about where Ms. Dunkley’s car was parked and how full the parking lot
was. Ms. Frame testified that she and Defendant Miller “were walking throughout the area”
where Ms. Dunkley worked and that they spotted a security camera on a building. Ms. Frame
sent a text message with this information to Defendant Dunkley. Ms. Frame explained that
she and the two men were “interested” in where Ms. Dunkley parked her car “[s]o that it
would be an easy and simple drive for [Defendant Miller to kill Ms. Dunkley] without being
noticed.”
Ms. Frame testified that on September 20, 2008, Defendant Dunkley sent her a text
message that said, “It needs to happen. Don’t know how much longer I can deal.” Ms.
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Frame explained that “it” meant Defendant Miller killing Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Frame testified
that Defendant Dunkley sent more text messages detailing Ms. Dunkley’s whereabouts on
September 21, and gave more information about Ms. Dunkley’s work building and which
doors were unlocked. Defendant Dunkley sent Ms. Frame another text message on
September 21 saying, “This bitch is crazy. [Defendant Miller killing Ms. Dunkley] needs to
happen ASAP. Is [Defendant Miller] for real.” Ms. Frame testified that she had the keys to
Ms. Dunkley’s car and that she asked Defendant Dunkley if Defendant Miller could “wait
inside [Ms. Dunkley’s] car and get her that way[,]” to which Defendant Dunkley replied, “I
don’t think [Defendant Miller will] be able to wait in the ride. Maybe out on the side.” On
September 24, 2008, Defendant Dunkley sent more text messages updating the “status” of
Ms. Dunkley’s work schedule, and saying, “Follow her. She told me she was working.”
Ms. Frame testified in more detail about the planning that occurred between she,
Defendant Dunkley, and Defendant Miller to kill Ms. Dunkley:
[Ms. Dunkley] never leaves the building by herself, she always walks
out with either a person or a group of people, [Defendant Miller] stated that
[her workplace] is not a good spot. So [Defendant Miller] wanted to get her
as she was going home, but that’s when [Defendant Dunkley] replied, you
can’t do it at my home because we live across the street from the police.
On September 24, Defendant Dunkley sent a text message to Ms. Frame saying “[Ms.
Dunkley is] acting funny but she didn’t say anything. I know if [the killing] don’t happen
real soon it will all be bad.” He later sent a message saying, “Got me ready to do something,
just don’t know how without it coming back[,]” which Ms. Frame explained meant that
Defendant Dunkley was going to kill Ms. Dunkley himself. He later sent text messages
saying, “I damn near choked the shit out of her” and “Help me . . . get rid of the bitch[,]”
referring to Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Frame stated that he sent her text messages about fights
between he and Ms. Dunkley. On September 27, Defendant Dunkley sent Ms. Frame a text
message referring to killing Ms. Dunkley without it being linked to him saying, “Yes, if I
thought I could I would. Have [been] up thinking about what and how.” Ms. Frame testified
that the sexual relationship between she and Defendant Dunkley was still going on
throughout this time period.
Ms. Frame testified that the arrangement with Defendant Miller included payment of
$50,000 if he killed Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Frame explained that Defendant Dunkley planned to
use some of the proceeds from the life insurance policy he held on Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Frame
stated that, after the police seized the gun from Defendant Miller in March 2008, he procured
another handgun in August or September of 2008, which was during the time he was
watching Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Frame said that, in 2009, she purchased a third gun from her
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uncle and gave it to Defendant Miller. She stated that Defendant Miller was concerned that
he was not getting paid any money up front.
Ms. Frame testified that she was still in a sexual relationship with Defendant Dunkley
in January 2009. Ms. Frame stated that, when Ms. Dunkley moved to a new apartment,
Defendant Dunkley sent Ms. Frame a text message asking for Ms. Dunkley’s new address.
Ms. Frame testified that Defendant Miller continued to complain about not receiving any
money “up front,” so she planned to give him $500. Ms. Frame testified that, in January
2009, she called Defendant Miller and told him that she knew where Ms. Dunkley lived and
“to motivate him” she would give him the $500 in advance to “do the job[.]” She then sent
text messages to Defendant Dunkley asking if he was willing to work with Defendant Miller
again to have Ms. Dunkley killed. Ms. Frame stated that she showed Defendant Miller the
apartment complex where Ms. Dunkley lived, as well as a layout of her apartment that she
picked up at the apartment complex’s leasing office. Ms. Frame also took a tour of an
apartment in Ms. Dunkley’s building and shared the information she gained from the tour
with Defendant Miller.
Ms. Frame testified that it was part of the “plan” for Defendant Dunkley to contribute
money to pay Defendant Miller “upfront.” Defendant Dunkley stated that he would
contribute $500 to Defendant Miller or let him “hold the title to [Defendant Dunkley’s]
Hummer[.]”
Ms. Frame testified that, once Defendant Miller “started back up” with his
involvement in the plan to kill Ms. Dunkley, Ms. Frame added minutes to a prepaid phone
so that he and Defendant Dunkley could communicate. Ms. Frame explained that Defendant
Dunkley referring to Ms. Dunkley being on “[b]orrowed time” was a reference to the plan
to kill her. Ms. Frame testified that she and Defendant Dunkley communicated about when
Ms. Dunkley’s children would not be with her so that Defendant Miller could kill Ms.
Dunkley without the children being present. She stated that the “plan” was for Defendant
Miller “to go into [Ms. Dunkley’s] apartment, and we really didn’t want the kids to be there.”
Ms. Frame testified that, in the “early morning hours” of February 8, 2009, she and
Defendant Miller went to Ms. Dunkley’s apartment for the purpose of breaking into Ms.
Dunkley’s home “for [Defendant Miller] to kill her.” Ms. Frame stated that Defendant Miller
brought a sledgehammer and a gun with him. Ms. Frame drove them to the apartment in her
truck. She described what occurred when they arrived, stating:
That early morning, [Defendant Miller] and I went to [Ms. Dunkley’s]
home and we were on her front porch. And the plan was [Defendant Miller]
would hit the door once with the hammer. And if it opened, I would take the
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sledgehammer and go back into . . . the truck and wait while [Defendant
Miller] goes in and kills [Ms. Dunkley].
If the door didn’t open, we would go back to the truck and leave
without being noticed.
The door didn’t open so we left. And [Defendant Miller] said the only
other option was for him to get [Ms. Dunkley] as she was going into the
apartment.
Ms. Frame stated she and Defendant Miller were concerned that Ms. Dunkley’s boyfriend
had a gun, and Defendant Miller was nervous about the boyfriend, so Ms. Frame asked
Defendant Dunkley about the boyfriend’s personality. Ms. Frame testified that she and
Defendant Miller “decided that we were going to go with ‘Plan B,’ which was to get [Ms.
Dunkley] as she was going into the apartment.” She testified that she informed Defendant
Dunkley of the plan, which was to follow Ms. Dunkley and her boyfriend into “their
[apartment] tomorrow so there won’t be any mistakes.”
Ms. Frame confirmed that she received text messages from Defendant Dunkley on
February 8, 2009, asking her if Defendant Miller had used the sledgehammer on the right
door, and she informed Defendant Dunkley that he had and that she and Defendant Miller
had decided to go with the new plan, “Plan B.” Ms. Frame stated that she went back to the
apartment later on February 8, to check on the condition of Ms. Dunkley’s apartment door,
and reported what she saw to Defendant Dunkley.
Ms. Frame testified that, on February 9, 2009, she and Defendant Dunkley discussed
via text message that having his daughter with him at the time of the murder would be a
“good alibi” for him. Ms. Frame testified that on February 10, she and Defendant Miller
followed Ms. Dunkley while she took her oldest daughter to school and her younger daughter
to Ms. Dunkley’s mother’s house. Ms. Frame stated that, in a rental car, she and Defendant
Miller continued to follow Ms. Dunkley throughout the day. After following Ms. Dunkley,
Ms. Frame sent text messages to Defendant Dunkley with “all of that information” about
where they had followed Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Frame explained that she rented a vehicle
because she thought Ms. Dunkley might know what her vehicle looked like. Ms. Frame
stated that she communicated this as well to Defendant Dunkley. The receipt from the car
rental was admitted into evidence.
Ms. Frame testified that Defendant Dunkley sent a present to her at work on February
14, 2009. She stated that they exchanged text messages on February 17, and Defendant
Dunkley, referring to his divorce proceedings with Ms. Dunkley, stated that he was “going
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to lose everything” to Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Frame sent a text message back saying she had told
Defendant Miller that “it [had] to happen before Friday.” Ms. Frame testified that Defendant
Dunkley called Defendant Miller and “let him know how serious” the situation was, because
Defendant Dunkley “was in fear of losing everything that he had.”
Ms. Frame testified that Defendant Miller was sick and that she and Defendant
Dunkley were waiting for him to get better before he killed Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Frame said
she asked Defendant Miller if she could retrieve the gun and do the killing herself, but
Defendant Miller said no because he was going to “do it the right way like [Defendant
Dunkley] said.” Ms. Frame testified that Defendant Dunkley asked her if she could get him
a “throwaway like ASAP[,]” meaning a gun that was not registered in his name. She also
testified that they discussed Ms. Frame killing Ms. Dunkley before trying again to find
someone else to do it. She explained that it was at this point that Mr. Chestnut became
involved. She said that Mr. Chesnut was one of her clients and “seemed as if he would be
able to locate someone to do the killing.”
Ms. Frame testified that she asked Mr. Chestnut to call her. When Mr. Chestnut
called, she asked him “if he knew someone that would want to make $10,000[.]” Mr.
Chestnut told her he might know someone, and Ms. Frame told Defendant Dunkley she may
have found someone who would kill Ms. Dunkley for less money than Defendant Miller.
Defendant Dunkley warned Ms. Frame to be careful about to whom she spoke of their plan.
Ms. Frame stated that while they waited to hear from Mr. Chestnut, she and Defendant
Dunkley tried to come up with another person who would kill Ms. Dunkley. She stated that
the killing needed to be done by a certain day because, “according to [Defendant Dunkley],
if [Ms. Dunkley] found out that [Defendant Dunkley] had cosigned for [Ms. Frame’s]
Mountaineer and that . . . the Hummer was in [Ms. Frame’s] name all hell would break loose
and he would lose everything.”
Ms. Frame testified that, when she got the weapon back from Defendant Miller, it was
“dirty” with fingerprints, so Defendant Dunkley came to her residence to clean it. On March
2, 2009, Ms. Frame sent a message to Defendant Dunkley with a scenario for killing Ms.
Dunkley as she was leaving her work. Defendant Dunkley responded that it could be “Any
night. Hell. Even tonight.” Ms. Frame testified that she then received two telephone calls
from Mr. Marshall, who had been contacted by Mr. Chestnut, and they arranged to meet at
the hospital.
Ms. Frame testified that on March 2, 2009, she met with Mr. Marshall in a hospital
parking lot with the intent to hire him to kill Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Frame agreed that she
brought “all the equipment that [she] thought might be necessary to accomplish” killing Ms.
Dunkley, including a revolver, gloves, and mace. She stated she had never met Mr. Marshall
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before that day. Ms. Frame agreed that she drove Mr. Marshall to Ms. Dunkley’s apartment,
and agreed that she “offer[ed] to accompany [Mr. Marshall] in [to the apartment] to make
sure that [Ms. Dunkley] was killed[.]” Ms. Frame agreed that she did not tell the truth to the
police at the time of her arrest.
Ms. Frame testified that while she was incarcerated, she had a three-way telephone
conversation with her mother, Maggie Alderson, and Defendant Miller. Ms. Frame recalled
that she asked Defendant Miller to give $700 of the $1,000 he had already been paid to Ms.
Alderson, to take care of Ms. Frame’s children. Ms. Frame explained:
On February the 2nd of 2009 [Defendant Dunkley] and I had given
[Defendant Miller] $1,000. Within three or four days after I went back and got
$300 from [Defendant Miller] so that I could purchase a gun for him, so that’s
where the $700 comes from.
[Defendant Miller] was given $1,000 and we took $300 back.
Ms. Frame testified that the plan was for her to communicate in code with Defendant
Dunkley, to say “reddish brown” to indicate “if [Ms. Dunkley] was killed at night that would
be the code used and that’s to let [Defendant] Dunkley know that it was taken care of.”
On cross-examination, Ms. Frame testified that she was “positive” that she had not
been offered a deal as compensation for her testimony. Ms. Frame agreed that she had not
witnessed Defendant Dunkley give the picture of Ms. Dunkley and her information to
Defendant Miller in January 2008. She testified that she saw the picture and information
inside Defendant Dunkley’s residence. She agreed that she never saw the gun Defendant
Dunkley gave Defendant Miller for the purpose of killing Ms. Dunkley but was later taken
by the police.
Ms. Frame recalled that she and Defendant Miller did “surveillance” on Ms. Dunkley
in August and September of 2008, and they followed her on one other occasion. She agreed
that she purchased the “third gun in this incident” from her uncle for $300 in February 2009.
Ms. Frame stated it was a .38 revolver, and she had six bullets for it. She stated that she gave
it to Defendant Miller. She next saw the gun on February 8, 2009, during the sledgehammer
incident, when “Defendant Miller put it on his person [in the waistband of his pants] so we
could go on the porch of [Ms. Dunkley’s] home.” She saw the gun again on February 10,
2009, when she and Defendant Miller followed Ms. Dunkley in her vehicle. Ms. Frame
stated that she picked the gun up from Defendant Miller on February 27, and had it with her
when she was arrested.
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Ms. Frame stated that, when she was arrested, she originally lied about Defendant
Dunkley and Defendant Miller’s involvement. She testified that, on average, she exchanged
fifty to seventy-five text messages per day with Defendant Dunkley. Ms. Frame agreed that
her “interpretation” of Defendant Dunkley’s text messages was being relied on to link him
to the scheme to kill Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Frame stated that Ms. Dunkley was aware of the
sexual relationship between Defendant Dunkley and Ms. Frame.
Ms. Frame testified that, on January 26, 2009, she sent a text message to Defendant
Dunkley telling him that she was going to give Defendant Miller the $500 and show him
where Ms. Dunkley lived. Ms. Frame described Defendant Dunkley as “paranoid,” but said
that he used the cellular telephone registered in his name and deleted the text messages on
it. Ms. Frame stated that she did not delete any text messages on her telephone because she
did not think she would get caught. Ms. Frame stated that she wanted to kill Ms. Dunkley
because Defendant Dunkley “said that that was the only way we could be happy and
together.”
On re-direct examination, Ms. Frame said she made it “very clear” to Mr. Chestnut
that she wanted to pay someone to do a killing. Ms. Frame stated that she became involved
in the divorce proceedings between Defendant Dunkley and Ms. Dunkley and that Defendant
Dunkley’s Hummer was an issue in the divorce. She testified that the materials from the
Dunkleys’ divorce proceedings were mailed to her, because Defendant Dunkley “claim[ed]
he had sold the Hummer to [Ms. Frame.]”
Ms. Frame testified that, on the day of her arrest, Defendant Dunkley had telephone
conversations with her mother and stepfather. She further testified that the telephone records
from her Shadow contained text messages between she and Defendant Dunkley of a sexual
nature with explicit sexual detail in them.
Kristi Dunkley testified that she was married to Defendant Dunkley, but they had
since divorced and she had reacquired her maiden name, Alderson. Ms. Dunkley confirmed
that her uncle, Tim Alderson, was Ms. Frame’s stepfather. She testified that she and
Defendant Dunkley were married in 1995 and that during their marriage had several periods
of separation. She stated that, in April 2008, they moved back in together but separated in
September 2008. She stated that their separation was “ugly,” and she left their marital home,
taking her two children with her, one of which was also Defendant Dunkley’s daughter. Ms.
Dunkley stated that she became aware that Defendant Dunkley was having an affair with Ms.
Frame and that the reason for their divorce was “numerous affairs and children born out of
affairs.” Ms. Dunkley stated that Defendant Dunkley had a son with another woman,
unrelated to this case, that he told her about in April 2008. Ms. Dunkley stated that the other
woman dropped Ms. Dunkley’s children off at Ms. Dunkley’s home in December 2008 in
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“the Hummer.”
Ms. Dunkley testified that she owned her own hair salon on 21 st Avenue North and
that she lived with her mother in East Nashville when she and Defendant Dunkley separated
in 2008. She testified that she got an apartment in January 2009 in Goodlettesville. Ms.
Dunkley testified that on January 22, 2009, she took out an order of protection against
Defendant Dunkley, and a court proceeding followed on February 2 to establish child support
and visitation.
Ms. Dunkley stated that, on February 7, 2009, she returned home to her apartment at
approximately 11:00 p.m. with her boyfriend, Kevin Sherrell. When Ms. Dunkley tried to
leave her apartment the next day, she could not open her front door and noticed that the
frame around the door was cracked and split. She stated that she called the Goodlettesville
Police Department and made a report.
Ms. Dunkley testified that, on March 2, 2009, Mr. Marshall knocked on her apartment
door at around 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. Ms. Dunkley said that she was alarmed because no one
knew where she lived other than her mother and best friend. Mr. Marshall asked to speak
to Kristi Dunkley, and then told her that, “someone named Stephanie hired him to kill
somebody named Kristi Dunkley.” Ms. Dunkley said she immediately left her apartment to
go to her mother’s house, and she called the police on the way.
Ms. Dunkley agreed that, when she was living in the “marital home” with Defendant
Dunkley, a police officer lived across the street. Ms. Dunkley stated that, during their
divorce proceedings, she and Defendant Dunkley owned a Hummer, a Chevy Silverado,
“some old-school car,” a motorcycle, and a Chevy Malibu. Ms. Dunkley stated that because
she could not make payments on the Malibu, it was repossessed, and she asked the divorce
court to give her one of the other vehicles. She stated that Defendant Dunkley claimed to the
divorce court that he had sold the Hummer to Ms. Frame, and the court ultimately ordered
him to give the money he received from the sale of the Hummer to Ms. Dunkley, in the
amount of $10,000.
Ms. Dunkley testified that, prior to her moving out of the marital home, Defendant
Dunkley was in possession of several guns, including one that he kept in a holster.
On cross-examination, Ms. Dunkley stated that Defendant Dunkley was physically
abusive toward her while they were married. Defendant Dunkley told her, when they got
back together in April 2008, that he had been in a relationship with Ms. Frame.
Kevin Sherrell testified that he was a “personal friend” of Defendant Dunkley’s since
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2000, and that he was also friends with Ms. Dunkley. He stated that he knew of Ms. Frame
through the Dunkleys and that they had been at parties together but he had never talked with
her directly. He testified that Ms. Frame and Defendant Dunkley were “dating” “for certain”
and that he would see them together “most of the time.”
On cross-examination, Mr. Sherrell testified that Defendant Dunkley was married to
Ms. Dunkley during the time he and Ms. Frame were together and having a sexual
relationship. He agreed that Defendant Dunkley owned a black Hummer that became an
issue during the Dunkleys’ divorce proceedings.
Following this evidence, the jury convicted Defendant Dunkley of one count of
conspiracy to commit first degree murder. The jury convicted Defendant Miller of one count
of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, one count of attempted aggravated burglary, and
one count of attempted first degree premeditated murder. The trial court sentenced both
defendants to serve twenty-five year sentences in the Tennessee Department of Correction.
It is from these judgments that the defendants appeal.
II. Analysis
On appeal, Defendant Dunkley asserts that: (1) the trial court erred when it admitted
text messages into evidence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Evidence 404(b); (2) the trial
erred when it denied his motion for new trial because the trial court failed to function as the
thirteenth juror and because newly discovered evidence warranted a new trial; (3) there is
insufficient evidence to support his conviction; and (4) the trial court improperly applied
enhancement factors when it sentenced him. Defendant Miller asserts that: (1) there is
insufficient evidence to support his convictions; (2) the trial court erred when it denied his
motion for new trial because the trial court failed to function as the thirteenth juror; and (3)
the trial court erred when it imposed consecutive sentences.
A. Defendant Dunkley
1. Admission of 404(b) Evidence
Defendant Dunkley contends that the trial court erred when it admitted text messages
into evidence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Evidence 404(b). He argues that the text
messages were “outside the scope of the conspiracy,” because the text messages were
exchanged during the time period of August 2008 through January 2009, which was before
the dates of the conspiracy as alleged in the indictment, January 2009 through March 2009.
He contends that the State failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that a material
issue existed other than conduct conforming with the negative character traits displayed by
the text messages. The Defendant further states that the State failed to prove that the
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probative value of the text messages outweighed the undue prejudice. The State responds
that the text messages were admissible under the enumerated purposes of Rule 404(b),
because the messages showed Defendant Dunkley’s motive and intent to commit the offense
and also provided a contextual background for the conspiracy, namely that he was in a sexual
relationship with Ms. Frame while married to Ms. Dunkley. We agree with the State.
The Tennessee Rules of Evidence provide that all “relevant evidence is admissible,”
unless excluded by other evidentiary rules or applicable authority. Tenn. R. Evid. 402. Of
course, “[e]vidence which is not relevant is not admissible.” Tenn. R. Evid. 402. Relevant
evidence is defined as evidence “having 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. Even relevant evidence, however,
“may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair
prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue
delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” Tenn. R. Evid. 403.
Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or bad acts is not admissible to prove the character
of a person to show action in conformity with that character. Id. at 404(b). Such evidence
may be admissible, however, for “other purposes.” Id. Our Supreme Court has determined
that such “other purposes” include demonstrating motive or intent. State v. Berry, 141
S.W.3d 549, 582 (Tenn. 2004). Such evidence is admissible for other purposes, provided
that the trial court: (1) upon request, holds a hearing outside the jury’s presence; (2)
determines that a material issue exists other than conduct conforming with a character trait
and, upon request, states the basis for its determination; (3) finds proof of the other crime,
wrong, or act to be clear and convincing; and (4) determines that the probative value of the
evidence is not outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Tenn. R. Evid. 404(b). The
safeguards in Rule 404(b) ensure that defendants are not convicted for charged offenses
based on evidence of prior crimes, wrongs, or acts. State v. James, 81 S.W.3d 751, 758
(Tenn. 2002). When a trial court substantially complies with the procedural requirements of
Rule 404(b), the standard of appellate review of the trial court’s decision is abuse of
discretion. See State v. Powers, 101 S.W.3d 383, 395 (Tenn. 2003); James, 81 S.W.3d at
759. If the strict requirements of the rule are not substantially observed, the reviewing court
gives the trial court’s decision no deference. State v. DuBose, 953 S.W.2d 649, 652 (Tenn.
1997).
The trial court held a hearing on the Rule 404(b) evidence outside the presence of the
jury. Ms. Frame testified about when her relationship with Defendant Dunkley began, the
planning between he and Defendant Miller to kill Ms. Dunkley, the communication between
the defendants as told to her by Defendant Dunkley, via text message, as well as Defendant
Miller “lying in wait” for Ms. Dunkley, which Ms. Frame relayed to Defendant Dunkley, also
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by text message. After hearing the evidence, the trial court reviewed the admissibility factors
enumerated in 404(b). It found that the entirety of the text messages, including those
exchanged before the dates listed on the indictment, was relevant to show intent in the
conspiracy. The trial court found that the State had proven by clear and convincing evidence
that the messages corroborated the relationship and connection between Defendant Dunkley,
Ms. Frame, and Ms. Dunkley, and the defendants’ alleged intent to kill Ms. Dunkley. The
court further found that material issues other than conduct conforming with a character trait
existed, namely identity and participation. The court found that the substance of the text
messages were sexual in nature and contained sexual photographs exchanged between Ms.
Frame and Defendant Dunkley, proving the relationship between them, and the text messages
also discussed Defendant Miller, before the alleged conspiracy at issue in the trial. The court
found that text messages relaying to Defendant Dunkley specific accounts of Ms. Frame and
Defendant Miller following and conducting surveillance on Ms. Dunkley, and messages
containing Defendant Dunkley’s instructions to Ms. Frame and Defendant Miller as to when
and where Ms. Dunkley was working or living, what car she was driving, and when she was
with her children, proved the participation of all three parties in the conspiracy.
The trial court found that the text messages were highly probative during the 2008
time frame to show “the meetings and the discussion and [] what was being said with
[Defendant] Dunkley and Ms. Frame” and that the messages connected the defendants and
Ms. Frame to the alleged conspiracy. The trial court also noted that, without the text
messages as an “explanation,” there would have been a “void” about when the defendants
and Ms. Frame first started discussing killing Ms. Dunkley, as well as who “him” was when
the parties referred to Defendant Miller and any money they had already paid him.
We conclude that text messages between Ms. Frame and Defendant Dunkley provided
a background of their romantic relationship, which was indicative of motive to kill Defendant
Dunkley’s wife. In the months leading up to the date alleged on the indictment, text
messages were exchanged about Defendant Dunkley wanting to choke and kill Ms. Dunkley.
The charge of conspiracy required the State to prove that Defendant Dunkley had the
culpable mental state to commit the offense and that he entered into an agreement, however
informal, with Ms. Frame and/or Defendant Miller. The text messages about Defendant
Dunkley wanting to kill his wife, their marital troubles, and his efforts to procure money to
pay for the weapon or to pay another person to do the killing is evidence that Defendant
Dunkley had the intent to carry out the murder. Thus, we agree with the trial court’s
determination that this evidence was admissible under the purposes of Rule 404(b).
Accordingly, the trial court properly exercised its discretion in admitting evidence of
the 2008 text messages to show the intent of Defendant Dunkley. Further, the trial court
properly instructed the jury on the manner in which it should consider the text messages, and
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this Court must presume that a jury followed the trial court’s instructions. See State v. Odom,
336 S.W.3d 541, 562 (Tenn. 2011). The Defendant is not entitled to relief.
2. Thirteenth Juror
Defendant Dunkley contends that the trial court erred when it denied his motion for
new trial on the grounds that the trial court did not act as the thirteenth juror because it “did
not state that [it] agreed that the evidence supported the verdict - which would show that the
trial court conducted its own independent evaluation of the case.” Defendant Dunkley
contends that the trial court “improperly executed” its responsibility as thirteenth juror by
“simply rel[ying] on the jury’s verdict without any independent reflection of the evidence
submitted at trial.” The State responds that “nothing” in the record indicates that the trial
court was dissatisfied with the jury’s verdict or that the trial court disagreed with the verdict.
The State further contends that the trial court’s statement that “[the] jury verdicts will
become the judgment of the Court” clearly indicates the trial court’s approval of the verdict
in its role as the thirteenth juror. We agree with the State.
Tennessee Rule 33 of Criminal Procedure states that a “trial court may grant a new
trial following a verdict of guilty if it disagrees with the jury about the weight of the
evidence.” Tenn. R. Crim. P. 33(d). This rule “‘is the modern equivalent to the thirteenth
juror rule, whereby the trial court must weigh the evidence and grant a new trial if the
evidence preponderates against the weight of the verdict.’” State v. Biggs, 218 S.W.3d 643,
653 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006) (quoting State v. Blanton, 926 S.W.2d 953, 958 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1996)). The initial sub-section of Rule 33 states, “On its own initiative or on a motion
of a defendant, the court may grant a new trial as required by law.” Tenn. R. Crim. P. 33(a).
Moreover, after considering the legislature’s intent and the prior thirteenth juror rule, the
Tennessee Supreme Court interpreted Rule 33 as “impos[ing] upon a trial court judge the
mandatory duty to serve as the thirteenth juror in every criminal case.” State v. Carter, 896
S.W.2d 119, 122 (Tenn. 1995). It also concluded that “approval by the trial judge of the
jury’s verdict as the thirteenth juror is a necessary prerequisite to imposition of a valid
judgment.” Id.
We point out that Rule 33(d) does not require the trial judge to make an explicit
statement of approval on the record. Instead, when the trial judge simply overrules a motion
for new trial, an appellate court may presume that the trial judge has served as the thirteenth
juror and approved the jury’s verdict. Id. Only if the record contains statements by the trial
judge indicating disagreement with the jury’s verdict or evidencing the trial judge’s refusal
to act as the thirteenth juror, may an appellate court reverse the trial court’s judgment. Id.
Otherwise, appellate review is limited to sufficiency of the evidence pursuant to Rule 13(e)
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. State v. Burlison, 868 S.W.2d 713, 718-19 (Tenn.
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Crim. App. 1993). If the reviewing court concludes that the trial judge has failed to fulfill
his or her role as thirteenth juror, the reviewing court must grant a new trial. State v. Moats,
906 S.W.2d 431, 435 (Tenn.1995).
The trial court, after reading the jury’s verdict to the defendants, stated that the verdict
would “become the judgment of the Court.” The record does not contain any statement made
by the trial court to indicate its disagreement with the verdict nor does it contains a statement
of the trial court’s refusal to act as the thirteenth juror. Thus, we presume that the trial court
properly served as the thirteenth juror and we will not reverse its judgment. Defendant
Dunkley is not entitled to relief.
3. Newly Discovered Evidence
Defendant Dunkley also contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for
a new trial based on newly discovered evidence in the form of Ms. Frame’s testimony at her
own September 7, 2011 parole hearing, which Defendant Dunkley contends was
“substantially different” than her testimony at his trial. The State responds that the trial court
properly found that Ms. Frame’s testimony at the parole hearing did not “significantly differ”
from her testimony at trial. We agree with the State.
To be entitled to a new trial on the basis of newly discovered evidence, a defendant
must show: (1) that he or she used reasonable diligence in seeking the newly discovered
evidence; (2) that the new evidence is material; and (3) that the new evidence will likely
change the result of the trial. See State v. Nichols, 877 S.W.2d 722, 737 (Tenn. 1994).
Whether to grant a new trial on the basis of newly discovered evidence lies within the sound
discretion of the trial court. See State v. Caldwell, 977 S.W.2d 110, 117 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1997). Accordingly, we review this issue for an abuse of discretion. See State v. Meade, 942
S.W.2d 561, 565 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996).
Defendant Dunkley argues that Ms. Frame’s testimony in the parole hearing that
“effectively minimized her involvement in the conspiracy, and that she had no active part in
it until after [Defendant Miller] lost his transportation” is contrary to her trial testimony that
portrayed her as a central figure in the conspiracy discussions that she alleged occurred
between Defendant Dunkley and Defendant Miller. At the motion for new trial, the trial
court held that this was “not new evidence” and found that her testimony at the hearing was
merely a summary of her six hour trial testimony.
After a review of the record, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion when it refused to grant Defendant Dunkley a new trial on this basis. In our view,
Ms. Frame’s testimony at the parole hearing is not newly discovered evidence. Furthermore,
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Defendant Dunkley did not provide a basis for establishing that the allegedly contradictory
testimony was material or that it would change the outcome of his trial. Defendant Dunkley
is not entitled to relief on this issue.
4. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Defendant Dunkley next contends that the proof is insufficient to support his
conviction for conspiracy to commit first degree murder because “no nexus between
Defendant Dunkley and the text messages attributed to him was created” and any additional
proof is insufficient to “tie him to a conspiracy to kill [Ms.] Dunkley.” The State responds
that the evidence was sufficient to prove that Defendant Dunkley planned Ms. Dunkley’s
murder and provided direction and money to ensure that she would be killed. The State
further contends that the evidence that was presented through Ms. Frame’s testimony is
sufficiently corroborated by the text messages exchanged between she and Defendant
Dunkley. We agree with the State.
When an accused challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court’s standard of
review is whether, after considering 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.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979) (emphasis in original); see
Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e); State v. Goodwin, 143 S.W.3d 771, 775 (Tenn. 2004) (citing State
v. Reid, 91 S.W.3d 247, 276 (Tenn. 2002)). This rule applies to findings of guilt based upon
direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a combination of both direct and circumstantial
evidence. State v. Pendergrass, 13 S.W.3d 389, 392-93 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999) (citing
State v. Dykes, 803 S.W.2d 250, 253 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990)). In the absence of direct
evidence, a criminal offense may be established exclusively by circumstantial evidence.
Duchac v. State, 505 S.W.2d 237, 241 (Tenn. 1973). “The jury decides the weight to be
given to circumstantial evidence, and ‘[t]he inferences to be drawn from such evidence, and
the extent to which the circumstances are consistent with guilt and inconsistent with
innocence, are questions primarily for the jury.’” State v. Rice, 184 S.W.3d 646, 662 (Tenn.
2006) (quoting Marable v. State, 313 S.W.2d 451, 457 (Tenn. 1958)). “The standard of
review [for sufficiency of the evidence] ‘is the same whether the conviction is based upon
direct or circumstantial evidence.’” State v. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d 370, 379 (Tenn. 2011)
(quoting State v. Hanson, 279 S.W.3d 265, 275 (Tenn. 2009)).
In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court should not re-weigh or
reevaluate the evidence. State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990).
Nor may this Court substitute its inferences for those drawn by the trier of fact from the
evidence. State v. Buggs, 995 S.W.2d 102, 105 (Tenn. 1999) (citing Liakas v. State, 286
S.W.2d 856, 859 (Tenn. 1956)). “Questions concerning the credibility of witnesses, the
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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.” State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 659 (Tenn. 1997). “‘A
guilty verdict by the jury, approved by the trial judge, accredits the testimony of the witnesses
for the State and resolves all conflicts in favor of the theory of the State.’” State v. Cabbage,
571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn. 1978) (quoting State v. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Tenn.
1973)). The Tennessee Supreme Court stated the rationale for this rule:
This well-settled rule rests on a sound foundation. The trial judge and
the jury see the witnesses face to face, hear their testimony and observe their
demeanor on the stand. Thus the trial judge and jury are the primary
instrumentality of justice to determine the weight and credibility to be given
to the testimony of witnesses. In the trial forum alone is there human
atmosphere and the totality of the evidence cannot be reproduced with a
written record in this Court.
Bolin v. State, 405 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tenn. 1966) (citing Carroll v. State, 370 S.W.2d 523,
527 (Tenn. 1963)). This Court must afford the State of Tennessee the “‘strongest legitimate
view of the evidence’” contained in the record, as well as “‘all reasonable and legitimate
inferences’” that may be drawn from the evidence. Goodwin, 143 S.W.3d at 775 (quoting
State v. Smith, 24 S.W.3d 274, 279 (Tenn. 2000)). Because a verdict of guilt against a
defendant removes the presumption of innocence and raises a presumption of guilt, the
convicted criminal defendant bears the burden of showing that the evidence was legally
insufficient to sustain a guilty verdict. State v. Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d 516, 557-58 (Tenn.
2000).
It is well-settled law in Tennessee that a criminal defendant cannot be convicted solely
on the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice. State v. Bigbee, 885 S.W.2d 797, 803
(Tenn. 1994), superseded by statute on other grounds as stated in State v. Odom, 137 S.W.3d
572, 580-81 (Tenn. 2004). The determination as to whether a witness is an accomplice or
not may be a matter of law for the trial court’s determination or it may be a question of fact
for the jury’s determination. State v. Perkinson, 867 S.W.2d 1, 7 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992).
When the facts are clear and undisputed concerning a witness’s participation in the crime,
whether he is an accomplice is a question of law for the court to decide. When the facts are
in dispute or susceptible to different inferences, it becomes a question of fact for the jury.
Conner v. State, 531 S.W.2d 119, 123 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1975).
“An accomplice is one who knowingly, voluntarily, and with common intent unites
with the principal offender in the commission of a crime.” State v. Allen, 976 S.W.2d 661,
666 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). To satisfy the definition of an accomplice, it is not enough
that the witness merely possess guilty knowledge, is morally delinquent, or even participated
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in a distinct but related offense. See State v. Lawson, 794 S.W.2d 363, 369 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1990). The general test is whether the accomplice could be indicted for the offense charged
against the defendant. Id.
The law in Tennessee regarding the corroboration required for accomplice testimony
has been described as follows:
The rule simply stated, is that there must be some fact testified to,
entirely independent of the accomplice’s testimony, which, taken by itself,
leads to the inference, not only that a crime has been committed, but also that
the defendant is implicated in it; and this independent corroborative testimony
must also include some fact establishing the defendant’s identity. This
corroborative evidence may be direct or entirely circumstantial, and it need
not be adequate, in and of itself, to support a conviction; it is sufficient to
meet the requirements of the rule if it fairly and legitimately tends to connect
the defendant with the commission of the crime charged. It is not necessary
that the corroboration extend to every part of the accomplice’s evidence.
State v. Shaw, 37 S.W.3d 900, 903 (Tenn. 2001) (quoting State v. Bigbee, 885 S.W.2d 797,
803 (Tenn. 1994) (citations omitted)). Ultimately, it is a question for the jury to determine
whether an accomplice’s testimony has been sufficiently corroborated. Pennington v. State,
478 S.W.2d 892 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1971).
First degree murder is the premeditated and intentional killing of another person.
T.C.A. § 39-13-202(a)(1). A premeditated killing is one “done after the exercise of reflection
and judgment.” T.C.A. § 39-13-202(d). The element of premeditation is a question of fact
for the jury. State v. Davidson, 121 S.W.3d 600, 614 (Tenn. 2003). Although the jury may
not engage in speculation, it may infer premeditation from the manner and circumstances
surrounding the killing. State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 660 (Tenn. 1997). In State v.
Nichols, 24 S.W.3d 297, 302 (Tenn. 2000), our Supreme Court delineated the following
circumstances from which a jury may infer premeditation:
Declarations by the defendant of an intent to kill, evidence of
procurement of a weapon, the use of a deadly weapon upon an unarmed
victim, the particular cruelty of the killing, infliction of multiple wounds,
preparation before the killing for concealment of the crime, destruction or
secretion of evidence of the murder, and calmness immediately after the
killing.
The jury may also infer premeditation from the establishment of a motive for the killing and
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the use of multiple weapons in succession. State v. Leach, 148 S.W.3d 42, 54 (Tenn. 2004).
The offense of conspiracy is committed if two or more people, each having the
culpable mental state required for the offense which is the object of the conspiracy and each
acting for the purpose of promoting or facilitating commission of an offense, agree that one
or more of them will engage in conduct which constitutes such offense. T.C.A. § 39-12-
103(a) (2010). It is also required that “an overt act in pursuance of such conspiracy is alleged
and proved to have been done by the person or by another with whom the person conspired.”
T.C.A. § 39-12-103(d) (2010).
The essential feature of the crime of conspiracy is the accord - the agreement to
accomplish a criminal or unlawful act. See State v. Pike, 978 S.W.2d 904, 915 (Tenn.1998);
State v. Hodgkinson, 778 S.W.2d 54, 58 (Tenn. Crim. App.1989). A formal agreement is not
required, nor must it be expressed; it may, and often will be, proven by circumstantial
evidence. See Pike, 978 S.W.2d at 915; State v. Shropshire, 874 S.W.2d 634, 641 (Tenn.
Crim. App.1993); State v. Gaylor, 862 S.W.2d 546, 553 (Tenn. Crim. App.1992) (“[A]
mutual implied understanding is sufficient, although not manifested by any formal words, or
a written agreement”). “The unlawful confederation may be established by circumstantial
evidence and the conduct of the parties in the execution of the criminal enterprise.
Conspiracy implies concert of design and not participation in every detail of execution.”
Randolph v. State, 570 S.W.2d 869, 871 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1978).
The evidence, in the light most favorable to the State, established that Defendant
Dunkley and Ms. Frame were lovers for two and a half years and both desired the elimination
of the victim, Ms. Dunkley. Defendant Dunkley and Ms. Frame discussed via text message
various plans to murder Ms. Dunkley, and Defendant Dunkley provided Defendant Miller
with a weapon. Defendant Dunkley provided information to Ms. Frame and Defendant
Miller about Ms. Dunkley’s work schedule, the premises in and around her work building,
and what vehicles she drove. Transcripts of the text messages show that Defendant Dunkley
made many references throughout to killing Ms. Dunkley, such as she was on “borrowed
time” and was going to be “taken out.” Defendant Dunkley sent text messages to Ms. Frame
expressing his frustration with Ms. Dunkley and stating that he needed Ms. Dunkley to be
killed before things got “bad.” Defendant Dunkley planned to pay Defendant Miller with
money he collected from the life insurance policies.
The evidence that corroborates Ms. Frame’s testimony is Ms. Dunkley’s testimony,
the transcripts of the text messages, the insurance agent’s testimony, and Mr. Sherrell’s
testimony. A cellular telephone records custodian testified that the text messages sent to Ms.
Frame discussing killing Ms. Dunkley came from a telephone number registered to
Defendant Dunkley. Ms. Dunkley testified that she and Defendant Dunkley were in the
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process of divorcing in early 2009 and that she had requested the divorce court to award her
one of Defendant Dunkley’s vehicles after hers was repossessed. This testimony
corroborates Ms. Frame’s statement that Defendant Dunkley wanted Ms. Dunkley killed
within a certain time frame, before their divorce situation “got bad.” Ms. Dunkley also
testified that she was aware of Defendant Dunkley’s sexual relationship with Ms. Frame, and
that she and Defendant Dunkley had had an “ugly” marital separation in 2008, corroborating
Ms. Frame’s testimony that Defendant Dunkley had a motive to kill his wife. Ms. Dunkley
testified that Defendant Dunkley owned several weapons and a holster, corroborating Ms.
Frame’s testimony that Defendant Dunkley had given Defendant Miller a weapon to use in
the murder. An agent from State Farm Insurance Agency testified that Defendant Dunkley
owned two insurance policy on Ms. Dunkley’s life totaling $300,000, corroborating Ms.
Frame’s testimony that the insurance money would be used to pay Defendant Miller after he
killed Ms. Dunkley, and further providing evidence of Defendant Dunkley’s motive. Mr.
Sherrell testified that he knew that Defendant Dunkley and Ms. Frame were in a sexual
relationship while he was married to Ms. Dunkley.
Additional evidence supporting Defendant Dunkley’s conviction for conspiracy is
evidence of his motive to have a shared life with Ms. Frame and his potential financial gain
from Ms. Dunkley’s death. The text messages provide direct and circumstantial evidence
that an accord existed, however informal or unspoken, between Defendant Dunkley, Ms.
Frame, and Defendant Miller to kill Ms. Dunkley, and that they acted with the purpose of
promoting or facilitating her murder. Defendant Dunkley committed overt acts in
furtherance of the offense, stating that Ms. Dunkley needed to be killed, providing
information regarding her schedule and whereabouts, providing a gun, and contributing
money to pay Defendant Miller. Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient
for a jury find beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant Dunkley was guilty of conspiracy
to commit first degree murder. Defendant Dunkley is not entitled to relief on this issue.
5. Sentencing
Defendant Dunkley lastly contends that the trial court erred when it applied three
enhancement factors to his sentence: that Defendant Dunkley was a leader in the commission
of the offense, that Defendant Dunkley had a previous criminal history, and that Defendant
Dunkley abused a position of trust. See T.C.A. § 40-35-114, (1), (2) and (14) (2010).
Defendant Dunkley asserts that the proof does not support the application of these
enhancement factors. The State concedes that the application of the “position of trust”
enhancement factor was improper in this case but contends that the application of a single
enhancement factor is sufficient to justify an enhanced sentence, and that the evidence is
sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that Defendant Dunkley was a leader in the
conspiracy and had a previous criminal history. We agree with the State that the “position
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of trust” factor is not applicable here and that the evidence is sufficient to support the
application of the remaining two enhancement factors.
The Tennessee Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989 and its amendments describe
the process for determining the appropriate length of a defendant’s sentence and the manner
of service of that sentence. In State v. Bise, the Tennessee Supreme Court reviewed changes
in sentencing law and the impact on appellate review of sentencing decisions. 380 S.W.3d
682 (Tenn. 2012). The Tennessee Supreme Court announced that “sentences imposed by the
trial court within the appropriate statutory range are to be reviewed under an abuse of
discretion standard with a ‘presumption of reasonableness.’” Id. A finding of abuse of
discretion “‘reflects that the trial court’s logic and reasoning was improper when viewed in
light of the factual circumstances and relevant legal principles involved in a particular case.’”
State v. Shaffer, 45 S.W.3d 553, 555 (Tenn. 2001) (quoting State v. Moore, 6 S.W.3d 235,
242 (Tenn. 1999)). To find an abuse of discretion, the record must be void of any substantial
evidence that would support the trial court’s decision. Id.; State v. Grear, 568 S.W.2d 285,
286 (Tenn. 1978); State v. Delp, 614 S.W.2d 395, 398 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1980). The
reviewing court should uphold the sentence “so long as it is within the appropriate range and
the record demonstrates that the sentence is otherwise in compliance with the purposes and
principles listed by statute.” Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 709-10. So long as the trial court sentences
within the appropriate range and properly applies the purposes and principles of the
Sentencing Act, its decision will be granted a presumption of reasonableness. Id. at 707. We
are to also recognize that the defendant bears “the burden of demonstrating that the sentence
is improper.” State v. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991).
In determining a specific sentence within a range of punishment, the trial court should
consider, but is not bound by, the following advisory guidelines:
(1) The minimum sentence within the range of punishment is the
sentence that should be imposed, because the general assembly set the
minimum length of sentence for each felony class to reflect the relative
seriousness of each criminal offense in the felony classifications; and
(2) The sentence length within the range should be adjusted, as
appropriate, by the presence or absence of mitigating and enhancement factors
set out in §§ 40-35-113 and 40-35-114.
T.C.A. § 40-35-210(c) (2012).
Although the trial court should also consider enhancement and mitigating factors, the
statutory enhancement factors are advisory only. See T.C.A. § 40-35-114 (2012); see also
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Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 699 n.33, 704; Carter, 254 S.W.3d at 343. We note that “a trial court’s
weighing of various mitigating and enhancement factors [is] left to the trial court’s sound
discretion.” Carter, 254 S.W.3d at 345. In other words, “the trial court is free to select any
sentence within the applicable range so long as the length of the sentence is ‘consistent with
the purposes and principles of [the Sentencing Act].’” Id. at 343. A trial court’s
“misapplication of an enhancement or mitigating factor does not invalidate the sentence
imposed unless the trial court wholly departed from the 1989 Act, as amended in 2005.”
Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 706. “[Appellate Courts are] bound by a trial court’s decision as to the
length of the sentence imposed so long as it is imposed in a manner consistent with the
purposes and principles set out in sections -102 and -103 of the Sentencing Act.” Carter, 254
S.W.3d at 346.
We disagree with Defendant Dunkley’s contention that the trial court improperly
applied the enhancement factors that Defendant Dunkley had a previous history of criminal
behavior and that he was a leader in the commission of the offense. T.C.A. § 40-35-114(1),
(2). At the sentencing hearing, the trial court found that, relative to enhancement factor (1),
Defendant Dunkley had a previous criminal history of daily marijuana use, based on Ms.
Dunkley’s testimony, and that he had committed aggravated perjury and been held in
contempt of court in civil divorce proceedings. Relative to enhancement factor (2), that
Defendant Dunkley was the leader in the commission of this offense, the trial court made the
following statement:
[I]t takes, at least, one more person to be involved in – in a conspiracy;
but [these] particular events (sic), involving this incident, involved multiple
people, attempts to involve other people. . . ; and that [Defendant Dunkley
was] . . . the person that would gain or benefit from the events of the
conspiracy occurring and was the instigator in wanting his wife dead.
[I]t was [Defendant] Dunkley, as I’ve stated, that would be the
beneficiary, from a life insurance standpoint, from a divorce standpoint, of
having this conspiracy consummated, that is Ms. [Dunkley] killed, and
[Defendant Dunkley] was the one giving directions about where [Ms.
Dunkley] was, her work schedule, camera, all that proof that we’ve heard
about.
The evidence presented at trial and at the sentencing hearing established that
Defendant Dunkley gave information and directions necessary to carry out the killing of his
wife, and was the original instigator of the conspiracy. Testimony at the sentencing hearing
was that Defendant Dunkley was a daily marijuana user. As such, the trial court did not
abuse its discretion when it chose to apply the enhancement factors to Defendant Dunkley’s
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sentence. The trial court considered the relevant principles and sentenced Defendant
Dunkley to a within range sentence. Therefore, Defendant Dunkley is not entitled to relief.
B. Defendant Miller
1. Sufficiency of Evidence
Defendant Miller contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his
convictions because “any rational trier of fact could not have found” him guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. He argues that he never formed the intent to kill or commit burglary, and
thus, the essential elements of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, attempted first
degree murder, and attempted aggravated burglary were not proven beyond a reasonable
doubt. The State responds that Defendant Miller clearly conspired with Defendant Dunkley
to kill Ms. Dunkley, and in furtherance of the conspiracy, Defendant Miller followed Ms.
Dunkley and went to her apartment, and while there attempted to break down the apartment
door with the intent to kill Ms. Dunkley inside. The State further argues that “nothing in the
record suggests that [Defendant Miller] withdrew from the conspiracy by the time he
participated” in the attempted burglary or the attempted murder. We agree with the State.
a. First Degree Murder Convictions
First degree murder is the premeditated and intentional killing of another person.
T.C.A. § 39-13-202(a)(1). A premeditated killing is one “done after the exercise of reflection
and judgment.” T.C.A. § 39-13-202(d). The element of premeditation is a question of fact
for the jury. State v. Davidson, 121 S.W.3d 600, 614 (Tenn. 2003). Although the jury may
not engage in speculation, it may infer premeditation from the manner and circumstances
surrounding the killing. State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 660 (Tenn. 1997). In State v.
Nichols, 24 S.W.3d 297, 302 (Tenn. 2000), our supreme court delineated the following
circumstances from which a jury may infer premeditation:
Declarations by the defendant of an intent to kill, evidence of
procurement of a weapon, the use of a deadly weapon upon an unarmed
victim, the particular cruelty of the killing, infliction of multiple wounds,
preparation before the killing for concealment of the crime, destruction or
secretion of evidence of the murder, and calmness immediately after the
killing.
The jury may also infer premeditation from the establishment of a motive for the killing and
the use of multiple weapons in succession. State v. Leach, 148 S.W.3d 42, 54 (Tenn. 2004).
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i. Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder
As we earlier stated, the offense of conspiracy is committed if two or more people,
each having the culpable mental state required for the offense which is the object of the
conspiracy and each acting for the purpose of promoting or facilitating commission of an
offense, agree that one or more of them will engage in conduct which constitutes such
offense. T.C.A. § 39-12-103(a) (2010). It is also required that “an overt act in pursuance of
such conspiracy is alleged and proved to have been done by the person or by another with
whom the person conspired.” T.C.A. § 39-12-103(d) (2010).
The essential feature of the crime of conspiracy is the accord - the agreement to
accomplish a criminal or unlawful act. See State v. Pike, 978 S.W.2d 904, 915 (Tenn.1998);
State v. Hodgkinson, 778 S.W.2d 54, 58 (Tenn. Crim. App.1989). A formal agreement is not
required, nor must it be expressed; it may, and often will be, proven by circumstantial
evidence. See Pike, 978 S.W.2d at 915; State v. Shropshire, 874 S.W.2d 634, 641 (Tenn.
Crim. App.1993); State v. Gaylor, 862 S.W.2d 546, 553 (Tenn. Crim. App.1992) (“[A]
mutual implied understanding is sufficient, although not manifested by any formal words, or
a written agreement”). “The unlawful confederation may be established by circumstantial
evidence and the conduct of the parties in the execution of the criminal enterprise.
Conspiracy implies concert of design and not participation in every detail of execution.”
Randolph v. State, 570 S.W.2d 869, 871 (Tenn. Crim. App.1978).
The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the State, proved that Defendant
Dunkley initiated a conversation with Defendant Miller about killing Ms. Dunkley and gave
Defendant Miller a weapon to use to kill Ms. Dunkley. Defendant Miller and Ms. Frame
proceeded to follow Ms. Dunkley to her home and work for a period of several months, with
the aid of information provided by Defendant Dunkley in his text messages to Ms. Frame.
Defendant Miller and Ms. Frame went to Ms. Dunkley’s apartment in the middle of the night,
where Defendant Miller attempted to break down the door of the apartment with a
sledgehammer with the intention to go inside and kill Ms. Dunkley. Ms. Dunkley testified
that, the next morning, her front door would not open and so she called the police. The
officer who responded to her call testified that it appeared that Ms. Dunkley’s apartment door
had been attacked with a sledgehammer.
Ms. Frame recalled that, in addition to providing multiple weapons to Defendant
Miller, she and Defendant Dunkley paid him money that he demanded before the murder
took place. A detective testified that he listened to a recorded jailhouse phone call, during
which Ms. Frame asked Defendant Miller for the money back that he had already been paid.
The evidence that Defendant Miller took weapons and money ahead of the planned killing,
and followed Ms. Dunkley with Ms. Frame at Defendant Dunkley’s direction, is evidence
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from which a jury could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant Miller was part
of the conspiracy to kill Ms. Dunkley and that he took substantial steps in furtherance of this
conspiracy. Defendant Miller is not entitled to relief on this issue.
ii. Attempted First Degree Murder
A person commits criminal attempt who, acting with the kind of culpability otherwise
required for the offense . . . [a]cts with intent to cause a result that is an element of the
offense, and believes the conduct will cause the result without further conduct on the person's
part . . . .” T.C.A. § 39-12-101(a)(2) (2010). Restated, a conviction for attempted first
degree murder requires proof that the defendant intended to kill the victim “after the exercise
of reflection and judgment” and either intentionally engaged in the conduct constituting the
offense, believed the conduct would cause the intended result without further conduct, or the
conduct constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of the offense. T.C.A. § 39-13-
202(d) (2010); See T.C.A. § 39-12-202(a)(1) (2010); T.C.A. § 39-12-101 (2010).
We conclude that the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the State, was
sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find that Defendant Miller’s conduct constituted a
substantial step towards to killing of Ms. Dunkley, as evidenced by his taking a
sledgehammer to her apartment and attempting to break down her door while she slept inside.
Additionally, Defendant Miller accepted money and weapons to be used in the killing, and
spent numerous hours following Ms. Dunkley. This is evidence from which a jury could find
beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant Miller was guilty of attempted first degree murder.
Defendant Miller is not entitled to relief on this issue.
b. Attempted Aggravated Burglary
As relevant here, aggravated burglary is the entry of a habitation without the effective
consent of a property owner with intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault. See T.C.A. §§
39-14-402(a)(1), -403(a) (2010). A habitation is any structure designed or adapted for the
overnight accommodation of persons. Id. § 39-14-401(1)(A). The intent required for the
offense of burglary may be established by circumstantial evidence. Bollin v. State, 486
S.W.2d 293, 296 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1972). “In the absence of an ‘acceptable excuse,’ a jury
may reasonably and legitimately infer that by breaking and entering a building containing
valuable property, a defendant intends to commit theft.” State v. Ingram, 986 S.W.2d 598,
600 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998) (citations omitted). “A person commits criminal attempt who,
acting with the kind of culpability otherwise required for the offense . . . [a]cts with intent
to complete a course of action or cause a result that would constitute the offense, under the
circumstances surrounding the conduct as the person believes them to be, and the conduct
constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of the offense.” T.C.A. §
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39-12-101(a)(3).
The evidence considered in the light most favorable to the State, shows that Defendant
Miller went to Ms. Dunkley’s apartment in the early in the morning, while she was asleep
inside, and attempted to gain entry into her apartment in order to kill Ms. Dunkley by using
a sledgehammer to break open the door. The next morning, Ms. Dunkley could not open her
front door because of the damage, so she called the police. The officer who arrived at the
scene testified that, in his view and based on his experience, the door had been attacked by
a sledgehammer. A jury could infer from this evidence that Defendant Miller intended to
gain entry into the apartment for the purpose of killing Ms. Dunkley once inside. The
evidence was sufficient to support Defendant Miller’s conviction, and thus, he is not entitled
to relief on this issue.
2. Thirteenth Juror
Defendant Miller next contends that because no rational trier of fact could have
concluded that the essential elements for the offenses charged were established, the trial
court, as the thirteenth juror, should have “overturn[ed]” all three convictions. Defendant
Miller cites to the insufficiency of evidence argument section of his brief in support of this
contention, and makes no additional argument as to why the trial court failed in its role as
thirteenth juror. Because we have previously concluded that the evidence was sufficient to
support Defendant Miller’s convictions, we further conclude that, in this regard, the trial
court did not fail in its role as thirteenth juror. Defendant Miller is not entitled to relief on
this issue.
3. Consecutive Sentencing
Defendant Miller lastly contends that the trial court erred when it ordered consecutive
sentencing. He contends that the trial court erred when it applied the consecutive sentencing
factor that he is a dangerous offender. The State responds that the trial court’s application
of the consecutive sentencing factor was supported by the evidence. We agree with the State.
The Tennessee Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989 and its amendments describe
the process for determining the appropriate length of a defendant’s sentence. Under the Act,
a trial court may impose a sentence within the applicable range as long as the imposed
sentence is consistent with the Act’s purposes and principles. T.C.A. § 40-35-210(c)(2), (d)
(2010); see State v. Carter, 254 S.W.3d 335, 343 (Tenn. 2008).
In State v. Bise, the Tennessee Supreme Court announced that “sentences imposed by
the trial court within the appropriate statutory range are to be reviewed under an abuse of
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discretion standard with a ‘presumption of reasonableness.’” 380 S.W.3d 682, 708 (Tenn.
2012). A finding of abuse of discretion “‘reflects that the trial court’s logic and reasoning
was improper when viewed in light of the factual circumstances and relevant legal principles
involved in a particular case.’” State v. Shaffer, 45 S.W.3d 553, 555 (Tenn. 2001) (quoting
State v. Moore, 6 S.W.3d 235, 242 (Tenn. 1999)). To find an abuse of discretion, the record
must be void of any substantial evidence that would support the trial court’s decision. Id.;
State v. Grear, 568 S.W.2d 285, 286 (Tenn. 1978); State v. Delp, 614 S.W.2d 395, 398
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1980). The reviewing court should uphold the sentence “so long as it is
within the appropriate range and the record demonstrates that the sentence is otherwise in
compliance with the purposes and principles listed by statute.” Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 709-10.
In other words, so long as the trial court sentences within the appropriate range and properly
applies the purposes and principles of the Sentencing Act, its decision will be granted a
presumption of reasonableness. Id. at 707.
Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115(b) provides that a trial court may order
sentences to run consecutively if it finds any one of the statutory criteria by a preponderance
of the evidence. As is relevant in this case, the trial court found the following criteria
applicable:
(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[.]
T.C.A. § 40-35-115(b)(4). The consecutive sentencing criteria are stated in the alternative;
therefore, only one need exist to support the imposition of consecutive sentencing. See id.;
State v. Denise Dianne Brannigan, No. E2011-00098-CCA-R3-CD, 2012 WL 2131111, at
*19 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, June 13, 2012), no Tenn. R. App. P. 11 application
filed. The imposition of consecutive sentencing, however, is subject to the general
sentencing principles that the overall sentence imposed “should be no greater than that
deserved for the offense committed” and that it “should be the least severe measure necessary
to achieve the purposes for which the sentence is imposed [.]” T.C.A. § 40-35-103(2), (4).
We review a trial court’s decision to impose consecutive sentences for an abuse of discretion
with a presumption of reasonableness. State v. James Allen Pollard, –S.W.3d–, No. M2011-
0032-SC-R11-CD (Tenn. Dec. 20, 2013).
In this case, the trial court found, “[t]he 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.” T.C.A. § 40-35-115(4) (2010). Our Supreme
Court has noted that the “dangerous offender” category is the hardest and most subjective to
apply. State v. Lane, 3 S.W.3d 456, 460 (Tenn. 1999). Consequently, our Supreme Court
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in State v. Wilkerson held that “particular facts” must show the following in order to base
consecutive sentencing on subsection 115(b)(4): (1) that an extended sentence is necessary
to protect the public against further criminal conduct by the defendant; and (2) that the
consecutive sentences reasonably relate to the severity of the offenses committed. 905
S.W.2d 933, 938-39 (Tenn. 1995); see State v. Robinson, 146 S.W.3d 469, 524 (Tenn. 2004).
Further, Wilkerson instructs that the “dangerous offender” category should only be imposed
if four factors are satisfied: (1) the Defendant’s behavior indicated little or no regard for
human life; (2) he did not hesitate to act when the risk to human life was high; (3) extended
confinement is necessary to protect society; and (4) the total length of the sentence must
reasonably relate to the conviction offenses. State v. Imfeld, 70 S.W.3d 698, 708
(Tenn.2002); Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d at 939.
The trial court further found that consecutive sentencing was:
[R]easonably related to the severity of the offense based upon the
factual findings that [Defendant Miller’s] involvement [in the conspiracy]
began nearly a year prior to [his] arrest, [Defendant Miller’s] providing of the
weapon, and his only hesitation in committing the crime being because of his
concern about not getting paid.
Our review of the record reflects that the trial court did not err when it ordered
consecutive sentencing. The evidence presented that Defendant Miller possessed weapons
and a sledgehammer with the intent to use them in a murder supports the trial court’s
application of the consecutive sentencing factor that Defendant Miller is a dangerous
criminal. Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it
ordered consecutive sentencing. Defendant Miller is not entitled to relief on this issue.
III. Conclusion
In accordance with the foregoing reasoning and authorities, the judgments of the
trial court are affirmed.
_________________________________
ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, JUDGE
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