State of Tennessee v. Chester Carr Peterson

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs July 25, 2012
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. CHESTER CARR PETERSON
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
No. 2009-A-523 Steve Dozier, Judge
No. M2011-02241-CCA-R3-CD - Filed September 5, 2012
The Defendant, Chester Carr Peterson, pled guilty to possession with intent to sell less
than .5 grams of cocaine and evading arrest. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to a
sentence that included community corrections. The Defendant’s community corrections
officer filed a violation warrant, and, after a hearing, the trial court revoked the
Defendant’s community corrections sentence, finding that he had violated the terms of his
sentence, and ordered him to serve the remainder of his sentence in confinement. On
appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred by revoking his community
corrections sentence and ordering him to serve the balance of his sentence in prison.
After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the trial court’s
judgment.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Affirmed
R OBERT W. W EDEMEYER, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which J AMES
C URWOOD W ITT, J R. and R OGER A. P AGE, JJ., joined.
Emma Rae Tennent (on appeal) and Jonathan Wing (at trial), Nashville, Tennessee, for
the appellant, Chester Carr Peterson.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Benjamin A. Ball, Assistant
Attorney General; Victor S. Johnson, III, District Attorney General; and Rachel Sobrero,
Assistant District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
I. Facts
A. Guilty Plea and Sentencing Hearings
This case arises from the Defendant’s involvement in a sale of crack cocaine to an
undercover police officer. At the guilty plea submission hearing, the Defendant entered
guilty pleas to two offenses: selling less than .5 grams of cocaine, a Class C felony, and
evading arrest, a Class A misdemeanor. At the hearing, the State recited the facts
underlying the Defendant’s convictions:
Had his case gone to trial, the State’s proof would have shown that
on September 5th, 2008[,] the [D]efendant flagged down Detective Atcknic
of the Metro Police Department as he drove along Lewis Street. After he
pulled over, the [D]efendant asked him what he was looking for. Detective
[asked] the [D]efendant what he had in terms of money -- or asked the
[D]efendant what he had. The [D]efendant responded that he had hard,
referring to [the] hard form of crack cocaine. The detective told the
[D]efendant, I want a $20 and asked if it was good. The [D]efendant
replied that it was. He then asked the [D]efendant if he would smoke it, but
the [D]efendant stated that he doesn’t smoke crack.
The detective told the [D]efendant that he would circle the block.
He then pulled away and told another detective to standby and wait for the
take-down signal. Detective returned to the [D]efendant and asked him if
he had change [for] a $50 to which the [D]efendant said no. At that time[,]
he offered to sell $50 worth of crack. The [D]efendant . . . walked over to a
newspaper stand, removed something from the top of it, walked back to the
detective and sold him three rocks of crack cocaine for $50.
At that time[,] the take-down signal was given and the [D]efendant
walked away. As the police went to arrest him, he fled from the officer[s]
on foot. This foot chase went through JC Nappier [sic] Housing
Development and back toward where the transaction took place. During the
chase, the [D]efendant discarded his jacket. . . . [When the detective] caught
the [Defendant][,] . . . the [D]efendant had the $50 bill, which was the buy
money, in his mouth.
Per the plea agreement, the Defendant agreed to be sentenced as a career offender with a
sixty percent release eligibility, and the trial court imposed a ten-year sentence, to be
served at sixty percent, for the drug offense. The trial court imposed an eleven-month
and twenty-nine-day sentence for evading arrest, to be served concurrently to the drug
offense.
-2-
At the sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered that the Defendant serve a
sentence of split confinement, with one year of incarceration followed by nine years on
community corrections.
B. Probation Violation Hearing
The Defendant’s community corrections officer filed a probation violation warrant
alleging that the Defendant violated the terms of his community corrections program
because he was arrested for the theft of a vehicle. At the hearing, the parties presented
the following evidence: Lakedra Smith, a friend of the Defendant’s family, testified that
on July 23, 2011, she allowed the Defendant to borrow her vehicle in order to go to his
job cutting grass for a lawn business. Smith stated that, when she gave the Defendant
permission to borrow her vehicle, she told him to return it the following day. The
Defendant, however, never returned her vehicle, so, three days later, she filed a stolen
vehicle report with the police department. Smith testified that the vehicle was equipped
with a GPS system, and, after she filed the report, the vehicle was located in front of a
warehouse in Shelby Park. She stated that her vehicle was a 2004 Ford Explorer, and it
had an estimated value of $10,000. She testified that, at the time her vehicle was
recovered, it had damage to the back bumper that had not been present when Smith
loaned the vehicle to the Defendant. Smith further stated that items that she had left in
the vehicle, including a cell phone, an I-pod, shoes, a weed-eater, and two folding lawn
chairs, were missing when it was recovered. Smith testified that she never recovered
those items and that she did not give the Defendant permission to take those items.
On cross-examination, Smith admitted that, while the Defendant had her vehicle,
she received a text message from him that included the word “Mississippi,” but she stated
that she did not understand the meaning of the message.
Michelle Castile, a case officer with the Davidson County Community Corrections
program, testified that she was assigned to supervise the Defendant. Castile stated that
she requested a violation warrant against the Defendant. After the Defendant had been
arrested on the violation warrant, Castile spoke with him, and the Defendant admitted to
her that he had not been living at his court-ordered address. Castile stated that the
Defendant had, instead, been living at the Hallmark Inn where he had paid for a month’s
stay in advance. Castile testified that, regarding the Defendant’s arrest for theft of a
vehicle, the Defendant explained that the incident was the result of a “family argument[].”
Castile stated that the Defendant told her that he had left his court-ordered residence due
to family problems and arguments.
On cross-examination, Castile agreed that the Defendant suffered from “mental
-3-
health difficulties.” She stated that, since the time he entered into the community
corrections program, the Defendant “reported several times,” and she “met with him
twice prior to this arrest.” Castile agreed that, during those meetings, the Defendant
resided at the court-ordered residence.
On redirect examination, Castile stated that the terms of the Defendant’s
community corrections sentence required him to receive permission to change residences.
She testified that she would “never, ever let him move into the Hallmark Inn . . . .”
The Defendant testified that the terms of his community corrections sentence
required him to reside with Lakedra Smith. He, however, moved out of her home and
into the Hallmark Inn because he grew “tired of being a mule, for her and her family.”
The Defendant complained that he had to drive Smith and her children “everywhere,” and
he “got tired of seeing [Smith and her boyfriend] argue all the time.” He stated that he
became “pissed off,” so he “took the truck to Shelby Park” to do some “thinking” and
“left it there.” The Defendant alleged that Smith liked to “shoplift,” and he was not “with
that.” The Defendant then stated that he told Smith through a text message that he was
“thinking about going to Mississippi” with her vehicle.
Regarding his court-ordered residence, the Defendant acknowledged that he
moved from that residence without Castile’s permission. The Defendant stated that he
later told Castile that he moved because he did not “want to get [himself] in trouble.” The
Defendant testified that, if given the opportunity, he would be more responsible on
community corrections.
On cross-examination, the Defendant stated that he “did everything [he] was
supposed to” on community corrections. The Defendant, however, agreed that he stopped
reporting to Castile for two weeks and had admitted to her that he used marijuana. The
Defendant denied that, during a previous revocation hearing, he admitted to using crack
cocaine. The Defendant maintained that he was “not doing nothing wrong.”
After the Defendant’s testimony, the trial court found that the Defendant violated
his probation “based on the new arrest and moving from the place he was court ordered to
be at.” After taking the matter under advisement, the trial court issued an order
reinstating the Defendant’s original sentence. In the order, the trial court noted that this
violation was the Defendant’s second and that he “was unable to comply with the terms of
the community corrections for even thirty days after his release.” The trial court found
that the “[D]efendant has not demonstrated an ability to comply with the terms of release”
and ordered the Defendant to serve the remainder of his ten-year sentence in confinement.
It is from this judgment that the Defendant now appeals.
-4-
II. Analysis
The Defendant contends that the trial court erred when it revoked his community
corrections sentence and reinstated his original sentence. The State responds that the trial
court properly revoked the Defendant’s community corrections sentence and ordered that
he serve his ten-year sentence. We agree with the State.
A trial court may revoke a defendant’s community corrections sentence based on
the defendant’s non-compliance with the conditions of the community-based program.
T.C.A. § 40-36-106(e)(3)-(4) (2010). The trial court must hold a probation revocation
proceeding, during which “the trial judge may enter judgment upon the question of the
charges as the trial judge may deem right and proper under the evidence adduced before
the trial judge.” T.C.A. § 40-35-311(d) (2010); see State v. Hill, 987 S.W.2d 867, 870-71
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1998) (If the defendant already began serving his sentence, the trial
judge could only revoke a community corrections sentence with a proper revocation
hearing and proper notice.). During the proceeding, the trial court must find proof of a
community corrections violation by a preponderance of the evidence, and either:
(A) Cause the defendant to commence the execution of the judgment as
originally entered, or otherwise, in accordance with § 40-35-310; or
(B) Resentence the defendant for the remainder of the unexpired term to
any community-based alternative to incarceration authorized by chapter 36
of this title; provided, that the violation of probation and suspension is a
technical one and does not involve the commission of a new offense.
T.C.A. § 40-35-311(e) (2010). Because Tennessee law permits the trial court to revoke
probation only upon finding, by preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant has
violated the terms of his or her probation, this Court will not disturb the trial court’s
determination absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Shaffer, 45 S.W.3d 553, 554 (Tenn.
2001); State v. Farrar, 355 S.W.3d 582, 586 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011), perm. app. denied
(Tenn. Oct. 18, 2011); State v. Reams, 265 S.W.3d 423, 430 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2007); see
also State v. Delp, 614 S.W.2d 395, 398 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1980) (adopting the
probations violation standard for a community corrections program violation due to the
sentences’ similar nature). 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.’” Shaffer, 45 S.W.3d at 555
(quoting State v. Moore, 6 S.W.3d 235, 242 (Tenn. 1999)). We note that “‘[o]nly one
basis for revocation is necessary,’” and a defendant’s admission to a violation of the
-5-
conditions of release to the community corrections program is sufficient evidence for
such a revocation. State v. Joe Allen Brown, No. W2007-00693-CCA-R3-CD, 2007 WL
4462990, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Dec. 20, 2007), no Tenn. R. App. P. 11
application filed (quoting State v. Alonzo Chatman, No. E2000-03123-CCA-R3-CD,
2001 WL 1173895, at *2 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, Oct. 5, 2001), no Tenn. R.
App. P. 11 application filed)); see also State v. Johnson, 15 S.W.3d 515, 518 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1999) (holding that a defendant’s concession of an act constituting violation
of probation constitutes substantial evidence of violation, and the trial court’s revocation
based thereon is not abuse of discretion).
If the trial court revokes the defendant’s community corrections sentence, then, as
mentioned above, it may “resentence the defendant to any appropriate sentencing
alternative, including incarceration, for any period of time up to the maximum sentence
provided for the offense committed, less any time actually served in the community-based
alternative to incarceration.” T.C.A. § 40-36-106(e)(4) (2010). Our Supreme Court has
previously stated that “the sentencing of a defendant to a community based alternative to
incarceration is not final, but is designed to provide a flexible alternative that can be of
benefit both to the defendant and to society.” State v. Griffith, 787 S.W.2d 340, 342
(Tenn. 1990). Moreover, a “defendant sentenced under the [Community Corrections Act]
has no legitimate expectation of finality in the severity of the sentence, but is placed on
notice by the Act itself that upon revocation of the sentence due to the conduct of the
defendant, a greater sentence may be imposed.” Id. If the trial court chooses to
resentence a defendant to a more severe sentence, however, it may only do so after
conducting a new sentencing hearing in accordance with the Sentencing Act of 1989.
State v. Crook, 2 S.W.3d 238, 240 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998). The trial court may not
arbitrarily increase the length of the sentence and must state on the record the reasons for
the new sentence. State v. Ervin, 939 S.W.2d 581, 583 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996).
In the present case, the record supports the trial court’s finding that the Defendant
violated the terms of his community corrections sentence. Smith testified that she gave
the Defendant permission to borrow her car, but he failed to return it. When Smith
recovered the car, she discovered that the back bumper was damaged and several items
were missing from inside the vehicle. Castile testified that the Defendant neither sought
nor received her permission to move to a different residence. She stated that she would
“never, ever” allow the Defendant to move to the Hallmark Inn motel for his residence.
Further, the Defendant admitted that, because he was “pissed off” at Smith and her
boyfriend, he “took the truck to Shelby Park” to do some “thinking” and “left it there.”
The Defendant later stated that he sent Smith a text message, informing her that he was
“thinking about going to Mississippi” with her vehicle. The Defendant also
acknowledged other violations, including his failure to report to his probation officer and
-6-
his use of marijuana. Lastly, the Defendant had previously violated his community
corrections sentence, making this incident his second violation. Accordingly, the
evidence supports the trial court’s finding that the Defendant could not comply with the
terms and conditions of his release. As such, we conclude that the trial court’s revocation
of the Defendant’s community corrections sentence was not an abuse of discretion.
In his argument, the Defendant contends that the “primary purpose of a sentence of
probation is rehabilitation of the defendant,” and, considering his mental health issues, he
has a “record of substantial compliance with the demands of the community corrections
program.” A defendant’s “substantial compliance” with the terms and conditions of a
community corrections sentence is not the correct standard by which a trial court should
determine the outcome of a revocation proceeding. We note that a trial court may revoke
a defendant’s community corrections sentence upon a finding that a defendant failed to
comply with the conditions of the community-based program. T.C.A. § 40-36-106(e)(3)-
(4) (2010) (emphasis added). Further, “‘[o]nly one basis for revocation is necessary,’”
and a defendant’s admission to a violation of the conditions of release to the community
corrections program is sufficient evidence for such a revocation. State v. Joe Allen
Brown, No. W2007-00693-CCA-R3-CD, 2007 WL 4462990, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App., at
Jackson, Dec. 20, 2007), no Tenn. R. App. P. 11 application filed (quoting State v. Alonzo
Chatman, No. E2000-03123-CCA-R3-CD, 2001 WL 1173895, at *2 (Tenn. Crim. App.,
at Knoxville, Oct. 5, 2001), no Tenn. R. App. P. 11 application filed)). The Defendant in
this case admitted that he changed residences without permission from Castile, he failed
to report to Castile, he used marijuana, and, because he was frustrated with his living
situation, he took Smith’s vehicle and failed to return it to her. Therefore, we find that
the trial court appropriately ordered the Defendant to serve the remainder of his original
sentence in confinement. The Defendant is not entitled to relief as to this issue.
III. Conclusion
Based on the foregoing reasoning and authorities, we conclude that the trial court
properly revoked the Defendant’s community corrections sentence and ordered the
remainder of the sentence to be served in confinement. As such, we affirm the judgment
of the trial court. We, however, remand to the trial court for the correction of a clerical
error on the judgment form. The judgment form should be amended to reflect that the
Defendant’s offender’s “Offender Status” is “Career” rather than “Multiple.”
_________________________________
ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, JUDGE
-7-
-8-