State of Tennessee v. Reginald Dewayne Tumlin ( 2014 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
Assigned on Briefs July 23, 2014
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. REGINALD DEWAYNE TUMLIN
Appeal from the Criminal Court for Hamilton County
No. 276560 Rebecca J. Stern, Judge
No. E2013-01452-CCA-R3-CD - Filed December 15, 2014
A Hamilton County jury convicted the Defendant, Reginald Dewayne Tumlin, of two counts
of child abuse, one count of criminally negligent homicide, and one count of aggravated child
neglect. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of sixty years in the Tennessee
Department of Correction. The Defendant asserts that: (1) the trial court erred when it failed
to compel the State to make an election of offenses; (2) the trial court failed to instruct the
jury that reckless endangerment and attempted aggravated child neglect are lesser-included
offenses of aggravated child neglect; (3) the evidence is insufficient to sustain his
convictions; (4) the trial court improperly admitted medical testimony about the victim’s
injuries; (5) the State engaged in prosecutorial misconduct; (6) the trial court improperly
instructed the jury on flight; and (7) the cumulative effect of these errors deprived the
Defendant of a fair trial. 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 AMES C URWOOD
W ITT, J R., J., and JOE H. W ALKER, III, S P. J., joined.
Donna Miller, Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the appellant, Reginald Dewayne Tumlin.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Ahmed A. Safeeullah, Assistant
Attorney General; William H. Cox, III, District Attorney General; Charles D. Minor and
Kristen D. Spires, Assistant District Attorneys General for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
I. Background and Facts
This case arises out of the death of the Defendant’s three-year-old son, the victim.
After a police investigation into the death, a Hamilton County grand jury indicted the
Defendant for felony murder during the perpetration of aggravated child abuse, aggravated
child abuse, felony murder during the perpetration of aggravated child neglect, and
aggravated child neglect. These charges were tried by a jury in June 2012.
Jamie Boles, a registered nurse, testified that she treated the victim when he arrived
at the emergency room of Erlanger Children’s Hospital on May 1, 2010. She said that a
woman, who was “upset,” brought the victim to the emergency room. The victim was pale,
not breathing, and Ms. Boles could see bruising on him. She said that her first impression
upon seeing the victim was that he was dead. The woman who brought the child to the
hospital told Ms. Boles that, when she had arrived home from work, she began playing with
the victim when he began “acting funny” and started “breathing funny,” so she brought him
to the hospital. Ms. Boles stated that she immediately took the victim to a trauma room and
checked for a pulse. Finding none, she began chest compressions. Ms. Boles identified and
the trial court admitted into evidence the victim’s emergency room records. Ms. Boles stated
that, according to the emergency room records, the victim arrived at 3:19 a.m. and was
pronounced dead at 3:34 a.m.
Ms. Boles described her observations of the victim’s injuries:
There was [sic] multiple bruisings and abrasions on his arms and
behind his ears, on his face, on his legs. There was [sic] bite marks. There
was bruising on his legs. And a place on one of his legs from where it looked
like a scar, like a healing burn or something along those lines. So he had
multiple abrasions and bruising and the bruises were all in different stages of
healing.
She stated that her observation of the injuries was consistent with ongoing abuse and not a
“one night instance.”
Kristen Goodin, a registered nurse, testified that she was in the trauma room of the
emergency room when Ms. Boles ran in “with this lifeless little boy in her arms.” Once the
victim was placed on the stretcher, Ms. Goodin observed “extensive bruising,” bite marks
on the victim’s arms, “fingernail marks” on the victim’s ears, and burn marks on the back of
the victim’s leg. Ms. Goodin stated that her role in the trauma room that night was to serve
as the recorder and keep a record of the procedures administered. She described the
treatment to the victim as follows:
When he was initially placed we hook[ed] him up to our monitors,
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which show if there’s any heart rate or breathing or anything going on. And
there wasn’t. So immediately we go to the procedures of starting a code and
doing CPR on him. We start[ed] the compressions. And we went through - -
we bagged him, which means we have the ambu bag out [ ] trying to breath[e]
for him. And [respiratory] therapists came in an[d] intubated him, and we
continued with the compressions and we started administering epinephrine,
which we did two rounds, which is one of the drugs we use in codes.
Ms. Goodin testified that, based upon her experience, the injuries she observed
on the victim were consistent with inflicted injuries.
Sam Crites, II, a registered respiratory therapist, testified that on May 1, 2010, he was
paged to the emergency department trauma room at Children’s Hospital of Erlanger. He
initiated pediatric advanced life support on the victim in an attempt to resuscitate him. As
he prepared the victim for placement of an endotracheal tube, he observed that the victim had
“a slightly blue hue to him,” and Mr. Crites did not see any spontaneous respirations. Mr.
Crites stated that the victim’s pH was less than 6.5 and for normal functioning the pH needs
to stay within 7.35 and 7.45.
Dale Dubois testified as an expert in the field of pediatric medicine and was the
treating physician at the Erlanger emergency room on May 1, 2010. In preparation for his
testimony at trial, Dr. Dubois reviewed the emergency department records, photographs, and
the coroner’s report. He recalled that the victim was brought to the emergency room early
in the morning. When the victim arrived, he was not breathing, he did not have a heart rate,
and he did not have a pulse. Dr. Dubois said that the victim was immediately taken to a
trauma room where a device helped put air into his lungs, chest compressions were started,
an IV was placed, and the victim was administered two rounds of medicine to restart his
heart. He said that, with all of this intervention, the victim never started breathing on his
own, never regained a heart rate, and never had a pulse. Medical personnel declared the
victim “dead on arrival.”
Dr. Dubois testified that the victim had considerable bruising “covering” his
extremities, upper body, face, and ears. Dr. Dubois described the bruising as in “multiple
stages,” meaning that the injuries were incurred at different times. There was a second-
degree burn mark on the back of the victim’s leg. Dr. Dubois also noted that the victim’s
pupils were “fixed and dilated,” indicating that the victim had been dead for “some time.”
Dr. Dubois said that the victim’s pupils indicated that he had not had oxygen to his brain for
“approximately an hour or so.” Dr. Dubois opined that the victim’s injuries were not
consistent with a fall or injuries inflicted by another three or four-year-old child. He
explained that the width of the bite mark on the victim’s shoulder, which he described as
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“very deep” with broken skin, was three inches wide and thus inconsistent with the mouth
of a child.
Dr. Dubois testified regarding the victim’s ruptured bowel. He stated that symptoms
associated with a ruptured bowel would be significant pain, fever, and vomiting. Dr. Dubois
said that it was possible for a child to survive a ruptured bowel if treated immediately.
On cross-examination, Dr. Dubois testified that he had “seen” children with ruptured
bowels that did “just fine” following a surgery; however, Dr. Dubois stated that he could not
predict the outcome in this case because the victim had “so many significant injuries above
and beyond” the ruptured bowel. He noted the severity of the injuries to the victim’s bowels,
stating that the victim’s bowel was “degloved and torn off and ruptured in several places,”
making it difficult to speculate about the success of a surgery. He agreed that the victim’s
other injuries did not cause his death but maintained that the other injuries were “significant.”
James Metcalfe, the Chief Medical Examiner for the Hamilton County Medical
Examiner’s office, testified as an expert witness in the field of forensic pathology. Dr.
Metcalfe stated that he performed the autopsy on the victim. Dr. Metcalfe identified the
order for autopsy and a summary portion on the order form that helped prepare him for the
autopsy. From the summary, Dr. Metcalfe learned that Shameka Greer drove the victim to
the hospital and that the victim was dead on arrival. Ms. Greer advised medical personnel
at the hospital that the victim had complained of stomach pains and was gasping for air.
After examining the victim, Dr. Metcalfe determined that the manner of death was homicide
and the cause of death was bowel perforations due to blunt force abdominal trauma. He
described blunt force trauma as “a very substantial blow” and not the type of injury a child
might sustain during “normal child play.” Dr. Metcalfe stated that the pattern of injury was
consistent with inflicted multiple blunt trauma.
Dr. Metcalfe testified that he found blunt force injury to the victim’s abdomen and a
rupture of the small intestine. Dr. Metcalfe estimated that the holes in the small intestine had
been present for eight to twelve hours before the victim’s death. Other injuries in the
abdominal cavity may have been present for four or five days. He found bruising on the
small intestine, the victim’s head, neck, trunk, and all four extremities. Dr. Metcalfe
observed marks that resembled bite marks, abrasions, and areas with third-degree burn marks
consistent with a burn caused by a cigarette. Dr. Metcalfe found bruising under the victim’s
scalp, subdural bleeding underneath the thick covering of the brain and a subarachnoid
hemorrhage, described as bleeding under the thin covering of the brain. Dr. Metcalfe stated
that both of these types of bleeds are caused by blunt force injury. Dr. Metcalfe stated that
the injuries to the victim’s abdomen would have caused “severe pain and rigidity of the
abdominal wall” requiring immediate medical attention. Dr. Metcalfe said that he observed
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injuries in various stages of healing and, thus, some of the injuries were “old” and some of
the injuries were “new.”
Dr. Metcalfe testified that there was a “great deal of injury” to the back of the victim’s
body. He said that he considered the presence of “multiple separate injuries” in determining
that the manner of death was homicide. He described the victim’s injuries as “a hail storm
[ ] of injury, like raining blows.” He also considered the severity of the abdominal injury.
He stated that there was “major injury through to the soft part of the abdomen,” which is
partly protected by the rib cage. Dr. Metcalfe stated that the nature of these injuries were not
consistent with an accidental cause.
On cross examination, Dr. Metcalfe agreed that he reviewed x-rays taken of the victim
at the hospital, and there was no indication of fractures to the skeletal system.
Latise Ramsey, the victim’s aunt, testified that the victim and his mother lived with
her and her two children, ages four and eight. Ms. Ramsey stated that the victim went to the
pediatrician on a regular basis for well-child checkups. She stated that she went with the
victim and his mother to these appointments and that the victim did not have any ongoing
health problems.
Ms. Ramsey testified that the victim would stay with the Defendant for two days
“maybe once every two months.” She recalled that in April 2010, she took the victim to the
store with her. As she went in the store, the Defendant approached her and asked if the
victim was with her. She indicated that the victim and her cousin were in the car. Ms.
Ramsey went in the store and purchased her items. When she returned to the car, the
Defendant asked her to call the victim’s mother and ask if the victim could stay with him for
Easter because he had “an outfit” for the victim and wanted to take the victim to see the
Defendant’s mother. Ms. Ramsey contacted her sister, the victim’s mother, and received
permission for the victim to go with the Defendant. Ms. Ramsey stated that the Defendant
did not have any injuries on him at this time.
Ms. Ramsey testified that the victim’s mother and the Defendant agreed that the
victim should continue to stay with the Defendant so that the Defendant could potty train the
victim. Ms. Ramsey explained that they had had difficulty potty training the victim and that
the victim’s mother believed the Defendant might be better to train the victim since he was
a man. Ms. Ramsey said that the victim’s mother contacted the Defendant frequently and
that the Defendant would tell her “let [the victim] stay a little while longer, I almost got him
potty trained.”
James Tate, a Chattanooga Police Department detective, responded to Erlanger
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hospital in the early morning hours of May 1, 2010, on a call related to a deceased child.
Detective Tate first spoke with Dr. Dubois, the treating physician, and then to the person who
brought the victim to the hospital, Shameka Greer, the Defendant’s girlfriend. Detective Tate
had Ms. Greer transported to the police services center where a recorded interview was
conducted. Detective Tate also spoke with the Defendant’s sister, Colandra Tumlin, who
gave a statement that was inconsistent with Ms. Greer’s statement.
Detective Tate testified that the Defendant was not present at the hospital and that he
was unable to locate the Defendant that night. Detective Tate stated that he was unable to
make contact with the Defendant until May 18, 2010, after seeking assistance from the
fugitive unit. When the Defendant was brought into the police service center, he had a hat
and wig with him. Detective Tate stated that he reviewed the Defendant’s rights with him
and that the Defendant signed a rights waiver. The Defendant told police that the victim had
been in his custody since April 4, 2010. He explained that the victim’s mother had
experienced difficulty potty training the victim, so she had allowed the victim to stay with
the Defendant in order for the Defendant to potty train the victim. The Defendant stated that
the only persons caring for the victim during this time were he, Ms. Greer, and “on an
occasion or two” “a grandmother.”
Detective Tate testified that the Defendant said that on April 30, 2010, Ms. Greer left
for work shortly before 6:00 p.m. while he and the victim remained at home. One of the
Defendant’s friends, Cornel Watkins, came over, and the two men watched basketball for
thirty to sixty minutes. After Mr. Watkins left, the Defendant “play[ed]” with the victim.
He described this “play” as wrestling that including biting. He stated that he “bites
everyone.” He also told the police that he hit the victim and demonstrated the action. In
describing the Defendant’s demonstration, Detective Tate stated, “He made his right hand
into a fist and swung it backwards like a backhand.” At some point, the victim “had an
accident in his pants,” and the Defendant bathed and changed the victim. The Defendant
recalled that Ms. Greer arrived home around 1:00 a.m. after he had finished bathing the
victim and was dressing him. Detective Tate said that he confirmed with Ms. Greer’s
employer that she left work after 12:30 a.m. The Defendant did not “say much” about what
occurred after Ms. Greer arrived home, however, he told Defendant Tate that he did not go
to the hospital with the victim because he was afraid of “the hospital police” seeing the
victim’s injuries.
Detective Tate identified photographs of the victim’s injuries and confirmed that the
photographs fairly depicted the injuries he observed on the victim at the hospital and on May
3, 2010, at the Medical Examiner’s office.
On cross-examination, Detective Tate agreed that the Defendant’s three other
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children, two of whom were four years old and the other three years old, were at the
Defendant’s house on Wednesday or Thursday before the victim died.
On redirect examination, Detective Tate confirmed that from May 1, 2010, until May
18, 2010, both he and the fugitive unit were “actively looking” for the Defendant. He stated
that the Defendant did not offer an explanation for the victim’s injuries other than “he bites
people and he would playful hit his son [while] wrestling and playing.”
Bill Phillips, a Chattanooga Police Department sergeant, testified that, on May 1,
2010, Detective Tate notified him of the victim’s death. He stated that the victim had been
transported to the hospital in a private vehicle and thereafter the hospital notified the police
department of a deceased child. Sergeant Phillips was not present during Ms. Greer’s
interview, but he approached her for consent to search the vehicle she drove to the hospital.
Ms. Greer would not provide the name of the owner of the vehicle, but the police later
determined the car was owned by Colandra Tumlin, the Defendant’s sister. Sergeant Phillips
stated that, after police officers had been unsuccessful in locating the Defendant for
questioning about the victim’s death, he approached the police department’s fugitive unit
seeking assistance in locating the Defendant. Both the fugitive unit and the U.S. Marshals
assisted in locating the Defendant on May 18, 2010. The Defendant was found with a wig.
The Defendant stated that he knew that the police were looking for him, and he used the wig
to disguise himself.
Sergeant Phillips testified about the police interview of the Defendant on May 18,
2010. He recounted that the Defendant’s statement about the events leading up to the
victim’s death was consistent with Detective Tate’s testimony. Additionally, he stated that
the Defendant told the police during the interview that he had asked the victim’s mother to
come and get the victim on April 30, 2010, but that she had not done so. The Defendant told
the police that he realized something was wrong with the victim when he heard the victim
making noises. He said that he called the victim to him and asked the victim what was
wrong. The victim pointed to his stomach and said, “it hurts.” The Defendant gave the
victim water, and the victim began “acting as though he was choking,” so the Defendant
stopped giving him water.
Greg Mardis, a Chattanooga Police Department crime scene investigator, testified that
he reported to the hospital on May 1, 2010, where he viewed the victim’s body. He described
visible injuries to the victim that included cuts, scratches, bites, and burn marks. After taking
photographs and collecting the victim’s clothing from medical personnel, Detective Mardis
went to the Defendant’s residence. Here, Detective Mardis did a “walkthrough of the scene”
and then took photographs and video recordings of the premises. He identified the
photographs of rooms inside the Defendant’s residence. Detective Mardis stated that he
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collected two space heaters from the residence because Ms. Greer had told hospital personnel
that a space heater had been the source of the burn on the victim’s leg. He also collected an
iron from a night stand in “the adult’s bedroom.” After taking photographs of the vehicle
driven to the hospital by Ms. Greer, Detective Mardis went to the Medical Examiner’s office
to swab the bite marks on the victim’s shoulders and arms and take more photographs.
Tim Pickard, a Chattanooga Police Department officer, testified that he worked in the
fugitive unit and located the Defendant. Initially, he spoke with the victim’s mother, the
Defendant’s girlfriend, and the mothers of the Defendant’s other children. He also spoke
with the Defendant’s family members and two close friends in an attempt to learn the
Defendant’s location, but none of these persons knew the Defendant’s whereabouts. Several
days after trying to locate the Defendant, the fugitive unit employed the help of the U.S.
Marshals. The Defendant was ultimately located on May 18, 2010, in an apartment on
Sequoyah Drive. Officer Pickard explained that the fugitive unit received information that
the Defendant was staying at this location and set up surveillance of the apartment for “a
couple of hours” on May 17, 2010.
Officer Pickard testified that at 6:00 a.m. on May 18, 2010, approximately ten
officers, including several U.S. Marshals, went to the apartment to make contact with the
Defendant. Officer Pickard said that, after surrounding the building to ensure the Defendant
did not escape, officers began knocking on the door and windows of the apartment. After
approximately thirty minutes, the Defendant’s uncle, James Pickett, answered the door and
told the police that the Defendant was in “a back bedroom area.” The Defendant’s hat and
wig were lying near the couch where Mr. Pickett indicated the Defendant slept.
On cross-examination, Officer Pickard testified that, after Investigator Tate requested
help from the fugitive unit in locating the Defendant for questioning, he learned that the
Defendant had outstanding warrants. Officer Pickard agreed that, when a suspect is wanted
for questioning, the police can not force the suspect to go to the police service center without
a warrant. He stated that the Defendant was arrested on May 18, 2010, on matters unrelated
to the homicide investigation.
Adam Emory, a Chattanooga Police Department detective, testified that he was
present at the police service center on May 18, 2010, in the conference room where the
Defendant was brought after his interview. Detective Emory said that he noticed a wig and
a hat sitting on the table near the Defendant. Because it appeared to be “some type of
disguise,” he instructed his trainee, Investigator Puglise, that “crime scene” needed to be
contacted to collect the wig and hat for evidence. The Defendant responded that he had
purchased the items to disguise himself and successfully worn the hat and wig to remain
undetected in the presence of police officers. On cross-examination, Detective Emory agreed
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that the Defendant had been arrested on May 18, 2010, for outstanding warrants unrelated
to this case.
Matthew Puglise, a Chattanooga Police Department detective, testified that he came
into contact with the Defendant at the police service center on May 18, 2010. He explained
that he was in training at the time and that he and Detective Emory walked into the
conference room where the Defendant was seated at a table. Detective Emory pointed out
the Defendant’s hat and wig and referenced it as “a disguise.” The Defendant responded that
he had worn the items to avoid the police and that he had seen police officers while wearing
the items. Detective Puglise said that the Defendant “chuckl[ed]” as he told the officers
about being undetected by the police while wearing the hat and wig.
Nathan Bruce testified that he is responsible for the inmate telephone calls at the
Hamilton County jail. Mr. Bruce stated that he provided a recording of a telephone call,
made around the time of the Defendant’s arrest, between the Defendant and Ms. Greer. The
following portion of the recording was played for the jury:
[The Defendant]: Man, they got - - I’m down here.
[Ms. Greer]: Man, (Unintelligible) what the f**k to do.
[The Defendant]: Man, go get that money and go give it to that lawyer
(Unintelligible).
[Ms. Greer]: You just got there?
[The Defendant]: Yeah, I just got to the County.
[Ms. Greer]: Where you been? Where I was?
[The Defendant]: Yeah.
[Ms. Greer]: Oh, my God.
[The Defendant]: I told you last time I talked to you it might be my last
time talking to you. I been - - I told you I been looking
at - - I been watching him the whole time I’ve been
looking at their cars and don’t have anything to worry
about. That s**t crazy. Where you at?
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[Ms. Greer]: At home.
[The Defendant]: You okay? (Unintelligible) go get that money and bring
it down there to that lawyer. Okay? And see he got
going on.
[Ms. Greer]: Okay.
[The Defendant]: That s**t crazy. It’s f**ked up.
[Ms. Greer]: They ain’t beat you up or nothing, did they?
[The Defendant]: No, no, no, no, no, no. No.
[Ms. Greer]: What the f**k you (Unintelligible)?
[The Defendant]: I (Unintelligible) about six o’clock this morning I’m
looking, I’m looking out the door. I see the
(Unintelligible) and they seen - - I seen that s**t before
that s**t even happened.
[Ms. Greer]: (Unintelligible).
[The Defendant]: They was in there asleep. Talking all that bull s**t like
he was, [ ], you got (Unintelligible) as a motherf***er.
[Ms. Greer]: (Unintelligible).
[The Defendant]: I’m going to tell you, guess how they found me, though.
[Ms. Greer]: What?
[The Defendant]: Because that stupid a** fool kept going over my mama
house.
[Ms. Greer]: Awww.
[The Defendant]: Yeah. Stupid a** motherf***er, you know they’re going
to follow your dumb a**. But like I said though I’ve
been watching them the whole time. I’ve been watching
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them for two days straight. I seen how they parked in the
lady’s driveway and all type of s**t. I’m looking, I’m
saying to myself, I seen the s**t. I seen the s**t before -
- I seen the s**t before the s**t even happened. I was - -
I started to leave yesterday but I didn’t.
[Ms. Greer]: What the f**k I’m going do. I can’t go back over my
mama’s house. It’s like (Unintelligible) there.
[The Defendant]: That’s f**ked up.
[Ms. Greer]: I ain’t got nowhere to put them.
[The Defendant]: This is all f**ked - -
[Ms. Greer]: I ain’t trying to give my dog away. I got to
(Unintelligible).
[The Defendant]: Man, that’s f**ked up. You ain’t had a chance to try to
call (Unintelligible)?
[Ms. Greer]: I ain’t got - - I been calling that phone all morning.
[The Defendant]: Talking about my uncle now?
[Ms. Greer]: (Unintelligible).
[The Defendant]: I (Unintelligible) that motherf***er off. I turned it off
where it wouldn’t ring. Call the number 704-0380. That
s**t f**ked - - that s**t there crazy as h**l. I seen that
s**t, Baby. I started to leave yesterday, I started to leave.
I f**k it, you know what I mean. I need to get this s**t
over with.
[Ms. Greer]: (Unintelligible) said on (Unintelligible) they saw that
picture on TV again yesterday.
[The Defendant]: They did. At the 12 o’clock news. But they didn’t show
it at the 6 o’clock or 11 o’clock news. I mean, they ain’t
show it then.
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[Ms. Greer]: (Unintelligible).
[The Defendant]: This s**t here crazy.
[Ms. Greer]: Yeah.
[The Defendant]: Uhhh. (Unintelligible) I mean, try to put some minutes
on your phone see if I can talk to you or whatever.
[Ms. Greer]: (Unintelligible) I was going to see you up there with
some red on.
[The Defendant]: Uh-huh. They ain’t charged me yet.
[Ms. Greer]: They can’t.
[The Defendant]: Only thing they charged me with is they just charged me
with probation violation and all that s**t. That’s why I
need that lawyer to go on and I mean how they - -
[Ms. Greer]: (Unintelligible).
[The Defendant]: (Unintelligible) No, I wait until you get the minutes on
your phone try to do all that.
[Ms. Greer]: Well, I’m going to get this money, I need to get
(Unintelligible). (Unintelligible).
[The Defendant]: About 250. I don’t know. Probably 150 or 250. It’s one
of them.
[Ms. Greer]: A used one?
[The Defendant]: No, a used one probably cost 125, somewhere like that.
[Ms. Greer]: Because I mean I got to move. (Unintelligible) and I
walk down (Unintelligible).
[The Defendant]: Man, I even tried to call him, send the police somewhere
else. I had even called the police line and told them. I
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was like, man, send the police to the Woodlawns because
I see [the Defendant] out here. And them folks wasn’t
going for that s**t.
[Ms. Greer]: (Unintelligible).
[The Defendant]: You know, they just started knocking on that door even
harder. That n***** said (Unintelligible).
Shameka Greer, the Defendant’s girlfriend, testified on his behalf. She stated that she
and the Defendant lived together. She said that the Defendant had eight children ranging
from one to seven years of age. She said that none of the children lived with the Defendant
full-time but that two of the children lived with them “most of the time.” Ms. Greer stated
that the children all played together when they were at the Defendant’s house together. She
described their play as “rough.”
Ms. Greer testified that the victim came to the house less frequently than the other
children. She said that “up until this situation” the victim would stay no longer than a day
or two. Ms. Greer recalled that the victim came over for Easter and then stayed because the
victim’s mother was moving and asked she and the Defendant to keep the victim until her
move was complete. She stated that the victim’s mother only called two times during his stay
to check on him.
Ms. Greer testified that she had never seen the Defendant hurt or injure the victim.
She stated that she and the Defendant were working with the victim on potty training but that
she never saw the Defendant became angry with the victim during the potty training process.
Ms. Greer agreed that she had seen the Defendant bite the victim but that the bite was in a
“playful way.” Adults in the house during this time other than the Defendant and Ms. Greer
were the Defendant’s sister, Colandra Tumlin, and the Defendant’s cousin, “Bruce.” Ms.
Greer denied that there was ever a time that she felt the victim needed to go to the hospital
and the Defendant did not want to take the victim to the hospital.
Ms. Greer testified that on Thursday, April 29, 2010, “the children” went home,
leaving the Defendant, Ms. Greer, and the victim. On the morning of April 30, 2010, Ms.
Tumlin brought her children, ages six and four, to their house to stay for the day. Ms. Greer
stated that both the Defendant and Ms. Tumlin were “in and out all day” while she remained
at the residence with the children. At 5:45 p.m., Ms. Tumlin drove Ms. Greer to work at
Church’s Chicken, and Ms. Greer worked until close at 12:00 a.m. Ms. Greer stated that,
when she left to go to work, the victim was “fine.” When she returned home at around 1:00
a.m., the victim was lying on the bed. She recalled that he greeted her and appeared “fine.”
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After changing her clothes she went into the living room with the Defendant where she
smoked a cigarette, and they discussed her day. At some point, they heard a noise, turned
down the television, and called the victim. He responded, so they assumed he was alright.
Later, he “moaned” again. This time, Ms. Greer went to check on him and brought him back
out to the living room. She sat him down with the Defendant and went to get the victim
some water. The victim told them that his stomach hurt, so the Defendant warmed some rice.
The victim took the first bite slowly but did not chew on the second bite, so Ms. Greer
retrieved the rice from his mouth with her finger to prevent him from choking.
Ms. Greer testified that she and the Defendant were both confused about the victim’s
state because he had “been fine all day.” She called Ms. Tumlin to ask for use of her car to
drive the victim to the hospital. She said that the victim was still breathing at this time but
that his breaths were not “strong,” and she described the victim as “weak.” Ms. Tumlin came
to the house, and then Ms. Greer drove Ms. Tumlin back home before taking the victim to
the hospital where she “begged for help.” She stated that the victim was breathing at the
hospital. Ms. Greer stated that she did not see any injuries on the victim before she took him
to the hospital other than “his bite mark” and a burn mark where the victim “bumped on the
heater.” Ms. Greer explained about how the victim received the burn. She said that she
bathed the victim because he had wet himself. As she dried him off, she noticed he was cold
and turned on the space heater. Later that day she noticed the blistering on the back of his
leg.
Ms. Greer testified that, on more than one occasion during the victim’s stay with them,
the victim complained about his stomach. She said that feeding the victim had always
remedied his complaint. She maintained that she did not notice anything unusual about the
victim either before or after she returned from work on the night he died.
On cross-examination, Ms. Greer agreed that she and the Defendant were the victim’s
sole care givers from April 4, 2010, until his death on May 1, 2010. Ms. Greer confirmed
that the victim was standing in front of the heater when he was burned. Ms. Greer denied
ever stating that when she gave the victim water he spit it out. When provided with the
transcript of her earlier testimony, she said that her first statement was incorrect, and she
maintained that the victim did not spit out the water she gave him after she returned home
from work. Ms. Greer agreed that initially she lied to the police telling them that the
Defendant had been “out” on the night she took the victim to the hospital. After the police
spoke with Ms. Tumlin, they questioned her again, and she admitted that the Defendant was
home all night with the victim. Ms. Greer stated that the Defendant was scared to go to the
hospital because of his “prior warrants.”
Ms. Greer testified that the victim did not have all of the injuries shown in the pictures
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taken at the hospital before she took the victim to the hospital. She acknowledged that some
of the bruising had been present from “playing, hitting hisself.” She stated that some of the
bruising “could have came from [the victim’s] mom’s house” and maintained that not all of
the bruising depicted in the photographs “happen[ed] at [her] home.” Ms. Greer agreed that
she was aware of the bite marks explaining, “Dad bites. I got bite marks on me.” Ms. Greer
stated that the next time she spoke with the Defendant after the victim was pronounced dead
at the hospital was a telephone call from jail on the day of his arrest.
On redirect examination, Ms. Greer testified that the Defendant had been wearing a
wig and a hat for some time.
Colandra Tumlin, the Defendant’s sister, testified that on April 30, 2010, she and her
children, ages eight and six, were at the Defendant’s house. She recalled that the children
all played together “running back and forth, playing, falling off bikes.” She said she did not
notice any abnormal behavior from the victim on that day. Ms. Tumlin stated that she took
Ms. Greer to work “after 5:30.” Later that night she received a call from Ms. Greer, and she
drove to the Defendant’s house. Ms. Tumlin left her friend, Kiesha, in the car and went
inside and found the Defendant holding the victim. The Defendant told Ms. Tumlin to
“listen,” and she noticed the victim’s breathing was not normal. She told the Defendant he
needed to take the victim to the hospital. Ms. Tumlin said that Ms. Greer and the victim
drove her home and then proceeded to the hospital. Later, a “lady” called Ms. Tumlin and
told her that the victim had “passed.”
On cross-examination, Ms. Tumlin testified that, after taking Ms. Greer to work, she
took pizza to the Defendant’s residence for her children and the victim. She said that the
victim ate two pieces of pizza. Ms. Tumlin reiterated that the victim was “fine.” She said
that the victim had been constipated at times during his stay with the Defendant but that she
was unaware of any other “traumatic happening” during his stay.
Ms. Tumlin agreed that Ms. Greer called her at around 2:45 a.m. and that she and her
friend Kiesha went to the Defendant’s home. She stated that, despite the victim’s abnormal
breathing and her advice to the Defendant to take the victim to the hospital, she “didn’t think
it was anything serious.”
The Defendant testified that he had prior felony criminal convictions for: possession
of drugs, vehicular homicide, aggravated assault, possession of cocaine for resale, a drug-
related offense, carrying contraband into a penal institution, and aggravated burglary. The
Defendant said that prior to Easter 2010, he was aware of pending warrants for his arrest.
He obtained a wig and ball cap in November 2009, to avoid arrest on those warrants.
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The Defendant testified that he had eight children: twin seven-year-old boys, a six-
year-old, the victim, two four-year-old girls, and twin one-year-old girls. The Defendant
stated his twin seven-year-old boys and his six-year-old daughter were also living with him
during the month of April 2010. He said that these children returned to their mother on April
29 and 30, 2010, while the victim remained with him. During their stay with the Defendant,
all of the siblings played together. He described their play as “rough play” including
wrestling, biting, and jumping off a bed on to one another. He stated that his children also
played on bicycles and children’s motorized vehicles.
The Defendant testified that the victim initially came to stay with him at his request.
He had purchased an Easter outfit for the victim and wanted to include him in the family
holiday activities. After Easter, he kept the victim at his home because he wanted the victim
to spend time with his siblings because “[the victim] d[id]n’t come around as often as the rest
of them do.” At some point he called the victim’s mother to notify her that he would be
bringing the victim back to her. She asked the Defendant if he would continue to keep the
victim because she had “a problem, a situation,” and the Defendant agreed. The Defendant
stated that the victim’s mother called to check on the victim only two times during the course
of his stay. During one of the conversations, the Defendant asked the victim’s mother how
he requested food, and she said that the victim would say, “eat-eat.” The Defendant told the
victim’s mother that the victim did not use that terminology with him but rather would point
to his stomach and indicate that “it” hurt. He said that the victim was not talkative and kept
to himself.
The Defendant testified that the victim experienced constipation when he first arrived
at the Defendant’s residence. He said that when this occurred he sat with the victim and
rubbed his back or stomach. The Defendant agreed that he worked on potty training with the
victim and denied that he ever grew frustrated or upset over the victim’s progress. He stated
that he had potty-trained his older children as well.
The Defendant testified about the night of April 30, 2010. He recalled that Ms. Greer
left for work shortly before 6:00 p.m. and a friend, Cornel Watkins, came over and watched
a quarter of a basketball game. He said that Ms. Greer arrived home around 1:15 a.m. The
victim had been in bed about an hour, but the Defendant heard the victim greet Ms. Greer.
After a while, Ms. Greer came into the living room area, and the two watched television
together. At some point, the victim made a noise, and they called out to him and the victim
responded. They continued watching television and approximately thirty minutes later, the
victim made a noise again. This time Ms. Greer went to check on the victim, gave him some
water, and brought him out to the living room. The Defendant heated some rice, and the
victim took a bite and then would not chew the second bite. The Defendant said he noticed
that the victim was “breathing funny,” and he and Ms. Greer decided the victim needed
-16-
medical attention. Ms. Greer called Ms. Tumlin to ask for use of her car. The Defendant
explained that their car “was down at that time.” Ms. Tumlin drove to the Defendant’s
residence and also listened to the victim’s breathing. The Defendant recalled that Ms.
Tumlin agreed that they should take the victim to the hospital, so Ms. Greer and the victim
drove Ms. Tumlin home and then proceeded to the hospital.
The Defendant testified that he did not take the victim to the hospital himself because
he was aware of the outstanding warrants for his arrest and wanted to avoid apprehension.
He said that night he saw “cops around,” so he went to his “children’s mother’s house.” It
was while there that he learned from his sister of the victim’s death. The Defendant denied
that he had been avoiding the police because of the victim’s injuries, maintaining that he was
solely concerned about the outstanding warrants. He stated that he wanted to speak with
police about the victim’s death but could not do so because of the outstanding arrest
warrants. The Defendant said that in the taped telephone conversation between he and Ms.
Greer, he told Ms. Greer that he was “glad this over with,” meaning the arrest for the
unrelated charges, because now he could speak with the police about the victim.
The Defendant testified about his statements to Detective Tate on May 18, 2010. He
agreed that he told Detective Tate that he had bitten the victim. He disagreed with Detective
Tate’s interpretation of how he demonstrated hitting his children. He explained that when
his children would run “up on” him, he would brush them away, not hit them. The Defendant
denied ever hitting or striking the victim in the abdomen. He said that the bruising on the
victim was from normal child’s play. When asked if he killed his son, the Defendant replied,
“No, sir. I love my son, why would I kill him.”
On cross-examination, the Defendant testified that he and Ms. Greer lived at three
different locations between November 2009 and April 2010. He agreed that Ms. Greer
worked at Church’s Chicken but denied that she was “the provider” explaining that he “sold
drugs.” He agreed that he also sporadically worked for Ms. Greer’s family who had a
subcontract with United Van Line.
The Defendant reiterated that his children played “extremely rough.” When asked
what he would do to stop the children from hurting one another, he said that he would tell
them to stop if one of the children alerted him. The Defendant said that, when his children
would come to him crying from an injury, he would “[d]ust them off and [tell them to] go on
back and play.” The Defendant denied that the victim was having difficulty with potty
training, explaining that the victim’s mother was not making any effort to teach him. He said
that he worked on potty training the victim and made some progress. The Defendant stated
that the victim dressed himself and bathed himself. He said that he ran the water for the bath
and laid out his clothes, but his children bathed themselves. He said that sometimes his other
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children would also help the victim dress.
The Defendant viewed the photographs taken of the victim at the hospital. He said
that he had never seen the injuries depicted in the photographs. About the bite marks on the
victim the Defendant stated, “some of them bite marks old that I done probably bit my son
a time or two.” He denied that the marks on the victim’s shoulder were a bite mark but
offered no explanation for the injury, other than speculation that one of his children could
have later hit the same area he bit causing the area to appear “like more than what it is.” He
denied beating or hitting the victim. About the bruising seen on the victim in the
photographs, the Defendant said the bruising would have been darker had the bruises been
the result of abuse rather than play. The Defendant stated that the victim “bruise[d] real
easily.” The Defendant agreed that the burn mark on the back of the victim’s leg “look[ed]
serious.” He stated that he did not take the victim to the doctor for the burn because it did
not look “serious” at the time it happened. He said Ms. Greer put ointment on the burn and
bandaged it.
The Defendant testified that “two or three” of the “round marks” on the victim’s body
were bite marks but stated that he did not know what the other marks were. As to the totality
of bruising, “circular marks,” and scratches depicted in the photographs, the Defendant
suggested that the victim may have fallen on gravel while running away from “the dog,” and
playing in the bushes. When asked about a photograph depicting what appeared to be a
cigarette burn on the victim, the Defendant said he had “no idea” what the injury was and
denied that it was a cigarette burn. He suggested that perhaps it occurred when the victim
was outside and fell on “something.” The Defendant agreed that both he and Ms. Greer
smoked in their home.
The Defendant testified about the events leading up to the victim going to the hospital.
He agreed that the victim made noises he had never made before, that he choked on water,
that Ms. Greer had to remove uneaten food from the victim’s mouth, and that he was
breathing “funny,” but the Defendant maintained that he was concerned but not worried. He
said that many of his children have asthma, so he believed the victim “probably need[ed] a
breathing treatment.” The Defendant agreed that the victim never responded to him as the
Defendant held him asking, “What’s wrong daddy-man?”
The Defendant testified that he “didn’t live nowhere” after he left the residence the
night the victim went to the hospital. He elaborated that he “probably spending the night
places,” but “didn’t live nowhere.” He stated that Ms. Greer remained at their residence on
10th Avenue. The Defendant agreed that the wig and hat shown in court were his wig and
hat used as a disguise. He said that he used it because the police knew he had a “low
haircut.”
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Based on this evidence, the jury convicted the Defendant of two counts of child abuse,
one count of criminally negligent homicide, and one count of aggravated child neglect. The
trial court sentenced the Defendant to two twelve-year sentences for the child abuse
convictions, a six-year sentence for the criminally negligent homicide conviction, and a sixty-
year sentence for his aggravated child neglect conviction. The trial court ordered these
sentences to be served concurrently for a total effective sentence of sixty years in the
Tennessee Department of Correction. It is from these judgments that the Defendant now
appeals.
II. Analysis
The Defendant asserts on appeal that: (1) the trial court erred when it failed to compel
the State to make an election of offenses; (2) the trial court failed to instruct the jury that
reckless endangerment and attempted aggravated child neglect are lesser-included offenses
of aggravated child neglect; (3) the evidence is insufficient; (4) the trial court improperly
admitted medical testimony about the victim’s injuries; (5) the State engaged in prosecutorial
misconduct; (6) the trial court improperly instructed the jury on flight; and (7) the
cumulative effect of these errors deprived the Defendant of a fair trial.
A. Election of Offenses
The Defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to compel the
State to make an election of acts underlying the indictment for aggravated child neglect and
child abuse. The Defendant contends that the trial court’s error permitted the jury to
deliberate on different facts and thus created the potential for a non-unanimous verdict on
that count. The State responds that the State was not required to elect which injury and time
frame formed the basis of his child abuse and aggravated child neglect crimes.
The doctrine of election of offenses requires that when there is evidence at trial that
a defendant has committed more offenses against a victim than those charged, the State must
elect the facts upon which it is relying to establish each charged offense. State v. Johnson,
53 S.W.3d 628, 630 (Tenn. 2001) (citations omitted). Thus, when the State charges a single
offense but presents evidence showing that more than one offense occurred, but the
indictment is not specific as to which offense the defendant is being tried for, it is the
responsibility of the trial court to require the State to elect which offense is being submitted
to the jury. State v. Lemacks, 996 S.W.2d 166, 170 (Tenn. 1999); see also State v. Brown,
823 S.W.2d 576, 583 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). The Defendant’s right to a unanimous jury
verdict on each and every count is “fundamental, immediately touching the constitutional
rights of the accused.” State v. Burlison, 501 S.W.2d 801, 804 (Tenn. 1973).
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Our Supreme Court has held that aggravated child neglect is a continuing course of
conduct “beginning with the first act or omission that causes adverse effects to a child’s
health or welfare.” State v. Adams, 24 S.W.3d 289, 296 (Tenn. 2000). The crime “continues
until the person responsible for the neglect takes reasonable steps to remedy the adverse
effects to the child’s health and welfare caused by the neglect.” Id. The Court reasoned:
Indeed, it would be an absurd construction to hold that criminal child
neglect is complete as soon as the child’s health and welfare are first adversely
affected, especially when the child remains in this condition for a substantial
period of time. Neglect simply does not lend itself to division into segments
of discrete acts each having various points of termination. Rather, a more
reasonable construction of the offense supports the view that the offense
continues until the person responsible for the neglect takes reasonable steps to
remedy the adverse effects to the child’s health and welfare caused by the
neglect.
Id. at 294-96 (internal citations omitted).
The indictment in this case alleged that on May 1, 2010, the Defendant neglected the
three-year-old victim, resulting in the victim’s death. The evidence at trial showed that the
victim was in the Defendant’s custody from April 4, 2010, until his death. The night of the
victim’s death, the Defendant was home alone with the victim. The Defendant testified that
he did not take the victim to the hospital for fear he might be arrested for outstanding
warrants. By the time Ms. Greer took the victim to the hospital, on May 1, 2010, for medical
treatment, the victim was dead. During closing argument the prosecutor told the jury that the
evidence supporting the allegation of aggravated child abuse was the bruising, the injuries
to the victim’s head, and the bite marks. As to the aggravated child neglect charge, the
prosecutor directed the jury to the doctor’s testimony about the obvious signs and symptoms
attendant to the victim’s perforated bowel and, despite those signs, the Defendant’s failure
to seek medical attention.
In our view, the indictment clearly identifies the incidents for which the Defendant
was charged and convicted. The proof at trial did show multiple injuries to the victim,
however, the State identified and directed the jury to consider specific injuries as the basis
for the Defendant’s aggravated child abuse charge and a separate injury and specific conduct
as to the Defendant’s aggravated child neglect charge. Based upon the indictment and the
State’s closing argument, the Defendant’s right to a unanimous jury verdict was not violated.
Furthermore, the trial court charged the jury with respect to child neglect:
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Neglect is a continuing course of conduct beginning with the first act of
omission that causes adverse affects [sic] to a child’s health and welfare and
can be an act of commission or omission.
The trial court’s instruction to the jury was proper and appropriately limited the facts upon
which the jury could render its verdict on aggravated child neglect.
Based on the foregoing authorities, the trial court correctly ruled that the State was not
required to make an election on the offenses of aggravated child neglect and aggravated child
abuse, the trial court properly instructed the jury. The Defendant is not entitled to relief on
this issue.
B. Lesser-Included Offenses of Aggravated Child Neglect
The Defendant asserts that the trial court failed to instruct the jury that reckless
endangerment and attempted child neglect were lesser-included offenses of aggravated child
neglect. The State responds that the Defendant has waived our review of this issue for failure
to either request the instruction or raise an objection with the trial court. As such, the State
contends that there is no plain error because the instruction for reckless endangerment and
attempted child neglect were not supported by the evidence at trial or legally required.
In Tennessee, “[a]bsent a written request, the failure of a trial judge to instruct the jury
on any lesser included offense may not be presented as a ground for relief either in a motion
for a new trial or on appeal.” T.C.A. 40-18-110©); See also State v. Page, 184 S.W.3d 223,
229-30 (Tenn. 2006). This court may, however, review an issue which would ordinarily be
considered waived if the court finds plain error in the record. See T.R.C.P. 52(b). The party
claiming plain error has the burden of persuading the appellate court. State v. Banks, 271
S.W.3d 90, 119 (Tenn. 2008).
The question of whether a given offense should be submitted to the jury as a
lesser-included offense is a mixed question of law and fact. State v. Rush, 50 S.W.3d 424,
427 (Tenn. 2001) (citing State v. Smiley, 38 S.W.3d 521 (Tenn. 2001)). The standard of
review for mixed questions of law and fact is de novo with no presumption of correctness.
Id.; see State v. Burns, 6 S.W.3d 453, 461 (Tenn. 1999). A trial court has a duty to provide
“a complete charge of the law applicable to the facts of the case.” State v. James, 315
S.W.3d 440, 446 (Tenn. 2010) (quoting State v. Harbison, 704 S.W.2d 314, 319 (Tenn.
1986)); see also Tenn. R. Crim. P. 30(d)(2). Tennessee law, however, does not mandate that
any particular jury instructions be given so long as the trial court gives a complete charge on
the applicable law. See State v. West, 844 S.W.2d 144, 151 (Tenn. 1992).
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Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-18-110 provides the following test for
determining what constitutes a lesser-included offense:
(f) An offense is a lesser-included offense if:
(1) All of its statutory elements are included within the statutory elements
of the offense charged; or
(2) The offense is facilitation of the offense charged or an offense that
otherwise meets the definition of lesser included offense in subdivision
(f)(1);
(3) The offense is an attempt to commit the offense charged or an offense
that otherwise meets the definition of lesser included offense in
subdivision (f)(1); or
(4) The offense is solicitation to commit the offense charged or an
offense that otherwise meets the definition of lesser included offense
in subdivision (f)(1).
T.C.A. § 40-18-110(f). The statute also defines specific crimes as lesser included offenses
of other crimes, such as voluntary manslaughter is a lesser included offense of both
premeditated first degree murder and second degree murder. See T.C.A. § 40-18-110(g).
Whether a lesser-included offense must be charged in a jury instruction necessarily
requires a two-step analysis. First, the trial court must determine whether an offense is a
lesser-included offense; then, it must determine whether a charge is justified by the evidence.
State v. Ely, 48 S.W.3d 710, 722 (Tenn. 2001).
1. Reckless Endangerment
This Court has previously held that reckless endangerment is a lesser-included offense
of aggravated child neglect. See State v. Kathryn Lee Adler, No.
W2001-00951-CCA-R3-CD, 2002 WL 1482704 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Feb. 19,
2002), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Sept. 9, 2002). Our analysis, however, does not conclude
there. The charge must be justified by the evidence. Ely, 48 S.W.3d at 722. This step
requires that we determine (1) whether there is evidence that “reasonable minds” could
accept to establish the lesser-included offense, and (2) whether the evidence is “legally
sufficient” to support a conviction for the lesser-included offense. Id. The evidence must
-22-
be viewed liberally in a light favoring the existence of the lesser-included offense without
making any judgments as to credibility of the evidence. Burns, 6 S.W.3d at 469.
Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-103(a) provides that “[a] person commits
[reckless endangerment] who recklessly engages in conduct which places or may place
another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.” Dr. Dubois testified
that the victim might have survived had he received immediate medical attention for the
perforated bowel. We conclude that reasonable minds could have accepted this
lesser-included offense, and the evidence would have been sufficient to sustain such a
conviction.
Although we have determined that reckless endangerment is a lesser-included offense
of aggravated child neglect, the Defendant waived his right to dispute the trial court’s failure
to instruct on the lesser-included offense by not filing a request or objecting to the
instructions. See T.C.A. 40-18-110©). Thus, this Court need not grant relief unless the
failure to instruct constituted plain error, or in the alternative, this Court, in the exercise of
its discretion, opts to consider the merits of the issue. See State v. Adkisson, 899 S.W.2d 626,
636 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). Having so concluded, we must now address whether the
instructional error was plain error.
The Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure explain that “plain error [,] . . . [a]n error
which has affected the substantial rights of an accused[,] may be noticed at any time, even
though not raised in the motion for a new trial or assigned as error on appeal, in the
discretion of the appellate court where necessary to do substantial justice.” Tenn. R. Crim.
P. 52(b). We have said that “[w]hether or not an appellate court should recognize the error
and grant relief . . . depend[s] upon the facts and circumstances of the particular case.” State
v. Ogle, 666 S.W.2d 58, 61 (Tenn. 1984).
In State v. Smith, 24 S.W.3d 274 (Tenn. 2000), this Court discussed the recognition
of plain error by appellate courts. In Smith, we adopted the test established in Adkisson, 899
S.W.2d at 641-42, to determine whether a trial error rises to the level of “plain error.” Smith,
24 S.W.3d at 282-83. Adkisson held that the following five factors must be present for a
finding of plain error:
(a) the record must clearly establish what occurred in the trial court; (b) a clear
and unequivocal rule of law must have been breached; (c) a substantial right
of the accused must have been adversely affected; (d) the accused [must not
have waived] the issue for tactical reasons; and (e) consideration of the error
[must be] “necessary to do substantial justice.”
-23-
899 S.W.2d at 641-42 (footnotes omitted). All five factors must be established by the record
before this Court will recognize the existence of plain error, and complete consideration of
all the factors is not necessary when it is clear from the record that at least one of the factors
cannot be established. Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 283.
In the case under submission, it is clear that all five factors have not been established.
The Defendant has failed to show that a substantial right has been adversely affected. A trial
court’s failure to instruct a lesser-included offense is harmless when the jury finds a
defendant guilty of the greater offense to the exclusion of the immediately lesser-included
offense, which was a greater offense than the one requested. State v. Williams, 977 S.W.2d
101, 106 (Tenn. 1998). The sequential jury instructions charged aggravated child neglect and
felony child neglect. The jury found the Defendant guilty of the charged offense of
aggravated child neglect to the exclusion of the other charged lesser-included offense.
Therefore, the trial court did not commit “plain error” when it failed to instruct the jury on
reckless endangerment. The Defendant is not entitled to relief as to this issue.
2. Attempted Aggravated Child Neglect
Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-18-110, the attempt to commit the
charged offense is a lesser included offense. The Defendant was charged with aggravated
child neglect and, therefore, attempted aggravated child neglect is a lesser included offense
of the charged offense in this case. We address this issue also under plain review.
We conclude that the Defendant has failed to show that a substantial right has been
adversely affect. As we previously noted, the failure to instruct a lesser-included offense is
harmless when the jury finds a defendant guilty of the greater offense to the exclusion of the
immediately lesser-included offense, which was a greater offense than the one requested.
State v. Williams, 977 S.W.2d 101, 106 (Tenn. 1998). The jury found the Defendant guilty
of the charged offense of aggravated child neglect to the exclusion of the other charged
lesser-included offense. Therefore, the trial court did not commit “plain error” when it failed
to instruct the jury on attempted child neglect. The Defendant is not entitled to relief as to
this issue.
C. Sufficiency of the Evidence
The Defendant asserts that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for
aggravated child neglect because the bowel perforation was not “immediately evident” to the
Defendant or the treating physician in the emergency room. The State responds that the
evidence showed that the Defendant caused the victim’s fatal injury, knowingly neglected
this injury, and that the victim was adversely affected as a result of the injury.
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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); 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). 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)
(citations omitted).
“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); Liakas v. State, 286 S.W.2d 856, 859 (Tenn.
1956). “Questions concerning the credibility of the witnesses, the weight and value of 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); Liakas, 286 S.W.2d at 859. “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); State v. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 479 (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. 1996) (citing Carroll v. State, 370 S.W.2d 523
(Tenn. 1963)). This Court must afford the State of Tennessee the strongest legitimate view
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of the evidence contained in the record, as well as all reasonable inferences which may be
drawn from the evidence. Goodwin, 143 S .W.3d at 775 (citing 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).
The Defendant challenges the evidence supporting his aggravated child neglect
conviction. Aggravated child neglect occurs when the accused knowingly treats a child
under the age of eighteen so as to adversely affect the child’s health and welfare and the act
of neglect results in serious bodily injury to the child. T.C.A. § 39-15-401(b) (2010). An
accused acts “knowingly” with respect to his or her conduct “when [he or she] is aware of
the nature of the conduct.” T.C.A. § 39-11-302(b) (2010).
The evidence, considered in the light most favorable to the State, shows that the
victim was in the Defendant’s care and custody from April 4, 2010, until his death on May
1, 2010. The victim died from bowel perforations due to blunt force abdominal trauma. The
medical examiner estimated that the holes in the victim’s intestines occurred eight to twelve
hours before the victim died and necessitated immediate medical attention. For the majority
of the twelve hours leading up to the victim’s death, the Defendant was the sole caretaker of
the victim while Ms. Greer was at work. According to medical testimony, the victim would
have experienced severe pain, vomiting, and fever as a result of these injuries. The
Defendant and Ms. Greer both testified to symptoms alerting them to the victim’s injuries,
and the Defendant failed to act. As a result, the victim died before Ms. Greer got him to the
hospital on May 1, 2010. This evidence was sufficient for a jury to find that the Defendant’s
failure to seek immediate medical treatment for the victim adversely affected the victim’s
health and welfare.
It appears that the Defendant may also be arguing that the Defendant’s conviction for
aggravated child neglect should have merged with his conviction for child abuse because the
offenses are codified in the same statute. In this case, however, the State did not offer
alternative theories. The State proceeded under the theory that the Defendant both inflicted
the victim’s injuries and also failed to seek medical treatment for the injuries resulting in the
victim’s death. As we stated above, the evidence is sufficient to support the Defendant’s
conviction for aggravated child neglect. Our review of the record also supports the finding
that the Defendant caused the victim bodily harm.
Accordingly, the Defendant’s conviction for aggravated child neglect is supported by
the evidence in the record. The Defendant is not entitled to relief.
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D. Evidence of Prior Injuries
The Defendant asserts that the trial court improperly allowed evidence of the victim’s
prior injuries to be presented at trial and that the trial court improperly allowed Ms. Goodin
and Ms. Boles to testify about the victim’s injuries. The State responds that the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in allowing evidence of the victim’s prior injuries or the
testimony of the two emergency room nurses that attended the victim.
1. Prior Injuries
The Defendant argues that the trial court erred when it denied his pretrial motion to
exclude proof related to the victim’s “prior injuries,” in violation of Tennessee Rule of
Evidence 404(b). The State responds that the evidence was properly admitted because it was
materially relevant to the Defendant’s guilt and its probative value outweighed any danger
of unfair prejudice.
Under Rule 401, “‘Relevant evidence’ means 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. Rule
402 states, “All relevant evidence is admissible except as provided by the Constitution of the
United States, the Constitution of Tennessee, these rules, or other rules or laws of general
application in the courts of Tennessee. Evidence which is not relevant is not admissible.”
Tenn. R. Evid. 402. Finally, Rule 403 states, “Although relevant, evidence 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. When a trial court
decides whether to allow evidence to be presented at trial, “the trial court must consider,
among other things, the questions of fact that the jury will have to consider in determining
the accused’s guilt as well as other evidence that has been introduced during the course of
the trial.” State v. Williamson, 919 S.W.2d 69, 78 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). “The decision
regarding the admissibility of [evidence] pursuant to these Rules lies within the sound
discretion of the trial court and will not be overturned on appeal absent a clear showing of
an abuse of that discretion.” State v. Young, 196 S.W.3d 85, 105 (Tenn. 2006) (citing State
v. Banks, 564 S.W.2d 947, 949 (Tenn. 1978)).
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, guilty knowledge, identity
of the defendant, absence of mistake, a common scheme or completion of the story. State
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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).
In the present case, the trial court held a hearing outside the jury’s presence and then
issued a subsequent order determining that testimony regarding the victim’s prior injuries
was admissible. In its order the trial court divided the injuries into those which implicated
404(b) and those which did not. The trial court first addressed the injuries inflicted
contemporaneous with those that caused the victim’s death. The trial court first noted the
State’s duty to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant, charged with first degree
murder by aggravated child abuse, knowingly, other than by accidental means, inflicted upon
the victim serious bodily injury that resulted in his death. It then reasoned:
All the injuries found on the victim at the time of his death, inflicted
contemporaneously with the blunt force trauma that caused his death, are
relevant on the issue of causation, no matter who caused these injuries,
because they are relevant to prove that the injuries were caused by a person
intentionally or knowingly and that they were not caused “by accidental
means.”
Because the State must specifically prove cause of death and that the
injuries to the three-year-old victim were not caused by accidental means,
evidence of those injuries is highly probative on those issues. The probative
value of that evidence is not substantially outweighed by the danger of undue
prejudice to the [D]efendant, [t]herefore Rule 403 does not exclude that
evidence, and the evidence will be admissible in the jury trial.
The trial court then analyzed under Rule 404(b) the bruises, bite marks, and abrasions
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found on the victim’s body and claimed by the Defendant to have been caused by his
“playful” hitting and biting of the victim. The trial court found that the proof that the
Defendant caused these injuries was clear and convincing in light of the Defendant’s
admission and Ms. Greer’s substantiation of the admission. Further, it found:
The evidence of multiple bruises, multiple bite marks, and abrasions on
the victim, and the evidence that the Defendant inflicted those bruises, bite
marks and abrasions are relevant on the material issues of intent (or
“knowing”) and absence of mistake.
The offense of Child Abuse requires proof that the act of abuse was
committed knowingly and not by accidental means. Since [the] Defendant
claimed that the bruises, bite marks, and abrasion on [the] victim’s body were
caused by “play” with the child, and were therefore akin to accidents, proof
that the Defendant was responsible for those injuries is highly probative of his
intent to harm the victim and that the fatal injury to the victim was not
accidental.
Under 404(b), the court must then determine whether the admission of
evidence of those injuries would be unfairly prejudicial to the Defendant. The
[c]ourt finds, upon weighing the highly probative nature of that evidence
against the danger of unfair prejudice, that its probative value outweighs the
danger of unfair prejudice. Therefore, this evidence will be admissible in the
jury trial.
Finally, the trial court considered under 404(b) evidence of the burn on the back of
the victim’s leg based upon the Defendant’s custody of the victim at the time of the burn.
The trial court found that the proof regarding the victim’s burn was clear and convincing,
stating:
Evidence of the nature and severity of this burn, and the fact[ ] that it
occurred relatively close in time to [the] victim’s death and that it occurred
while the victim was in the custody of the Defendant, is also relevant on the
issues of intent and absence of accident, and is therefore probative on material
issues other than that of conforming to a character trait of [the] Defendant.
Again, the crime with which the Defendant is charged requires the State
to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the Defendant inflicted the injuries
that caused the victim’s death “knowingly” and “other than by accidental
means.” This evidence is highly probative of [the] Defendant’s intent to harm
-29-
the victim and that the victim’s fatal injury was not caused by accidental
means.
We conclude that the evidence of all the victim’s injuries found at the time of death
are relevant on the issues of cause of death, intent, and absence of mistake. The State’s proof
regarding the victim’s injuries was through medical personnel who recounted the injuries
observed and through photographs of the victim’s body. Because the State had the burden
of proving that the victim’s death was not accidental or a result of routine child’s play, we
conclude that the trial court did not err in finding the probative value of the evidence was not
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Accordingly, the trial court properly exercised
its discretion in admitting evidence of the victim’s injuries. The Defendant is not entitled to
relief.
2. Nurses’ Testimony
The Defendant contends that the trial court erred in allowing “Nurse Goodin” to
testify that the victim’s injuries appeared to her to be inflicted rather than accidental,
asserting that this testimony “was prejudicial and invaded the province of the jury.” The
Defendant also notes that Ms. Boles testified to ongoing abuse as well. The State responds
that the trial court properly allowed Ms. Goodin and Ms. Boles to testify that the victim’s
injuries were consistent with inflicted injury. The State asks us to waive any argument with
respect to Ms. Boles because the Defendant failed to file a motion in limine or
contemporaneously object to her testimony at trial.
We first note that, as the State points out in its brief, the Defendant neither filed a
motion in limine, nor did he raise an objection at trial to Ms. Boles’s testimony. Thus, the
Defendant has failed to preserve the issue of Ms. Boles testimony for appellate review. See
Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a). An objection was raised at trial to Ms. Goodin’s testimony about the
victim’s injuries and, thus, we consider the Defendant’s issue as it relates to Ms. Goodin’s
testimony.
Rule 702 of the Tennessee Rules of Evidence addresses the admissibility of opinion
testimony of expert witnesses. It states in pertinent part:
If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will substantially assist
the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a
witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or
education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise.
Tennessee Rule of Evidence 703 requires the expert’s opinion to be supported by trustworthy
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facts or data “of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming
opinions or inferences upon the subject.” The determining factor is “whether the witness’s
qualifications authorize him or her to give an informed opinion on the subject at issue.” State
v. Stevens, 78 S.W.3d 817, 834 (Tenn. 2002). Evidence constitutes “‘scientific, technical,
or other specialized knowledge,’ if it concerns a matter that ‘the average juror would not
know, as a matter of course.’” State v. Murphy, 953 S.W.2d 200, 203 (Tenn. 1997) (quoting
State v. Bolin, 922 S.W.2d 870, 874 (Tenn. 1996)). Questions regarding the admissibility,
qualifications, relevancy, and competency of expert testimony are left to the discretion of the
trial court. McDaniel v. CSX Transp., Inc., 955 S.W.2d 257, 263-64 (Tenn. 1997). A trial
court’s ruling on the admissibility of such evidence may be overturned on appeal only if the
discretion is exercised arbitrarily or abused. Stevens, 78 S.W.3d at 832.
Ms. Goodin testified that she received an associate’s degree in nursing in 2006 and
that she received her bachelor’s degree in 2007. She said she worked in the emergency
department of the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. In this role, she had the opportunity to
observe children who had been injured in a variety of types of accidents and children who
had been injured intentionally. In addition, Ms. Boles, a pediatric emergency room nurse,
and Dr. Dubois, a pediatric emergency room physician, observed the victim’s injuries on May
1, 2010, and also concluded, based upon their experience, that the injuries were consistent
with inflicted injuries. The record reflects Ms. Goodin’s opinion was based on her personal
observations, specialized knowledge, and experience as a pediatric emergency room nurse.
The Defendant cites to multiple cases involving sexual abuse where expert opinions
that attack a victim’s credibility or describe a victim’s behaviors are inadmissible. We find
these cases inapplicable to the issue at hand. Ms. Goodin, a trained pediatric emergency
room nurse, testified about her medical observations of the victim’s visible injuries in
comparison to other injured patients treated in the pediatric emergency room.
The record reflects that Ms. Goodin was qualified to testify as an expert witness in
child abuse and her opinion substantially assisted the jury in understanding the emergency
room assessment of the victim’s injuries. Therefore, her opinion that the victim’s injuries
were consistent with inflicted injuries was permissible pursuant to Rule 702. See State v.
Frederick Leon Tucker, No. M2005-00839-CCA-R3-CD, Davidson County, slip op. at 8
(Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, Mar. 7, 2006) (concluding a nurse practitioner from Our
Kids Center was qualified to testify as an expert witness); State v. Frankie Ledbetter, No.
M2002-02125-CCA-R3-CD, Marion County, slip op. at 14-15 (Tenn. Crim. App., at
Nashville, Aug. 7, 2003) (concluding a physician’s assistant was qualified as an expert). The
Defendant is not entitled to relief as to this issue.
E. Prosecutorial Misconduct
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The Defendant contends that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct during closing
arguments and attempted to influence an eyewitness. The State responds that the Defendant
has failed to prove that these alleged acts of misconduct prejudiced him or amounted to
reversible error.
When a reviewing court finds improper argument or conduct, “the established test for
determining whether there is reversible error is whether the conduct was so improper or the
argument so inflammatory that it affected the verdict to the Appellant’s detriment.” Goltz,
111 S.W.3d at 5 (citing Harrington v. State, 385 S.W.2d 758, 759 (Tenn. 1965)). In
measuring the prejudicial impact of an improper argument, this Court should consider the
following factors: “(1) the facts and circumstances of the case; (2) any curative measures
undertaken by the court and the prosecutor; (3) the intent of the prosecution; (4) the
cumulative effect of the improper conduct and any other errors in the record; and (5) the
relative strength or weakness of the case .” See State v. Goltz, 111 S.W.3d 1, 5-6 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 2003) (citing Judge v. State, 539 S.W.2d 340, 344 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1976)); see
State v. Buck, 670 S.W.2d 600, 609 (Tenn. 1984).
1. Closing Argument
The Tennessee Supreme Court “has long recognized that closing arguments are a
valuable privilege that should not be unduly restricted.” Terry v. State, 46 S.W.3d 147, 156
(Tenn. 2001) (citing State v. Sutton, 562 S.W.2d 820, 823 (Tenn. 1978)). “Consequently,
attorneys are given greater leeway in arguing their positions before the jury, and the trial
court has significant discretion in controlling these arguments, to be reversed only upon a
showing of an abuse of that discretion.” Terry, 46 S.W.3d at 156 (citing Sutton, 562 S.W.2d
at 823); see Smith v. State, 527 S.W.2d 737, 739 (Tenn. 1975). This Court has explained that
“closing arguments must be temperate, based upon the evidence introduced at trial, relevant
to the issues being tried, and not otherwise improper under the facts or law.” See Goltz, 111
S.W.3d at 5 (citing Coker v. State, 911 S.W.2d 357, 368 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995)).
In Goltz, this Court found that within the closing argument, five general areas of
prosecutorial misconduct are recognized:
1. It is unprofessional conduct for the prosecutor intentionally to misstate the
evidence or mislead the jury as to the inferences it may draw.
2. It is unprofessional conduct for the prosecutor to express his [or her]
personal belief or opinion as to the truth or falsity of any testimony or evidence
or the guilt of the defendant. See State v. Thornton, 10 S.W.3d 229, 235 (Tenn.
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Crim. App. 1999); Lackey v. State, 578 S.W.2d 101, 107 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1978); Tenn. Code Of Prof’l Responsibility DR 7-106(c)(4).
3. The prosecutor should not use arguments calculated to inflame the passions
or prejudices of the jury. See [State v.] Cauthern, 967 S.W.2d [726,] 737
(Tenn. 1998); State v. Stephenson, 878 S.W.2d 530, 541 (Tenn. 1994).
4. The prosecutor should refrain from argument which would divert the jury
from its duty to decide the case on the evidence, by injecting issues broader
than the guilt or innocence of the accused under the controlling law, or by
making predictions of the consequences of the jury’s verdict. See Cauthern,
967 S.W.2d at 737; State v. Keen, 926 S.W.2d 727, 736 (Tenn. 1994).
5. It is unprofessional conduct for a prosecutor to intentionally refer to or argue
facts outside the record unless the facts are matters of common public
knowledge.
Goltz, 111 S.W.3d at 6 (quoting Standards Relating to the Prosecution Function and the
Defense Function §§ 5.8-5.9 Commentary (ABA Project on Standards for Criminal Justice,
Approved Draft 1971)). A criminal conviction, however, should not be lightly overturned
solely on the basis of the prosecutor’s closing argument. State v. Banks, 271 S.W.3d 90, 130
(Tenn. 2008) (citing United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 11-13, (1985); State v. Bane, 57
S.W.3d 411, 425 (Tenn. 2001) (holding that a prosecutor’s improper closing argument does
not automatically warrant reversal).
The Defendant specifically attacks the following statements made during closing
argument:
[The Defendant] looks at you directly in the eyes and he tells you, well,
I’d seek medical attention for my son for something serious. Well, I ask you
when does it become serious? When have you seen your child to such a degree
that you have to take them to the hospital. When? The timeline isn’t
important.
....
That boy looked at you and expected you to treat him and love him and
raise him and look what you did to him. . .
In closing argument, the defense attacked the State’s time frame of the events.
-33-
Further, the defense stated that the victim’s complaints were familiar and thus did not alert
the Defendant to the need for medical care. A point of consideration in our review is whether
an argument is made in response to a defendant’s comment or argument. Rebuttal argument
is limited to the subject matter covered in the State’s opening argument and the defendant’s
intervening argument. Tenn. R. Crim. P. 29.1(b). The prosecutor’s statement regarding
when one seeks medical attention was made during the State’s second closing and in
response to the Defendant’s closing. We conclude that as such, the prosecutor’s statement
was a proper response to the Defendant’s closing argument attacking the validity of the
State’s theory of the time frame of the events leading up to the victim’s death.
The second statement was also made during the State’s second closing argument and
appears to have been directed at the Defendant. As such, we find this comment improper.
We cannot, however, conclude that the comment affected the verdict. The reference to the
Defendant was isolated in the context of the entire closing argument, and the State’s case
against the Defendant was strong. Additionally, the jury was instructed that arguments of
counsel are not to be considered evidence. The jury is presumed to follow the instructions
of the trial court. State v. Smith, 893 S.W.2d 908, 914 (Tenn. 1994). Based upon the
strength of the evidence at trial, we cannot conclude that the prosecutor’s statement to the
Defendant affected the jury’s verdict.
2. Interaction with Ms. Greer
The Defendant contends that he suffered prejudice when the trial court denied his
request to play a recorded voice mail message from the prosecutor for Ms. Greer. He claims
the message was a threat made to influence Ms. Greer to testify against the Defendant. The
State responds that the trial court correctly found that the prosecutor did not intend to
threaten Ms. Greer and, therefore, properly denied the Defendant’s request to play the audio
recording.
The voice mail message at issue was as follows:
Hello, this message is for Shameka Greer. This is Charles Minor with the
District Attorney’s Office. I’d like to talk to you about Reginald Tumlin. My
phone number is 423 (Inaudible). I’d appreciate you calling and talk to me.
I think it’s probably in your best interest to talk to me. Who do you think
they’re going to blame for this. So again give me a call 209-7426.
After listening to the voice mail message recording and the Defendant’s offer of proof, the
trial court found the message was not a threat and not relevant. Therefore, in denying the
Defendant’s request to play the recording for the jury was denied.
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The Defendant has failed to show that the State’s conduct was improper or affected
the outcome of the trial. The prosecutor sought to speak with Ms. Greer, a witness, before
trial. Nothing in the message indicates an intent to cause Ms. Greer to do anything other than
return his phone call. The prosecutor is entitled to attempt to make contact with witnesses
to discuss the case. It was not improper nor was the prosecutor’s attempt to speak with a
witness relevant to charges against the Defendant at trial. The Defendant is not entitled to
relief as to this issue.
F. Flight
The Defendant contends that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the
recorded telephone conversation between he and Ms. Greer as evidence of flight and issuing
a jury instruction on flight. The State responds that the facts of the case supported a jury
instruction on flight.
We first note that the Defendant’s argument in his brief focuses on the flight
instruction and not the admission of the audio recording. He makes no argument, other than
mentioning the admission, and cites to no authority in support of this issue. The Rules of
Appellate Procedure require that citations to authority and references to the record be
included in the argument portion of the brief. Tenn. R. App. P. 27(a)(7). The rules of this
Court also contemplate waiver of issues not supported by citation to authorities or
appropriate references to the record. See Tenn. R. Ct. Crim. App. 10(b)(“Issues which are
not supported by argument, citation to authorities, or appropriate references to the record will
be treated as waived in this court.”). We deem the Defendant’s challenge to the admission
of the recording waived due to the Defendant’s failure to cite to any legal authorities.
A trial court has the duty, in criminal cases, to fully instruct the jury on the general
principles of law relevant to the issues raised by the evidence. See State v. Burns, 6 S.W.3d
453, 464 (Tenn. 1999); State v. Harbison, 704 S.W.2d 314, 319 (Tenn. 1986); State v. Elder,
982 S.W.2d 871, 876 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998). “Nothing short of a ‘clear and distinct
exposition of the law’ satisfies a defendant’s constitutional right to trial by jury.” State v.
Phipps, 883 S.W.2d 138, 150 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994) (quoting State v. McAfee, 737 S.W.2d
304, 308 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987) (quoting Strady v. State, 45 Tenn. 300, 307 (1868))). In
other words, the court must instruct the jury on those principles closely and openly connected
with the facts before the court, which are necessary for the jury’s understanding of the case.
Elder, 982 S.W.2d at 876. Because questions of the propriety of jury instructions are mixed
questions of law and fact, our standard of review here is de novo, with no presumption of
correctness. State v. Rush, 50 S.W.3d 424, 427 (Tenn. 2001); State v. Smiley, 38 S.W.3d
521, 524 (Tenn. 2001).
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When reviewing jury instructions on appeal to determine whether they are erroneous,
this Court should “review the charge in its entirety and read it as a whole.” State v. Hodges,
944 S.W.2d 346, 352 (Tenn. 1997) (citing State v. Stephenson, 878 S.W.2d 530, 555 (Tenn.
1994)). The Tennessee Supreme Court, relying on the words of the United States Supreme
Court, has noted that:
[J]urors do not sit in solitary isolation booths parsing instructions for
subtle shades of meaning in the same way that lawyers might. Differences
among them in interpretation of instructions may be thrashed out in the
deliberative process, with commonsense understanding of the instructions in
the light of all that has taken place at the trial likely to prevail over technical
hairsplitting.
Id. (quoting Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370, 380-81 (1990)). A jury instruction is
considered “prejudicially erroneous,” only “if it fails to fairly submit the legal issues or if it
misleads the jury as to the applicable law.” Id. (citing State v. Forbes, 918 S.W.2d 431, 447
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1995); Graham v. State, 547 S.W.2d 531, 544 (Tenn. 1977)). Even if a
trial court errs when instructing the jury, such instructional error may be found harmless.
State v. Williams, 977 S.W.2d 101, 104-05 (Tenn. 1998).
The trial court provided the jury with the pattern flight jury instruction:
Flight. The flight of a person accused of a crime is a circumstance
which when considered with all the facts of the case may justify an inference
of guilt. Flight is the voluntarily [sic] withdrawal of oneself for the purpose
of evading arrest or prosecution for the crime charged. Whether the evidence
presented proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant fled is a
question for your determination. The law makes no precise distinction as to
the manner or method of flight. It may be open or it may be a hurried or
concealed departure, or it may be a concealment within the jurisdiction.
However it takes both a leaving the scene of the difficulty and a subsequent
hiding out, evasion, or concealment in the community, or a leaving the
community for parts unknown to constitute flight. If flight is proved, the fact
of flight alone does not allow you to find that the defendant is guilty of the
crime alleged. However, since flight by a defendant may be caused by a
consciousness of guilt, you may consider the fact of flight, if flight is so
proven, together with all the other evidence when you decide the guilt or
innocence of the defendant. On the other hand, an entirely innocent person
may take flight, and such flight may be explained by proof offered or by the
facts and circumstances of the case. Whether there was flight by the
-36-
defendant, the reasons for it, and the weight to be given to it, are questions for
you to determine.
“In order for a trial court to charge the jury on flight as an inference of guilt, there must be
sufficient evidence to support such instruction.” State v. Berry, 141 S.W.3d 549, 588 (Tenn.
2004). Sufficient evidence exists supporting a jury instruction on flight where there is
evidence of both a leaving the scene of the crime and subsequently hiding in the community.
State v. Burns, 979 S.W.2d 276, 289-90 (Tenn. 1998). The State may satisfy the subsequent
hiding requirement by presenting proof from which a jury might infer that the defendant
committed this act. State v. Terrance Wilks, No. W1999-00279-CCA-R3-CD, 1999 WL
1097832, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Nov. 22, 1999), no Tenn. R. App. P. 11
application filed..
We conclude that the trial court properly instructed the jury as to the flight. The
Defendant contends that because the jury instruction states “The flight of a person accused”
and he was not charged at the time, the instruction was improper. We think this too narrow
an interpretation of the pattern jury instruction. The proper inquiry, as we stated above, is
whether there was sufficient evidence presented to the jury to support the instruction. Berry,
141 S.W.3d at 588. The evidence at trial showed that the Defendant left his residence on the
night the victim was taken to the hospital. The Defendant remained undetected for over two
weeks, residing at various locations and employing a disguise. The Defendant noted to the
police upon his arrest that he had successfully used the disguise to remain undetected while
in the presence of the police. This is sufficient evidence that the Defendant left the scene of
the crime and hid to avoid being arrested for this crime. Accordingly, the trial court did not
err in instructing the jury on flight. The Defendant is not entitled to relief as to this issue
G. Cumulative Error
Lastly, the Defendant contends that the cumulative effect of the errors in this case
deprived him of a fair trial. Having considered each of the Defendant’s issues on appeal and
concluding that the trial court did not err, we need not consider the cumulative effect of the
alleged errors. State v. Hester, 324 S.W.3d 1, 77 (Tenn. 2010) (“To warrant assessment
under the cumulative error doctrine, there must have been more than one actual error
committed.”).
III. Conclusion
In accordance with the aforementioned reasoning and authorities, we affirm the trial
court’s judgments.
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ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, JUDGE
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