State of Tennessee v. Matthew Reynolds, Alphonso Richardson, Cynthia Dianne Skipper, and Derek Vicchitto ( 2018 )

11/28/2018
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs August 14, 2018
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. MATTHEW REYNOLDS, ALPHONSO
RICHARDSON, CYNTHIA DIANNE SKIPPER, AND DEREK VICCHITTO
Appeal from the Circuit Court for Montgomery County
No. 41400813 Jill Bartee Ayers, Judge
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No. M2017-00169-CCA-R3-CD
___________________________________
For their involvement in the death of the victim, Shirley Beck, the defendants, Matthew
Reynolds, Alphonso Richardson, Cynthia Dianne Skipper, and Derek Vicchitto, were
charged with one count of first degree murder (count one), one count of felony murder
(count two), three counts of aggravated sexual battery (counts three, four, and five), and
one count of especially aggravated kidnapping (count six). The trial court dismissed the
three aggravated sexual battery counts against all four defendants before a jury convicted
them of especially aggravated kidnapping. Additionally, in counts one and two,
Defendants Reynolds and Richardson were convicted of first degree murder and felony
murder as charged, Defendant Skipper was convicted of two counts of the lesser-included
offense of criminally negligent homicide, and Defendant Vicchitto was convicted of two
counts of the lesser-included offense of facilitation of second degree murder. The trial
court merged each of the defendants’ convictions in counts one and two and imposed
various sentences to each defendant. For Richardson’s convictions, the trial court
imposed a life sentence plus twenty-five years which he challenges as excessive on
appeal. Richardson, Reynolds, and Skipper challenge the sufficiency of the evidence
supporting their convictions, both Richardson and Reynolds argue the trial court erred in
instructing the jury, and Vicchitto challenges the trial court’s evidentiary ruling denying
character evidence offered from his mother at trial. After our review, we affirm the
evidence was sufficient to support the defendants’ convictions, conclude the trial court
properly sentenced Richardson, and determine the trial court did not err in instructing the
jury or in denying character evidence on behalf of Vicchitto. However, in merging each
of the defendants’ convictions in counts one and two, the trial court failed to impose a
sentence for the merged conviction. Therefore, we remand the case to the trial court for
sentencing and the entry of completed judgment forms as to counts one and two for each
defendant.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Circuit Court Affirmed;
Case Remanded
J. ROSS DYER, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER
and D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., JJ., joined.
Chase T. Smith, Clarksville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Matthew Lee Reynolds.
Eric J. Yow, Clarksville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Alphonso Jay Richardson, II.
James R. Potter, Clarksville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Cynthia Dianne Skipper.
Cleveland C. Turner, Clarksville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Derek Moroni Vicchitto.
Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Sophia S. Lee, Assistant Attorney
General; John W. Carney, District Attorney General; and Robert Nash, Assistant District
Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
Facts and Procedural History
In the early morning hours of June 26, 2014, the defendants beat the victim to
death as she hung by her arms from the ceiling of the living room of their shared home.
As a result, the defendants were indicted for one count of first degree murder (count one),
one count of first degree, felony murder (count two), three counts of aggravated sexual
battery (counts three, four, and five), and one count of especially aggravated kidnapping
(count six). Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-202 (a)(1); -202 (a)(2); -504; -305 (a)(4). After a
consolidated jury trial, all four defendants were convicted of especially aggravated
kidnapping as charged in count six. In counts one and two, Richardson and Reynolds
were convicted of first degree and felony murder as charged, Skipper was convicted of
two counts of criminally negligent homicide, and Vicchitto was convicted of two counts
of facilitation of second degree murder. At trial, the State presented the following facts
for the jury’s review.
For approximately six weeks prior to her death, the victim served as the “house
slave” at 108 Wilson Court in Montgomery County, Tennessee where she lived with
Ashley Laughlin, Kristin Wilkerson, and the four defendants. As described at trial, the
victim participated in the BDSM community wherein she entered into a contract with
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Twila Ours, an established BDSM mistress, to serve as her house slave.1 According to
Ms. Ours, a hierarchy exists within the BDSM community allowing for a power
exchange between the participants through the roles of slave, submissive, dominant,
switch, and mistress/master.2 In a typical slave/mistress relationship, a slave relinquishes
control, retaining only “their moral rights,” in exchange for pleasure. Specifically, slaves
“do things for [a mistress] and in return [the mistress] give[s] them the pleasure that they
seek.”
Ms. Ours suggested the victim sought pleasure through discipline and pain and
testified she entered into a contract with the victim establishing the boundaries of their
relationship in November 2013. As such, the victim lived with and “belong[ed] to [Ms.
Ours].” Ms. Ours served as “payee” for the victim’s disability payments, managed the
victim’s finances, and disciplined the victim pursuant to her status as house slave. At
trial, Ms. Ours detailed common sense rules she followed while disciplining her slaves.
For example, she always stopped discipline sessions upon hearing a slave’s safe word or
if the slave passed out and she avoided punishing areas of a slave’s body that could result
in “internal damage.” In her nearly thirty years as a BDSM mistress, Ms. Ours has never
killed one of her slaves.
In May 2014, Ms. Laughlin, a resident of 108 Wilson Court and Ms. Ours’
surrogate daughter, underwent surgery and needed help around the house. Consequently,
Ms. Ours sent the victim to Wilson Court to help Ms. Laughlin and to carry out her
contract as a house slave. As the Wilson Court house slave, the victim was expected “to
help wash dishes, clean the house, vacuum the floors, help walk the dogs, [and] help [Ms.
Laughlin] when [she] needed help getting around the house.” During her time at Wilson
Court, Skipper served as the victim’s mistress and was in charge of disciplining her while
Vicchitto participated as a switch. According to trial testimony, however, neither Ms.
Laughlin, nor Ms. Wilkerson, nor Richardson, nor Reynolds participated in the BDSM
lifestyle.
The beating which led to the victim’s death began after Skipper ordered a
discipline session around midnight on June 26, 2014. The discipline session arose after
Richardson accused the victim of trying to poison him and Ms. Laughlin by placing boric
acid on their drinking cups. Pursuant to Skipper’s orders, the victim was initially hung
by her arms from an eyebolt nailed to the ceiling and beaten in Skipper’s bedroom.
However, in order to not damage the electronics in the bedroom, Vicchitto moved the
victim to the living room where she was again hung from the ceiling by her arms and
1
“BDSM” is an acronym referencing the community and/or lifestyle of bondage and discipline,
dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism.
2
Ms. Ours defined a switch as a BDSM participant who acts as both a submissive and a dominant
depending on their mood.
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beaten. For approximately four hours, Ms. Wilkerson and Skipper sat at the dining room
table which overlooked the living room area as Richardson, Reynolds, and Vicchitto took
turns beating the victim.
Ms. Wilkerson reviewed photographs of the victim from the night of her death.
One photograph depicted a dark stain on the victim’s clothing indicating she urinated on
herself during the beating. In another photograph, Ms. Wilkerson identified Richardson
standing in front of the victim as she hung from the ceiling. He was wearing latex gloves
and holding a metal pole. During the beating, Richardson “was swinging the pole as if it
were a baseball bat” at the victim’s waist and legs. Richardson struck the victim with the
pole “[a]pproximately ten to fifteen times.” The victim “cried out” after each strike. He
also “landed a series of kicks and punches” to the victim’s “waist, wrist, [and] legs.”
“[A]t one point he did put his hand around [the victim’s] throat” and choked her for
approximately thirty seconds.
Vicchitto placed a ball gag in the victim’s mouth made from “a rolled up piece of
cloth that resembled a sock.” During the beating, Ms. Wilkerson heard “moans of some
sort and groans” from the victim but she could not decipher any words. She saw
Vicchitto strike the victim “approximately ten” times with “what appeared to be
segmented pieces of an oxygen hose that he bound together.” Ms. Wilkerson also saw
Reynolds strike the victim “[w]ith his feet, wrists, arms, knees, shins and feet” in what
“appeared to be a series of martial arts moves.” Reynolds kicked the victim “more than
50” times in “her waist, torso and legs.”
Throughout the beating, Richardson kept count of the number of strikes laid to the
victim. Ms. Wilkerson explained, “[t]here was a total number of strikes, and after each
one was landed, that particular number was deducted from the total.” According to Ms.
Wilkerson, Skipper ordered the number of strikes to be exacted against the victim by
each participant during the beating. Furthermore, about half-way through the beating,
Ms. Wilkerson heard Skipper say “that she did not have to physically touch [the victim]
because she had three other people to do that for her.”
Ms. Laughlin woke up after midnight on June 26, 2014 and entered the dining
room. She saw Ms. Wilkerson, Vicchitto, and Skipper sitting at the dining room table,
but she could not see into the living room.3 When someone turned on the living room
light, she saw Richardson standing near the victim who was hanging from the ceiling by
her arms. Richardson entered the dining room area and explained the victim “was getting
disciplined for a cup.” According to Skipper, Vicchitto, and Richardson, the victim
placed Ms. Laughlin’s cup in boric acid. While in the dining room, however, Ms.
3
Ms. Laughlin also testified she is legally blind.
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Laughlin did not see boric acid on her cup. She tried to communicate with the victim but
was unable to because “[the victim] had a ball gag in her mouth.”
Ms. Laughlin described Richardson as “ranting and raving.” She saw him holding
a metal pole as he walked back into the living room towards the victim. Ms. Laughlin
then heard “three loud cracks” that sounded like “[a] baseball bat.” She stated the noise
“was loud and bone shattering.” After hearing the three loud cracks, Reynolds and
Vicchitto took the victim down from the ceiling, removed the ball gag from her mouth,
and placed the victim in the shower under cold water in order to revive her. The victim
told Ms. Laughlin “she felt like she was going to pass out.” Ms. Laughlin then went back
to bed between 1:30 and 2:00 a.m.
During the four-hour beating, the victim lost consciousness three times. Each
time, Reynolds and Vicchitto took the victim down from her hanging position, revived
her, and “placed [her] back up” to resume the beating. After the victim’s first loss of
consciousness and subsequent re-hanging, Richardson, Reynolds, and Vicchitto resumed
the beating. After the victim’s second and third loss of consciousness, only Richardson
resumed beating her. Approximately three and one half hours into the beating, Ms.
Wilkerson described the victim as “[v]ery, very weak. Unable to stand or to verbalize
anything.” At this time, Reynolds, Skipper, and Vicchitto urged Richardson to stop
beating the victim, but he refused. The victim was last taken down from the ceiling
“[b]etween 4:00 and 4:15 a.m.” Reynolds and Vicchitto took the victim to the bathroom
where they attempted to revive her one final time.
In the bathroom, Ms. Wilkerson noticed the victim “was turning slightly gray.”
The victim “said that her arm hurt, and she wanted her mother.” Reynolds and Vicchitto
then moved the victim to Skipper’s bedroom and Reynolds “walked out of the room.”
Ms. Wilkerson helped dress the victim and she, Skipper, and Vicchitto tried again to
revive her. When the victim failed to respond, Ms. Wilkerson woke up Ms. Laughlin
around 4:30 a.m.
Ms. Laughlin performed CPR on the victim but her efforts were unsuccessful. She
admitted the victim’s body “gave way because it was on the bed,” but noted she
attempted over one hundred chest compressions during which she did not hear any bones
break. As Ms. Laughlin attempted CPR, Vicchitto called 9-1-1. According to Ms.
Laughlin, Richardson left the home after Vicchitto dialed 9-1-1 but prior to the police
arriving, while Reynolds left before Vicchitto dialed 9-1-1.
Shane Gibbons received the 9-1-1 call placed by Vicchitto on June 26, 2014 and
the State played the audio recording of the same at trial. Before police arrived at the
scene, however, Skipper, Vicchitto and Ms. Wilkerson created a story to tell the officers.
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Ms. Wilkerson explained: “The story was that [] Vicchitto and myself were on our way to
Wal-Mart, but we never made it because we saw her, [the victim], on the side of the
road.” They told officers the victim was beaten, and they brought her back to 108 Wilson
Court to help her. While still promoting the false story, Ms. Wilkerson took officers to
the parking lot where they supposedly found the victim. However, at trial, Ms.
Wilkerson admitted this was a lie told “to deflect blame from anyone in the house” for
the victim’s death. Ms. Laughlin also initially told officers the story describing the fake
assault of the victim.
At approximately 4:53 a.m., Officer Joshua Swaffer responded to 108 Wilson
Court. Upon entering the home, he found the victim unconscious on a bed as Ms.
Laughlin attempted CPR. Officer Swaffer moved the victim to the floor and continued
CPR for about two minutes until EMS arrived. He did not hear or feel any of the victim’s
ribs breaking while performing CPR but did notice bruises on her neck and arms. Upon
asking what happened to the victim, Skipper stated they picked her up on the street after
“she was assaulted either by someone or something.” Officer Swaffer noted “everybody
else kind of chimed in with the same” story.
Officer Matthew Falencik arrived at 108 Wilson Court at approximately 5:00 a.m.
He created the crime scene log which was entered into evidence. The log documented
Skipper, Vicchitto, Ms. Laughlin, and Ms. Wilkerson’s presence in the home on the
morning of June 26, 2014. He then went to the intersection where the Wilson Court
residents allegedly found the victim and blocked off the scene. At 5:03 a.m., Officer
Beau Skinner arrived at 108 Wilson Court. He observed the victim’s body, noting she
had visible abrasions covering her body. Officer Skinner spoke to Skipper and Vicchitto
who stated the victim left the home “an hour or two prior to the nine-one-one call being
made.” Vicchitto further explained he saw the victim lying in a parking lot after an
assault. Vicchitto stated the victim did not want to go to the hospital, so “he put her in
the vehicle with him and took her back to the house, where once in the residence she
collapsed and they called nine-one-one.” Vicchitto then directed Officer Skinner to the
area where Vicchitto claimed he found the victim, but “he was vague as to where he
initially located her.” After several minutes, Vicchitto indicated he saw the victim
“partially sitting up” on the “handicap parking decal on the actual parking lot of 1718
Memorial.” Officer Skinner secured the area as a crime scene, but found no evidence
relating to the victim.
Sean Bartram, an expert in the field of critical care paramedics, responded to the
scene at 108 Wilson Court at approximately 5:00 a.m. He found the victim unconscious
and unresponsive on the floor in a bedroom. After placing the victim on a cardiac
monitor, Mr. Bartram noted no electrical activity of the victim’s heart and saw she
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suffered “traumatic injuries throughout her entire body that were not life sustaining.” Mr.
Bartram described the victim’s injuries, as follows:
She had multiple signs of trauma, pretty much covering her entire
body from head to feet, front and back. . . . There was a significant
horizontal, across the chest, contusion as well as the midshaft femur region,
a significant horizontal contusion as well. Multiple abrasions, multiple
lacerations, multiple contusions throughout the body. Some more
significant than others.
Mr. Bartram pronounced the victim dead at approximately 5:03 a.m.
At 2:20 p.m. on June 26, 2014, Officer Joel Gibbons located Richardson and
Reynolds at the Hilldale Laundromat. He noted the laundromat was less than a mile from
the 108 Wilson Court residence. Officer Gibbons saw Richardson inside the laundromat
on his cell phone. He found Reynolds outside the laundromat and arrested him.
Officer William King collected evidence from the living room/dining room area
and the master bedroom of 108 Wilson Court. From behind the dresser, in the dresser
drawers, and within a large bag found in the closet of the master bedroom, Officer King
collected multiple whips and handcuffs, red leather wrist straps, a lock and key, a purple
Tootsie Roll Pop doll, a black belt, clothespins, an Army cot pole, a carabiner, eye bolts,
and a wooden bar. He also found Vicchitto’s Nokia cell phone on the bed. In the living
room/dining room area, he collected a broken blind rod, a television cable, a whip, a
Batman cup, and a Steelers cup. Officer King did not notice boric acid on either of the
cups and he did not find boric acid in the home during his investigation. He also obtained
DNA swabs from the defendants while on the scene. Officer Gregory Beebe recovered a
pair of tennis shoes from Reynolds which were entered into evidence.
Officer Jason Hankins downloaded pictures from Vicchitto’s Nokia cell phone.
The State entered four pictures from the cell phone into evidence. The pictures were
taken on June 26, 2014 at 12:32 a.m., 1:25 a.m., 1:35 a.m., and 1:50 a.m. Each picture
showed the victim hanging from the ceiling of the living room by her arms.
Officer Thomas Johnson created a sketch of the crime scene at 108 Wilson Court
which showed two rooms, including the bedroom and the living room/dining room area.
In the sketch, the victim’s body is seen on the floor of the bedroom. Officer Darren
Koski took photographs of the crime scene. He photographed the layout of the rooms, a
hole in the ceiling of the bedroom, a hole in the ceiling of the living room, the bathroom,
the two cups collected from the dining room, and a metal bar. He also took buccal swabs
from Skipper, Vicchitto, Reynolds, Richardson, and Ms. Wilkerson.
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Kendall Stoner, an expert in the area of DNA analysis with the Tennessee Bureau
of Investigation, discussed the buccal swabs of the defendants as they related to evidence
found at the crime scene. Mr. Stoner examined over ten items and on most of the
evidence tested, he found the victim’s DNA and at least one unidentified male DNA
profile. In testing the metal pole found at the crime scene, Mr. Stoner identified two
DNA profiles, including the victim’s and an unidentified male. On a white clothespin
found at the crime scene, Mr. Stoner noted “reddish brown staining,” and in testing the
same he identified the victim’s DNA. In testing the remainder of the clothespins, Mr.
Stoner identified at least one unknown male’s DNA. The State entered Mr. Stoner’s
report into evidence.
Forensic pathology expert David Zimmerman detailed the injuries suffered by the
victim on June 26, 2014. At the time, the victim was thirty-nine years old, weighed one
hundred and ten pounds, and had no drugs or alcohol in her system. Dr. Zimmerman
stated the victim’s cause of death to be multimodality trauma by beating and
strangulation.
He further detailed her injuries at trial stating the victim suffered “bruises and
scrapes” on her neck. “There was hemorrhage in -- or bleeding in the muscles of the
neck, and bleeding in the tissue surrounding the airway.” She suffered petechiae, or “tiny
pinpoint sized spots of bleeding,” in the whites of her eyes. The tissue of the victim’s
larynx and trachea was red and swollen. These injuries “inhibit[ed] her ability to breathe
through a normal manner.” After reviewing a photograph of the victim hanging by her
arms from the ceiling, Dr. Zimmerman explained:
Extended hanging like this from the -- it looks like it’s from the
arms, the muscles of the chest that have to do with breathing, if they’re
stretched like that with the arms above the head it’s going to make the --
it’s going to make it more difficult to breathe as time goes on. The
breathing muscles are meant to work most efficiently when the arms are
down at the sides.
The victim suffered multiple injuries to her face, including bruises to her ears and
forehead, around her eyes, and on her chin. The victim also had abrasions on her chin
and ears. She suffered subgaleal bruises, or bruises “right up against the skull,” and
confluent, or overlapping, contusions throughout her body. The victim’s chest, abdomen,
back, hips, and buttocks were covered in “multiple extensive and confluent contusions”
resulting in the bruising of approximately 75 to 80 percent of her body. Specifically,
“[t]here were oval and linear contusions on the left side of the chest, the right lower
abdomen, and the back.” He opined the linear bruises likely occurred “from being struck
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with some long hard object” like the metal pole found at the crime scene and noted the
oval bruises probably resulted from “anything like a punch or a kick.”
The victim had multiple rib fractures and a fractured sternum resulting from blunt
trauma, not CPR. Of the twelve ribs on each side of the chest, the victim suffered six
broken ribs on her left side and seven broken ribs on her right side. Furthermore, “[t]here
was a laceration or a tear of the liver, and there was [approximately 250 milliliters of]
blood in the abdominal cavity, and there was bruising of the small intestines.” Dr.
Zimmerman opined the victim’s small intestine, specifically the duodenum, was damaged
from a forceful kick as it is “very deep inside the abdomen.” The victim’s internal
bleeding resulted from the lacerations to her liver. Additionally, Dr. Zimmerman stated:
There were multiple confluent bruises of the upper arms and
forearms. There were bruises on the palms and the backs of the hands.
There were bruises on the tops and soles of the feet. There were bruises of
the thighs. There were bruises on the lower legs. And there was another
linear bruise on the left upper thigh.
...
There were abrasions of the nipples of the breasts. There were
abrasions of the labia minora; that’s the external genitalia. And some
postmortem insect activity.
Dr. Zimmerman opined all of the injuries detailed above contributed to the victim’s
death. The State then closed its proof.
Upon the defendants’ motions for judgments of acquittal and as conceded by the
State, the trial court dismissed the aggravated sexual battery charges of counts three, four,
and five. All of the defendants waived their right to testify and none offered any proof in
their defense other than Vicchitto who sought to provide character evidence from his
mother, Shirley Vicchitto. The trial court, however, denied entry of the same. As such,
Vicchitto made an offer of proof from Ms. Vicchitto outside of the presence of the jury.
Ms. Vicchitto testified Vicchitto is an Ogiba (sic) Indian who she and her husband
adopted when he was two years old. She stated Vicchitto has excellent character but a
“[v]ery limited” mental capacity. Further, she explained Vicchitto is legally blind, has
cerebral palsy, suffers from depression, is learning disabled, and questions his sexuality.
Ms. Vicchitto stated he had no criminal record prior to the present charges, but noted he
“will do whatever he thinks will help him to fit in.”
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The jury then convicted the defendants in each of the three remaining counts,
finding Richardson and Reynolds guilty of first degree murder, felony murder, and
especially aggravated kidnapping. The jury found Skipper guilty of two counts of
criminally negligent homicide and especially aggravated kidnapping. Finally, the jury
convicted Vicchitto of two counts of facilitation of second degree murder and especially
aggravated kidnapping. After sentencing hearings, the trial court imposed various
sentences to each defendant. The trial court sentenced Reynolds to an effective life
sentence while Skipper and Vicchitto each received effective twenty-five-year sentences.
For his convictions, the trial court sentenced Richardson to life plus twenty-five years.
At Richardson’s sentencing hearing, the State introduced the presentence report
into evidence. Richardson then testified. He stated he was “terribly sorry about what
happened” and he has “complete remorse” for the victim’s death. Regarding the victim’s
beating, however, he also stated he “was doing what [he] thought was right by protecting
someone [he] loved.” Richardson admitted to hitting the victim “with a pole like three or
four times” and acknowledged this was cruel behavior. Though he did not think his
actions could cause life-threatening injuries or death, Richardson admitted to playing a
major role in the victim’s death.
Richardson acknowledged a 2008 domestic assault conviction and a 2013
misdemeanor theft conviction for which he was on probation on June 26, 2014. As to
mitigating factors, Richardson claimed he assisted police by identifying Reynolds,
Skipper, and Vicchitto as participants in the crimes against the victim. He further
claimed the victim voluntarily submitted to the discipline session which led to her death
pursuant to the BDSM lifestyle prevalent throughout the Wilson Court home. He did,
however, admit the alleged BDSM session exceeded the boundaries of common practice.
Richardson further claimed he did not want to be a part of the session at first, stating he
was encouraged by the other defendants to participate and then his “rage just took over.”
During cross-examination, Richardson admitted to punching the victim, maintaining only
Reynolds kicked the victim, and he did so over fifty times. Richardson agreed he
obtained the metal pole to beat the victim when punching and kicking was not enough.
Upon its review of the evidence presented, the trial court merged Richardson’s
convictions for first degree and felony murder and sentenced him to life in prison and
imposed a consecutive sentence of twenty-five years for his especially aggravated
kidnapping conviction.
The trial court denied the defendants’ motions for a new trial. Each defendant
timely appealed.
Analysis
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I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
On appeal, Richardson and Reynolds challenge the sufficiency of the evidence as
to each of their three convictions while Skipper challenges sufficiency as it relates to her
conviction for especially aggravated kidnapping.4 We will address each conviction as it
relates to each defendant in turn.
When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged, the relevant question of the
reviewing court is “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution, 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 also
Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e) (“Findings of guilt in criminal actions whether by the trial court or
jury shall be set aside if the evidence is insufficient to support the findings by the trier of
fact of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”); State v. Evans, 838 S.W.2d 185, 190-92
(Tenn. 1992); State v. Anderson, 835 S.W.2d 600, 604 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992). All
questions involving the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given the
evidence, and all factual issues are resolved by the trier of fact. See State v. Pappas, 754
S.W.2d 620, 623 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). “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. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Tenn.
1973). Our Supreme Court has stated the rationale for this rule:
This well-settled rule rests on a sound foundation. The trial judge
and the jury see the witnesses face to face, hear their testimony and observe
their demeanor on the stand. Thus the trial judge and jury are the primary
instrumentality of justice to determine the weight and credibility to be
given to the testimony of witnesses. In the trial forum alone is there human
atmosphere and the totality of the evidence cannot be reproduced with a
written record in this Court.
Bolin v. State, 405 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tenn. 1966) (citing Carroll v. State, 370 S.W.2d
523 (Tenn. 1963)). “A jury conviction removes the presumption of innocence with
which a defendant is initially cloaked and replaces it with one of guilt, so that on appeal a
convicted defendant has the burden of demonstrating that the evidence is insufficient.”
State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982).
Guilt may be found beyond a reasonable doubt where there is direct evidence,
circumstantial evidence, or a combination of the two. State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d
4
Vicchitto does not contest the sufficiency of the evidence as it relates to his convictions. As
such, it is not addressed in this appeal.
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776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990) (citing State v. Brown, 551 S.W.2d 329, 331 (Tenn.
1977); Farmer v. State, 343 S.W.2d 895, 897 (Tenn. 1961)). 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)). The jury as the trier of
fact must evaluate the credibility of the witnesses, determine the weight given to
witnesses’ testimony, and reconcile all conflicts in the evidence. State v. Campbell, 245
S.W.3d 331, 335 (Tenn. 2008) (citing Byrge v. State, 575 S.W.2d 292, 295 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1978)). Moreover, the jury determines the weight to be given to circumstantial
evidence and the inferences to be drawn from this evidence, and the extent to which the
circumstances are consistent with guilt and inconsistent with innocence are questions
primarily for the jury. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d at 379 (citing State v. Rice, 184 S.W.3d
646, 662 (Tenn. 2006)). This Court, when considering the sufficiency of the evidence,
shall not reweigh the evidence or substitute its inferences for those drawn by the trier of
fact. Id.
a. Especially Aggravated Kidnapping
Richardson, Reynolds, and Skipper challenge their convictions for especially
aggravated kidnapping. Each defendant argues the victim voluntarily submitted to the
BDSM lifestyle and her role as a house slave. As a result, the defendants assert the
victim also submitted to the discipline session of June 26, 2014 which led to her death.
Reynolds further suggests only Richardson committed especially aggravated kidnapping
by engaging in the final beating during which all of the other participants urged him to
stop. The State asserts “[e]ven under the most generous interpretation of the rules or
guidelines for punishment in the BDSM community, the evidence does not support the
argument that the victim consented to having her liberty restricted so that she could be
beaten to death.” We agree with the State.
Especially aggravated kidnapping occurs when one “knowingly removes or
confines another unlawfully so as to interfere substantially with the other’s liberty” and
“the victim suffers serious bodily injury.” Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-302 (a); -305
(a)(4). Serious bodily injury includes “[a] substantial risk of death; [p]rotracted
unconsciousness, [e]xtreme physical pain; . . . [or] [p]rotracted loss or substantial
impairment of a function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.” Tenn. Code
Ann. § 39-11-106 (a)(34).
Here, the defendants attempt to relieve themselves of culpability for the especially
aggravated kidnapping of the victim by suggesting she consented to their treatment of her
on June 26, 2014. The record, however, makes clear the defendants hung the victim by
her arms from the ceiling of both the bedroom and the living room with a ball gag in her
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mouth for over four hours prior to her death. The defendants suggest that because the
victim previously submitted herself to discipline sessions in her role as a house slave, she
consented to the actions that led to her death. We disagree.
Prior to hanging the victim from the ceiling, Richardson accused her of trying to
poison him and Ms. Laughlin. As a result, Skipper ordered a discipline session for the
victim. The session began by hanging the victim by her arms from the ceiling of
Skipper’s bedroom. When the beating became too detrimental to the electronics in the
bedroom, Vicchitto and Reynolds moved the victim from her hanging position in the
bedroom to a hanging position in the living room. She was not permitted to move
independently. As she hung from the living room ceiling, Vicchitto placed a ball gag in
her mouth which restricted her ability to speak. Skipper then ordered the number of
strikes Richardson, Reynolds, and Vicchitto were to lay against the victim as she hung,
unable to escape, from the ceiling. Though the victim could not speak, Ms. Wilkerson
heard the victim cry out, moan, and groan throughout the beating.
Additionally, the victim passed out three times over the course of the four-hour
beating. Each time, Reynolds and Vicchitto took the victim down from her hanging
position, revived her, and re-hung her from the ceiling in order to inflict additional
damage to the victim. Nothing in the record suggests the victim had control of any of her
movements or the discipline session once the beating began. After the third time she
passed out, Ms. Wilkerson stated the victim was unable to speak or stand on her own.
Based upon the foregoing evidence, it is clear the defendants knowingly confined the
victim by hanging her by her arms from the ceiling in order to inflict serious bodily injury
upon her. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-302 (a); -305 (a)(4). The defendants are not
entitled to relief.
Furthermore, Ms. Ours, Ms. Laughlin, and Ms. Wilkerson testified neither
Richardson nor Reynolds engaged in the BDSM lifestyle. Thus, any argument claiming
the victim consented to the defendants’ behavior fails as to Richardson and Reynolds as it
is clear both participated in the four-hour-long beating of the victim during which she
was not free to move on her own, to speak, or to end the beating of her own accord. The
defendants are not entitled to relief as to this issue.
b. First Degree, Premeditated Murder
i. Alphonso Richardson
The jury convicted Richardson of the first degree, premeditated murder of the
victim. First degree murder is “a premeditated and intentional killing of another.” Tenn.
Code Ann. § 39-13-202 (a)(1). In this context, premeditation is “an act done after the
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exercise of reflection and judgment.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202 (d). Tennessee
Code Annotated section 39-13-202 (d) further states:
“Premeditation” means that the intent to kill must have been formed
prior to the act itself. It is not necessary that the purpose to kill preexist in
the mind of the accused for any definite period of time. The mental state of
the accused at the time the accused allegedly decided to kill must be
carefully considered in order to determine whether the accused was
sufficiently free from excitement and passion as to be capable of
premeditation.
Id. “The element of premeditation is a question for the jury which may be established by
proof of the circumstances surrounding the killing.” State v. Young, 196 S.W.3d 85, 108
(Tenn. 2006) (citing State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 660 (Tenn. 1997)). The Tennessee
Supreme Court has identified certain factors which tend to support a finding of
premeditation, including: “the use of a deadly weapon upon an unarmed victim; the
particular cruelty of the killing; declarations by the defendant of an intent to kill;
evidence of procurement of a weapon; preparations before the killing for concealment of
the crime, and calmness immediately after the killing.” Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 660 (citing
State v. Brown, 836 S.W.2d 530, 541-42 (Tenn. 1992); State v. West, 844 S.W.2d 144,
148 (Tenn. 1992)). Bland does not include an exhaustive list of factors for consideration
when finding premeditation. State v. Adams, 405 S.W.3d 641, 663 (Tenn. 2013). A
conclusion the killing was premeditated may also be supported by the nature of the
killing or evidence establishing a motive. Id. Likewise, lack of provocation by the
victim, failure to render aid, and destruction or secretion of evidence may also support an
inference of premeditation. State v. Larkin, 443 S.W.3d 751, 815-16 (Tenn. Crim. App.
2013) (internal citations omitted).
In attacking the sufficiency of the evidence as to his first degree, premeditated
murder conviction, Richardson argues “the elements of premeditation and intent are
lacking,” claiming the victim’s death resulted from a BDSM “discipline session” that
“spiraled out of control.” Richardson argues “no evidence was presented that would
demonstrate that [he] planned, intended, or wanted to kill [the victim], given the peculiar
circumstances surrounding her death.” The record, however, does not support this
argument.
Instead, the evidence shows on June 26, 2014, Richardson participated in the four-
hour-long beating of the victim as she hung by her arms from the ceiling of the home
where she served as the house slave. The beating began after Richardson accused the
victim of trying to poison him and Ms. Laughlin. Ms. Laughlin stated Richardson was
“ranting and raving” throughout the beating. Ms. Wilkerson saw Richardson kick and
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punch the victim in the waist, wrist, and legs. She saw Richardson choke the victim for
thirty seconds. Unsatisfied with simply kicking and punching, Richardson then hit the
victim with a metal pole ten to fifteen times, swinging it like a baseball bat across the
victim’s body. Ms. Laughlin described the sound of the metal pole hitting the victim’s
body as “loud and bone shattering.” While Vicchitto and Reynolds took turns beating the
victim, Richardson kept count of the blows the victim endured. At one point during the
beating, Richardson paused for a picture. The picture shows him standing in front of the
victim’s body as she hung from the ceiling. In the picture, Richardson is wearing latex
gloves and is holding the metal pole used to beat the victim.
At trial, Dr. Zimmerman described in detail the blunt trauma which killed the
victim. The victim suffered bruising to 75 to 80 percent of her body, broken ribs and a
broken sternum, internal bleeding, lacerations of the liver, and damage to her small
intestine all of which contributed to her death. The victim suffered linear bruises on her
chest, lower abdomen, back, and left upper thigh. Dr. Zimmerman opined these could
have been caused by a long, metal pole like the one used by Richardson during the
beating.
Looking specifically to the premeditation factors outlined by our Supreme Court,
the record establishes Richardson was in a rage after believing the victim poisoned him
and Ms. Laughlin. As a result, he participated in the four-hour-long beating of the victim
in order to punish her. During the beating, the victim was restricted, unarmed, and
unable to speak. Additionally, at various points over the four hours, Richardson paused
for a picture as the victim hung from the ceiling, found a metal pole to use against her,
and spoke to Ms. Laughlin about why the victim was being beaten. After the victim’s
death, Richardson went to a nearby laundromat and charged his cell phone. See Bland,
958 S.W.2d at 660. Additionally, Richardson failed to render aid to the victim despite
her passing out three times over the course of the four-hour beating. Instead, every time
she was revived, Richardson resumed beating the victim until her death. Larkin, 443
S.W.3d at 815-16. The record is sufficient to establish Richardson committed the first
degree, premeditated murder of the victim.
Richardson suggests his first degree, premeditated murder conviction should be
reduced to second degree murder. We again disagree. As noted above, the evidence
shows Richardson participated in the beating of the victim while she was restrained from
the ceiling. After hours of abuse during which Richardson presumably took a break
while other participants beat the victim, Richardson obtained a metal pole in order to
inflict additional and significant damage upon her. Furthermore, he continued to beat the
victim despite pleas from others for him to stop. As such, the record supports the jury’s
finding of premeditation in that Richardson participated in the beating death of the victim
“after the exercise of reflection and judgment.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202 (d).
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We are in no way persuaded that the victim’s death resulted from a “peculiar”
discipline session enacted within the BDSM lifestyle. While the victim did submit
herself to the BDSM lifestyle, Richardson’s actions far exceeded the boundaries
established within the same. Further, the evidence at trial asserts Richardson did not
participate in the BDSM lifestyle and demonstrates he was angry with the victim prior to
engaging in her prolonged beating from which she could not escape. The defendant is
not entitled to relief as to this issue.
ii. Matthew Reynolds
Similarly, the jury convicted Reynolds of the first degree, premeditated murder of
the victim for his participation in the beating of June 26, 2014. As detailed above, the
beating began in Skipper’s room where the victim was restricted by her arms and hung
from the ceiling. As the beating intensified, Vicchitto moved the victim from Skipper’s
bedroom to the living room so as to avoid damaging the electronics in the bedroom.
Once in the living room, Reynolds and Vicchitto again hung the victim from the ceiling
by her arms, and the beating resumed. Throughout the course of the beating, the victim
lost consciousness three times. After each loss of consciousness, Reynolds and Vicchitto
removed the victim from her position from the ceiling, revived her, and subsequently re-
hung her from the ceiling for the beating to continue. During his turn beating the victim,
Reynolds struck the victim in “a series of martial arts moves” to her waist, torso, and legs
“more than 50” times. Dr. Zimmerman stated the victim suffered oval shaped bruises to
her chest, abdomen and back which likely occurred from a punch or kick. Additionally,
the victim’s small intestine was likely bruised from a kick as it was deep inside the
abdomen. All of the injuries suffered by the victim on June 26, 2014 contributed to her
death, many of which resulted from Reynolds participation in the same.
Looking again to the Bland premeditation factors outlined by our Supreme Court,
the record establishes Reynolds engaged in the cruel beating of the victim as she hung
from the ceiling, unable to move or speak. Reynolds used his practiced skill in the
martial arts to harm the victim, kicking her over 50 times and bruising her deep inside her
abdomen. See Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 660. Each time after the victim passed out,
Reynolds helped remove the victim from her hanging position, revived her, and replaced
her in the restraints in order for the beating to resume. He did not render aid to the victim
for nearly four hours as she was beaten to death. Larkin, 443 S.W.3d at 815-16. After
killing the victim, Reynolds went to a laundromat as police reported to the crime scene.
- 16 -
As such, sufficient evidence exists to support the jury’s verdict convicting him of first
degree, premeditated murder. The defendant is not entitled to relief.5
c. First Degree, Felony Murder
i. Alphonso Richardson and Matthew Reynolds
The jury also convicted Richardson and Reynolds of the first degree, felony
murder of the victim committed during her especially aggravated kidnapping. First
degree, felony murder is “[a] killing of another committed in the perpetration of or
attempt to perpetrate any . . . kidnapping.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202 (a)(2).
In the present case, the evidence is sufficient to support the elements of first
degree, felony murder against both Richardson and Reynolds. As noted above,
Richardson and Reynolds participated in the especially aggravated kidnapping of the
victim on June 26, 2014. Specifically, Richardson and Reynolds kidnapped the victim by
hanging the victim by her arms from the ceiling, placing a ball gag in her mouth, beating
the victim by kicking, punching, and wielding a metal pole, and causing the victim to lose
consciousness three times. The victim suffered multiple traumatic injuries as a result of
the beating inflicted by the defendants’ during the kidnapping. This evidence is sufficient
to support the defendants’ convictions for especially aggravated kidnapping and first
degree, felony murder in the perpetration of the especially aggravated kidnapping as
Richardson and Reynold’s actions on June 26, 2014 resulted in the victim’s death. Id. at
167-68. Neither Richardson, nor Reynolds is entitled to relief as to this issue.
II. Jury Instructions
Richardson and Reynolds lodge complaints against the trial court’s jury
instructions on flight and consent. Both contend the trial court erred in instructing the
jury on flight, while only Richardson argues the trial court erred in instructing the jury on
consent. The propriety of each instruction is addressed below.
It is well-settled in Tennessee that a defendant has a right to a correct and
complete charge of the law so that each issue of fact raised by the evidence will be
submitted to the jury on proper instructions.” State v. Farner, 66 S.W.3d 188, 204 (Tenn.
2001) (citing State v. Garrison, 40 S.W.3d 426, 432 (Tenn. 2000); State v. Teel, 793
5
Reynolds also suggests the jury’s verdicts were “inconsistent and erroneous” as he, Skipper, and
Vicchitto were convicted of different crimes. However, because “[i]nconsistent verdicts may occur in
trials of multiple defendants,” the defendant is not entitled to relief as to this issue. State v. Davis, 466
S.W.3d 49, 72 (Tenn. 2015).
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S.W.2d 236, 249 (Tenn. 1990)). Accordingly, trial courts have the duty to give “a
complete charge of the law applicable to the facts of the case.” State v. Davenport, 973
S.W.2d 283, 287 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998) (citing State v. Harbison, 704 S.W.2d 314,
319 (Tenn. 1986)). An instruction will only be considered prejudicially erroneous if it
fails to submit the legal issues fairly or misleads the jury as to the applicable law. State v.
Faulkner, 154 S.W.3d 48, 58 (Tenn. 2005) (citing State v. Vann, 976 S.W.2d 93, 101
(Tenn. 1998)). “In order to determine whether a conviction should be reversed on the
basis of an erroneous instruction to the jury, this Court ‘must consider whether the ailing
instruction by itself so infected the entire trial that the resulting conviction violates due
process.’” State v. James, 315 S.W.3d 440, 446 (Tenn. 2010) (quoting State v. Rimmer,
250 S.W.3d 12, 31 (Tenn. 2008) (internal quotations omitted)).
a. Consent
Richardson contends the trial court improperly instructed the jury on consent,
arguing the instruction “left the jury with the impression that [the victim] could not,
under any circumstances, willingly submit to confinement and likened the ‘BDSM
community’ to an inherently criminal organization.” The State asserts the instruction was
an accurate statement of the law and “an accurate statement of the proof -- there was
evidence the victim had consented to ‘punishment’ as a recognized member of the BDSM
community.” Our review indicates there is no error in the trial court’s consent
instruction.
Regarding consent, the trial court instructed the jury as follows:
You have heard evidence that the alleged victim is a voluntary
member of the BDSM, bondage and discipline, dominance and submission,
sadism and masochism community. You have also heard that by virtue of
the voluntary membership the alleged victim granted prior consent to
punishment, including kidnapping, that the BDSM community chose to
impose. The BDSM community has not been recognized as a sovereign
entity unto themselves, immune from the criminal laws of the state of
Tennessee, nor has the BDSM community been granted a license to punish
its members as within its sole discretion it deems necessary.
In charging the jury, the trial court likened the present case to this Court’s holding
in State v. Mickens. 123 S.W.3d 355, 392 (2003). The Mickens defendants attempted to
absolve themselves of culpability for the kidnapping, beating, and death of their victims
by arguing the victims, in joining the Gangster Disciples, consented to “all gang rules and
punishments.” Mickens, 123 S.W.3d at 392. This Court rejected the defendants’
argument, stating “[w]e respectfully disagree that a civilized society can tolerate such
- 18 -
conduct or has so empowered the Gangster Disciples.” Id. Similarly, we are not
persuaded that the victim’s participation in the BDSM community shields the defendants
from culpability for their actions on June 26, 2014. Though the law permits consent for
specific enumerated crimes, it is clear consent is not a defense for the defendants’ crimes
of murder and especially aggravated kidnapping. The trial court’s jury charge simply
clarified the applicable law that consent, despite the defendants’ argument to the contrary,
is not a defense to especially aggravated kidnapping or murder. The trial court did not err
in instructing the jury concerning the defense of consent and Richardson is not entitled to
relief for the same.
b. Flight
Richardson and Reynolds argue the trial court erred in instructing the jury on
flight, claiming evidence of flight did not exist at trial because they were found hours
later at a laundromat less than half a mile from the crime scene. Both also suggest they
did not attempt to hide from or evade police. The State asserts the proof at trial supported
the flight instruction as the jury could have inferred Richardson and Reynolds sought to
avoid prosecution by going to the laundromat after Vicchitto called 9-1-1. Again, we
agree with the State.
Procedurally, and as argued by the State, we note Reynolds’ challenge to the trial
court’s flight instruction fails as he has not provided any argument supporting his
assertion that the trial court erred in this regard. Tenn. R. App. P. 27(a)(7)(A) (requiring
an argument to set forth: “the contentions of the appellant with respect to the issues
presented, and the reasons therefor, including the reasons why the contentions require
appellate relief, with citations to the authorities and appropriate references to the record .
. . relied on”). As a result, his argument is waived.
Despite Reynolds’ waiver, however, the record makes clear the trial court properly
instructed the jury on flight and neither defendant is entitled to relief. At trial, the trial
court instructed the jury on flight, as follows:
The flight of a person accused of a crime is a circumstance which,
when considered with all of the facts in the case, may justify an inference of
guilt. Flight is the voluntary withdrawal of one self (sic) for the purpose of
evading arrest or prosecution for the crime charged. Whether the evidence
present -- 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
- 19 -
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 of 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 of the other -- 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 a flight by the Defendants Alphonso Richardson
and/or Matthew Reynolds, the reasons for it, and the weight to be given to
it, are questions for you to determine.
The trial court’s flight instruction follows that of the Tennessee Pattern Jury Instruction
42.18 which has been previously cited with approval by this Court. See State v. Payton,
782 S.W.2d 490, 498 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1989); State v. Douglas McArthur Wilson, No.
M2017-00432-CCA-R3-CD, 2018 WL 2106492, at *17 (Tenn. Crim. App. May 7, 2018).
Furthermore, sufficient evidence exists “to support a jury charge on flight where
there is proof of ‘both a leaving the scene of the difficulty and a subsequent hiding out,
evasion, or concealment in the community, or leaving the community for parts
unknown.’” State v. Shawn Simmons, No. M2009-01362-CCA-R3-CD, 2010 WL
3719167, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App. Sept. 23, 2010) (quoting State v. Burns, 979 S.W.2d
279, 289-90 (Tenn. 1998) (internal quotations omitted)). “The State can satisfy the
subsequent hiding out, evasion, or concealment requirement by introducing evidence
from which a jury might infer such action.” Id. (citing State v. Terrance Wilks, No. W
1999-00279-CCA-R3-CD, 1999 WL 1097832, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App. Nov. 22, 1999)).
The trial court should instruct the jury as to flight when it is properly raised by the proof.
Id. at *5.
Upon our review of the record it is clear the evidence presented at trial called for
the flight instruction. Ms. Laughlin stated after the defendants beat the victim for four
hours, Vicchitto called 9-1-1 as the victim died on Skipper’s bed. During the call,
Reynolds left the house. After the completion of the 9-1-1 call, Richardson also left the
house. The two defendants were not found until several hours later, at approximately
2:20 p.m., at a laundromat.
- 20 -
The defendants argue because the laundromat was less than one mile from the
crime scene, they could not have intended to evade prosecution. We, however, disagree.
Before leaving the home where the victim died, both men knew the police were en route.
As such, they left the crime scene and were not found for approximately seven hours
during which their roommates were under investigation for the victim’s death.
Accordingly, enough evidence existed at trial to support the trial court’s jury instruction
on flight and the defendants are not entitled to relief.
III. Character Evidence
Vicchitto challenges the trial court’s evidentiary ruling denying character evidence
offered from his mother, Ms. Shirley Vicchitto, during trial. Vicchitto suggests “a
character witness is an important witness and is admissible regardless of whether he
testifies in his own defense.” Further, he argues “the testimony from his [m]other would
have made it known to the jury that it was not in his character to commit a crime of this
nature.” The State asserts the trial court did not err in denying Ms. Vicchitto’s testimony,
arguing “the exclusion of his mother’s testimony was proper because propensity evidence
is looked upon with disfavor.” Our review of the record indicates the trial court properly
denied Ms. Vicchitto’s testimony.
Vicchitto sought to offer character evidence from his mother in an effort to show
he did not have the capacity to commit the crimes for which he was charged. While a
non-testifying defendant can offer character evidence at trial, the Tennessee Rules of
Evidence limit the same. Rule 404 (a)(1) provides:
Evidence of a person’s character or trait of character is not
admissible for the purpose of proving action in conformity therewith on a
particular occasion, except:
(1) Character of Accused. In a criminal case, evidence of a pertinent
trait of character offered by an accused or by the prosecution to rebut the
same or, if evidence of a trait of character of the alleged victim of the crime
is offered by the accused and admitted under Rule 404(a)(2), evidence of
the same trait of character of the accused offered by the prosecution[.]
Tenn. R. Evid. 404 (a)(1). The trial court denied Ms. Vicchitto’s testimony as irrelevant
under Rule 404 (a)(1), noting “she has no information at all about the facts at hand.” We
agree. Not only did Ms. Vicchitto testify she was unaware of Vicchitto’s participation in
the BDSM community, but her testimony also failed to address any of the facts at issue in
the case. She had no knowledge of the events leading to the victim’s death and her
- 21 -
testimony merely suggested she believed Vicchitto to be a good person. Though Ms.
Vicchitto had knowledge of Vicchitto’s educational, medical, and criminal history, her
testimony regarding the same did not relate to the crimes for which he was charged.
Therefore, Ms. Vicchitto’s proposed testimony failed to meet the requirements of Rule
404 (a)(1) and the trial court properly excluded her testimony at trial. Vicchitto is not
entitled to relief as to this issue.
IV. Sentencing
Finally, Richardson challenges his sentence of life plus twenty-five years as
excessive. He argues the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences after finding
him to be a dangerous offender, claiming yet again that the victim’s “death arose from a
set of bizarre circumstances that will not likely be repeated and in which [] Richardson
was not even the principle decision maker, [] Skipper was.” The State asserts sufficient
evidence exists to support the trial court’s finding of Richardson’s status as a dangerous
offender, and we agree with the State.
When an accused challenges the length, manner, or range of a sentence, this Court
will review the trial court’s decision under an abuse of discretion standard with a
presumption of reasonableness. State v. Bise, 380 S.W.3d 682, 706 (Tenn. 2012); State v.
Pollard, 432 S.W.3d 851, 860 (Tenn. 2013). This Court also reviews consecutive
sentences imposed by the trial court under an abuse of discretion standard with a
presumption of reasonableness. Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 707; Pollard, 432 S.W.3d at 859-
60. The party appealing a sentence bears the burden of establishing that the sentence was
improper. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401, Sent’g Comm’n Cmts. This Court will uphold
the trial court’s sentencing decision “so long as it is within the appropriate range and the
record demonstrates that the sentence is otherwise in compliance with the purposes and
principles listed by statute.” Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 709-10.
In imposing a sentence, the trial court must also consider the following factors: (1)
the evidence, if any, received at the trial and the sentencing hearing; (2) the presentence
report; (3) the principles of sentencing and arguments as to sentencing alternatives; (4)
the nature and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved; (5) evidence and
information offered by the parties on enhancement and mitigating factors; (6) any
statistical information provided by the administrative office of the courts as to sentencing
practices for similar offenses in Tennessee; and (7) any statement by the defendant in his
own behalf. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210 (b). In addition, the principles of sentencing
provide that the sentence should be no greater that that deserved for the offense
committed and should be the least severe measure necessary to achieve the purposes for
which the sentence is imposed. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-103 (2), (4). To provide
- 22 -
meaningful appellate review, the trial court must state on the record its reasons for the
sentence chosen. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210 (e).
After doing so, “the trial court is free to select any sentence within the applicable
range so long as the length of the sentence is ‘consistent with the purposes and principles
of [the Sentencing Act].’” State v. Carter, 254 S.W.3d 335, 343 (Tenn. 2008) (quoting
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210 (d)). The trial court shall consider, but is not bound by, the
provision that “[t]he minimum sentence within the range of punishment is the sentence
that should be imposed . . . [and] should be adjusted, as appropriate by the presence or
absence of mitigating and enhancement factors.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210 (c);
Carter, 254 S.W.3d at 346. A non-exclusive list of mitigating and enhancement factors
are provided in Tennessee Code Annotated sections 40-35-113 and -114. The weighing
of both mitigating and enhancement factors is left to the trial court’s sound discretion, but
a trial court’s misapplication of a mitigating or enhancement factor will not remove the
presumption of reasonableness from its sentencing determination. Bise, 380 S.W.3d at
709.
Further, Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115 “creates several limited
classifications for the imposition of consecutive sentences.” State v. Moore, 942 S.W.2d
570, 571 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). A trial court “may order sentences to run
consecutively if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that one or more of the
statutory criteria exists.” State v. Black, 924 S.W.2d 912, 917 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
Pursuant to statute, consecutive sentencing is warranted when “[t]he defendant is a
dangerous offender whose behavior indicates little or no regard for human life and no
hesitation about committing a crime in which the risk to human life is high” and “[t]he
defendant is sentenced for an offense committed while on probation.” Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 40-35-115 (b)(4), (b)(6). In imposing consecutive sentences based upon a dangerous
offender status, it is necessary that “the terms reasonably relate to the severity of the
offenses committed and are necessary in order to protect the public from further serious
criminal conduct by the defendant.” State v. Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d 933, 938 (Tenn.
1995); see also State v. Lane, 3 S.W.3d 456, 461 (Tenn.1999) (stating that the Wilkerson
findings that the sentences are necessary to protect the public and reasonably relate to the
severity of the offenses apply only to consecutive sentences involving dangerous
offenders).
Richardson challenges the trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentencing,
claiming the life sentence plus twenty-five years was unjust because the record does not
support his dangerous offender status. This argument, however, is without merit. In
sentencing Richardson, the record makes clear the trial court complied with the purposes
and principles of sentencing before imposing a life sentence plus twenty-five years.
Further, the trial court found the defendant was eligible for consecutive sentencing based
- 23 -
upon his criminal history, including his probation status at the time of the present crimes,
and its determination that the defendant is a “dangerous offender.” Tenn. Code Ann. §
40-35-115 (b)(2), (b)(4). The trial court explained:
All right, in this case, as we know, the jury found [] Richardson
guilty on the first degree murder and felony murder and especially
aggravated kidnapping. That verdict came in on April 1st, 2016. The two
murder convictions will merge into the first [] degree murder for sentencing
and under the law, that requires life imprisonment. That leads us to the
especially aggravated kidnapping, an A Felony. Based on the information
in the presentence report and the testimony, [] Richardson is a range one
offender. That sentence would be fifteen to twenty-five years and as stated
in the previous hearings, the [c]ourt vividly remembers the testimony from
the trial and all the evidence presented. Based on that and the evidence
submitted today, considering all the arguments, the principles of
sentencing. With regard to the enhancement factors, number one is
applicable as far as he does have a criminal history. Certainly, they are
misdemeanors. It’s not anything in the felony range. Number five is
applicable, that he treated -- he did treat the victim with exceptional cruelty
during the commission of the offense. Number six, the personal injuries
inflicted upon [the victim] were great. Number ten is applicable, that there
was no hesitation about committing the crime when the risk to human life
was high, and then of course, thirteen is also applicable in that at the time
that the felony was committed, [] Richardson was on probation.
I have heard the arguments of counsel regarding the mitigating
factors and the [c]ourt is not persuaded that those mitigating factors are
applicable. He may have assisted the authorities, that was after the fact
when he had been apprehended and I believe they were all pointing fingers
at each other at that time, and he didn’t participate in the cover up because
he left once it was determined that [the victim] was deceased and he didn’t
probably even know the details of the story.
Also, with regard to the mitigating factor number eleven, the [c]ourt
does not find that that is applicable either. Certainly, the BDSM lifestyle
was unique, but that is not the issue here. [The victim] was beaten to death.
[T]hat’s just the bottom line of the proof in this case and whether she
initially consented -- maybe she did, but she was tied up and gagged and
unable to speak for herself when all this was going on.
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So, the question then on the especially aggravated kidnapping based
on those enhancement factors, the sentence will be the max of twenty-five
years because again, of the exceptional cruelty and the brutal beating that
we heard about, multiple fractures and internal lacerations obviously
resulted from that cruel treatment.
But then we look at the consecutive sentencing issue and in
reviewing the factors set forth regarding consecutive sentencing,
particularly 40-35-115 (b)(4), the [d]efendant is a dangerous offender
whose behavior indicated little or no regard for human life and no
hesitation about committing the crime when the risk to human life was high
and the circumstances surrounding the offense were aggravated,
confinement is necessary to protect society, and the length of the sentence
reasonably relates to the offenses. [S]o the [c]ourt does find in this case
that consecutive sentencing to be applicable so the especially aggravated
kidnapping will be twenty-five years consecutive.
In finding Richardson eligible for consecutive sentencing, the trial court noted he
engaged in the “exceptional cruelty and the brutal beating” of the victim which resulted
in her death. As a result, the trial court found Richardson to be a dangerous offender and
stated his behavior indicated no regard for human life and that he had no hesitation for
committing a crime where the risk to human life was high. Richardson admitted the
crimes committed against the victim were cruel and evidence of the same is detailed
extensively throughout this opinion. It is clear Richardson engaged in the prolonged
beating of the victim during which she suffered extensive traumatic injuries while
hanging by her arms from the ceiling. Additionally, the record illustrates Richardson had
a criminal history for which he was on probation at the time of the victim’s kidnapping
and murder. Accordingly, we conclude the criteria relied upon by the trial court are
explicit in the record and support the court’s consecutive sentencing as to Richardson’s
convictions. The trial court did not abuse its discretion, and we affirm the trial court’s
sentence.
Conclusion
Based upon the foregoing authorities and reasoning, we affirm the defendants’
convictions, Richardson’s sentencing, and the evidentiary rulings and jury instructions of
the trial court, but remand this cause to the trial court for sentencing and the entry of
completed judgment forms as to counts one and two for each defendant.
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____________________________________
J. ROSS DYER, JUDGE
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