State v. James Bingham, Jessie Baker, and Donald Patterson ( 1997 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE FILED
MAY 1997 SESSION
December 15, 1997
Cecil W. Crowson
Appellate Court Clerk
STATE OF TENNESSEE, )
) C.C.A. No. 01C01-9604-CC-00159
Appellee, )
) Coffee County
V. )
) Honorable Gerald L. Ewell, Sr., Judge
)
JAMES T. BINGHAM, )
JESSIE W. BAKER, AND ) (Sentencing)
DONALD RAY PATTERSON, )
)
Appellants. )
FOR THE APPELLANTS: FOR THE APPELLEE:
Bingham & Baker Charles W. Burson
Andrew Jackson Dearing, III Attorney General & Reporter
Attorney at Law
117 South Main Street Lisa A. Naylor
Suite 101 Assistant Attorney General
Shelbyville, TN 37160 Criminal Justice Division
450 James Robertson Parkway
Patterson Nashville, TN 37243-0493
Bethel Campbell Smoot, Jr.
District Public Defender C. Michael Layne
District Attorney General
Rachel E. Willis 307 S. Woodland
Assistant Public Defender P.O. Box 147
606 East Carroll Street Manchester, TN 37355
P.O. Box 260
Tullahoma, TN 37388
OPINION FILED: ___________________
AFFIRMED
PAUL G. SUMMERS,
Judge
OPINION
The appellants, Donald Patterson, Jamie Bingham, and Jessie Baker,
were arrested for committing various crimes. Jamie Bingham was indicted on
three counts of burglary of a motor vehicle and six misdemeanor counts of theft.
Jessie Baker was indicted on two counts of burglary of a motor vehicle and three
counts of misdemeanor theft. Donald Patterson was indicted on two counts of
burglary of a motor vehicle and two counts of misdemeanor theft. Each
appellant pled guilty to all of the indicted charges. After a sentencing hearing, all
of the appellants were classified as standard Range I offenders, but they
received different effective sentences due to the number and nature of their
individual crimes. On appeal, each of the appellants challenges the manner and
length of his sentences. Upon review, we affirm each of the appellant’s
sentences.
When a sentencing issue is appealed, this Court shall conduct a de novo
review with the presumption that the trial court’s findings are correct. Tenn.
Code Ann. § 40-35-401 (d) (1990); State v. Byrd, 861 S.W.2d 377, 379 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1993). The presumption of correctness is conditioned upon an
affirmative showing, in the record, that the trial court considered the sentencing
principles and all relevant facts and circumstances. State v. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d
166, 169 (Tenn. 1991).
In conducting a de novo review of a defendant’s sentence, including the
manner in which he or she is to serve the sentence, this Court must consider: (1)
the evidence received at 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, (5) any mitigating and
enhancement factors, (6) any statements made by the defendant in his or her
own behalf, and (7) the defendant’s potential for rehabilitation or treatment.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210 & 103 (1990).
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Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-103 (1)(A)-(C) (1990) sets out
sentencing considerations which are guidelines for determining whether or not a
defendant should be incarcerated. These include (1) the need to protect society
by restraining a defendant having a long history of criminal conduct, (2) the need
to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense, and (3) the need to deter
others likely to commit similar offenses. In reviewing a grant or denial of
probation, this Court also considers (1) the circumstances of the offense, (2) the
defendant’s criminal record, (3) his/her social history, (4) present physical and
mental condition, and (5) the deterrent effect of the sentence. Id. This Court has
previously determined that a negative finding of any one of these factors is
sufficient to support a denial of probation. State v. Baron, 659 S.W.2d 811, 815
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1983). Probation may also be denied based upon the
circumstances surrounding the offense. State v. Hartley, 818 S.W.2d 370, 373
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). This standard has essentially been codified at Tenn.
Code Ann. § 40-35-103 (1)(b) as the need to avoid depreciating the seriousness
of the offense. Id. at 375.
The appellant Bingham pled guilty to three counts of burglary of a motor
vehicle, a Class E felony. He was sentenced to serve two years on community
corrections for each count. These sentences were ordered to run consecutively.
He also pled guilty to six counts of theft of property valued under $500, a Class A
misdemeanor. He was sentenced to three consecutive eleven month and
twenty-nine day sentences to be served concurrently with three eleven month
and twenty-nine day sentences. In this appeal he contends that the trial court
erroneously imposed confinement and should have imposed concurrent
sentences. We disagree.
The record reveals that the trial judge correctly considered the principles
of sentencing. Therefore, our review is de novo with a presumption of
correctness. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d) (1990).
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The trial judge found one enhancement factor1 and two mitigating factors2
applicable to this appellant. The appellant’s allegation that he should have
received an alternative sentence is misguided. The trial judge found that the
appellant was a suitable candidate for alternative sentencing and ordered part of
the appellant’s sentence to be served on community corrections. It is well
settled that community corrections is an alternative sentence. State v. Taylor,
744 S.W.2d 919, 920 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). However, he did not completely
probate the appellant’s sentence and ordered consecutive sentences because of
the appellant’s history of criminal behavior, his “sorry” employment and social
history, and the need to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense. We
find that the evidence supports the trial court’s findings. The appellant has failed
to overcome the presumption of correctness. His sentence is affirmed.
The appellant Baker pled guilty to two counts of burglary of a motor
vehicle. He was sentenced to two years on community corrections for each
count. These sentences were ordered to run consecutively. Baker also pled
guilty to three counts of theft of property valued under $500. He received two
consecutive eleven month and twenty-nine day sentences to be served
concurrently to one eleven month twenty-nine day sentence. The appellant
contends that the confinement was inappropriate and that he should have been
classified as an especially mitigated offender.
The record reveals that the trial judge correctly considered the principles
of sentencing. Therefore, our review is de novo with a presumption of
correctness. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d) (1990).
1
The ap pellant ha s a previo us history of crim inal beha vior. Tenn . Code A nn. § 40 -35-114(1 ) (1990).
2
The court found that the appellant’s conduct neither caused nor threatened serious bodily injury and that the
appellant assisted authorities in locating or recovering property involved in his crimes. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-113(1) & (10)
(1990).
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In sentencing Baker the trial court found one enhancement factor3 and
two mitigating factors4 applicable. The trial judge rejected the appellant’s
argument that he should be classified as an especially mitigated offender finding
that he had previously pled guilty to two felony charges. The trial judge did find
that the appellant should receive an alternative sentence. He split the sentence
between confinement and community corrections. In declining to completely
probate the appellant’s sentences and in ordering consecutive terms, the trial
judge found that the appellant had contradicted himself throughout the
sentencing hearing. Furthermore, he had misrepresented facts or lied in his
presentence report. It is well settled that an appellant’s lack of candor may
serve as the sole basis for denying probation. State v. Dykes, 803 S.W.2d 250(Tenn. Crim. App. 1990); State v. Jenkins, 733 S.W.2d 528 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1987). Based upon his prior history of criminal behavior, his lack of candor, and
the need to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense, the trial court
ordered consecutive confinement. We find that the evidence supports the trial
court’s findings. The appellant has failed to overcome the presumption of
correctness. His sentence is affirmed.
The appellant Patterson pled guilty to two counts of burglary of a motor
vehicle. He received two consecutive years on community corrections for each
count. He also pled guilty to two counts of theft of property valued under $500.
He received two consecutive eleven month and twenty-nine day sentences for
these convictions. The convictions on community corrections were ordered to
run consecutively to the theft convictions.
Patterson contends that the trial court erroneously applied nonstatutory
enhancement factors and sentenced him above the minimum of the range for his
3
The ap pellant ha s a previo us history of crim inal beha vior. Tenn . Code A nn. § 40 -35-114(1 ) (1990).
4
The court found that the appellant’s conduct neither caused nor threatened serious bodily injury and that the
appellant assisted authorities in locating or recovering property involved in his crimes. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-113(1) & (10)
(1990).
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convictions. Furthermore, he argues that his sentences should have been
ordered to run concurrently to one another. We disagree.
There exists at least one enhancer and two mitigators 5 applicable to this
appellant. The appellant had a previous history of criminal behavior and had
other charges pending in other counties. Also, the trial court found that the
appellant had failed to show up at the initial sentencing hearing resulting in a
capias being issued for his arrest. This Court finds, as did the trial court, that this
illustrates the appellant’s cavalier attitude and dilutes his seriousness concerning
the serious crimes he committed. Consequently, the trial judge felt that he must
strictly sentence the appellant to deter him and others from future criminal
conduct and to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense. We find that
the evidence supports the trial court's findings. The appellant has failed to
overcome the presumption of correctness. His sentence is affirmed.
After careful consideration of each appellant’s issues and arguments, we
find no error of law mandating reversal.
AFFIRMED
________________________________
PAUL G. SUMMERS, Judge
CONCUR:
___________________________
DAVID G. HAYES, Judge
5
The court found that the appellant’s conduct neither caused nor threatened serious bodily injury and that the
appellant assisted authorities in locating or recovering property involved in his crimes. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-113(1) & (10)
(1990).
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___________________________
JERRY L. SMITH, Judge
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