State of Tennessee v. Steve Duclair ( 2014 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
November 19, 2013 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. STEVE DUCLAIR
Appeal from the Criminal Court for Sullivan County
No. S56036 R. Jerry Beck, Judge
No. E2012-02580-CCA-R3-CD - Filed April 23, 2014
Appellant, Steve Duclair, was named in a presentment by the Sullivan County Grand Jury
in September of 2008 for two counts of the sale of one-half a gram or more of cocaine within
1,000 feet of a school and two counts of the delivery of one-half a gram or more of cocaine
within 1,000 feet of a school. The grand jury later named Appellant in a second presentment
charging Appellant for one count of selling one-half gram or more of cocaine within 1,000
feet of a school and one count of delivering one-half gram or more of cocaine within 1,000
feet of a school. After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of two counts of selling one-half
gram or more of cocaine, two counts of delivering one-half gram or more of cocaine, one
count of selling one-half gram or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, and one
count of delivering one-half gram or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school. The trial
court merged the convictions for the sale of cocaine with the convictions for the delivery of
cocaine. Appellant was sentenced to an effective sentence of fifteen years at 100 percent.
After the denial of a motion for new trial, Appellant presents the following issues for our
review on appeal: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions; (2)
whether the trial court committed error while dismissing the alternate juror at the conclusion
of the trial; (3) whether the trial court committed error by asking Appellant where he was
from during voir dire; (4) whether the trial court properly instructed the jury; (5) whether
Appellant’s sentences constitute cruel and unusual punishment; (6) whether the assistant
district attorney committed prosecutorial misconduct; and (7) whether the Drug-Free School
Zone Act is unconstitutional. After a review of the record and the applicable authorities, we
determine that the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions; the trial court properly
instructed the jury; the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Appellant; the
Drug-Free School Zone Act is not unconstitutional; the trial court did not violate Appellant’s
right from self-incrimination during voir dire; the trial court did not err in dismissing the
alternate juror; and the prosecutor did not commit misconduct during closing argument.
Consequently, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Trial Court are Affirmed.
J ERRY L. S MITH, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which J AMES C URWOOD W ITT. J R.,
and D. K ELLY T HOMAS, J R., JJ., joined.
Richard A. Spivey, Kingsport, Tennessee, for the appellant, Steve Duclair.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Benjamin A. Ball, Assistant Attorney
General; Barry Staubus, District Attorney General; and Joseph Perrin, Assistant District
Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
Factual Background
In early 2008, Lisa Thompson was contacted by local authorities about becoming a
confidential informant. Ms. Thompson, at the time, was selling cocaine out of her home to
support her own addiction to the drug. The home was located next door to Holston View
Elementary School in Bristol, Tennessee.
Ms. Thompson agreed to plead guilty to selling cocaine and possession of drug
paraphernalia in exchange for future cooperation as a confidential informant. As a result, she
received a suspended sentence of three years, to be served on probation for six years. Ms.
Thompson cooperated fully with authorities, providing assistance with over 100 cases for
both the Sullivan County and Bristol vice squads. Among these transactions were three
controlled purchases from Appellant.
On March 11, 2008, Ms. Thompson called Appellant two times, attempting to buy
drugs. The calls were recorded. Appellant called her back and indicated that he would bring
the drugs to her house. Ms. Thompson was supplied with $200 by the police. The
transaction was videotaped. Appellant came to the house; Ms. Thompson gave him the $200
in exchange for cocaine weighing 1.3 grams.
On March 19, 2008, Ms. Thompson called Appellant trying to purchase cocaine. The
police again provided her with $200. The transaction was videotaped. On this occasion,
Detective Dennis Lee Ford, Jr. hid in Ms. Thompson’s living room. Appellant again came
to the residence and exchanged a package of cocaine with Ms. Thompson for the $200. The
cocaine in this instance also weighed in at 1.3 grams.
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At some point after the March 19 incident, Appellant called Ms. Thompson to notify
her that he had a new telephone number. On August 15, 2008, Ms. Thompson made a phone
call to Appellant. The call was recorded. Ms. Thompson told Appellant she was looking for
a “bill,” slang for $100 worth of cocaine. Ms. Thompson was wired with video equipment
during this transaction. For some unexplained reason, the equipment failed. Appellant
provided Ms. Thompson with .6 grams of cocaine on this occasion in exchange for the $100.
Ms. Thompson’s home was located within 1,000 feet of Holston View Elementary
School in Bristol, Tennessee.
As a result of these three transactions, Appellant was named in a presentment by the
Sullivan County Grand Jury in September of 2008 for two counts of the sale of one-half a
gram or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school and two counts of the delivery of one-
half a gram or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school. A second presentment was
issued charging Appellant for one count of selling one-half gram or more of cocaine within
1,000 feet of a school and one count of delivering one-half gram or more of cocaine within
1,000 feet of a school.
At trial, Appellant stipulated that the sale or delivery of cocaine occurred within 1,000
feet of Holston View Elementary School.
At the conclusion of the proof, the jury found Appellant guilty of two counts of selling
.5 grams or more of cocaine, two counts of delivering .5 grams or more of cocaine, one count
of selling .5 grams or more of cocaine within a school zone, and one count of delivering .5
grams or more of cocaine within a school zone. The trial court merged the counts for the sale
of cocaine with the counts for delivery of cocaine, resulting in two convictions for selling .5
grams or more of cocaine, and one count of selling .5 grams or more of cocaine within a
school zone. The trial court held a separate sentencing hearing at which Appellant was
sentenced to eight years for each conviction for the sale of .5 grams or more of cocaine and
fifteen years for the conviction for selling .5 grams or more of cocaine within a school zone.
The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, for a total effective sentence of fifteen
years.
After the denial of a motion for new trial, Appellant perfected this appeal.
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Analysis
Sufficiency of the Evidence and Denial of Motion for Judgment of Acquittal
A. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Appellant claims that the evidence at trial was insufficient to support the convictions.
Specifically, he claims that the proof was “virtually identical” in that all three drug
transactions took place at the home of Ms. Thompson, a location stipulated to be within
1,000 feet of a school. However, Appellant complains that the jury convicted him of the sale
of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school in only one count, an “irreconcilably inconsistent”
verdict. In conjunction with his complaints about the sufficiency of the evidence and
inconsistency of the verdict, Appellant also argues that the trial court improperly denied the
motion for judgment of acquittal and improperly failed as thirteenth juror by upholding a
verdict that was against the weight of the evidence. The State disagrees.
When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court is obliged to
review that claim according to certain well-settled principles. A verdict of guilty, rendered
by a jury and “approved by the trial judge, accredits the testimony of the” State’s witnesses
and resolves all conflicts in the testimony in favor of the State. State v. Cazes, 875 S.W.2d
253, 259 (Tenn. 1994) (citing State v. Harris, 839 S.W.2d 54, 75 (Tenn. 1992)). Thus,
although the accused is originally cloaked with a presumption of innocence, the jury verdict
of guilty removes this presumption “and replaces it with one of guilt.” State v. Tuggle, 639
S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982). Hence, on appeal, the burden of proof rests with the
defendant to demonstrate the insufficiency of the convicting evidence. Id. The relevant
question the reviewing court must answer is whether any rational trier of fact could have
found the accused guilty of every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See
Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e); Harris, 839 S.W.2d at 75. In making this decision, we are to accord
the State “the strongest legitimate view of the evidence as well as all reasonable and
legitimate inferences that may be drawn therefrom.” See Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d at 914. As
such, this Court is precluded from re-weighing or reconsidering the evidence when
evaluating the convicting proof. State v. Morgan, 929 S.W.2d 380, 383 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1996); State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). Moreover, we may
not substitute our own “inferences for those drawn by the trier of fact from circumstantial
evidence.” Matthews, 805 S.W.2d at 779. Further, questions concerning the credibility of
the witnesses and the weight and value to be given to evidence, as well as all factual issues
raised by such evidence, are resolved by the trier of fact and not the appellate courts. State
v. Pruett, 788 S.W.2d 559, 561 (Tenn. 1990). “The standard of review ‘is the same whether
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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)).
“It is an offense for a defendant to knowingly . . . [p]ossess a controlled substance
with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell the controlled substance.” T.C.A. § 39-17-
417(a)(4). The Drug Free School Zone Act states that when an offense involving a
controlled substance, in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-417,
occurs on the grounds or facilities of any school or within one thousand feet
(1,000') of the real property that comprises a public or private elementary
school, middle school, secondary school, preschool, child care agency, or
public library, recreational center or park shall be punished one (1)
classification higher than is provided in § 39-17-417(b)-(i) for such violation.
Id. § 39-17-432. In order to sustain a conviction for this offense, the State was required to
prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant knowingly “possess[ed] [cocaine] with intent
to manufacture, deliver or sell [cocaine].” T.C.A. § 39-17-417(a)(4) (2010). A violation of
subsection (a) with respect to 0.5 grams or more of cocaine is a Class B felony. Id. § 39-17-
417(c)(1). In addition, as described above, the Drug Free School Zone Act requires a
violation to be punished one classification level higher. Id. § 39-17-432(b)(1) (2010). In
other words, a defendant convicted of selling 0.5 grams or more of cocaine, ordinarily a
Class B felony, would be punished for a Class A felony if the defendant sold the drug within
1,000 feet of a public or private elementary, middle, or high school. The Act does not create
a separate criminal offense; “it merely imposes a harsher penalty for violations . . . occurring
within a school zone.” State v. Smith, 48 S.W.3d 159, 168 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000).
Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of fact
could have found the elements of the offense of selling more than .5 grams of cocaine on
each of the occasions Appellant visited Ms. Thompson at her home. The transactions were
recorded with audio, video, or both. Testing of the substances exchanged between Appellant
and Ms. Thompson confirmed that, in each case, the substance sold by Appellant to Ms.
Thompson was cocaine weighing more than .5 grams. In other words, the evidence was
sufficient to support the convictions for selling more than .5 grams of cocaine.
Moreover, the evidence was sufficient to support the finding by the jury that the
offense on August 15, 2008, occurred within 1,000 feet of a school. Appellant does not
contest that he sold the cocaine; he merely argues that the jury’s finding of the school zone
enhancement for the August crime was inconsistent with the other verdicts such that the
evidence should be rendered insufficient to support the convictions. Appellant cites State
v. Elkins, 102 S.W.3d 578 (Tenn. 2003), to support his argument.
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In Elkins, the supreme court cautioned that a “jury’s verdict will not be overturned
unless there are inaccuracies or inconsistencies that ‘are so improbable or unsatisfactory as
to create a reasonable doubt of [a defendant’s] guilt.” Id. at 582-83 (quoting State v. Radley,
29 S.W.3d 532, 537 (Tenn. Crim App. 1999)). In Elkins, the court pointed to inconsistencies
in evidence, not inconsistencies in verdict as Appellant claims herein. At Appellant’s trial,
the parties stipulated that all three transactions occurred within 1,000 feet of an elementary
school. Thus, the evidence was sufficient to support this conviction.
Additionally, we determine that the verdicts are not inconsistent, as argued by
Appellant. The law in this state is that “consistency between verdicts on separate counts of
an indictment is not necessary.” Wiggins v. State, 498 S.W.2d 92, 93 (Tenn. 1973). This
court has stated that “[i]nconsistent verdicts are permitted as long as there is sufficient
evidence to permit a rational fact finder to find a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
on the charges on which the defendant was convicted.” State v. Tony Scott Walker, No.
02C01-9704-CC-00147, 1997 WL 746433, at *3 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Dec. 3,
1997), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Sept. 21, 1998). Thus, this Court’s only inquiry when
presented with inconsistent verdicts is the sufficiency of the evidence of the conviction
offenses. Id. at *5; see Wiggins, 498 S.W.2d at 93. In State v. Shelly Minor, W2010-01677-
CCA-R3-CD, 2012 WL 3055776, at *14 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, July 26, 2012),
perm. app. denied (Tenn. Jan. 22, 2013), this Court affirmed a defendant’s convictions for
second degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death as a
lesser included offense of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. On appeal, the
defendant claimed that the verdicts were inconsistent, arguing that “the jury ‘flatly rejected
this notion that [the defendant] knew or reasonably should have known that [the victim’s]
death resulted from the accident.’” 2012 WL 3055776, at *14. We rejected that argument,
reasoning that each count of an indictment is regarded as a separate offense. Id. With regard
to seemingly inconsistent verdicts, we stated:
Moreover, “[c]ourts have always resisted inquiring into a jury’s thought
processes.” United States v. Powell, 469 U.S. 57, 67, 105 S. Ct. 471, 83 L. Ed.
2d 461 (1984). This resistance is perhaps best illustrated in the cases, like the
one herein, involving a defendant’s challenge to the consistency of a jury’s
verdicts in a multi-count indictment. After Wiggins, this Court has
consistently declined to disturb one conviction on the basis that the jury’s
acquittal on another offense is inconsistent, even when the elements and
evidence of the two offenses intertwine or are the same. See State v. Derek T.
Payne, No. W2001-00532-CCA-R3-CD, 2002 WL 31624813 (Tenn. Crim.
App., Jackson, Nov. 20, 2002) (upholding conviction of second degree murder
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as a lesser included offense of felony murder even when convicted of
underlying felony).
The same reasoning applies herein. While Appellant’s separate convictions for selling
cocaine within a school zone and selling cocaine are seemingly inconsistent where the
transactions occurred at the same location, the fact remains that the underlying evidence
supported the finding that Appellant sold cocaine weighing more than .5 grams to a
confidential informant on three separate instances. All of these transactions occurred within
1,000 feet of a school. Any further examination as to how the jury reached a conclusion that
one of the offenses warranted the school zone enhancement and the other two did not would
lead to improper speculation by this Court of the jury’s reasoning.1 Moreover, Appellant
does not explain how the failure of the jury to find the school zone enhancement in two of
the counts renders the evidence insufficient to support the remaining convictions for the sale
of cocaine. As stated previously, the sale of a controlled substance within a school zone is
not an element of a criminal offense, it is a determination that leads to the imposition of a
harsher penalty. Appellant is not entitled to relief on this issue.
B. Motion for Judgment of Acquittal/Thirteenth Juror
Within his argument of the sufficiency of the evidence, Appellant also includes a
statement that the trial court improperly denied a motion for judgment of acquittal and failed
to properly act as thirteenth juror.
A motion for judgment of acquittal raises a question of law for the trial court’s
determination. State v. Hall, 656 S.W.2d 60, 61 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1983). When the trial
court is presented with a motion for judgment of acquittal, the only concern is the legal
sufficiency, as opposed to the weight, of the evidence. State v. Blanton, 926 S.W.2d 953,
957 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). Appellate courts are ill-suited to assess whether the verdict
is supported by the weight and credibility of the evidence. State v. Moats, 906 S.W.2d 431,
435 (Tenn. 1995). Thus, appellate review is limited to sufficiency of the evidence pursuant
to Rule 13(e) of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. State v. Burlison, 868 S.W.2d 713, 718-
19 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993).
Accordingly, the standard by which the trial court determines a motion for a judgment
of acquittal is, in essence, the same standard that applies on appeal in determining the
1
Interestingly, we note that during deliberation the jury inquired about the minimum sentence for a Class A
felony and whether Appellant was given the opportunity, like Ms. Thompson, to work as a confidential informant in
exchange for a lesser sentence. The trial court informed the jury that he was unable to answer the questions. While this
Court is not permitted to speculate on the jury’s intent, it appears that the jury’s verdict somehow reflects that the jury
took the above into consideration when determining the crimes with which Appellant would be convicted.
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sufficiency of the evidence after a conviction. State v. Little, 402 S.W.3d 202, 211 (Tenn.
2013). We have already determined that the evidence was sufficient to support the
convictions. Therefore, the trial court did not err in denying a motion for judgment of
acquittal.
As to the argument that the trial court failed in its role as thirteenth juror, we note that
Rule 33(d) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure provides that “[t]he trial court may
grant a new trial following a verdict of guilty if it disagrees with the jury about the weight
of the evidence.” Tenn. R. Crim. P. 33(d). “This portion of the Rule is the modern
equivalent to the ‘thirteenth juror rule,’ whereby the trial court must weigh the evidence and
grant a new trial if the evidence preponderates against the weight of the verdict.” State v.
Blanton, 926 S.W.2d 953, 958 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996) (footnote omitted). The Tennessee
Supreme Court has held “that Rule 33[(d)] imposes upon a trial court judge the mandatory
duty to serve as the thirteenth juror in every criminal case.” State v. Carter, 896 S.W.2d 119,
122 (Tenn. 1995). Moreover, the “approval by the trial judge of the jury’s verdict as the
thirteenth juror is a necessary prerequisite to the imposition of a valid judgment.” Id.
However, “Rule 33(f) does not require the trial judge to make an explicit statement on the
record.” Id. “Instead, when the trial judge simply overrules a motion for new trial, an
appellate court may presume that the trial judge has served as the thirteenth juror and
approved the jury’s verdict.” Id.
At the conclusion of the trial, the trial court noted its “mandatory duty” to serve as
thirteenth juror and adopted the verdict of the jury. Further, at the hearing on Appellant’s
motion for new trial, the trial court stated that the evidence supported the verdict and
overruled Appellant’s motion. In addition, we too have concluded that the evidence supports
the jury’s verdict. Therefore, we find that the trial judge exercised its role as the thirteenth
juror and approved the jury’s verdict that Appellant was guilty of two counts of the sale of
.5 grams or more of cocaine and one count of the sale of .5 grams or more of cocaine in a
school zone. Appellant is not entitled to relief on this issue.
Jury Discrimination
Appellant next argues that the trial court improperly excused the only African
American juror from the jury panel at the close of proof. Specifically, Appellant complains
that fourteen jurors heard the case and one juror was excused prior to deliberation on the
basis of a potential conflict with her vacation. The trial court then decided to reduce the
number of jurors to twelve by utilizing a “blind draw” in which juror slips were shuffled, laid
face down, and one was removed. Appellant complains that Juror John Garland was
removed and that the trial court’s actions amounted to a systematic exclusion of African
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Americans from the jury. The trial court insists that Appellant waived the issue for failure
to object to the trial court’s procedure.
We agree. Typically, a defendant’s failure to make a contemporaneous objection
during trial constitutes a waiver of an issue. Tenn. R. Evid. 103(a)(1); Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a)
(stating that “Nothing in this rule shall be construed as requiring relief be granted to a party
responsible for an error or who failed to take whatever action was reasonably available to
prevent or nullify the harmful effect of an error.”); State v. Cravens, 764 S.W.2d 754, 757
(Tenn. 1989). Additionally, Appellant does not argue that the actions of the trial court
amounted to plain error.
Because Appellant did not object to the process by which the trial court dismissed the
alternate juror, if this Court is to review Appellant’s claims of jury discrimination, we must
do so through the process of “plain error” review embodied in Rule 36(b) of the Tennessee
Rules of Appellate Procedure, which provides, “When necessary to do substantial justice, an
appellate court may consider an error that has affected the substantial rights of a party at any
time, even though the error was not raised in the motion for a new trial or assigned as error
on appeal.” 2
In exercising our discretion as to whether plain error review under Rule 36(b) of the
Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure is appropriate, the Tennessee Supreme Court has
directed that we examine five factors: (1) the record must clearly establish what occurred in
the trial court; (2) a clear and unequivocal rule of law must have been breached; (3) a
substantial right of the defendant must have been adversely affected; (4) the accused did not
waive the issue for tactical reasons; and (5) consideration of the error is necessary to do
substantial justice. See State v. Smith, 24 S.W.3d 274, 282-83 (Tenn. 2000) (citing State v.
Adkisson, 899 S.W.2d 626, 641 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994)). All five (5) factors must be
present for plain error review. Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 283.
It is the accused’s burden to persuade an appellate court that the trial court committed
plain error. See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 734 (1993) . Further, our complete
consideration of all five of the factors is not necessary when it is clear from the record that
at least one of them cannot be satisfied. Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 283.
2
This rule by its terms allows plain error review only where there is a failure to allege error in the new trial
motion or where the error is not raised before the appellate court. Nevertheless, the rule has been interpreted by the
appellate courts to allow appellate review under some circumstances in the absence of a contemporaneous objection as
well. This language was formerly contained in Rule 52(b) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure.
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We conclude that Appellant cannot meet the five factors necessitating plain error
review. Specifically, Appellant has not shown that a clear and equivocal rule of law has been
breached. This issue is without merit.
Questioning Appellant During Voir Dire
Appellant argues on appeal that the trial court improperly asked Appellant a question
during voir dire about where he resided. Appellant insists that this was a constitutional error
that infringed on Appellant’s right against self-incrimination. The State notes that Appellant
failed to object to the question at trial and has failed to establish that plain error exists on
appeal.
At the beginning of jury selection, the trial court asked counsel for Appellant, “And
where is [Appellant] from [counsel]? What’s his . . . .” Before the trial court could continue,
counsel stated, “New York, Your Honor.” The trial court repeated, “New York,” before
continuing to address the jury as follows: “My first question would be: Does anybody know
[Appellant]? Is anyone related by blood or marriage to [him]?” The record contains no
affirmative responses from the jury pool. The trial court then asked prospective jurors if
anyone knew or was related to counsel for Appellant.
With regard to Appellant’s objection to the question asked during jury selection, we
conclude that Appellant has waived these issues by his failure to raise contemporaneous
objections at trial. Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a). Appellate relief is generally not available when
a party has “failed to take whatever action was reasonably available to prevent or nullify the
harmful effect of any error.” Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a); see State v. Killebrew, 760 S.W.2d 228,
235 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988) (holding that waiver applies when the defendant fails to make
a contemporaneous objection).
Despite the absence of an objection at trial, this Court can review an issue for plain
error on appeal, as stated above. In order to establish plain error, however, all five factors
must be present. Smith, S.W.3d at 282-83. In the case herein, Appellant has failed to
demonstrate that the trial court breached a clear and unequivocal rule of law. Ordinarily, it
would be inappropriate for the trial court to ask questions of a defendant during voir dire.
However, in the case herein, the record demonstrates that the trial court asked counsel a
question about where Appellant was from in order to assist in determining whether any of
the jury pool might know Appellant. Further, Appellant has failed to show that he waived
an objection for tactical reasons. This issue is without merit.
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Jury Instructions
Next, Appellant complains that the trial court improperly instructed the jury with
regard to several issues. First, Appellant contends the trial court erred by refusing to instruct
the jury that Ms. Thompson’s “involvement in drug transactions was motivated by her
addiction in order to clarify that her criminal conduct was not excused by her addiction as
compared to [Appellant] who was said not to have been addicted to cocaine.” Next,
Appellant insists that the trial court should have given an accomplice instruction because Ms.
Thompson was an accomplice to the criminal conduct. Lastly, Appellant requested a special
instruction with regard to the Drug Free School Zone Act to reflect that Appellant did not
know that the sale was occurring within a school zone and there were no children present at
the time of the transactions. The State insists that the trial court properly instructed the jury.
A trial court has a “duty to give a complete charge of the law applicable to the facts
of the case.” State v. Harris, 839 S.W.2d 54, 73 (Tenn. 1992). Anything short of a complete
charge denies a defendant his constitutional right to trial by a jury. State v. McAfee, 737
S.W.2d 304, 308 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). However, Tennessee law 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). A charge is
prejudicial error “if it fails to fairly submit the legal issues or if it misleads the jury as to the
applicable law.” State v. Hodges, 944 S.W.2d 346, 352 (Tenn. 1997) (citing State v. Forbes,
918 S.W.2d 431, 447 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995); Graham v. State, 547 S.W.2d 531 (Tenn.
1977)). In determining whether jury instructions are erroneous, this Court must review the
charge in its entirety and invalidate the charge only if, when read as a whole, it fails to fairly
submit the legal issues or misleads the jury as to the applicable law. State v. Vann, 976
S.W.2d 93, 101 (Tenn. 1998). Because resolution of issues regarding just instructions are
mixed questions of law and fact, the standard of review is de novo, with no presumption of
correctness. State v. Smiley, 38 S.W.3d 521, 524 (Tenn. 2001).
With regard to the jury instructions herein, Appellant requested that the trial court
charge the jury with an instruction about Ms. Thompson’s addiction and the fact that it did
not excuse her criminal conduct. The trial court refused to give the instruction. On appeal,
Appellant fails to cite to any authority which would have required the trial court to give such
an instruction. In fact, the instruction would have probably been improper as the jury’s task
was to determine the guilt or innocence of Appellant, not Ms. Thompson.
Likewise, we determine that the trial court properly refused an accomplice instruction
based on the behavior of Ms. Thompson. This Court has held that informants working under
the direction of and for the police are not accomplices during the time that they are acting
with the police to ensure “the conviction and punishment of [their] confederates.” See
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Halquist v. State, 489 S.W.2d 88, 94 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1972), overruled on other ground
by State v. Jones, 598 S.W.2d 209 (Tenn. 1980). The evidence at trial clearly established that
Ms. Thompson was a confidential informant cooperating with the police in order to set up
transactions involving the sale of cocaine. The trial court properly refused to give an
accomplice instruction.
Finally, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in instructing the jury with regard
to the Drug Free School Zone Act. The instruction given to the jury by the trial court is as
follows:
The purpose of the drug free school zone act is to provide students in the State
of Tennessee an environment in which they can learn without the distractions
and dangers that are incident to illegal drug activity. As a result, it is not a
defense that: no children were present; that school was not in session; that the
drug transaction occurred in a private home. The drug free school act is in
effect twenty four (24) hours a day, sever (7) days a week. The drug free
school zone act prohibits the illegal sale or delivery of drugs within 1,000 feet
of a property that comprises a public or private elementary, middle[,] or
secondary school.
At trial, Appellant objected to the instruction. Counsel for Appellant stated “my objection
is not that that’s not the law . . . . [It] is that the law -it’s - it’s sufficiently covered in the
instruction itself, and it draws undue attention to the Drug Free School Zone Act.” On
appeal, Appellant argues that the trial court improperly charged the jury with matters of fact.
It is well-settled that a defendant cannot assert different ground for an objection on appeal.
See State v. Brock, 678 S.W.2d 486 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1984). Regardless, the instruction
given by the trial court properly summarizes the Act. This issue is without merit.
Sentencing
Appellant argues on appeal that his sentence constitutes cruel and inhuman
punishment because it is disproportionate to the crime when considered with the sentence
imposed on Ms. Thompson. The State submits that the sentence is appropriate.
Appellate review of sentencing is for abuse of discretion. We must apply “a
presumption of reasonableness to within-range sentencing decisions that reflect a proper
application of the purposes and principles of our Sentencing Act.” State v. Bise, 380 S.W.3d
682, 707 (Tenn. 2012). In making its sentencing determination, the trial court, at the
conclusion of the sentencing hearing, first determines the range of sentence and then
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determines the specific sentence and the appropriate combination of sentencing alternatives
by considering: (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 the enhancement and mitigating factors; (6) any
statistical information provided by the administrative office of the courts regarding sentences
for similar offenses; (7) any statements the defendant wishes to make in the defendant’s
behalf about sentencing; and (8) the potential for rehabilitation or treatment. T.C.A. §§ 40-
35-210(a), (b), -103(5); State v. Williams, 920 S.W.2d 247, 258 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
The trial court is still required to place on the record its reasons for imposing the specific
sentence, including the identification of the mitigating and enhancement factors found, the
specific facts supporting each enhancement factor found, and the method by which the
mitigating and enhancement factors have been evaluated and balanced in determining the
sentence. See Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 706, n.41; State v. Samuels, 44 S.W.3d 489, 492 (Tenn.
2001). Thus, under Bise, a “sentence should be upheld 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 710.
In the case herein, Appellant’s complaint is that the sentence he received is
disproportionate. He does not argue that the sentence is outside the appropriate range or that
the trial court in some way deviated from the sentencing guidelines. In order to determine,
in a non-capital case, if a sentence is disproportionate and therefore in violation of the Eighth
Amendments guarantee from cruel and unusual punishment, the Tennessee Supreme Court
has adopted the following analysis:
[T]he sentence is initially compared with the crime committed. Unless this
threshold comparison leads to an inference of gross disproportionality, the
inquiry ends - the sentence is constitutional. In those rare cases where this
inference does arise, the analysis proceeds by comparing (1) the sentences
imposed on other criminals in the same jurisdiction, and (2) the sentences
imposed for commission of the same crime in other jurisdictions.
State v. Harris, 844 S.W.2d 601, 602 (Tenn. 1992). A successful challenge to a sentence
utilizing a proportionality argument is “rare.” Id. at 602. In fact, this Court has analyzed the
proportionality and consitutionality of sentences imposed for the sale of drugs both in and
outside a school zone. The court determined in each occasion that the sentences did not yield
the inference of gross disproportionality. Smith, 48 S.W.3d at 170; State v. Jenkins, 15
S.W.3d 914, 919-20 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). Appellant’s sentence herein at fifteen years
for the sale of more than .5 grams of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school does not meet the
threshold inference of gross disproportionality. Further, Appellant has cited to one other
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sentence, Ms. Thompson’s sentence, in order to prove his point. Ms. Thompson pled guilty
to two counts of the Class C felony offense of selling less than .5 grams of cocaine in return
for a suspended sentence and six years of probation. Ms. Thompson was not convicted of
the same crime as Appellant. Thus, it would be inappropriate and illogical to compare their
sentences with regard to proportionality. Moreover, Appellant’s sentence of fifteen years is
well within the range for a Range I, standard offender convicted of the Class A felony of
selling more than .5 grams of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school under Tennessee Code
Annotated section 39-17-417 and 39-17-432. For Class A felonies, the sentence range is
fifteen to twenty-five years. T.C.A. § 40-35-112(a). This issue is without merit.
Prosecutorial Misconduct
Appellant complains on appeal that the trial court failed to sustain objections on at
least five occasions during trial when counsel for the State commented on Appellant’s
decision not to testify. Appellant also argues that the State committed prosecutorial
misconduct by claiming in closing argument that Appellant dictated the location of the drug
transactions, among other things. The State argues that Appellant has waived any issue with
regard to Appellant’s decision not to testify for failing to support it with specific citations to
the record and argument in accordance with Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure
27(a)(7)(A) and Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Rule 10(b). The State submits that
Appellant waived any argument with respect to the State’s closing argument on the basis that
Appellant failed to provide relevant legal authority in his brief.
With regard to prosecutorial misconduct, Appellant states that there were “five
occasions during the course of the trial” that the State argued that Appellant “should have
responded and/or testified.” To support his argument, Appellant cites generally to five pages
of transcript. He fails to specify or explain what statements he alleges were a comment on
his decision to remain silent. In fact, two of the pages cited by Appellant do not contain any
argument to the jury. Instead, they contain discussion between counsel and the trial court
about statements made by counsel for the State during closing argument. We will address
the two specific instances we were able to identify from Appellant’s argument below along
with our discussion of statements made by counsel for the State during closing argument that
Appellant finds objectionable.
In general, the scope of closing argument is subject to the trial court’s discretion.
Counsel for both the prosecution and the defense should be permitted wide latitude in
arguing their cases to the jury. State v. Cauthern, 967 S.W.2d 726, 737 (Tenn. 1998).
However, argument must be temperate, “predicated on evidence introduced during the trial,”
and relevant to the issues being tried. State v. Keen, 926 S.W.2d 727, 736 (Tenn. 1994).
Thus, the State must not engage in argument designed to inflame the jurors and should
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restrict its comments to matters properly in evidence at trial. State v. Hall, 976 S.W.2d 121,
158 (Tenn. 1998).
When a reviewing court finds improper argument, State v. Philpott, 882 S.W.2d 394
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1994), sets out five factors to determine whether a prosecutor’s improper
conduct could have affected the verdict to the “prejudice of the defendant.” Id. at 408. The
factors are: (1) the conduct complained of in light of the facts and circumstances of the case;
(2) the curative measures undertaken; (3) the intent of the prosecutor in making the improper
remarks; (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. Id. (citing Judge v. State, 539 S.W.2d
340, 344 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1976)); see also State v. Goltz, 111 S.W.3d 1, 5 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 2003).
In State v. Goltz, 111 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2003), this Court set out the
following five recognized areas of prosecutorial misconduct related to argument of counsel:
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 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. 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 Cauthern, 967 S.W.2d at 737; 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.
111 S.W.3d at 6.
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The first objection to the prosecutor’s argument came in response to the following
argument from counsel for the State: “Very simple case. The State’s evidence clearly shows
his guilt. But there were two issues that the defense brought up during this case. Number
one: These police officers and Lisa Thompson lured him in, brought him into the school . .
. .” Counsel for Appellant objected on the basis that he did not want the State “commenting”
on what he “tried or didn’t try to do” claiming that was an issue for the jury to decide. His
objection was not based at all on any interpretation of the argument for the State as an
improper comment on the decision of Appellant not to testify. An appellant cannot change
grounds for an objection between the trial court and the appellate court. State v. Dooley, 29
S.W.3d 542, 549 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000) (citing State v. Brewer, 932 S.W.2d 1, 9 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1996). Moreover, it is not clear how this statement by counsel for the State could
be interpreted to amount to a comment on Appellant’s decision not to testify. Counsel for
the State did not commit prosecutorial misconduct. This issue is without merit.
Appellant’s next objection was to the following statement:
The evidence is not clear with no contradictions, they always left it up
to him to decide where he was going to sell and deliver his cocaine. And as
you heard from these detectives and from Ms. Thompson, they did deals at her
home; they did deals in other locations in Bristol; they did . . . .
In Appellant’s brief, he argues that this argument by the State is opposite to what the redacted
portions of the telephone calls between Ms. Thompson and Appellant contained. The tapes
were redacted prior to trial with no argument from Appellant. The redacted portions of the
tapes were not brought up at trial. Counsel for Appellant did not object to the redacted
portions of the tape. Again, Appellant cannot object for one reason at trial and another
reason on appeal. Id. Further, the statements by counsel for the State do not fall into one of
the categories of prosecutorial misconduct as alleged by Appellant. This issue is without
merit.
Appellant also complains about the following statement made by counsel for the State
during closing argument:
And defense counsel says of Detective Ginger Crowe, “Well, you
know, when you put it all together it was only $500.”
You all remember how short those video tapes were? Audio tapes? Do
you realize that how short those were, and you add whatever travel time and
gas went into it, how much that is per hour? How much . . .
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Counsel for Appellant objected without stating a reason. On appeal, he asserts that this
statement in some way points to Appellant’s decision not to testify. We fail to see the
connection between the above-referenced statements and Appellant’s failure to testify. This
issue is without merit.
Appellant objected again after counsel for the State stated the following:
And defense counsel said to Detective Ginger Crowe, “She was a big
dealer; wasn’t she?
And Detective Crowe said, “No sir. She was a user. She was an addict
that was selling small amounts to support her addiction.” And guess what;
when they search her home and she allows them to search her home, she says,
“We found her crack pipe.”
She was right there in the throngs [sic] of her addiction. And yes, she
sold twice to an informant that came to her home and purchased. And you
know what; they gave her the opportunity that they told you they give in every
case. You can give up your source.
Again, counsel for Appellant objected to the statement as improper argument. In fact,
Appellant asked for a mistrial on the basis that the statement infringed on Appellant’s right
not to testify. The trial court overruled the objection and denied a mistrial on the basis that
the statement was made about Ms. Thompson, not Appellant and the statement was an
accurate recap of the testimony from the detective. We concur. Counsel for the State did not
commit prosecutorial misconduct by making this statement.
Later, Appellant objected to another statement made by counsel for the State during
closing argument. Counsel stated:
And Mr. Spivey says to you, “She was a major drug dealer. We used
a major drug dealer.”
This lady works for the last six years, on a daily basis, in the Vice Unit
in Bristol, Tennessee, investigating these types of cases. And she told you Lisa
Thompson was an addict buying cocaine.
What you base this case upon comes from there and not here. There is
no testimony that comes from here. There’s no evidence that comes from here.
It comes from over there.
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And you heard the lady that works in it daily. And he says to you,
“Well, you know what . . . .”
Appellant objected, and the trial court overruled the objection. It is unclear from the
transcript what was the basis for the objection. Appellant’s brief does not specify argument
with respect to this section other than to insist that these statements somehow reflect on
Appellant’s decision not to testify. We are unable to identify an instance of prosecutorial
misconduct. This issue is without merit.
The final objection made by Appellant during closing argument was to the following
statement:
He says to you, “You know, Lisa Thompson, by her own admission,
says she sold as many as ten or 17 times,” whatever her testimony was.
Well, you know what, you don’t always catch drug dealers when they’re
selling drugs. There are days they’re selling drugs, you don’t catch them.
They caught her twice selling drugs, and they gave her the opportunity
to cooperate, and she agreed. And there was no testimony she knew any more
people than he did; there was no testimony she could do any more people than
he could. So I would remind you . . . .
On objection to this statement, counsel for Appellant informed the trial court that it was a
“constitutional” objection. However, he did not specify the origin of the objection.
Moreover, we fail to see any way that the prosecutor’s statement could have been interpreted
as a judgment on Appellant’s failure to testify. Counsel for the State was arguing that the
evidence at trial did not support Appellant’s view of the facts. We decline to find
prosecutorial misconduct. This issue is without merit.
Constitutionality of the Drug Free School Act
Appellant insists that the Drug Free School Zone Act is unconstitutionally vague and
ambiguous. Specifically, he complains that the “reason for the enforcement of the statute .
. . did not protect children from drug dealing and no children were endangered by
[Appellant’s] conduct” because the transactions at issue took place inside a residence where
there were no children present. The State points out that Appellant failed to raise this issue
at trial and fails to identify a specific constitutional violation that results from the application
of the statute to his behavior.
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Tennessee law is well-established that a party who invites or waives error, or who fails
to take reasonable steps to cure an error, is not entitled to relief on appeal. See Tenn. R. App.
P. 36(a). Moreover, if waived, this Court will not consider the issue on appeal unless it is
clear from the record that plain error was committed. Further, this issue has been addressed
by this Court, and the Drug Free School Zone Act was found to be neither overbroad nor
vague in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution or Article
I, section 8 of the Tennessee Constitution. See Smith, 48 S.W.3d at 169-70. This issue is
without merit.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.
___________________________________
JERRY L. SMITH, JUDGE
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