State of Tennessee v. David Plunk ( 2001 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
Assigned on Briefs January 9, 2001
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. DAVID PLUNK
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Crockett County
No. 2939 L.T. Lafferty, Senior Judge
No. W2000-00526-CCA-R3-CD - Filed February 26, 2001
A Crockett County jury convicted the defendant of premeditated first degree murder, and the trial
court sentenced him to life imprisonment. In this appeal as a matter of right, the defendant
challenges (1) the introduction of statements he made to officers, and (2) the sufficiency of the
evidence. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Affirmed
JOE G. RILEY, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which DAVID G. HAYES and JOHN EVERETT
WILLIAMS, JJ., joined.
Charles S. Kelly, Dyersburg, Tennessee (at trial) and Joseph S. Ozment, Memphis, Tennessee (at
trial and on appeal), for the appellant, David Plunk.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; J. Ross Dyer, Assistant Attorney General; and
Clayburn L. Peeples, District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
The defendant was convicted of premeditated first degree murder and received a life
sentence. In this appeal, the defendant challenges (1) the introduction of statements he made to
officers, and (2) the sufficiency of the evidence. Upon our review of the record, we affirm the
judgment of the trial court.
I. FACTS
The defendant and the victim, Mary Plunk, were former spouses. On April 17, 1996, the
defendant’s nephew, Robert Phillips, visited the defendant’s residence, and they went for a drive.
They approached the victim's residence, and the defendant stopped his vehicle to talk to the victim.
The defendant and victim argued about their children and the victim’s intention to move in with
another man. After the defendant and victim completed their argument, the defendant said, “I’ll get
you and him, too.” The defendant then squealed his tires driving away.
The defendant then drove back to his residence, and he ordered Phillips to remain in the
vehicle. The defendant entered his residence and emerged approximately five minutes later with a
pistol. The defendant transported Phillips to Phillips' residence and told him that "he was going to
do something to make [Phillips] hate him." He then drove back to the victim's residence where he
shot her seven times, thereby causing her death.
Ilene Turner, the victim’s landlord, testified that she saw the defendant and the victim sitting
together, but she did not disturb them. Later, she heard a noise she thought was fireworks, so she
went to investigate. She found the victim lying on the floor and phoned 911.
The defendant fled the scene, was arrested in Benton County later that day, and was
transported back to Crockett County. At the time of the defendant’s apprehension, he possessed a
black bag with approximately fifteen prescription bottles inside of it.
At 1:25 a.m. on April 18, 1996, the defendant signed a Miranda waiver and admitted to
killing the victim, saying she was "jagging her jaws." The defendant gave another statement,
subsequent to signing a Miranda waiver, at 3:30 p.m. on April 18th. In that statement, the defendant
claimed he drove to the victim's residence in order to kill himself in front of her, but she called him
a "dirty son of a bitch," so he killed her instead. On May 20, 1996, while being transported to the
Veteran's Administration Hospital, the defendant told Officer Tim McCoy that he killed the victim
because of his family, children, and "she just needed killing."
The state further offered the testimony of a clinical psychologist, Dr. Samuel Craddock, and
a psychiatrist, Dr. Rokeya Farooque. Both Drs. Craddock and Farooque evaluated the defendant for
a period of approximately 25 days in July of 1996.
Dr. Craddock testified that the defendant did not suffer from serious mental illness at the time
of the murder; he was able to understand and appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions; he could
form premeditation; he embellished and exaggerated symptoms of mental illness; the shooting was
not due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and he could understand the Miranda rights that
the officers read him.
Dr. Farooque testified that at the time of the incident there was no serious mental illness, and
the defendant understood the wrongfulness of his act. Dr. Farooque further stated that the defendant
was capable of forming premeditation and did not suffer from a dissociative episode.
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At trial, the defendant offered the testimony of his mother, Edith Plunk; his sister, Mary
Norville; his daughter, Tammy Phillips; two acquaintances, Ron Teddleton and Donny Kail; a
psychiatrist, Dr. Roy Lacoursiere; and a clinical psychologist, Dr. Dennis Wilson.
Edith Plunk and Mary Norville testified that the defendant returned from his military service
in Vietnam “a different person” and has suffered mental problems. Norville and the defendant’s
daughter testified concerning the defendant’s propensity for carrying a weapon, which was
corroborated by Ron Teddleton and Donny Kail. Kail also testified that he and the defendant rode
together to the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Memphis for mental treatment, and the
defendant was medicated to the extent that he took 24 pills on the way. Kail further stated that the
defendant’s medicine put him in a “dream world,” and “the only way you could tell it affected him
was when he started slobbering and nodding off.”
Dr. Lacoursiere’s examination of the defendant revealed that the defendant had PTSD; a
major depressive disorder; a somatoform disorder - a form of hypochondria; a personality disorder;
a drug dependency; and a below average intelligence level. Although during direct examination Dr.
Lacoursiere opined that the defendant did not premeditatedly shoot the victim, he admitted on cross-
examination that he was unsure if the defendant was incapable of premeditation.
Dr. Wilson’s examination of the defendant revealed that he suffered from PTSD,
depersonalization disorder, major depression, polysubstance dependence, and a low average
intelligence level. Wilson opined that the defendant suffered from a serious mental disease or defect,
was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct, and unable to form premeditation. On
cross-examination, Wilson testified that the defendant was exposed to a lot of psychotherapy where
he “undoubtedly picked something up” and was using “textbook words” to describe his condition.
II. DEFENDANT'S STATEMENTS
The defendant alleges that his statements to officers were not voluntarily and knowingly
given, and the trial court erroneously denied his motion to suppress. We disagree.
A. Standard of Review
The trial court’s determination at the suppression hearing that a confession was voluntary is
presumptively correct on appeal. State v. Stephenson, 878 S.W.2d 530, 544 (Tenn. 1994). This
determination is binding unless the evidence in the record preponderates against that finding. State
v. Carter, 988 S.W.2d 145, 149 (Tenn. 1999).
The fact that one suffers from certain mental deficiencies does not necessarily prevent that
person from understanding and waiving constitutional rights. See generally, State v. Middlebrooks,
840 S.W.2d 317, 327 (Tenn. 1992); IV Wharton’s Criminal Evidence § 643, p. 169 (14th ed. 1987).
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A person with a mental deficiency may waive his Miranda rights, if that waiver was knowingly and
voluntarily made. State v. Green, 613 S.W.2d 229, 233 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1980); Braziel v. State,
529 S.W.2d 501, 505-06 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1975). When determining whether an accused has
voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived his Miranda rights, this court must consider the
totality of the circumstances which existed when the accused waived these rights. Middlebrooks,
840 S.W.2d at 326; State v. Benton, 759 S.W.2d 427, 431 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988). The totality of
the circumstances must reveal an uncoerced choice and the required level of comprehension. State
v. Blackstock, 19 S.W.3d 200, 208 (Tenn. 2000) (quoting State v. Stephenson, 878 S.W.2d 530, 545
(Tenn. 1994)). Where a defendant contends that his waiver of Miranda rights was not voluntarily
or understandingly made, the court must consider such factors as the defendant’s age, level of
functioning, prior criminal justice experience, demeanor, responsiveness to questioning, possible
malingering, and the manner in which the Miranda rights were explained. Blackstock, 19 S.W.3d
at 208. However, no single factor is necessarily determinative. Id.
B. Testimony at Suppression Hearing
At the suppression hearing, the defendant argued that he was incapable of knowingly and
voluntarily waiving his Miranda rights because he had a mental defect and was under the influence
of drugs. In furtherance of his claim, he offered testimony of Dr. Dennis W. Wilson who evaluated
the defendant in October of 1996 and opined that the defendant’s mental condition, brought about
by the dissociative episode which caused him to kill the victim, rendered him unable to understand
his Miranda rights. Furthermore, Dr. Wilson opined that if the defendant ingested valium prior to
his Miranda waiver, then his mental condition would be further deteriorated. Wilson further testified
that he examined the defendant only to determine his mental status at the time of the crime, but the
defendant’s dissociation would linger for a time after the shooting. Dr. Wilson conceded that the
officers’ observations of the defendant were relevant in determining the defendant’s mental state.
The state offered the testimony of Assistant Chief Deputy Jim Knox, Investigator Jeff Sills,
Alamo Police Chief Gary Skipper, Officer Tim McCoy, and Sheriff Neal Klyce - all of whom
participated in the transport, booking, and/or questioning of the defendant. Knox testified that he
knew the defendant for twelve years, and the defendant did not appear under the influence of an
intoxicant and “appeared fine” during questioning. Sills testified that the defendant “appeared
normal” and “appeared to be the same David Plunk that I’ve known since 1981.” Skipper testified
that during the defendant’s second interrogation at approximately 3:30 p.m. on April 18th, he
appeared sad but normal, and he did not appear under the influence of an intoxicant. Furthermore,
Skipper testified the defendant talked normally, did not seem confused, and was not evasive.
Skipper also knew the defendant for approximately twelve years prior to the incident.
Sheriff Klyce testified that he was present during the defendant’s initial transport from
Benton County. He testified that the defendant appeared normal during the transport. Klyce further
stated that when he arrived at the Crockett County Sheriff’s Department, the defendant appeared
normal when he remanded the defendant to Sills and Knox for questioning. Although Klyce testified
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that the defendant possessed a black bag with a “bunch of pill bottles,” he said that the defendant
never appeared under the influence.
C. Trial Court Findings
The trial judge, Honorable L.T. Lafferty, filed a five-page order detailing his findings of fact
and conclusions of law. The trial court found no coercion or intimidation by the law enforcement
officers. The trial court specifically accredited the testimony of the officers as to the defendant’s
mental status in April 1996, finding the defendant “voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently waived
his Miranda rights.” The trial judge specifically rejected the opinion of Dr. Wilson that the
defendant was incapable of making an intelligent decision, noting the opinion was based upon an
October 1996 evaluation.
D. Analysis
The trial court was in a much better position than this court to evaluate the credibility of the
witnesses. The trial court was not required to adopt the opinion of the clinical psychologist. There
was ample evidence to support the trial court’s findings and ample evidence to support its conclusion
that the statements made during interrogation were voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. We find no
basis to disturb the ruling of the trial court.
Furthermore, we conclude that the statement given to Officer Tim McCoy on May 20, 1996,
during transport to the Veteran’s Administration Hospital was volunteered and not the product of
custodial interrogation; thus, Miranda was not implicated. See State v. Goode, 956 S.W.2d 521, 524
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). Nevertheless, the statement must still be voluntary to pass a due process
analysis. See Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 398, 98 S. Ct. 2408, 57 L. Ed. 2d 290 (1978);
Raybin, Tennessee Criminal Practice and Procedure § 19.51 (1984). The trial court correctly
concluded that this statement was also voluntary.
III. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
The defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction for
premeditated first degree murder. Specifically, he alleges the state failed to prove premeditation.
We disagree.
A. Standard of Review
When an accused challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court must review the
record to determine if the evidence adduced during the trial was sufficient "to support the findings
by the trier of fact of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e). This rule is
applicable to findings of guilt predicated upon direct evidence, circumstantial evidence or a
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combination of direct and circumstantial evidence. State v. Brewer, 932 S.W.2d 1,18 (Tenn. Crim.
App.1996).
In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court does not reweigh or reevaluate the
evidence. State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn.1978). Nor may this Court substitute its
inferences for those drawn by the trier of fact from circumstantial evidence. Liakas v. State, 199
Tenn. 298, 305, 286 S.W.2d 856, 859 (1956). To the contrary, this Court is required to afford the
state the strongest legitimate view of the evidence contained in the record as well as all reasonable
and legitimate inferences which may be drawn from the evidence. State v. Tuttle, 914 S.W.2d 926,
932 (Tenn. Crim. App.1995).
B. Analysis
The defendant alleges that subsequent to his argument with the victim, he was in a state of
passion due to PTSD, drug dependency, and dissociation disorder; and thus, he could not form
premeditation or the intent to kill the victim. We conclude the jury could properly reject this
contention.
The applicable definition of first degree murder is, “[a] premeditated and intentional killing
of another.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202(a)(1). Premeditation necessitates “a previously formed
design or intent to kill,” State v. West, 844 S.W.2d 144, 147 (Tenn. 1992)(citations omitted), and
“an act done after the exercise of reflection and judgment . . . [meaning] that the intent to kill must
have been formed prior to the act itself.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202(d). It also requires that the
accused be “sufficiently free from excitement and passion as to be capable of premeditation.” Id.
The element of premeditation is a question of fact to be determined by the jury. State v.
Suttles, 30 S.W.3d 252, 261 (Tenn. 2000). Although the jury may not engage in speculation, it may
infer premeditation from the manner and circumstances of the killing. State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d
651, 660 (Tenn. 1997); State v. Bordis, 905 S.W.2d 214, 222 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). Our
Supreme Court delineated several circumstances that may be indicative of premeditation, including
the use of a deadly weapon upon an unarmed victim, the fact that the killing was particularly cruel,
declarations of the intent to kill the victim by the defendant, the making of preparations before the
killing for the purpose of concealing the crime, and calmness immediately after the killing. See
Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 660.
The jury could infer premeditation from the defendant’s actions. The defendant argued with
the victim prior to her death and stated an intention to “get” the victim. After the argument, the
defendant drove to his residence, armed himself, returned Phillips to his residence, and told Phillips
that he “was going to do something to make [Phillips] hate him.” He then drove to the victim’s
home, shot the unarmed victim seven times, and fled the scene. Additionally, the defendant, in an
unsolicited statement, stated he killed the victim because of his children, his mother, and “she just
needed killing.” We also note that whether the defendant was intoxicated or impaired to the degree
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to be incapable of premeditation was a question for the jury. State v. Phillips, 728 S.W.2d 21, 24
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1986). It was within the jury’s prerogative to reject the defendant’s contention.
Drs. Craddock and Farooque performed an extensive 25-day examination on the defendant.
They testified that the defendant, at the time of the murder, did not suffer any serious mental illness
that would make him unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions. They also concluded that
he was able to form premeditation.
Accordingly, the jury could reasonably conclude that the defendant killed the victim
intentionally and with premeditation. This issue is without merit.
CONCLUSION
Based upon the foregoing, we conclude (1) the trial court properly admitted the defendant’s
inculpatory statements; and (2) the evidence is sufficient to sustain the defendant's conviction for
premeditated first degree murder. Thus, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
___________________________________
JOE G. RILEY, JUDGE
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