State of Tennessee v. Charles Hall ( 2006 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
Assigned on Briefs April 11, 2006
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. CHARLES HALL
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County
No. 04-00119, 20 Arthur T. Bennett, Judge
No. W2005-01338-CCA-R3-CD - Filed August 11, 2006
The defendant, Charles Hall, was convicted by a Shelby County jury of two counts of aggravated
robbery. For these offenses, the defendant was sentenced as a repeat violent offender to consecutive
sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. On appeal, he argues that: (1) the
trial court erred in consolidating the indictments for trial; (2) the trial court erred in sentencing him
under the Repeat Violent Offender Act; (3) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions;
and (4) the trial court erred in ordering consecutive sentencing. Following our review of the record
and the parties’ briefs, we reverse the judgments of the trial court and remand for two separate trials.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Criminal Court Reversed and
Remanded
J.C. MC LIN , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which NORMA MCGEE OGLE and ALAN E.
GLENN , JJ., joined.
Robert Wilson Jones (Of Counsel), Shelby County Chief Public Defender; Tony N. Brayton (on
appeal) and Timothy Albers and William Robilio (at trial), Assistant Public Defenders, Memphis,
Tennessee, for the appellant, Charles Hall.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Rachel E. Willis, Assistant Attorney General;
William L. Gibbons, District Attorney General; and Stacy McEndree, Assistant District Attorney
General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
BACKGROUND
The defendant, Charles Hall, was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery in
indictment 04-00119 and two counts of aggravated robbery in indictment 04-00120. The lower court
consolidated the indictments for trial over the defendant’s objection. The testimony from the
consolidated trial is set out below.
Janice Gordon testified that she was working as a teller at Brighton Bank on February 20,
2003. She arrived at work at 7:30 that morning but stayed in her car because the bank did not open
until 8:00. As she was sitting in her car, a man approached with a gun and told her to “give him the
keys.” Ms. Gordon told the man that she did not have any keys to the bank but she did have car keys.
Ms. Gordon recalled that the man was wearing a “pumpkin colored, bubble jacket” with the hood
up and a strap covering the lower part of his face. The man held a silver automatic pistol in one
hand, and held a surgical glove in his other hand.
Ms. Gordon testified that the man forced her out of her car and around into the passenger
seat. She explained that a second man got into the back seat of her car, but she paid him little
attention because the first man had the gun. She followed the gunman’s orders to hand over her car
keys, money, and jewelry, including her diamond cluster ring and engagement ring. Using the
surgical glove to hold the keys, the man started the car, but when he did, she jumped out of the car
and ran away. After the men left the bank parking lot in her car, Ms. Gordon went into the bank and
called the police. About thirty minutes later, the police found her car parked near the bank with her
wallet and a twenty dollar bill in the front seat.
Ms. Gordon testified that on March 12, 2003, Sergeant Bell brought a photographic array to
her at the bank to see if she recognized the man who robbed her. She explained that she used a piece
of paper to crop the pictures to get a better look at the individual’s eyes and nose area before
identifying the defendant as the robber. She also identified the defendant as the robber at a
preliminary hearing and again at trial. Ms. Gordon testified that she was positive of her
identification because she had received extensive training in the identification of robbers through her
employment at the bank, and she had previously looked at a photographic array from another robbery
in which she had been involved. Ms. Gordon testified that after the preliminary hearing she received
a call from the owner of a pawn shop, Scot Keller, asking her to come look at some jewelry. The
jewelry turned out to be her stolen engagement and diamond cluster rings.
On cross-examination, Ms. Gordon related that the robber was very rude, threatening, and
used vulgar language. Ms. Gordon stated that she did not notice any special markings or a scar in
the robber’s eye.
Officer Milton Gonzalez testified that he located Ms. Gordon’s car on the road behind the
bank. Officer Gonzalez noticed a twenty dollar bill, a wallet, and an umbrella in the front seat of the
car. Officer Cham Payne testified that he worked in the crime response unit the day of the robbery.
Officer Payne explained that he photographed and processed the vehicle and its contents. He
collected a twenty dollar bill and took it to the property room, but he did not find any fingerprints.
Sherron Jefferson testified that she was working alone at the Wonder Bread Store on
February 23, 2003. While she was restocking the shelves in the back, she heard someone enter the
store. When she turned around, a silver handgun was pointed at her face. She observed that the man
holding the gun was wearing a mustard-yellow, “orange like, bubble jacket” with the collar pulled
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up, a black skull cap, and hospital gloves. However, she was only able to see the robber’s eyes and
nose due to his coverings.
Ms. Jefferson testified that the robber told her to lock the door, turn the sign off, and give him
the money out of the register. He also told her to give him the money from her purse. The robber
then took her to the back of the store and demanded that she get the VCR surveillance tape. The
robber got upset when the tape got stuck. He pulled the VCR from the wall and stepped on it until
the tape ejected. The robber then put her in the bathroom and told her not to leave for fifteen to
twenty minutes or he would hurt her. Ms. Jefferson stayed in the bathroom for over fifteen minutes
before running next door to the fire station at which time the police were called.
Ms. Jefferson testified that Sergeant Bell showed her a photographic array a couple of weeks
after the robbery. While looking at the photographs, Ms. Jefferson covered portions of the
individual’s faces “to see the eyes.” After looking at all the pictures, Ms. Jefferson identified the
defendant as the man who robbed her. Ms. Jefferson also identified the defendant as the robber at
a preliminary hearing and again at trial. She expressed that she was “positive” and “certain” of her
identification.
On cross-examination, Ms. Jefferson admitted that a neighborhood boy was in the store at
the time of the robbery. Ms. Jefferson described the robber as calm, demanding, and polite. In
response to questions, Ms. Jefferson answered that she did not notice any markings or scars in the
robber’s eyes. On re-direct examination, Ms. Jefferson elaborated that the neighborhood boy was
with her in the bathroom after the robber left, but she did not mention him because the boy’s mother
did not want him involved. Ms. Jefferson also clarified that the robber was not polite but instead
demanding. She reiterated that she was certain the defendant was the man who robbed her.
Officer Sherman Bonds testified that he responded to the robbery at the Wonder Bread Store.
Officer Bonds stated that he was unable to lift any fingerprints from the VCR. Sergeant William
Woodard testified that he was assigned to the Wonder Bread case until a Crime Stoppers tip linked
it to the Brighton Bank case. According to Sergeant Woodard, an anonymous tip came in that a
Charles Hall of a certain age, sex, and race was responsible for a couple of crimes. Sergeant
Woodard then explained that he received another call from the tipster, this time giving more details
about the defendant being responsible for the robberies. Based on the tipster’s information, Sergeant
Woodard searched pawn shops in Shelby County for items pawned by the defendant. During his
search, he received word that the defendant had pawned jewelry at Keller’s Pawn Shop in
Mississippi.
Officer J.B. Bell testified that he investigated the Brighton Bank robbery case and the
Wonder Bread Store case. Officer Bell testified that based on the Crime Stoppers tip, he located a
photograph of the defendant and created a six-person photographic array that he took to the two
victims, Ms. Gordon and Ms. Jefferson. According to Officer Bell, Ms. Gordon said she was
“positively sure that [the defendant] was the person [who robbed her].” Likewise, Ms. Jefferson
identified the defendant as the robber.
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On cross-examination, Officer Bell testified that he initially thought the Brighton Bank and
Wonder Bread Store cases might be related because a silver handgun was used in both robberies.
Officer Bell elaborated that during that particular month there had been a lot of robberies, but the
Brighton Bank and Wonder Bread Store robberies were the only robberies that involved a silver
handgun. However, Officer Bell admitted that a silver handgun was not an unusual firearm. Lastly,
Officer Bell looked into the defendant’s eyes and noticed that his left eye looked off-set and bigger
than the right eye. He also noticed that the defendant’s left eye had a small scar in it. However,
Officer Bell expressed his opinion that these particularities could be easily overlooked.
Scot Keller testified that the defendant had pawned items at his pawn shop sixty to sixty-five
times. Mr. Keller pulled his records and noted that the defendant pawned a diamond marquis ring
on February 26, 2003 and a diamond cluster ring on March 8, 2003. Mr. Keller testified that he was
contacted by the police and asked to hold the two rings, which Ms. Gordon later claimed as hers.
Mr. Keller also recalled that sometime after Ms. Gordon claimed the jewelry, he received a call from
the defendant inquiring whether Mr. Keller still had the two rings. On cross-examination, Mr. Keller
testified that the defendant was a good customer and nothing he had pawned before had been
reported as stolen.
Robert Lively testified for the defense. Mr. Lively explained that he ran a security company,
Courtesy Consultants, and he had employed the defendant “on and off for two, to three, maybe four
years.” Mr. Lively brought the defendant’s time sheet for the period of the two robberies to trial.
The time sheet indicated that the defendant was assigned to an apartment complex, and that he
worked 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on February 20, 2003 and 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on February 23rd.
Mr. Lively admitted that the defendant was responsible for filling in the time sheet and that next to
February 20th a “minus three” was noted in another handwriting, meaning the defendant missed
approximately three radio checks or was not on the property for three hours. On cross-examination,
Mr. Lively admitted that he could not verify that the defendant worked every minute of his reported
hours and only went by the time sheet.
The last defense witness to testify was Georgia Johnson, the defendant’s cousin. Ms.
Johnson testified that the defendant has a dark spot in one of his eyes.
The state put on rebuttal proof in the form of testimony from Investigator George Dunlap.
Investigator Dunlap testified that he tried to contact someone with Courtesy Consultants at least
twice, but he never received a response.
Following the trial, the jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged in indictment 04-00119
to two counts of aggravated robbery, which the trial court merged into one aggravated robbery
conviction. The jury also found the defendant guilty of aggravated robbery and the lesser-included
offense of robbery as charged in indictment 04-00120, which the trial court merged into one
aggravated robbery conviction. The trial court sentenced the defendant as a repeat violent offender
to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
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ANALYSIS
The defendant raises four issues on appeal: (1) whether the trial court erred in consolidating
the indictments for trial; (2) whether the trial court erred in sentencing him as a repeat violent
offender; (3) whether the evidence was sufficient to support his convictions; and (4) whether the trial
court erred in ordering consecutive sentencing.
A. Consolidation
The defendant first argues that the trial court erred in consolidating indictments 04-00119
and 04-00120 for trial despite his objection. Prior to trial, the trial court granted the state’s motion
to consolidate the two indictments against the defendant pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal
Procedure 8(b). Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 8(b) provides that two or more offenses may
be “consolidated pursuant to Rule 13 if the offenses constitute parts of a common scheme or plan
or if they are of the same or similar character.” Rule 13 allows the trial court an option to
consolidate the offenses if the offenses could have been joined in a single indictment pursuant to
Rule 8 or sever the offenses if the prosecution or defense could have obtained a severance under
Rule 14. The defendant opposed the state’s motion pursuant to Rule 14(b)(1), which provides that
“the defendant shall have a right to a severance of the offenses unless the offenses are part of a
common scheme or plan and the evidence of one would be admissible upon the trial of the others.”
The first prong of the two-prong inquiry in Rule 14(b)(1) requires a showing of a common
scheme or plan. To establish a common scheme or plan, the trial court must find that (1) the offenses
are of distinctive design or signature crimes; (2) the evidence demonstrates a larger continuing plan
or conspiracy; or (3) the offenses are part of the same criminal transaction. State v. Moore, 6 S.W.3d
235, 240 (Tenn. 1999). The distinctive design or signature category encompasses offenses where
the modus operandi is so similar, and the offenses occur within such a relatively close proximity in
time and location that the same person probably committed both offenses. State v. Morris, 788
S.W.2d 820, 822 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). While the offenses need not be identical in every
respect, Bunch v. State, 605 S.W.2d 227, 231 (Tenn. 1980), the “methods used in committing the
offenses must have such unusual particularities that reasonable men can conclude that it would not
likely be employed by different persons.” Moore, 6 S.W.3d at 240. “[S]imply because the defendant
may have committed a series of crimes does not mean that they are part of a common scheme or
plan.” State v. Denton, 149 S.W.3d 1, 14 (Tenn. 2004) (citations and internal quotations omitted).
The second prong of Rule 14(b)(1) requires a showing that the evidence of one offense would
be admissible in the trial of the other. To comply with the requirements in the second prong, the trial
court must conclude that (1) the evidence of each offense is relevant to some material issue in the
trial of the other offense under Tennessee Rule of Evidence 404(b)(2); and (2) the probative value
of the evidence of the other offense is not outweighed by the prejudicial consequences of admission
under Tennessee Rule of Evidence 404(b)(4). State v. Hoyt, 928 S.W.2d 935, 944 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1995), overruled on other grounds by Spicer v. State, 12 S.W.3d 438, 447 n.12 (Tenn. 2000). In
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Tennessee, evidence of other offenses may be admissible to show (1) motive; (2) intent; (3) guilty
knowledge; (4) identity of the defendant; (5) absence of mistake or accident; or (6) a common
scheme or plan for commission of two or more crimes so related to each other that proof of one tends
to establish the other. Id.
Decisions regarding the joinder and severance of offenses are matters entrusted to the sound
discretion of the trial court. See Spicer, 12 S.W.3d at 442. On appeal, this court will not interfere
with the exercise of that discretion unless it appears from the face of the record that the defendant
was prejudiced by the trial court’s ruling. State v. Wiseman, 643 S.W.2d 354, 362 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1982). Moreover, “because the trial court’s decision of whether to consolidate offenses is
determined from the evidence presented at the hearing, appellate courts should usually only look to
that evidence, along with the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, to determine
whether the trial court abused its discretion by improperly joining the offenses.” Spicer, 12 S.W.3d
at 445.
In this case, the trial court conducted a pretrial hearing on motions for consolidation and
suppression, during which, Sergeant Bell, Ms. Gordon, and Ms. Jefferson testified. After hearing
this testimony and the arguments from both parties regarding consolidation, the trial court reviewed
the applicable law and stated:
As to Rule 14(b) . . . if two or more offenses have been joined, or
consolidated for a trial, pursuant to Rule 8(b), the defendant shall have the right to
sever[ance] of the offenses, unless the offense[s] [are] part of a common scheme,
plan and the evidence of one would be admissible upon the trial of the others.
Of course, that goes to the common scheme, or plan to show, really, it boils
out to identity, that this is the same person that committed the other crime.
And in this case . . . it appears that something striking here makes it unique.
And that is, surgical gloves. That’s something that you don’t see. That’s about the
only thing. The coat doesn’t carry much weight. It carries some weight, because of
the way he wore it. But the fact that it was a coat of that type, you can’t say, well
he’s about the only one that’s got a coat of that type. No, that wouldn’t happen.
Probably a lot of folks got a coat like that and it didn’t happen in the same area,
anyway. Somebody in that area may have had, maybe not somebody, maybe several
people had a coat like that.
Now, but what really causes this to be very unique, surgical gloves. Maybe
I remember some case, maybe years ago, somebody had a surgical glove, but it
wasn’t a two indictment situation. But, apparently he might not have had the gloves
on in one incident, but he had them in his hand, so that’s the same as having them on.
He had them with him for whatever reason he had surgical gloves. Maybe that’s for
keeping him from making fingerprints somewhere if he had to touch something. But,
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I think that that [sic] makes it very unique, to show identity, common scheme, or plan
to whatever he wanted to have these surgical, rubber gloves out there. Not to keep
your hands warm, certainly, in February, in the winter time. But, I think that that
[sic] makes it unique.
....
. . . Now, I don’t know whether it was this defendant, or not, but the person
that was identified as having these surgical gloves on both incidents. And the coat --
when you take that, with the coat, same kind of coat, it really does tell in making the
coat more important.
....
So the Court feels that there may be here that they can use that appearance
and will rule that they can put that on at this time to show that the plan of the
defendant’s, as well as the attempt to show identity.
....
The Court is going to allow the state to go ahead based on this situation, I
think, because it’s a unique situation that’s involved in this case concerning the
whole common scheme, plan of this defendant, the way he cropped his face in both
incidences. The gun being the same. The gloves, something’s that very unique,
having rubber gloves, or hospital gloves on and having them with him in both
instances. And then one time he had them on and one time he had them in his hand.
So the Court’s going to allow her to put on -- of course, even that, they’re
separate and distinct indictments and the state has to prove each and every
indictment, as to each of these cases. And the jury looks at the evidence as to both
of these cases and make a decision as to whether the state has proven it, as to each
of these incidences.
That is the way that the Court will rule on that matter. . . .
Upon review, we conclude that the trial court erred in consolidating the two indictments for
trial based on the offenses being part of a common scheme or plan. In our view, the offenses here
are not so factually unique or distinctive as to constitute a signature. Looking at the record, some
similarities exist between the two offenses. These include the fact that the perpetrator wore some
shade of yellow-orange bubble jacket with the collar pulled up over his mouth, had on a head
covering pulled down over his forehead, and carried a silver handgun. There was also testimony that
the perpetrator held a clear surgical glove in one hand during the Brighton Bank robbery and wore
off-yellow surgical gloves during the Wonder Bread Store robbery. However, these similarities are
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generic, not unique. To reiterate, the test for finding signature crimes is “not whether there was
evidence that a defendant committed both crimes, but whether there was a unique method used in
committing the crimes.” Denton, 149 S.W.3d at 14 (citations and internal quotations omitted).
We also note that numerous factual differences exist between the two robberies. For
instance, the record reflects that the offenses occurred three days apart, the offenses occurred in
different areas of Memphis – approximately ten miles apart, and the offenses occurred at different
times of the day. The record further reflects that the Brighton Bank robber used the hood of his
jacket to cover his head; whereas, the Wonder Bread Store robber wore a skull cap. The Brighton
Bank robbery was in essence a car-jacking and was committed by two individuals; whereas, the
Wonder Bread Store robbery was perpetrated by only one individual. The Brighton Bank robber was
more aggressive and vulgar than the Wonder Bread Store robber. Again, to be part of a common
scheme or plan, the offenses “must be so similar in modus operandi and occur within such a
relatively close proximity of time and location to each other that there can be little doubt that the
offenses were committed by the same person(s).” State v. Peacock, 638 S.W.2d 837, 840 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1982). In sum, the two robberies do not evidence unique circumstances and include
many differences. Therefore, we are unable to say that a distinct or unique modus operandi was
used. Accordingly, we conclude the lower court abused its discretion in consolidating the
indictments for trial over the defendant’s objection.
We further note that while the trial court did conduct a series of discussions outside the jury’s
presence regarding whether the evidence of one offense would be admissible in the trial of the other
offense, the court failed to specifically analyze the issue under Rule 404(b). The trial court also
failed to find on the record whether the probative value of the evidence of the other offense
outweighed the prejudicial consequences of admission.
Having determined that the trial court erred in consolidating the indictments for trial, we now
must evaluate the record to determine if this error appears to have affirmatively affected the outcome
of the trial. Tenn. R. Crim. P. 52(a); Tenn. R. App. P. 36(b). In looking at the evidence presented
at trial, we note that in addition to Ms. Gordon’s testimony there was some other evidence indicative
of the defendant’s guilt in regards to the Brighton Bank robbery. Specifically, the defendant pawned
the two rings stolen from Ms. Gordon within days of the robberies.
On the other hand, the predominant evidence linking the defendant to the Wonder Bread
Store robbery was Ms. Jefferson’s testimony. No fingerprint or other forensic evidence linked the
defendant to either of these crimes. The evidence presented at trial, while probably sufficient to
convict, could hardly be described as overwhelming. Due to this lack of evidence, we are hard
pressed to ignore the impact the joining of the witnesses’ testimony had on the jury’s verdict;
especially, in light of the fact the jury, after hearing Ms. Gordon’s testimony, more than likely
believed the defendant had a propensity to commit the second robbery. For these reasons, we
conclude that trial court’s error was not harmless. Therefore, we hold that the judgments of the trial
court must be reversed and the case remanded for separate trials.
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Because of the possibility of further appellate review, we will address the defendant’s
remaining three issues.
B. Repeat Violent Offender Status
The defendant argues that he should not have been sentenced under the Repeat Violent
Offender Act because he was not notified of his status as a repeat violent offender within forty-five
days of arraignment. Under the Repeat Violent Offender Act, defendants convicted of certain
violent crimes who have a record of specified prior convictions qualify for an automatic sentence
of life without parole. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-120. A charge as a repeat violent offender
must be brought to trial within 180 days of the arraignment with certain exceptions.1 Id. §
40-35-120(i)(1). Moreover, the state is required to file with the court and defense counsel a
statement that the defendant is a repeat violent offender within forty-five days of the arraignment.
Id. § 40-35-120(i)(2). The trial court shall grant the defendant a continuance if the notice is not
timely filed so that the defendant has forty-five days between the date of notice and the trial. Id. The
defendant is not entitled to release from custody or dismissal of the charges if the state does not
comply with the notice provisions. Id. § 40-35-120(i)(3).
In this case, we initially note that the defendant has waived this issue for failing to raise it
prior to trial, in a motion for new trial, or during the sentencing hearing.2 See Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a);
State v. Thompson, 36 S.W.3d 102, 108 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). However, even if not waived, the
defendant is not entitled to relief. The record reveals that the defendant was indicted on January 8,
2004 and arraigned on January 14, 2004. The prosecutor filed a notice of repeat violent offender
status on March 15, 2004. However, the notice was not placed in the defendant’s court file due to
what must have been a clerical oversight in the court clerk’s office. The trial court corrected this
error by entering an order to correct the record on February 8, 2006. See Tenn. R. Crim. P. 36. We
reviewed the numerous transcripts in this case and found no mention of a failure by the state to file
notice of repeat violent offender status. Accordingly, in light of the trial court’s order correcting the
record, we conclude the state’s notice of repeat violent offender status was filed approximately sixty
days after the defendant’s arraignment.
The remedy under the statute for untimely notice is to grant a continuance so that the
defendant has forty-five days between receipt of notice and trial. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
120(i)(2). Here, even with the delayed notice, the defendant still had forty-five days notice before
his trial began on November 2, 2004. This court has previously determined that the defendant must
1
The exceptions are delay caused by (1) the defendant, (2) a competency examination, (3) a competency
hearing, (4) an adjudication of incompetency for trial, (5) a continuance due to the defendant’s physical incapacity for
trial, or (6) an interlocutory appeal. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-120(i)(1)(A)-(F).
2
W e note that the defendant did raise that he was not brought to trial within 180 days both prior to trial and
in his motion for new trial. However, our review of the record reveals that his first challenge to the alleged untimely
notice of his status as a repeat violent offender was on appeal.
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show he or she was prejudiced due to the untimely notice. State v. Thompson, 36 S.W.3d 102, 115-
16 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). It is our view that the defendant has not shown he was prejudiced by
the untimely notice given he had ample time between receipt of the notice and the trial. Therefore,
the defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.
C. Sufficiency
The defendant next challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. Our review begins
with the well-established rule that once a jury finds a defendant guilty, his or her presumption of
innocence is removed and replaced with a presumption of guilt. State v. Evans, 838 S.W.2d 185,
191 (Tenn. 1992). Therefore, on appeal, the convicted defendant has the burden of demonstrating
to this court why the evidence will not support the jury’s verdict. State v. Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d
516, 557-58 (Tenn. 2000); State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982). To meet this burden,
the defendant must establish that no “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); State v.
Evans, 108 S.W.3d 231, 236 (Tenn. 2003); Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e). In contrast, the jury’s verdict
approved by the trial judge accredits the state’s witnesses and resolves all conflicts in favor of the
state. State v. Harris, 839 S.W.2d 54, 75 (Tenn. 1992). The state is entitled to the strongest
legitimate view of the evidence and all reasonable inferences which may be drawn from that
evidence. Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d at 558; Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d at 914. Questions concerning the
credibility of the witnesses, conflicts in trial testimony, the weight and value to be given the
evidence, and all factual issues raised by the evidence are resolved by the trier of fact and not this
court. State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 659 (Tenn. 1997). We do not attempt to re-weigh or
re-evaluate the evidence. State v. Reid, 91 S.W.3d 247, 277 (Tenn. 2002); Bland, 958 S.W.2d at
659. Likewise, we do not replace the jury’s inferences drawn from the circumstantial evidence with
our own inferences. See State v. Elkins, 102 S.W.3d 581, 582 (Tenn. 2003); Reid, 91 S.W.3d at 277.
Aggravated robbery is defined as robbery “[a]ccomplished with a deadly weapon or by
display of any article used or fashioned to lead the victim to reasonably believe it to be a deadly
weapon.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-402(a)(1). Robbery is defined as “the intentional or knowing
theft of property from the person of another by violence or putting the person in fear.” Id. §
39-13-401(a). The identity of the defendant as the person who committed the offense for which he
is on trial is an element of the offense and a question of fact for the jury. State v. Williams, 623
S.W.2d 118, 120 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1981). A victim’s identification of the defendant as the one who
committed the offense is sufficient to establish identity. State v. Strickland, 885 S.W.2d 85, 87
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1993).
In this case, both victims identified the defendant as the robber after looking at a
photographic lineup, at the defendant’s preliminary hearing, and at trial. Moreover, both victims
testified that they were able to clearly see the defendant when he robbed them. Ms. Gordon testified
that the defendant was initially two feet away from her. Ms. Jefferson testified that she stood “face
to face” with the defendant, no more than an arm’s length away.
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Additionally, the evidence at trial established that the defendant pawned the two rings stolen
from Ms. Gordon within days of the robberies. Also, the defendant cross-examined Ms. Jefferson
about a little boy being present in the store during the robbery. However, on re-direct examination
Ms. Jefferson testified that she had not told the police or the prosecutor about the little boy’s
presence. Accordingly, in light of the defendant’s burden of proof on appeal, we conclude that,
while not overwhelming, the evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find the defendant
guilty.
D. Consecutive Sentencing
The defendant lastly argues that the trial court erred in ordering his sentences be served
consecutively. Specifically, he contends the trial court misapplied the “extensive criminal record
category.” This court’s review of a challenged sentence is a de novo review of the record with a
presumption that the trial court’s determinations are correct. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d). This
presumption of correctness is conditioned upon the affirmative showing in the record that the trial
court considered the sentencing principles and all relevant facts and circumstances. State v. Pettus,
986 S.W.2d 540, 543-44 (Tenn. 1999). However, if the record shows that the trial court failed to
consider the sentencing principles and all relevant facts and circumstances, then review of the
challenged sentence is purely de novo without the presumption of correctness. State v. Ashby, 823
S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991). On appeal, the party challenging the sentence imposed by the trial
court has the burden of establishing that the sentence is erroneous. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d),
Sentencing Commission Comments.
In conducting our de novo review of a sentence, this court must consider (a) the evidence
adduced at trial and the sentence hearing; (b) the pre-sentence report; (c) the principles of sentencing;
(d) the arguments of counsel as to sentencing alternatives; (e) the nature and characteristics of the
offense; (f) the enhancement and mitigating factors; and (g) the defendant’s potential or lack of
potential for rehabilitation or treatment. Id. §§ 40-35-103(5), -210(b).
Initially, we note that if a defendant is convicted of more than one criminal offense, a trial
court may impose consecutive sentencing upon a determination by a preponderance of the evidence
that one or more of the criteria set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115(b) exists.
Below is the statutory criteria the trial court found relevant to this case:
(1) The defendant is a professional criminal who has knowingly devoted such
defendant’s life to criminal acts as a major source of livelihood;
(2) The defendant is an offender whose record of criminal activity is extensive;
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(6) The defendant is sentenced for an offense committed while on probation[.]
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Id. § 40-35-115(b). The statutory criteria set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated section
40-35-115(b) are stated in the alternative; therefore, only one need exist to support the
appropriateness of consecutive sentencing.
In ordering the consecutive sentences, the trial court concluded:
He [has] offenses in several states at least two other states where he
committed violent offenses, and in Tennessee numerous violent offenses. . . .
....
. . . [H]e’s got a horrendous record here. Horrendous record[.] [I]t’s one of
the worst I’ve seen in the violent category, you know, aggravated robberies in several
states and numerous cases aggravated robbery. So he made a career of that of doing
those things. . . .
. . . [H]e’s committed these offenses and his horrible record for violent
offenses and total disregard for the law over the years, each time he gets out, he
commits some more violent offenses.
....
He is a professional criminal who has devoted himself to criminal acts as a
major source of livelihood. He has to, to have committed that many offenses. The
little work he did was part-time compared to his full-time job of robbing folks. So
the Court finds that he is a professional criminal and his offenses, his record is
extensive, and, of course, he was sentenced to an offense while on parole so those
matters indicate that consecutive sentences are appropriate, and the Court will run
them consecutive. . . .
To begin, the defendant only challenges application of factor two, that his record of criminal
activity is extensive. Therefore, we will address his argument before analyzing the overall validity
of consecutive sentencing in this case. The defendant argues that the trial court erred in ordering
consecutive sentencing based upon his past extensive criminal record. The defendant argues that the
“extensive criminal record category” set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115(b)(2)
is not applicable to his situation because this category refers to a consideration of the extensiveness
of an offender’s present convictions, not past criminal record. The defendant argues that his past
criminal record formed the basis for a sentence based upon a persistent offender status but did not
form the basis for consecutive sentencing. The defendant cites the Sentencing Commission
Comments to Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115 and Gray v. State, 538 S.W.2d 391
(Tenn. 1976), as support for his argument.
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We note the defendant’s contention has previously been addressed by this court in State v.
Palmer, 10 S.W.3d 638 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). In Palmer, we held that the “extensive criminal
record category” applied to offenders with an extensive history of criminal convictions and activities,
not just to offenders with extensive present convictions. Id. at 648-49. The Palmer court based its
holding on stare decisis, recognizing that for eight years the courts had interpreted section 40-35-
115(b)(2) to refer to both a defendant’s prior record and present convictions. Id. Accordingly, this
issue is without merit.
Turning now to the appropriateness of consecutive sentencing, we note the trial court was
incorrect in applying factor six (6) because the defendant was on parole, not probation, when he
committed the offenses in question. This court has previously determined that the terms “probation”
and “parole” are not synonymous for purposes of Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115. See
State v. Robert Sanford Barnes, No. W2003-02967-CCA-R3-CD, 2005 WL 331376, at *13 (Tenn.
Crim. App., at Jackson, Feb. 11, 2005). Despite the trial court’s misapplication of factor six, the
other factors cited by the trial court provide ample justification for consecutive sentencing.
First, the defendant’s record shows that he is a professional criminal. According to the pre-
sentence report, the defendant’s criminal behavior began when he was sixteen years old. Since that
time, the defendant has acquired eight armed robbery convictions in Tennessee, two aggravated
robbery with a firearm convictions in Arkansas, a robbery conviction in Arkansas, and a robbery with
a deadly weapon conviction in Mississippi. The pre-sentence report also reveals that the defendant’s
only employment history was with the security company, Courtesy Consultants, which the company
owner testified was “on and off.” The trial court determined that the defendant’s full-time job was
“robbing folks,” and the record supports that determination.
Second, the defendant has an extensive record of criminal activity. As mentioned earlier, the
defendant has at least eleven convictions for armed robbery, as well as a plethora of more minor
offenses. Here, the trial court determined the defendant’s record to be “horrendous.” Our review
of the record supports that determination.
In his brief, the defendant also mentions another consecutive sentencing factor: “[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.” Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 40-35-115(b)(4). We note the trial court did not base its decision on this factor; therefore, we do
not find it necessary to address whether the factor would apply to this defendant especially in light
of our aforementioned conclusions.
CONCLUSION
Following our review, we reverse the judgments of the trial court and remand for separate
trials based on the erroneous consolidation of the two indictments. Additionally, due to the
possibility of further appellate review, we also conclude that the defendant is not entitled to relief
on his sufficiency and sentencing issues.
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___________________________________
J.C. McLIN, JUDGE
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