State of Tennessee v. Lee Harold Cromwell ( 2018 )

07/03/2018
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
March 28, 2018 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. LEE HAROLD CROMWELL
Appeal from the Circuit Court for Anderson County
No. B6C00016 Paul G. Summers, Senior Judge
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No. E2017-01320-CCA-R3-CD
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The defendant, Lee Harold Cromwell, was convicted of one count of reckless vehicular
homicide and eight counts of reckless aggravated assault against nine different victims.
The trial court sentenced the defendant as a Range I, standard offender and imposed an
effective twelve-year sentence. On appeal, the defendant argues the evidence was
insufficient to support his convictions for reckless aggravated assault and challenges
various aspects of the jury instructions. The defendant also argues the trial court erred in
not merging his eight aggravated assault convictions into his vehicular homicide
conviction. Finally, the defendant generally challenges the trial court’s sentencing
determinations and asserts the cumulative effect of the errors alleged rendered his trial
unfair. After our review, we affirm the evidence was sufficient to support the defendant’s
convictions and the trial court properly sentenced the defendant, but conclude the trial
court committed reversible error in instructing the jury as to reckless aggravated assault.
Therefore, we vacate the defendant’s eight convictions for reckless aggravated assault
and remand this case to the trial court for a new trial.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Affirmed in
Part and Reversed in Part; Case Remanded
J. ROSS DYER, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which JOHN EVERETT WILLIAMS
and ROBERT L. HOLLOWAY, JR., JJ., joined.
Tom Marshall (on appeal), Clinton, Tennessee, and James K. Scott and John DuPree (at
trial), Knoxville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Lee Harold Cromwell.
Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Zachary T. Hinkle, Assistant
Attorney General; Dave S. Clark, District Attorney General; and Anthony Craighead,
Assistant District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
FACTS
I. Trial
After a fireworks show on July 4, 2015, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the defendant
reversed his truck through a crowded parking lot, killing one victim and injuring eight
others. An Anderson County Grand Jury indicted the defendant for seventeen crimes,
including one count each of vehicular homicide, criminally negligent homicide, reckless
homicide, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, and driving on a suspended or
revoked license, and twelve counts of reckless aggravated assault. Prior to trial, the State
dismissed the criminally negligent homicide, reckless homicide, reckless endangerment
with a deadly weapon and reckless aggravated assault in which James Robinson was the
victim, and three additional counts of reckless aggravated assault. The trial court severed
the driving on a suspended or revoked license charge. As a result, the State proceeded to
trial against the defendant for one count of reckless vehicular homicide for the death of
James Robinson (Count 1), and eight counts of reckless aggravated assault for injuries to
victims Julia Robinson (Count 2), Jade Robinson (Count 3), Jacklyn Robinson (Count 4),
Elizabeth Eldridge (Count 5), Michael Eldridge (Count 6), Curtis Booker (Count 7),
Ja’Taalia Henderson (Count 8), and La’Ruis Henderson (Count 9). At trial, the State
presented the following facts for the jury’s review.
Melody Cody watched the fireworks show in her white Ford Thunderbird from the
parking lot of the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2015. At the end
of the show, Ms. Cody saw a red pick-up truck reversing “very slow[ly]” towards her
vehicle. She realized the truck was going to hit her vehicle because as the truck reversed,
it “[was] still angling toward [her] car instead of straightening up.” Upon impact, the
truck knocked the “rear view mirror off the side door,” stopped “for a few seconds,” and
then “accelerated back continuing in reverse all the way down the side of [her] car.” Ms.
Cody believed she “was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” but “heard crashes of
[the truck] obviously impacting other cars.”
Michael and Elizabeth Eldridge sat on the tailgate of their Ford F-150 and watched
the Oak Ridge fireworks show on July 4, 2015. At the end of the show, the parking lot
was “[h]eavily congested,” and Mr. Eldridge noticed “everybody was sitting still except
for one vehicle,” a “cranberry colored pickup truck.” The truck, driven by the defendant,
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“had pulled in blocking a lot of folks from exiting.” Mr. Eldridge soon saw the
defendant’s truck “slowly easing backwards in reverse.” The defendant “sideswiped” a
Ford Thunderbird and then stopped for “[a] few seconds.” The defendant then continued
reversing and sideswiped a van, stopping again “for a few seconds.”
After hitting the Thunderbird and the van, the defendant then “floored it.” Mr.
Eldridge saw the defendant “accelerate[] extremely heavy. As hard as you could
accelerate.” He “saw [the defendant] cut his wheel and come right toward [them].” Mr.
Eldridge tried to raise his legs from the tailgate to avoid being hit, but the rear of the
defendant’s truck “hit [his] left knee and put a seven-inch gash in [his] knee and sent
[him] flying through the air. [Mr. Eldridge] struck the back of [his] cab and fell into [his]
truck.” Mrs. Eldridge was knocked towards the cab of the truck, injuring her ankle and
leaving her “a little bit sore.” The defendant “continued on,” hitting multiple vehicles
before finally stopping. When the defendant finally stopped, Mr. Eldridge saw the body
of James Robinson underneath the defendant’s truck with “blood coming out of his
mouth.”
Mr. Eldridge described the scene left in the defendant’s wake as “a horror movie.”
After receiving medical attention for his left knee, he heard the motor revving from the
defendant’s truck. Mr. Eldridge walked towards the truck, saw the defendant sitting in
the driver’s seat, and asked “why did you do this?” The defendant “stuck his head out the
window and he said ‘my accelerator stuck.’” Mr. Eldridge asked the defendant if he was
“going to stick with that story,” and then walked away. Regarding his comment to the
defendant, Mr. Eldridge explained on cross-examination,
When I heard him revving his motor, and he made the statement to
me that the accelerator stuck that just told me it didn’t stick because he was
revving his motor. So, that’s how I drew the conclusion and made the
statement “and you are going to stick with that story?”
Julia Robinson attended the fireworks show with her husband, James Robinson,
her daughters, Jade and Jacklyn Robinson, and her cousin, Morticia Corey. Her family
watched the fireworks from the back of their vehicle with the back hatch open and the
third row of seats folded down. After the show, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were at the back
of their vehicle near the hatch when the “whole car got knocked.” Mrs. Robinson “hit the
rails and the doors of [her] car,” hit another car, and “then bounced back into [her] car.”
She suffered a “[s]evere concussion” and numbness in her legs. She obtained a scar near
her left eye, and her “whole face swelled and bruised.” Jacklyn complained that her neck
and shoulder hurt, while Jade was “laying on her back on the ground . . . with her hands
in fists,” crying.
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Before EMTs arrived, Mrs. Robinson found her husband “laying . . . on his side in
like a fetal position underneath the car.” EMTs removed Mr. Robinson’s body from the
scene. Mrs. Robinson, Jacklyn, and Jade were later transported to the hospital where
both girls were checked for concussions. Neither child obtained any permanent injuries.
Jade and Jacklyn Robinson both testified at trial. On July 4, 2015, Jade was nine
years old and Jacklyn was seven years old. After the fireworks ended, Jade saw her
father running towards her, and then her “head went banging against the [car] doors.”
She “ping pong[ed] against the [car] doors,” fell, and injured her head and bruised her
legs. Jade did not see what happened to her father because she “closed [her] eyes and
hoped that it would [] go away.” When she opened her eyes, she “saw a black truck and
[she] saw [her] dad’s hand under it.” Jacklyn stated she watched the fireworks show in
the trunk of their family vehicle. After the show, as “[t]he car came in,” her father
pushed her inside the vehicle “so [she] wouldn’t get hurt.” She did not remember exactly
how the impact occurred, but remembered “getting trapped in.” The impact left Jacklyn
with scrapes and her neck and shoulder hurt.
Janica Henderson attended the fireworks show with her children, Ja’taalia
Henderson, La’Ruis Henderson, La’miere Porter, and Ja’shalin Porter. She parked next
to the Robinsons’ vehicle during the show. Afterwards, Ms. Henderson got in the
driver’s seat and her four children got in the backseat. She then “heard a boom and [she]
saw . . . Ja’taalia like shifting over in the back seat.” Ms. Henderson injured her back
upon impact, requiring “a little therapy.” Ja’taalia began “vomiting and shaking.”
La’Ruis “had a scratch on his nose and it was bleeding by the time he was out of the car.”
Ms. Henderson admitted she did not see the defendant’s truck hit her car, but noted
“[w]hen I got out of the car, my car was kind of sideways to the Robinson[s’] car and the
red truck was right behind both of our cars.” Ms. Henderson then realized Mr. Robinson
“was underneath the car.”
Curtis Booker, another victim, watched the fireworks show and then heard “some
tires screeching.” Mr. Booker saw the defendant’s truck coming towards him, forcing
Mr. Booker to “dart[] in the middle of the cars [be]cause [he] was in the middle of the
road and [he] didn’t have [any]where to go.” He jumped in the air, but the defendant’s
truck “just kept coming. Hitting car after car.” The defendant hit Mr. Booker with his
truck, causing Mr. Booker to hit Ms. Henderson’s vehicle and fall to the ground. He
bruised his hips and felt sore. Mr. Booker saw the defendant’s truck hit the Robinsons’
vehicle, and then saw Mr. Robinson lying on the ground underneath the defendant’s
truck.
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Kai’reese Pendergrass heard the defendant’s truck “screech[]” and saw it reverse
through “the parking lot at a pretty high speed.” She saw the truck hit a white car and
then stop for “[m]aybe two or three seconds.” Ms. Pendergrass saw the defendant in the
driver’s seat and “told him to stop and tried to get him to stop the car from moving.”
After hitting the white car, however, the defendant “seemed as if he went back into a
shock and his foot went back on the gas.” Ms. Pendergrass saw the defendant’s truck
“start to screech and flew back again” hitting “a bunch of cars.” During cross-
examination, Ms. Pendergrass stated the defendant seemed “[s]cared and distressed like
he really didn’t feel in the right position.”
Officer Benjamin Higgins of the Oak Ridge Police Department responded to the
chaotic scene in the Midtown Community Center parking lot. As he approached, Officer
Higgins noticed three or four vehicles “that had been wrecked,” and he saw the body of
James Robinson “underneath a maroon Dodge pick-up truck.” Mr. Robinson “appeared
to be unconscious, lying in what appeared to be a pool of his own blood.”
Officer Higgins approached the defendant who was sitting calmly in the driver’s
seat of his truck. The truck was damaged and located “up against” another damaged
vehicle. Officer Higgins asked the defendant for his driver’s license. Instead, the
defendant provided an expired Tennessee Valley Authority identification card. When
asked about the damage he caused, the defendant explained “he was slowly backing up
and that all of a sudden his throttle stuck and he lost control of the vehicle.” The
defendant did not appear to have any physical injuries, but advised he was diabetic. As a
result, EMTs examined the defendant, noting his blood sugar read 168. Because of the
chaotic nature of the scene, the defendant remained in his truck and was unable to
complete field sobriety tests. However, after conducting a blood test, Officer Higgins
determined no alcohol or drugs were involved, and the defendant was not charged with
any crimes on July 4, 2015.
Officer Scott Carroll responded to the scene after receiving a call that there “was
possibly a male trapped under [a] vehicle.” Officer Carroll arrived to a “chaotic” scene
and tried to locate the injured victim. As he made his way through the crowd, Officer
Carroll saw Mr. Robinson underneath the defendant’s truck, “laying face down in [a]
pool of his own blood.” It was clear Mr. Robinson suffered significant head trauma as he
was “gasping for air” and was not responsive. Officer Carroll attempted to relieve the
fluid building up inside Mr. Robinson until EMTs arrived on the scene.
Officer Carroll saw Mr. Eldridge on the scene, stating “he had some scuffs on his
legs where his legs had gotten between the tailgate of his truck and also the striking
vehicle.” Additionally, Officer Carroll spoke to the defendant, noting the defendant’s
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calm demeanor and that the inside of his truck was “pretty clean” with only “a few papers
in the floor.” Officer Carroll did not inspect the floor mats in the defendant’s truck, and
he was unaware of any alcohol or drugs in the defendant’s system or of the defendant’s
speed during the impacts.
Officer Matthew Johnston conducted the search warrant of the defendant’s vehicle
and transported it to Secret City Chrysler on July 13, 2015. He explained “[t]he purpose
of the vehicle being taken to Secret City was for a mechanical inspection to be done [by]
a certified [D]odge mechanic.” Officer Johnston photographed the defendant’s truck and
the parts of the truck examined by the mechanic at Secret City Chrysler, copies of which
were entered into evidence. After the inspection, “[t]he items were placed back on the
vehicle and [the] vehicle was placed back into evidence in our impound lot.”
David Carey, an expert in the field of general automotive mechanics, inspected the
defendant’s truck at Secret City Chrysler on July 13, 2015. Mr. Carey was told “to
inspect the [truck for] anything that could have caused the throttle to stick open.” In
doing so, he checked to see if any wires were torn and checked for fault codes in the
truck’s computer system, finding nothing wrong with either. Regarding his inspection,
Mr. Carey explained:
I was inspecting for any frayed wires, cables -- anything
disconnected and saw nothing out of place or out of the ordinary[,] went
and finished up taking in taking (sic) the air filter assembly off and at that
point[,] I actuated the throttle mechanism which has a cable connected to
the gas pedal. It moved freely. There was nothing binding or sticking and I
got a flash light and looked down inside the throttle body and out the
actuated it again. Nothing was binding or sticking. There wasn’t no (sic)
excessive amount of carbon or anything built up on there that say would
have caused a problem.
After reviewing photographs of the defendant’s throttle body assembly and parts
at trial, Mr. Carey opined there was “no evidence whatsoever” that the defendant’s
throttle plate stuck open on July 4, 2015. He explained if a throttle plate stuck open and
the truck was in gear, “the motor would rev up and the car would take off.” However,
Mr. Carey found no evidence this occurred in the defendant’s truck. He further opined
the defendant’s throttle body functioned properly, stating the throttle body “moved
completely freely” and he “saw nothing . . . out of the ordinary.” On July 21, 2015, Mr.
Carey performed a second inspection of the defendant’s truck, again determining no
mechanical defects existed.
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During cross-examination, Mr. Carey stated he found nothing wrong with the
defendant’s truck that would have caused it to accelerate inadvertently on July 4, 2015.
Further, he explained, “[t]hat was the purpose of doing the electronic test before I did any
of the mechanical inspection. If there was an electronic problem that would cause that, it
would have showed up in that test and there was nothing.” When asked about recalls for
Chrysler vehicles, Mr. Carey stated he has “never heard of an unintended acceleration
recall repair.” Finally, Mr. Carey explained he did not receive a request to preserve the
machine used to test the fault codes in the defendant’s vehicle, explaining the machine
that reads the fault codes does not “hold a recording of what you looked at[,] it just reads
it.”
Christopher Lochmuller, an expert in the field of forensic pathology, performed
the autopsy of James Robinson. He explained Mr. Robinson died from being struck by a
vehicle. Specifically, the impact Mr. Robinson suffered left his skin scraped and bruised
with two impact points on the inside of his right knee and the outside of his left knee.
Mr. Robinson suffered “a number of broken ribs on . . . the front part of his chest on both
sides.” Significantly, the impact tore Mr. Robinson’s aorta and damaged his spine. Dr.
Lochmuller explained, “the upper portion of [the aorta] in the left side of the chest had
two tears in it so it was torn through and with bleeding into both sides of the chest as well
as there was bleeding within the tissue surrounding the aorta in the chest.” Regarding
Mr. Robinson’s spinal injury, Dr. Lochmuller stated:
So the upper portion of his neck -- the actual spine itself -- at
autopsy there was instability there that I could feel there when I palpated
the neck. What that indicates is the ligaments in that area that keep the
spine together were torn which allowed the bone to shift and then bruise the
upper spinal cord which indicated at the autopsy it was soft so it had been
compressed. So he has a compression-type injury to the upper portion of
his spinal cord which would make you potentially paralyzed immediately
from the neck down. In addition to that, something that can happen is you
can go into what we call neurogenic shock. When your cord is injured up
high like that your blood vessels lose the resistence (sic), the tone that
keeps your blood pressure up in your body. So you can go into something
called neurogenic shock; so that injury in it of itself can also be fatal.
Dr. Lochmuller stated Mr. Robinson’s injuries, which led to his death, were consistent
with someone being struck by a vehicle. Regarding the type of impact Mr. Robinson
suffered, Dr. Lockmuller testified: “It’s not someone who’s just slowly backing up out of
a parking space. I cannot give you a specific speed, but this is not someone who just gets
bumped and falls down like that. It’s just . . . it’s more than that.” The State then rested.
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The defendant presented proof from James Norris, an expert in the area of accident
reconstruction. Mr. Norris examined the defendant’s truck on November 22, 2016. He
opined the floor mat on the driver’s side of the defendant’s truck “shifted forward” on
July 4, 2015. Upon his inspection, however, Mr. Norris noted the driver’s side floor mat
“was in its normal location or what would be identified as a normal location because
there [was] a hook that actually was protruding through a grommet in the mat to hold it in
place.” Regarding the change in the position of the floor mat, Mr. Norris stated the
position of the floor mat on July 4, 2015 was not preserved, noting “[s]omething must
have changed them is the only thing I can say. I can’t say how or when.”
After investigating the defendant’s case, Mr. Norris opined that “this accident is
consistent with an unintended acceleration event.” He stated, “I believe and it’s my
opinion that with a reasonable degree of engineering certainty that this accident was an
unintended acceleration. Primary cause if there was no mechanical issue would be pedal
confusion, a human factor.” In support of his opinion, Mr. Norris explained, “across the
spectrum there have been many different makes and models over the years that Chrysler
has had to either have recalls on or at lease (sic) do investigations on in terms of
unintended accelerations.” He referenced a past Chrysler issue where “[t]hey were fined
. . . seventy million for failure to report some safety concerns,” including issues with “air
bag inflators, seat belt issues, [and] throttle stickings.” During cross-examination,
however, Mr. Norris stated Chrysler did not recall the throttle on the defendant’s truck.
Additionally, Mr. Norris admitted he did not inspect the throttle of the defendant’s truck,
but rather relied on Mr. Carey’s testimony, that the defendant’s throttle did not stick, in
reaching his expert opinion.
At the close of the defendant’s proof, the jury convicted the defendant as charged,
and the trial court held a subsequent sentencing hearing on June 19, 2017.
II. Sentencing Hearing
At the sentencing hearing, the State introduced the presentence report into
evidence through probation officer Wayne Langley of the Tennessee Department of
Correction. The report included victim impact statements from Julia Robinson and
Michael Eldridge, noted the defendant believed his mental health was “excellent” and his
physical health was “good,” and outlined the defendant’s behavior after his convictions.
According to Officer Langley and the report, the defendant filed liens against several
public officials involved in his case. He also claimed his trial counsel “did not know that
this proceeding was an admiralty jurisdiction.” The defendant told Officer Langley he
asked his trial counsel “over and over to challenge the jurisdiction” because “[t]he
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admiralty jurisdiction stops at the high water mark of the land.” Officer Langley also
noted the defendant maintained a low likelihood of reoffending.
Officer Higgins testified to his interactions with the defendant on July 4, 2015.
After asking the defendant for his driver’s license, proof of insurance, and registration,
the defendant provided him with “an expired TVA ID.” The defendant stated he did not
have a valid driver’s license and instead, “handed [Officer Higgins] a packet that
basically stated that he demanded all his rights at all times and that he didn’t need a
driver’s license to be traveling per se.” The information packet indicated the defendant
identified as a sovereign citizen, and the defendant confirmed the same. Officer Higgins
stated the defendant’s driver’s license was suspended by the Oak Ridge City Court for
failure to pay a speeding ticket. In addition, Officer Higgins noted the defendant filed an
$8 million lien against him after being convicted.
Dwayne Collins of the Department of Safety and the Office of Homeland Security
explained his role in training Tennessee law enforcement officials in how to interact with
individuals who identify as sovereign citizens. According to Mr. Collins, sovereign
citizens believe “the government is a corrupt government and has no jurisdictional
boundaries to them.” Additionally, sovereign citizens do not have a driver’s license
because “they traverse in a vessel” and do not believe that law applies to them. Mr.
Collins explained sovereign citizens, in retaliation to law enforcement, will often file
liens against officials at the register of deeds office, despite the illegality of the filing.
During cross-examination, Mr. Collins explained sovereign citizens do not follow a
central ideology and he has not seen any legitimate liens filed by sovereign citizens.
Special Agent Mark Irwin of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reviewed the
liens filed by the defendant in Davidson County against various public officials involved
in various aspects of his criminal case. Agent Irwin stated, “from reading the case file of
what he is being sentenced on here today and interviewing each person one-on-one, it
appeared to me that he had no legal basis to file these liens on all these professionals.”
As a result, the defendant was indicted for eight counts of aggravated forgery against
eight victims, all of whom were public officials involved in his prosecution.
Upon review by the trial court, Agent Irwin listed the following liens filed by the
defendant on March 30, 2016 in the amount of $4 million against the following victims:
William T. Jones, Circuit Court Clerk; Roger Miller, Anderson County General Sessions
Judge; Dave Clark, Anderson County District Attorney; Victoria Bannach, Assistant
District Attorney; James Akagi, Oak Ridge Police Chief; Grant Goyldie, former Oak
Ridge police officer; the Oak Ridge Police Department; the Anderson County General
Sessions Court; and the Anderson County District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, the
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trial court reviewed a subsequent set of $8 million liens filed by the defendant on May
17, 2016 against the Anderson County Criminal and Circuit Courts, Officer Higgins, and
Anderson County Criminal Court Judge Donald Elledge, in addition to the victims listed
above.
Michael Eldridge testified to the impact the defendant’s crimes have had on his
life since July 4, 2015. Specifically, Mr. Eldridge explained the trouble he has walking
as a result of the defendant’s truck hitting his left knee and the anxiety he now
experiences while driving. In addition to the property damage suffered, Mr. Eldridge
stated he and his wife, who still suffers emotionally, face ongoing medical bills as a result
of the defendant’s crimes.
Julia Robinson also testified to the effect the defendant’s crimes have had on her
family. Along with ongoing pain, Mrs. Robinson suffered the following injuries as a
result of the defendant’s crimes:
Physically I had a scope done on my right knee and it was knocked
out of alignment. I have lost . . . I have nerve damage in the calf part of my
leg, both legs because of the running board on my car that was hit. I have
two bulges in my back, one at the C-5 neck line and the other one between
the L-4 and L-5. I will have to handle that with therapy and such.
Aside from her physical injuries, Mrs. Robinson also explained the difficulties she now
faces as a single parent to Jade and Jacklyn, who are grieving the loss of their father.
Mrs. Robinson stated the death of Mr. Robinson has significantly affected her family
both emotionally and financially. Additionally, Mrs. Robinson stated both girls were
injured in the crimes, noting Jade suffered from “physical bumps and bruises at the
scene,” while Jacklyn “had some neck trauma from being thrown, neck [and] shoulder
pain.”
The defendant’s step-daughters, Jennifer Bateson and Melissa Chase, testified on
his behalf. Both stated the defendant is a good step-father and feels remorse for the
“accident.” Neither Ms. Bateson, nor Ms. Chase was aware of the defendant’s sovereign
citizen ideology. Katie Byers attended church with the defendant and testified he is a
“good man.” She stated after the defendant’s actions on July 4, 2015, he “stood up in
front of our church and told the people that he did not mean to hurt [any]body.” Clay
Donahue, a friend of the defendant’s for over forty-five years, stated the defendant was
honest and trustworthy and indicated remorse after the July 4, 2015 events. Mr. Donahue
testified the defendant “talked to [him] about sovereign citizens,” but he did not “recall
[the defendant] telling [him] he was a sovereign citizen.”
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After the defendant’s allocution and its consideration of the proof presented, the
trial court imposed an effective sentence of twelve years’ incarceration. Specifically, the
trial court sentenced the defendant as a Range I, standard offender for his nine
convictions. The trial court grouped the convictions loosely according to the victims
injured in each vehicle hit by the defendant and ran the sentences within each group
concurrently to one another, but consecutively to the other groupings. The groups
consisted of Counts 1 through 4, Counts 5 and 6, and Counts 7 through 9. The trial court
imposed a sentence of five years in Count 1; three years in Counts 2, 3, and 4; three years
in Count 5; four years in Count 6; and three years in Counts 7, 8, and 9. Thus, the
defendant received an effective five-year sentence for Counts 1 through 4; an effective
four-year sentence for Counts 5 and 6; and an effective three-year sentence for Counts 7
through 9. The trial court ran Counts 5 and 6 consecutively to Counts 1 through 4, and
ran Counts 7, 8 and 9 consecutively to Counts 5 and 6, resulting in an effective sentence
of twelve years. The trial court denied the defendant’s motion for new trial, and this
timely appeal followed.
ANALYSIS
I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
On appeal, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence as to his eight
convictions for reckless aggravated assault. More specifically, the defendant argues the
evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his convictions because (1) the
State failed to show he used his truck as a deadly weapon, (2) the State failed to show he
was “consciously aware of the risk required for the culpable mental state of
recklessness,” and (3) the State did not prove bodily injury to the victim in Count 8,
Ja’taalia Henderson, claiming he did not suffer bodily injury in that he only vomited after
the incident. The State, however, argues the evidence is sufficient to support the
defendant’s convictions because (1) the defendant “actually used” his truck as a deadly
weapon, (2) the jury was permitted to infer the defendant acted recklessly from the proof
presented at trial, and (3) Ja’taalia Henderson suffered a temporary illness, vomiting and
shaking, following the incident which constitutes bodily injury. Upon our review of the
record, it is clear the evidence produced at trial supports the defendant’s convictions for
reckless aggravated assault.
When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged, the relevant question of the
reviewing court is “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); see also
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Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e) (“Findings of guilt in criminal actions whether by the trial court or
jury shall be set aside if the evidence is insufficient to support the findings by the trier of
fact of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”); State v. Evans, 838 S.W.2d 185, 190-92
(Tenn. 1992); State v. Anderson, 835 S.W.2d 600, 604 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992). All
questions involving the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given the
evidence, and all factual issues are resolved by the trier of fact. See State v. Pappas, 754
S.W.2d 620, 623 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). “A guilty verdict by the jury, approved by
the trial judge, accredits the testimony of the witnesses for the State and resolves all
conflicts in favor of the theory of the State.” State v. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Tenn.
1973). Our Supreme Court has stated the rationale for this rule:
This well-settled rule rests on a sound foundation. The trial judge
and the jury see the witnesses face to face, hear their testimony and observe
their demeanor on the stand. Thus the trial judge and jury are the primary
instrumentality of justice to determine the weight and credibility to be
given to the testimony of witnesses. In the trial forum alone is there human
atmosphere and the totality of the evidence cannot be reproduced with a
written record in this Court.
Bolin v. State, 405 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tenn. 1966) (citing Carroll v. State, 370 S.W.2d
523 (Tenn. 1963)). “A jury conviction removes the presumption of innocence with
which a defendant is initially cloaked and replaces it with one of guilt, so that on appeal a
convicted defendant has the burden of demonstrating that the evidence is insufficient.”
State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982).
As charged in Counts 2 through 9 of the indictment, reckless aggravated assault
occurs when one “[r]ecklessly commits an assault as defined in § 39-13-101(a)(1), and
the assault: [i]nvolved the use or display of a deadly weapon.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-
102(a)(1)(B)(iii). Assault occurs when one “[i]ntentionally, knowingly or recklessly
causes bodily injury to another.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(1). Reckless behavior
is defined, as follows:
“Reckless” means that a person acts recklessly with respect to
circumstances surrounding the conduct or the result of the conduct when
the person is aware of, but consciously disregards a substantial and
unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The
risk must be of such a nature and degree that its disregard constitutes a
gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would
exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the accused person’s
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standpoint.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106(a)(31). A deadly weapon is “[a]nything that in the manner
of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.” Tenn.
Code Ann. § 39-11-106(a)(5)(B). “‘Bodily injury’ includes a cut, abrasion, bruise, burn
or disfigurement, and physical pain or temporary illness or impairment of the function of
a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106(a)(2).
Here, the evidence produced at trial shows the defendant injured eight victims by
reversing his truck at a high rate of speed through a crowded parking lot on July 4, 2015.
Mr. Eldridge saw the defendant hit two vehicles and stop after each impact. The
defendant then accelerated his truck in reverse “[a]s hard as you could accelerate.” In
doing so, the defendant hit the Eldridges’ truck, causing both Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge to
suffer injuries. Mr. Eldridge received a “seven-inch gash in [his] knee,” and Mrs.
Eldridge injured her ankle and was sore from the impact. The defendant again “floored
it” through the congested parking lot, hitting Ms. Henderson’s vehicle and the Robinsons’
vehicle. The defendant’s impact with Ms. Henderson’s vehicle left her requiring therapy,
Ja’Taalia Henderson “vomiting and shaking,” and La’Ruis Henderson with a bleeding
scratch on his nose. The defendant finally stopped upon impact with the Robinsons’
vehicle. The final impact left Mr. Robinson underneath the defendant’s truck in “a pool
of his own blood.” He later died from his injuries. Mrs. Robinson suffered a concussion
and numbness in her legs. Jade Robinson fell to the ground and suffered “bumps and
bruises,” while Jacklyn Robinson injured her neck and shoulder. Finally, during the
defendant’s destruction, the defendant hit Curtis Booker with his truck, leaving Mr.
Booker with soreness and bruised hips.
Though the defendant argues the State failed to prove his truck was used as a
deadly weapon on July 4, 2015, the evidence produced at trial and outlined above shows
otherwise. Not only did the defendant use his truck to injure his victims and damage
their property, but the speed at which he accelerated through the crowded parking lot
rendered his truck a deadly weapon as evidenced by the injuries and death resulting from
the severity of the impacts inflicted by the defendant. It is clear the defendant used his
truck as a deadly weapon, resulting in the death of Mr. Robinson and bodily injury to his
eight other victims. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106(a)(5)(B). The defendant is not
entitled to relief.
The defendant also alleges Ja’Taalia Henderson’s reaction to the impact, vomiting
and shaking, does not constitute bodily injury. The defendant argues the State failed to
prove a connection between Ja’Taalia’s illness and the defendant’s behavior. The record,
however, shows otherwise. Ms. Henderson testified Ja’Taalia was sitting in the backseat
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of her car when the defendant reversed his truck into her vehicle. The impact thrust
Ja’Taalia into a new position in the backseat. When he exited the vehicle after the
impact, Ja’Taalia “was just vomiting and shaking.” In convicting the defendant for
reckless aggravated assault against Ja’Taalia, the jury clearly found the defendant caused
Ja’Taalia to vomit and shake which qualifies as “physical pain or temporary illness”
under the bodily injury statute. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106(a)(2). The defendant is
not entitled to relief.
Regarding the defendant’s mental state at the time of his crimes, the evidence
produced at trial supports the jury’s finding that the defendant acted recklessly. As
detailed at trial, the defendant “had pulled in blocking a lot of folks from exiting” before
beginning his rampage through the crowded parking lot. The defendant stopped after
initially hitting Ms. Cody’s vehicle, continued in reverse, hit a van, and then stopped
again. Ms. Pendergrass testified she tried to get the defendant to stop, but he refused.
After the initial two impacts, the defendant again accelerated in reverse through the
parking lot hitting the Henderson and Robinson vehicles. As a result of the repeated
impacts inflicted by the defendant, he killed Mr. Robinson and injured Julia Robinson,
Jade Robinson, Jacklyn Robinson, Elizabeth Eldridge, Michael Eldridge, Curtis Booker,
Ja’Taalia Henderson, and La’Ruis Henderson. The evidence supports the jury’s
determination that the defendant consciously disregarded the substantial and unjustifiable
risk of injuring others by reversing his truck through the congested parking lot.
Accordingly, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we
hold that the proof presented at trial was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find the
defendant recklessly committed the aggravated assaults of his eight victims. The
defendant is not entitled to relief.
II. Jury Instructions
The defendant next lodges several specific complaints regarding the trial court’s
jury instructions as to reckless aggravated assault, mens rea, and inferences. Generally,
the defendant’s arguments assert the trial court’s alleged errors led to non-unanimous jury
verdicts and constituted a comment on the defendant’s decision not to testify at trial. We
will review each of the defendant’s claims in turn.
a. Reckless Aggravated Assault
The defendant argues the trial court did not follow the pattern jury instruction and
misstated the elements for reckless aggravated assault in its preliminary, written, and oral
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instructions, leading the jury to convict the defendant of a crime not defined by the law
and one he was not charged with by the grand jury.
It is well-settled in Tennessee that a defendant has a right to a correct and
complete charge of the law so that each issue of fact raised by the evidence will be
submitted to the jury on proper instructions.” State v. Farner, 66 S.W.3d 188, 204 (Tenn.
2001) (citing State v. Garrison, 40 S.W.3d 426, 432 (Tenn. 2000); State v. Teel, 793
S.W.2d 236, 249 (Tenn. 1990)). Accordingly, trial courts have the duty to give “a
complete charge of the law applicable to the facts of the case.” State v. Davenport, 973
S.W.2d 283, 287 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998) (citing State v. Harbison, 704 S.W.2d 314,
319 (Tenn. 1986)). An instruction will only be considered prejudicially erroneous if it
fails to submit the legal issues fairly or misleads the jury as to the applicable law. State v.
Faulkner, 154 S.W.3d 48, 58 (Tenn. 2005) (citing State v. Vann, 976 S.W.2d 93, 101
(Tenn. 1998)). “In order to determine whether a conviction should be reversed on the
basis of an erroneous instruction to the jury, this Court ‘must consider whether the ailing
instruction by itself so infected the entire trial that the resulting conviction violates due
process.’” State v. James, 315 S.W.3d 440, 446 (Tenn. 2010) (quoting State v. Rimmer,
250 S.W.3d 12, 31 (Tenn. 2008) (internal quotations omitted)).
In instructing the jury, “[t]he material elements of the charged offense should be
described and defined in connection with that offense.” State v. Bowman, 327 S.W.3d
69, 93 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009) (citing State v. Ducker, 27 S.W.3d 889, 899 (Tenn.
2000); State v. Cravens, 764 S.W.2d 754, 756 (Tenn. 1989)). “The failure to do so
deprives the defendant of the constitutional right to a jury trial and subjects the erroneous
jury instruction to harmless error analysis.” Id. (citing Garrison, 40 S.W.3d at 433-34).
Harmless error is an error which does not “affirmatively appear to have affected the result
of the trial on the merits.” Tenn. R. Crim. P. 52(a).
Regarding reckless aggravated assault, the trial court orally instructed the jury, as
follows:
Any person who commits the offense of aggravated assault is guilty
of a crime. For you to find the defendant guilty of this offense, the state
must have proven beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the following
essential elements:
No. 1, that the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused or
attempted to cause bodily injury to the alleged victim; that the defendant
intentionally or knowingly committed or attempted to commit an assault
against the alleged victim; and -- that’s an “or” between those.
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No. 1, that the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused or
attempted to cause bodily injury to the alleged victim; or that the defendant
intentionally or knowingly committed or attempted to commit an assault
against the alleged victim; and that the defendant recklessly caused bodily
injury to another; and that the defendant used or displayed a deadly
weapon.
In its written instructions, the trial court provided the following to the jury:
Any person who commits the offense of aggravated assault is guilty
of a crime.
For you to find the defendant guilty of this offense, the state must
have proven beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the following
essential elements:
(1) that the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused or
attempted to cause bodily injury to the alleged victim;
or
(2) that the defendant intentionally or knowingly committed or
attempted to commit an assault against the alleged victim;
or
(a) that the defendant recklessly caused bodily injury to another;
and
(b) that the defendant used or displayed a deadly weapon.
In contrast, the appropriate Tennessee Pattern Jury Instruction for reckless
aggravated assault provides:
Any person who commits the offense of aggravated assault is guilty
of a crime.
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For you to find the defendant guilty of this offense, the state must
have proven beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the following
essential elements:
(1) that the defendant recklessly caused bodily injury to another;
and
(2)(a) that the act resulted in serious bodily injury to another;
or
(b) that the act involved the use or display of a deadly weapon.
7 Tenn. Prac. Pattern Jury Instr. TPI - Crim. 6.02.
The defendant argues the trial court erred in its preliminary instructions to the jury
because “extremely offensive or provocative contact” cannot form the basis for a reckless
aggravated assault conviction as it does not include bodily injury. Regarding the
instructions provided at trial, the defendant argues the trial court allowed the jury to
convict the defendant for an “attempt to cause bodily injury,” which is incorrect under the
law for reckless aggravated assault. The defendant also suggests the instruction allowed
the jury to consider “another” victim rather than the named victim for the convictions.
The defendant argues jury unanimity cannot be assumed based upon these alleged errors
of the trial court.
The State asserts the superfluous elements added by the trial court in its
instructions were harmless because the substance of the instruction remained, noting the
jury had to find the defendant “at least recklessly caused bodily injury” through the use or
display of a deadly weapon. In doing so, the State views each of the defendant’s
arguments and the deficiencies in isolation. When reviewing the adequacy of a jury
instruction, however, this Court “should view the instruction in the context of the charge
as a whole.” State v. Clark, 452 S.W.3d 268, 295 (Tenn. 2014).
We conclude that the jury instructions on reckless aggravated assault, when
viewed in the context of the charge as a whole, failed to fairly submit the legal issues and
misled the jury as to the applicable law. The trial court’s oral and written instructions
were not consistent with each other, the pattern jury instruction, or the statutory elements
for reckless aggravated assault.
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Furthermore, our review indicates it was error for the trial court to include
“attempt” in its instructions to the jury as to reckless aggravated assault. As our supreme
court has stated, “one cannot intend to accomplish the unintended.” State v. Kimbrough,
924 S.W.2d 888, 892 (Tenn. 1996) (holding attempted felony murder does not exist in
Tennessee, noting “it is logically and legally impossible to attempt to perpetrate an
unintentional killing”). Thus, “[i]t is impossible to conceive of an attempt where a crime
by definition may be committed recklessly or negligently but not intentionally.” Id. at
891 (Tenn. 1996); see also State v. Vernon Lamar Bryant, No. E2002-01234-CCA-R3-
CD, 2003 WL 22398460, at *2 (Tenn. Crim. App. Oct. 21, 2003) (holding
“the crime of attempted reckless homicide does not exist in Tennessee”). As charged in
the indictment, reckless aggravated assault occurs when one recklessly causes bodily
injury to another through the use or display of a deadly weapon. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-
13-101(a)(1), -102(a)(1)(B)(iii). The very definition of reckless aggravated assault
requires a completed, reckless act which caused bodily injury to another. It cannot be
accomplished through an attempt to cause bodily injury. Further, an attempted reckless
assault would require proof the defendant intended to commit an “unintended” act, which
is not recognized in Tennessee. See Kimbrough, 924 S.W.2d at 892; Bryant, No. E2002-
01234-CCA-R3-CD, 2003 WL 22398460, at *2. By including “attempt” in its definition,
the trial court erred in instructing the jury as to the material elements of the offense of
reckless aggravated assault.
We conclude that the jury instructions on reckless aggravated assault were so
misleading and confusing that the errors were not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
Rather, it is clear the trial court committed reversible error in instructing the jury as to the
elements of reckless aggravated assault by including attempt, an entirely separate crime,
within its definition of the charged offense and, thus, effectively lessening the State’s
burden of proof. As such, we must vacate the defendant’s eight convictions for reckless
aggravated assault and remand the case to the trial court for a new trial. Upon remand,
we advise the trial court to use the language of Tennessee Pattern Jury Instruction 6.02 in
instructing the jury as to reckless aggravated assault.
b. Mens Rea
Similarly, the defendant argues because the State pursued a reckless theory at trial,
the trial court erred in instructing the jury on knowing and intentional acts, claiming it
“destroyed the requirement that verdicts be unanimous” and amounted to a comment on
the evidence. The defendant also complains “no culpable mental states were described in
the instructions on reckless aggravated assault.” The State asserts the trial court
accurately instructed the jury that a finding of recklessness can be established by a
finding of knowing or intentional conduct. The State agrees it pursued a reckless theory
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at trial, but contends this did not create a risk of a non-unanimous jury verdict. The State
also argues the defendant has waived his issue as to the trial court’s failure to include
specific instructions on mens rea in its instruction on reckless aggravated assault because
the defendant failed to request such an instruction at trial. Upon our review, we agree
with the State.
In instructing the jury as to the offense of vehicular homicide, the trial court
provided the following definitions for reckless, knowing, and intentional behavior:
“Recklessly” means that a person acts recklessly with respect to
circumstances surrounding the conduct or the result of a conduct when the
person is aware of, but consciously disregards a substantial and
unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The
risk must be of such a nature and degree that its disregard constitutes a
gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would
exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the accused person’s
standpoint.
The requirement of recklessly is also established if it is shown that
the defendant acted knowingly or intentionally. “Knowingly” means that a
person acts knowingly with respect to the conduct or to circumstances
surrounding the conduct when a person is aware of the nature of the
conduct or that the circumstances exist. A person acts knowingly with
respect to a result of the person’s conduct when the person is aware that the
conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result. [“]Intentionally[”] means
that a person acts intentionally with respect to the nature of the conduct or
the result of the conduct when it is the person’s conscious objective or
desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result.
The defendant asserts the trial court created the risk of a non-unanimous jury
verdict by instructing the jury as to intentional, knowing, and reckless behavior. We
disagree. “When recklessness suffices to establish an element, that element is also
established if a person acts intentionally or knowingly.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-
301(a)(2). As such, “generally, alternative theories, mental states, modes of committing
the crime, or means by which the crime was committed may be submitted to the jury
without the necessity of precautions to assure jury unanimity.” State v. Hood, 221
S.W.3d 531, 547 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006) (quoting State v. James Clayton Young, Jr., No.
01C01-9605-CC-00208, 1998 WL 258466, at *5 n.4 (Tenn. Crim. App. May 22, 1998));
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see also Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-18-112.1 Accordingly, it was not error for the trial court
to include the definitions of intentional and knowing behavior in its instructions to the
jury regarding the crimes of reckless vehicular homicide and reckless aggravated assault.
The defendant is not entitled to relief.
Additionally, the defendant takes issue with the trial court’s failure to specifically
instruct the jury on mens rea for reckless aggravated assault, asserting the trial court only
defined the mental states while instructing the jury as to vehicular homicide. However,
as noted by the State, the defendant failed to preserve this argument for appeal as he did
not object at trial or include this argument in his motion for new trial. See Faulkner, 154
S.W.3d at 58 (citing State v. Lynn, 924 S.W.2d 892, 898-99 (Tenn. 1996) (“An erroneous
or inaccurate jury charge, as opposed to an incomplete jury charge, may be raised for the
first time in a motion for a new trial and is not waived by the failure to make a
contemporaneous objection.”); see also Tenn. R. Crim. P. 30(b). Because the defendant
raises this issue for the first time on appeal, it is waived. Regardless, as explained above,
we find no error in the trial court’s instruction as to the applicable mental states for the
defendant’s crimes. The defendant is not entitled to relief.
c. Inferences
The defendant argues the trial court erred in providing the jury with an instruction
on inferences, claiming the instruction was a comment on the defendant’s decision not to
testify at trial. The defendant further argues the trial court’s inference instruction led the
jury to “conclude that the defendant had a duty to explain the evidence against him,
inferred or otherwise.” More specifically, the defendant argues it was improper for the
jury to infer that “without evidence of mechanical defect on the defendant’s truck, the
jury could conclude that it was the defendant’s physical action that caused the accident
due to lack of evidence of an asserted defense.” The defendant’s argument suggests that
because the trial court did not define the available inferences for the jury, the jury was
allowed to speculate to the same. The State, however, contends the trial court provided a
proper statement of the law and further asserts no error exists because the trial court
specifically instructed the jury to not infer anything regarding the defendant’s right not to
testify in its instructions. Upon our review, we again agree with the State.
1
Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-18-112 provides: “Where the intent with which, the mode
in, or the means by which, an act is done are essential to the commission of the offense, and the offense
may be committed with different intents, in different modes, or by different means, if the jury is satisfied
that the act was committed with one (1) of the intents, in one (1) of the modes, or by either of the means
charged, the jury shall convict, although uncertain as to which of the intents charged existed, or which
mode, or by which of the means charged, the act was committed.”
- 20 -
At the conclusion of the trial, the trial court provided the following instruction on
inferences to the jury:
Inferences. The court has charged the jury concerning an inference
that the jury may make in regard to certain evidence in this case. I should
say: The [c]ourt may have or may not have -- I don’t really recall but I am
going to tell you what an inference is now. However, the jury is not
required to make this inference. It is the exclusive province of the jury to
determine whether the facts and circumstances shown by all the evidence in
this case warrant the inference which the law permits the jury to draw. The
inference may be rebutted by direct or circumstantial evidence or both,
whether it exists in the evidence of the state or is offered by the defendant.
Although the defendant is not required by law to do so, when the defendant
offers an explanation to rebut the inference raised, you should consider
such explanation along with all the evidence to determine not only the
correctness of the inference, but also the reasonableness of the defendant’s
explanation. You’re not bound to accept either the inference or the
defendant[’]s explanation. The state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt
every element of the offense before the defendant can be found guilty.
The trial court’s instruction mirrors the language of Tennessee Pattern Jury Instruction
42.19 and serves as a correct recitation of the applicable law. 7 Tenn. Prac. Pattern Jury
Instr. TPI - Crim. 42.19. The defendant is not entitled to relief.
Furthermore, in denying the defendant’s motion for new trial, the trial court noted:
It is appropriate for the [c]ourt to give an instruction on inferences
that may be drawn from evidence. There was evidence regarding the lack
of proof of mechanical failure of the throttle on the [d]efendant’s truck. It
is completely permissible for a jury to infer that the acceleration was caused
by a physical action of the [d]efendant based upon the lack of physical
evidence of a defense asserted by the [d]efendant. This instruction was
included in the jury instructions without objection by the [d]efendant and is,
therefore, waived. The [d]efendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.
As noted by the trial court, the proof presented at trial allowed the jury to infer
what caused the defendant to accelerate through the parking lot on July 4, 2014. For
example, both the State and the defendant introduced explanations for what caused the
acceleration. Because the proof fairly raised the issue of inferences and the trial court
- 21 -
provided a proper instruction on the law, no error exists as to this issue. See Farner, 66
S.W.3d at 204 (citing Garrison, 40 S.W.3d at 432; Teel, 793 S.W.2d at 249). In
instructing on inferences, the trial court repeated that the State still “must prove beyond a
reasonable doubt every element of the offense before the defendant can be found guilty.”
As such, we discern no error in the trial court’s jury instruction on inferences. The
defendant is not entitled to relief.
In addition, the trial court provided the jury with an explicit instruction regarding
the defendant’s right not to testify. The trial court stated:
The defendant has not taken the stand to testify as a witness but you
shall place no significance on this fact. The defendant is presumed
innocent, and the burden is on the state to prove his guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt. He is not required to take the stand in his own behalf,
and his election not to do so cannot be considered for any purpose against
him nor can any inference be drawn from such fact.
We presume the jury followed the trial court’s instructions. State v. Shaw, 37 S.W.3d
900, 904 (Tenn. 2001); State v. Young, 196 S.W.3d 85, 111 (Tenn. 2006). The defendant
is not entitled to relief as to this issue.
III. Sentencing Issues
a. Merger
The defendant argues his convictions violate double jeopardy and that his reckless
aggravated assault convictions “should have been merged into the vehicular homicide
conviction since all the counts of the indictment stemmed from one act of driving.” The
State asserts the defendant’s convictions do not violate double jeopardy because the
defendant injured eight separate victims in each of the eight reckless aggravated assault
convictions, and a separate victim was at issue in the vehicular homicide conviction.
Additionally, the State asserts the convictions pass the Blockburger test because vehicular
homicide and reckless aggravated assault require proof of different elements. State v.
Watkins, 362 S.W.3d 530, 556 (Tenn. 2012) (explaining the approach Tennessee courts
should take in applying Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304 (1932)). Upon
our review, we agree with the State’s assessment of the defendant’s claims.
The right against double jeopardy ensures “[t]hat no person shall, for the same
offense, be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” Tenn. Const. art. I, § 10. Here, the jury
convicted the defendant of reckless vehicular homicide for the death of James Robinson.
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In addition, the jury convicted the defendant of eight counts of reckless aggravated
assault for injuries to Julia Robinson, Jade Robinson, Jacklyn Robinson, Elizabeth
Eldridge, Michael Eldridge, Curtis Booker, Ja’Taalia Henderson, and La’Ruis
Henderson. This Court has previously determined “that the number of victims is a proper
unit of prosecution for aggravated assault; therefore, multiple convictions for each victim
of an aggravated assault do not violate double jeopardy.” State v. Antray Terrill Morrow,
No. W2002-02065-CCA-R3-CD, 2003 WL 22848974, at *2 (Tenn. Crim. App. Nov. 25,
2003), perm. app. denied (Tenn. May 10, 2004).
Furthermore, as noted by the State, vehicular homicide and reckless aggravated
assault require proof of different elements. Vehicular homicide “is the reckless killing of
another by the operation of an automobile, . . . as the proximate result of: [c]onduct
creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person.” Tenn. Code
Ann. § 39-13-213(a)(1). Whereas, in this case, reckless aggravated assault occurs when
one recklessly causes bodily injury to another through the use or display of a deadly
weapon. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(1), -102(a)(1)(B)(iii). “Where each statutory
offense includes an element not contained in the other, the offenses are distinct. Where
the offenses are distinct under Blockburger, the legislature is presumed to have intended
to allow the offenses to be punished separately.” Watkins, 362 S.W.3d at 545-46(internal citations omitted). Because vehicular homicide and reckless aggravated assault
require proof of different elements and because each reckless aggravated assault
conviction named a separate victim, double jeopardy principles were not violated and
merger is not appropriate. The defendant is not entitled to relief.
b. Imposition of Sentences
The defendant next challenges the trial court’s sentencing, arguing there is no
evidence in the record to support the statutory factors relied on by the trial court in
reaching its determinations. The defendant also suggests the trial court improperly
considered the fraudulent liens filed after his convictions in assessing his criminal history
and determining him to be a dangerous offender. The State argues the trial court imposed
within-range sentences after considering the applicable enhancement and mitigating
factors and contends the trial court’s consecutive sentencing was proper due to his
dangerous offender status which was detailed explicitly in the record. Upon our review,
we agree with the State.
When an accused challenges the length, manner, or range of a sentence, this Court
will review the trial court’s decision under an abuse of discretion standard with a
presumption of reasonableness. State v. Bise, 380 S.W.3d 682, 706 (Tenn. 2012); State v.
Pollard, 432 S.W.3d 851, 860 (Tenn. 2013). This Court also reviews consecutive
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sentences imposed by the trial court under an abuse of discretion standard with a
presumption of reasonableness. Bise, 380 S.W. 3d at 707; Pollard, 432 S.W.3d at 859-
60. The party appealing a sentence bears the burden of establishing that the sentence was
improper. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401, Sent’g Comm’n Cmts. This Court will uphold
the trial court’s sentencing decision “so long as it is within the appropriate range and the
record demonstrates that the sentence is otherwise in compliance with the purposes and
principles listed by statute.” Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 709-10.
In imposing a sentence, the trial court must consider the following factors: (1) the
evidence, if any, received at the trial and the sentencing hearing; (2) the presentence
report; (3) the principles of sentencing and arguments as to sentencing alternatives; (4)
the nature and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved; (5) evidence and
information offered by the parties on enhancement and mitigating factors; (6) any
statistical information provided by the administrative office of the courts as to sentencing
practices for similar offenses in Tennessee; and (7) any statement by the defendant in his
own behalf. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(b). In addition, the principles of sentencing
provide that the sentence should be no greater that that deserved for the offense
committed and should be the least severe measure necessary to achieve the purposes for
which the sentence is imposed. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-103(2), (4). To provide
meaningful appellate review, the trial court must state on the record its reasons for the
sentence chosen. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(e).
After doing so, “the trial court is free to select any sentence within the applicable
range so long as the length of the sentence is ‘consistent with the purposes and principles
of [the Sentencing Act].’” State v. Carter, 254 S.W.3d 335, 343 (Tenn. 2008) (quoting
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(d)). The trial court shall consider, but is not bound by, the
provision that “[t]he minimum sentence within the range of punishment is the sentence
that should be imposed . . . [and] should be adjusted, as appropriate by the presence or
absence of mitigating and enhancement factors.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(c);
Carter, 254 S.W.3d at 346. A non-exclusive list of mitigating and enhancement factors
are provided in Tennessee Code Annotated sections 40-35-113 and -114. The weighing
of both mitigating and enhancement factors is left to the trial court’s sound discretion, but
a trial court’s misapplication of a mitigating or enhancement factor will not remove the
presumption of reasonableness from its sentencing determination. Bise, 380 S.W.3d at
709.
Further, Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115 “creates several limited
classifications for the imposition of consecutive sentences.” State v. Moore, 942 S.W.2d
570, 571 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). A trial court “may order sentences to run
consecutively if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that one or more of the
- 24 -
statutory criteria exists.” State v. Black, 924 S.W.2d 912, 917 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
Pursuant to statute, consecutive sentencing is warranted when “[t]he defendant is a
dangerous offender whose behavior indicates little or no regard for human life and no
hesitation about committing a crime in which the risk to human life is high.” Tenn. Code
Ann. § 40-35-115(b)(4). In imposing consecutive sentences based upon a dangerous
offender status, it is necessary that “the terms reasonably relate to the severity of the
offenses committed and are necessary in order to protect the public from further serious
criminal conduct by the defendant.” State v. Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d 933, 938 (Tenn.
1995); see also State v. Lane, 3 S.W.3d 456, 461 (Tenn.1999) (stating that the Wilkerson
findings that the sentences are necessary to protect the public and reasonably relate to the
severity of the offenses apply only to consecutive sentences involving dangerous
offenders).
On appeal, the defendant generally complains the trial court abused its discretion
by imposing an “overly harsh” sentence of twelve-years’ incarceration for his
convictions. The record, however, shows the trial court complied with the purposes and
principles of sentencing before imposing an effective twelve-year sentence. Specifically,
the record makes clear the trial court imposed within-range sentences for each conviction
before determining the defendant was eligible for consecutive sentencing based upon his
status as a “dangerous offender.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-115(b)(4). The trial court
explained its application of the sentencing principles in reaching its sentencing
determinations, as follows:
In determining the sentence the [c]ourt has considered the evidence
presented at the trial of sentencing hearing, the presentence report, the
sentence principles embodied that the [c]ourt has already discussed, and
arguments made as to alternative sentencing. The nature and characteristics
of the criminal conduct involved, the evidence and information offered on
enhancing and mitigating factors, statistical information by the
Administrative Office of the Courts, the allocution statement made by the
defendant on his own behalf. And the defendant’s potential for
rehabilitation or treatment. The [c]ourt has found and the parties have
stipulated that the defendant is a range one standard offender pursuant to
Tennessee Code Annotated 40-35-105 with a 30 percent release eligibility
date.
Let’s talk about enhancement factors. The [c]ourt has considered the
enhancement factors pursuant to the proper Tennessee Code Annotated 40-
35-114. And the [c]ourt finds the following enhancement factors, which
are not themselves essential elements of the offenses for which the
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defendant was convicted. Numbers apply to the subsection of Tennessee
Code Annotated 40-35-114. Omitted subjections are found not to apply.
Number one, the defendant has a previous history of criminal convictions
or criminal behavior in addition to those necessary to establish the
appropriate range. The defendant was driving his vehicle despite having no
driver’s license, which is criminal activity. He was driving on a suspended
license, which is criminal behavior. The defendant has continued his
pattern of criminal behavior by filing false liens and committing aggravated
forgery while out on bond pending trial. The defendant is currently under
indictment for those actions. The [c]ourt not only heard evidence from the
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation regarding the indictments rendered
against the defendant in Davidson County, Tennessee, but also takes
judicial notice of the State’s indictments filed against the defendant totaling
(sic) over one hundred and thirty-seven million dollars in fraudulent liens
and perjury. Admittedly there is no conviction but it is also interesting and
also relevant that all of these liens were filed and activities after the crimes
were committed on July 4, 2015.
...
I meant forgery. The offense involved more than one victim. The
[c]ourt finds there were multiple victims in each count. Testimony at trial
and victims’ impact statements detailed destruction of families, personal
suffering and great financial hardship. There were also additional counts
that were dismissed to prevent minor victims from having to testify. Each
one of the dismissed counts involved additional victims.
Number four. A victim of the offense was particularly vulnerable
because of age. In counts three, four, eight and nine the victims were
children, in some cases, very young children whose age caused them to be
particularly vulnerable. The children were unable to escape the crash and
their injuries were much more impactable because of their age.
Number six. The personal injuries inflicted upon or the amount of
damage to property sustained or taken from the victims was particularly
great. In this particular case, we had a crowded, crowded, very crowded
parking lot located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in the dark and a fireworks
presentation on July 4, 2015. And there were probably hundreds of people
in that parking lot. We had 17 counts where people either were
aggravatedly assaulted or actually were assaulted or died as a result of the
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defendant’s actions. There were untold dozens of other people that were in
the vicinity of the criminal activity. That is just the beginning of the story.
The [c]ourt recognizes that the personal injuries and death that
occurred are subsumed within the charges for which the defendant is
sentenced. However, the [c]ourt finds that the multiple victims suffered
great property damage to vehicles, incurred large medical bills as a result of
the defendant’s actions. The victims and their families will likely suffer for
many years as a result of the defendant’s callous activities.
Number ten. The defendant had no hesitation about committing the
crime when the risk to human life was high. The [c]ourt finds that the
defendant acted with complete disregard to the risk to human life. In this
case the defendant was charged with reckless vehicular homicide. He
should thank his Lord Jesus Christ and thank his biblical references for the
fact that he wasn’t charged with second degree murder. The defendant
showed no hesitation in aggressively driving his vehicle intentionally
injurying (sic) people in a crowded parking lot. The [c]ourt finds the action
of the defendant particularly heinous. Proof at trial showed the defendant
had multiple opportunities to end the carnage when he stopped his vehicle
and then made a conscious decision to continue his felonious actions until
physically forced to stop after striking multiple automobiles, injurying (sic)
several people and killing an innocent victim.
Mitigating factors. The [c]ourt has evaluated each potential
mitigating factor as outlined in T[ennessee] C[ode] A[nnotated] section 40-
35-113. The [c]ourt finds no mitigating factors apply.
The defendant alleges the trial court failed to properly consider the applicable
enhancement and mitigating factors. However, as detailed above, the record makes clear
the trial court’s reasoning regarding the applicable enhancement factors and the lack of
applicable mitigating factors. The trial court noted the defendant was driving on a
suspended license at the time of his crimes, his crimes subjected many people in addition
to his nine named victims to potential injury, the defendant injured four children who
were “particularly vulnerable” during his rampage, the defendant’s crimes caused both
physical and financial hardships to his victims, and the defendant had no hesitation in
committing his crimes when the risk to human life was high, as evidenced by the death of
Mr. Robinson and the injuries suffered by his other victims. The defendant argues the
trial court should have mitigated his sentences, arguing he had no prior criminal record
and he was unaware of his actions on July 4, 2015. The trial court, however, carefully
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considered the applicability of the mitigating factors before imposing the defendant’s
sentence, and the defendant has failed to show the trial court abused its discretion for the
same. As a result, the defendant is not entitled to relief.
The defendant further challenges the trial court’s imposition of consecutive
sentencing, arguing no evidence supports the trial court’s determination of his dangerous
offender status. However, it is wellsettled that the trial court “may order sentences to run
consecutively if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that one or more of the
statutory criteria exists.” Black, 924 S.W.2d at 917. Here, the court found one of the
statutory criteria existed in the record to warrant consecutive sentencing, “[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). For reasons stated below, it is clear the statutory criterion is
explicit in the record and supports the trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentencing.
Before imposing consecutive sentencing for the defendant’s nine convictions, the
trial court stated:
Findings on consecutive sentencing. Tennessee Code Annotated 40-
35-115 allows consecutive sentencing if the [c]ourt finds, quote, the
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. In the cases of Gray versus State and
State versus Taylor, 1976 and 1987 respectively, the [c]ourt set out a three-
pronged test to determine that this criteria was met.
A. The circumstances surrounding the commission of the offense
were aggravated. This defendant drove his truck through a very crowded
parking lot, a very crowded parking lot, at a high rate of speed, as
pronounced by the testimony of the victims. The proof showed he stopped
after hitting one car after another and then accelerated again multiple times.
He crushed a man to death and injured at least eight other people for which
he stands convicted. For which he stands convicted. Several other
individuals were in harm’s way and were hurt or likely could have been
struck[,] injured and killed. This was an aggravated offense. Several
counts were dismissed because of the children’s tender ages.
B. Confinement for an extended period of time is necessary to
protect society from the defendant’s unwillingness to lead a productive life;
and the defendant’s resort to criminal activity in furtherance of an anti-
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social lifestyle. This [c]ourt finds that the defendant, Lee Cromwell, has
indicated by his statement in the presentence report has little remorse and
feels justified in his actions in filing liens against members of the legal
community, the court system, the court clerk’s office, the district attorney’s
office, the police department and the judges for what he perceives as unfair
actions. The [c]ourt finds that the defendant is unwilling to lead a
productive life and extended confinement is necessary to protect society
from his criminal actions. He was more worried about his truck than the
death of Mr. Robinson.
C. The aggregate length of the sentence reasonably relates to the
offense for which the defendant stands convicted. The defendant stands
convicted of nine counts. A man was killed by the action of this defendant.
Eight other citizens were injured. Four of whom were children under the
age of 13. Running these charges concurrently minimizes the injury and
suffering of all the parties. The [c]ourt finds that the Gray factors have
been met; and the [c]ourt finds consecutive sentences are appropriate. That
the defendant is a dangerous offender whose behavior indicates little or no
regard for human life. The defendant had no hesitation about committing
crimes in which the risk for human life was high. The circumstances
surrounding the commission of the offenses are aggravated and the
aggregate length of the sentences are reasonably related to the offenses for
which the defendant stands convicted.
In finding the defendant eligible for consecutive sentencing, the trial court found
the defendant drove his truck at a high rate of speed through a crowded parking lot and
did not stop after hitting multiple vehicles despite having the chance to do so. The trial
court noted the defendant’s actions “crushed a man to death” and injured eight others,
leaving many others in the parking lot in “harm’s way.” The record illustrates the
defendant showed “little remorse” for his crimes and that he was “more worried about his
truck” than his victims, as evidenced by his decision to file liens “for what he perceives
as unfair actions” by public officials involved in his prosecution. As a result, the trial
court found the defendant to be a dangerous offender and stated his behavior indicated no
regard for human life and that he had no hesitation for committing a crime where the risk
to human life was high. Accordingly, we conclude the evidence relied upon by the trial
court is explicit in the record and supports the trial court’s consecutive sentencing as to
the defendant’s nine convictions. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in imposing
consecutive sentences for the convicted offenses, and we affirm the trial court’s sentence.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-115.
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IV. Cumulative Error
Finally, the defendant contends the cumulative effect of the alleged errors at trial
entitled him to a new trial. Pursuant to the cumulative error doctrine, “there may be
multiple errors committed in the trial proceedings, each of which in isolation constitutes
mere harmless error, but which when aggregated, have a cumulative effect on the
proceedings that is so great as to require reversal in order to preserve a defendant’s right
to a fair trial.” State v. Hester, 324 S.W.3d 1, 76 (Tenn. 2010). Here, we discern
cumulative error by the trial court does not exist. However, as noted above, the
defendant is entitled to a new trial on his convictions for reckless aggravated assault as
the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the same.
CONCLUSION
Based upon the foregoing authorities and reasoning, we affirm the conviction and
sentence for reckless vehicular homicide, but remand this cause to the trial court for a
new trial for the eight charged counts of reckless aggravated assault.
____________________________________
J. ROSS DYER, JUDGE
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