State v. Jerry Mullican ( 1998 )

FILED
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
March 17, 1998
MAY 1997 SESSION
Cecil W. Crowson
Appellate Court Clerk
STATE OF TENNESSEE, )
) NO. 01C01-9607-CC-00282
Appellee, )
) WILLIAMSON COUNTY
VS. )
) HON. DONALD P. HARRIS,
JERRY M. MULLICAN, ) JUDGE
)
Appellant. ) (Attempted Second Degree Murder
) and Aggravated Assault)
FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE:
JOHN H. HENDERSON JOHN KNOX WALKUP
District Public Defender Attorney General and Reporter
407-C Main Street
P.O. Box 68 GEORGIA BLYTHE FELNER
Franklin, TN 37065-0068 Assistant Attorney General
Cordell Hull Building, 2nd Floor
425 Fifth Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37243-0493
JOSEPH D. BAUGH, JR.
District Attorney General
Williamson County Courthouse
Suite G-6
P.O. Box 937
Franklin, TN 37065-0937
OPINION FILED:
AFFIRMED
JERRY L. SMITH,
JUDGE
OPINION
The defendant, Jerry M. Mullican, appeals as of right from a jury verdict of
guilty to two (2) counts of attempted second degree murder and one (1) count of
aggravated assault. The defendant was sentenced to eight (8) and twelve (12)
years consecutively for the attempted murder charges and three (3) years
concurrently for the aggravated assault charge. Defendant presents the
following issues for review: (1) whether the evidence presented at trial was
sufficient to support the convictions, and (2) whether the trial court improperly
sentenced the defendant. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
FACTS
The defendant resided in Fairview, Tennessee, with his girlfriend, Cindy
Walker. Also residing on the premises were W alker’s mother, Barbara
McCullough, and Walker’s two children. On June 15, 1997, Walker and her
mother awoke and left for work at approximately 8:00 a.m. leaving the defendant
and McCullough’s boyfriend, Roy Brownson, at the residence. The defendant
thereafter drove to a liquor store and purchased a pint of Jack Daniels whiskey,
which he consumed with Brownson upon his return. The men drank equal
portions of the whiskey. The defendant left the house between 10:30 and 11:00
a.m. to pick Walker up from work and drive her to Franklin, Tennessee, to
conduct some business.
After Walker’s business was concluded in Franklin, she and the defendant
picked her children up from day care and returned home between 4:00 and 5:00
p.m. McCullough returned to the house a short time later. That evening, while
the women cleaned the house, the defendant and Brownson shared a pint of
vodka and twelve beers. McCullough and Brownson went to sleep around 10:00
p.m. The defendant and W alker did the same around an hour later.
Once in bed, the defendant attempted to wake Walker to watch a
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pornographic movie with him. Angry at being roused from sleep, Walker
knocked the video tape from the defendant’s hand. The defendant went to a
chifferobe in the bedroom, retrieved a semi-automatic pistol, and shot Walker in
the leg. Prior to the shot, McCullough and Brownson were awakened by a loud
noise and got out of bed to investigate. While walking down the hall, they heard
the shot, and McCullough opened the door to her daughter’s bedroom. The
defendant turned and shot McCullough in the face. Either immediately before or
after McCullough was shot, the defendant fired another shot at Walker and
missed. The defendant fired a fourth shot at Brownson, who ran to the living
room and called 9-1-1. When the defendant left the bedroom to follow
Brownson, Walker picked up the phone and gave her address to the 9-1-1
operator.
Brownson retrieved McCullough from the hallway and moved her to the
front porch. Brownson then returned to the bedroom to try to calm the
defendant. Walker was in the bedroom along with the defendant, and the two
struggled as the defendant attempted to reload his pistol. Brownson distracted
the defendant, and Walker was able to grab the pistol clip from him. With one
round remaining in the chamber, the defendant ordered Walker to leave the
bedroom. He then pointed the gun at Brownson’s head. While the two men
were in the bedroom, the police arrived and the defendant was arrested.
Walker and McCullough were transported to the hospital. McCullough
remained hospitalized for three weeks and has since been admitted twice for
additional surgeries. Walker was treated and released for the wound to her leg.
Based upon this evidence, the jury convicted the defendant of two (2)
counts of attempted second degree murder and one (1) count of aggravated
assault.
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
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The defendant alleges the state did not sufficiently prove that he
intentionally and knowingly committed any of the crimes for which he was
convicted.
A.
When an accused challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court
must review the record to determine if the evidence adduced during the trial was
sufficient "to support the findings by the trier of fact of guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt." Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e). This rule is applicable to findings of guilt
predicated upon direct evidence, circumstantial evidence or a combination of
direct and circumstantial evidence. State v. Brewer, 932 S.W.2d 1,19 (Tenn.
Crim. App.1996).
In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court does not reweigh
or reevaluate the evidence. State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835
(Tenn.1978). Nor may this Court substitute its inferences for those drawn by the
trier of fact from circumstantial evidence. Liakas v. State, 199 Tenn. 298, 305,
286 S.W.2d 856, 859 (1956). To the contrary, this Court is required to afford the
State of Tennessee the strongest legitimate view of the evidence contained in
the record as well as all reasonable and legitimate inferences which may be
drawn from the evidence. State v. Tuttle, 914 S.W.2d 926, 932 (Tenn. Crim.
App.1995).
Questions concerning the credibility of the witnesses, the weight and
value to be given the evidence as well as all factual issues raised by the
evidence are resolved by the trier of fact, not this Court. Id. In State v. Grace,
493 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Tenn. 1973), the Tennessee Supreme Court stated, "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."
Because a verdict of guilt removes the presumption of innocence and
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replaces it with a presumption of guilt, the accused has the burden in this Court
of illustrating why the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict returned by
the trier of fact. State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982); State v.
Grace, 493 S.W.2d at 476.
B.
The defendant was found guilty of two (2) counts of attempted second
degree murder and one (1) count of aggravated assault. The elements of
attempted second degree murder are:
(1) the defendant acted with the intent to unlawfully kill
the alleged victim; and
(2) the defendant’s conduct constituted a substantial
step toward killing the alleged victim.
Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-210(a), 39-12-101.
The elements of aggravated assault are:
(1) the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused
another to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury; and
(2) the defendant used or displayed a deadly weapon.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-102(a)(1)(B).
C.
The defendant alleges he was intoxicated at the time of the incident and
was, therefore, unable to form the requisite mens rea to commit the crimes. The
defendant testified that he split a pint of vodka and twelve beers with Brownson
in the hours preceding the shootings. The defendant further testified Brownson
gave him five (5) pills, which the defendant identified as Xanex. The
combination of pills and alcohol, the defendant alleges, prevented him from
acting intentionally and knowingly. Brownson testified to sharing the vodka, but
denied that a 12-pack of beer was consumed and further denied giving the
defendant any pills.
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Generally, the defense of intoxication negating specific intent is a question
for the jury to determine. State v. Givens, 631 S.W.2d 720, 721 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1982). There must be evidence that the intoxication deprived the accused
of the mental capacity to form the requisite specific intent. State v. Bowers, 744
S.W.2d 588 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). The jury was given a voluntary intoxication
charge. They weighed the conflicting testimony on this subject, and obviously
found the testimony of Brownson more credible than that of the defendant.
Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the state, the jury was justified
in rejecting this defense.
The evidence was sufficient to support the defendant’s convictions. This
issue is without merit.
SENTENCING
The defendant alleges the trial court erred in sentencing him to the
maximum of twelve (12) years for the attempted second degree murder of
McCullough. The defendant further contends the trial court erred in ordering the
sentences for the attempted murder convictions to be served consecutively.
A. Standard of Review
This Court’s review of the sentence imposed by the trial court is de novo
with a presumption of correctness. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d). This
presumption is conditioned upon an affirmative showing in the record that the
trial judge considered the sentencing principles and all relevant facts and
circumstances. State v. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991). If the trial
court fails to comply with the statutory directives, there is no presumption of
correctness and our review is de novo. State v. Poole, 945 S.W.2d 93, 96
(Tenn. 1997).
The burden is upon the appealing party to show that the sentence is
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improper. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d) Sentencing Commission Comments.
In conducting our review, we are required, pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
210, to consider the following factors in sentencing:
(1) [t]he evidence, if any, received at the trial and the sentencing
hearing; (2) [t]he presentence report; (3) [t]he principles of
sentencing and arguments as to sentencing alternatives; (4) [t]he
nature and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved; (5)
[e]vidence and information offered by the parties on the
enhancement and mitigating factors in §§ 40-35-113 and 40-35-
114; and (6) [a]ny statements the defendant wishes to make in his
own behalf about sentencing.
If no mitigating or enhancement factors for sentencing are present, Tenn.
Code Ann. § 40-35-210(c) provides that the presumptive sentence will be the
minimum sentence within the applicable range. See State v. Fletcher, 805
S.W.2d 785 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). However, if such factors do exist, a trial
court should start at the minimum sentence, enhance the minimum sentence
within the range for enhancement factors and then reduce the sentence within
the range for the mitigating factors. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(e). No
particular weight for each factor is prescribed by the statute, as the weight given
to each factor is left to the discretion of the trial court as long as its findings are
supported by the record. State v. Moss, 727 S.W.2d 229 (Tenn. 1986); State v.
Santiago, 914 S.W.2d 116 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995); see Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-
35-210 Sentencing Commission Comments. Nevertheless, should there be no
mitigating factors, but enhancement factors are present, a trial court may set the
sentence above the minimum within the range. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
210(d); see Manning v. State, 883 S.W.2d 635 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994).
B. Length of Sentence
The trial court in this case found three (3) enhancement factors. The
defendant does not raise this issue, but under our de novo review we will
consider them.
First, the trial court found that Ms. McCullough’s personal injuries were
7
particularly great. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114 (6). The court noted the
permanent physical damage as well as psychological problems the victim
suffered stemming from the shooting. We find this enhancement factor properly
applied.
Second, the court found the defendant had no hesitation about
committing the offense when the risk to human life was high. Tenn. Code Ann. §
40-35-114 (10). This factor was improperly applied as high risk to human life is
inherent in an attempted second degree murder. See State v. Belser, 945
S.W.2d 776 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996).
Third, the court found the defendant willfully inflicted bodily injury on
another person. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114 (12). Bodily injury is not an
element of attempted second degree murder, therefore, the trial court properly
considered this enhancement factor. See State v. Freeman, 943 S.W.2d 25, 31
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1996).
Although not found by the trial court, we note the defendant employed a
firearm in the commission of the attempted murder. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
114 (9). Since the use of a firearm is not an essential element of attempted
second degree murder, it may be considered as an enhancement factor. See
State v. Baxter, 938 S.W.2d 697, 705 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). This Court may
consider this factor even though not relied upon by the trial court. State v.
Pearson, 858 S.W.2d 879, 885 (Tenn. 1993).
The defendant asserts the trial court failed to find the following mitigating
factors:
(1) substantial grounds exist tending to excuse or
justify the defendant’s criminal conduct, though failing
to establish a defense (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-113
(3));
(2) the defendant was suffering from a mental or
physical condition that significantly reduced his
culpability for the offense (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
113 (8));
(3) the defendant, although guilty of the crime,
committed the offense under such unusual
circumstances that it is unlikely that a sustained intent
to violate the law motivated his conduct (Tenn. Code
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Ann. § 40-35-113 (11));
(4) the defendant has potential for rehabilitation
(Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-113 (13));
(5) the defendant has a good employment record
(Tenn Code Ann. § 40-35-113 (13)); and
(6) the defendant’s involvement in the crime may
have been due, to some extent, to his use of alcoholic
beverages in conjunction with controlled substances.
(Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-113 (13)).
The trial court considered these factors, but determined they did not
apply. Under the facts of this case, we find no error in the rejection of these
mitigating factors.
Even though the trial court improperly applied one (1) enhancement
factor, that does not necessarily mean the defendant is entitled to a reduced
sentence. State v. Baker, 956 S.W.2d 8, 18 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). Under our
de novo standard of review, we have found three enhancement factors and give
great weight to them. We find the sentence of twelve (12) years to be
appropriate.
C. Consecutive Sentencing
The defendant argues the trial court erred in ordering a consecutive
sentence. Specifically, he contends that the evidence did not establish that he is
a dangerous offender.
Consecutive sentencing is governed by Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-115.
The trial court may order consecutive sentencing if it finds that one or more of
the required statutory criteria exist. State v. Black, 924 S.W.2d 912, 917 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1995). Further, the court is required to determine whether the
consecutive sentences (1) are reasonably related to the severity of the offenses
committed; (2) serve to protect the public from further criminal conduct by the
offender; and (3) are congruent with general principles of sentencing. State v.
Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d 933, 939 (Tenn. 1995).
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The trial court found the defendant to be a dangerous offender with little
regard for human life. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-115 (b)(4). Shooting at three
separate people, he injured two. One of the victims suffered severe injuries. All
three victims could have just as easily been killed by the defendant. We agree
with the trial court’s determination that the defendant is a dangerous offender.
However, regarding findings under Wilkerson, the court found only that
the consecutive sentences are reasonably related to the severity of the offenses
committed. Nevertheless, under our power of de novo review, we find the
consecutive sentences necessary to protect the public from further criminal
conduct by the defendant and that cumulative sentences are congruent to
general principles of sentencing. We find the defendant was properly sentenced
to consecutive terms.
For the reasons discussed above, the judgment of the trial court is
AFFIRMED.
__________________________
JERRY L. SMITH, JUDGE
CONCUR:
___________________________
PAUL G. SUMMERS, JUDGE
___________________________
DAVID G. HAYES, JUDGE
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