IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT NASHVILLE

Assigned on Briefs July 24, 2019

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. LEONARD SINGER

Appeal from the Circuit Court for Rutherford County

No. F-74991 David M. Bragg, Judge

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No. M2018-01936-CCA-R3-CD

___________________________________

A Rutherford County Circuit Court jury convicted the Defendant-Appellant, Leonard 

Singer, of tampering with evidence, simple possession of cocaine, and possession of drug 

paraphernalia. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-16-503, 39-17-418, 39-17-425. On appeal, 

Singer argues: (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel from his preliminary 

hearing through trial; (2) his confession to ingesting a marijuana joint was coerced; (3)

his arrest was not supported by probable cause and the police did not have authority to 

search his person or his truck; (4) the State withheld exculpatory evidence; (5) his 

indictment was defective; (6) the police, his attorneys, the prosecutors, and the trial judge 

conspired against him by making materially false statements and representations and by 

concealing and fabricating government documents; and (7) the Tennessee Board of 

Probation and Parole violated Code section 40-35-207 and violated his due process

rights. We affirm the judgments of the trial court. 

Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Circuit Court Affirmed

CAMILLE R. MCMULLEN, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which ROBERT L.

HOLLOWAY, JR., and TIMOTHY L. EASTER, JJ., joined.

Leonard Singer, Pikeville, Tennessee, Pro Se.

Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Caitlin Smith, Senior Assistant 

Attorney General; Jennings H. Jones, District Attorney General; and Shawn Puckett and 

Matthew Westmoreland, Assistant District Attorneys General, for the Appellee, State of 

Tennessee.

OPINION

10/11/2019
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On January 5, 2016, Singer was indicted for tampering with evidence, simple 

possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest. He was 

appointed a public defender to represent him. 

First Motion to Suppress. On June 21, 2016, Singer, through counsel, filed a 

motion to suppress, arguing there was no valid basis for his stop. At the May 6, 2016 

suppression hearing, Officer Aaron Price of the Murfreesboro Police Department testified 

that he stopped Singer on October 27, 2015 for a light law violation because Singer failed 

to activate his headlights when it was raining and dark outside. Officer Price said that

when he saw Singer driving toward him without his headlights on, he immediately turned 

around, activated his blue lights, and began following him. Despite the actions taken by 

Officer Price, Singer did not stop his truck and continued to drive for 100 to 200 yards 

into a parking lot. During this time, Officer Price said Singer “lifted up out of his seat, 

appeared to be digging under his seat[, and] was digging in his center console.” Because 

Officer Price was concerned that Singer was concealing something or retrieving a 

weapon, he called for backup, and Singer eventually came to a stop in the parking lot. 

When Officer Price approached the truck, Singer “turned and looked at [him] but 

continued to go through the center console area.” 

Officer Price then asked Singer “what he was doing,” and Singer responded that

he was looking for his wallet. However, he could see that Singer was holding his wallet 

in his left hand. When Officer Price informed Singer that he was holding his wallet, 

Singer continued to dig in the area of his center console. At that point, Officer Price 

became “very concerned.” He grabbed Singer’s left wrist, leaned into Singer’s truck, and 

ordered Singer to exit his vehicle. Singer then mentioned something about his cigarettes, 

which Officer Price had seen next to the center console, and Singer continued to dig 

through his center console. When Officer Price ordered him to get out of his truck again

and attempted to pull him out of his truck, Singer resisted, and Officer Price placed his 

arms around Singer and pulled him out of his truck. Officer Price noticed Singer 

attempting to hide something in his right hand, and Officer Price took Singer to the

ground. As they hit the ground, Singer landed face-down, and Officer Price ended up on 

top of Singer’s back and observed a crack pipe roll out from underneath Singer. Officer 

Price also observed Singer chewing on something. When Officer Price attempted to pull

both of Singer’s hands behind his back, Singer refused to cooperate. 

Officer Price said that although he gave Singer verbal commands to stop, relax, 

and put his hands behind his back, Singer refused to do these things, and they continued 

to struggle for three to four minutes until two other officers arrived on the scene. During 

this struggle, Officer Price repeatedly ordered Singer to spit out whatever he was 

chewing, and Singer finally spit out a bag. Officer Price said this bag was “like paper 

rolled up with . . . cooking wrap or something, a clear wrap wrapped around it.” Despite 
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Officer Price’s repeated orders to spit out whatever he had in his mouth, Singer continued 

to chew on something. Officer Price then saw Singer spit out a second bag that was 

“wrapped the exact same way,” and noticed that Singer “continu[ed] to chew on 

something.” 

Although Officer Price did not know what Singer was chewing, he did not want 

him swallowing it because it was obvious that Singer did not want him to know what it 

was. Officer Price said that once Singer was arrested, he asked Officer Palmer Gibbs to

advise Singer of his Miranda rights, which Officer Gibbs did before interviewing Singer

and accompanying him to the hospital. Thereafter, Officer Price processed the scene and 

found the crack pipe that had fallen out of Singer’s truck during the struggle. He and 

other officers also found crack cocaine inside a rolled up dollar bill that was hidden 

above the driver’s side window of Singer’s truck, a Brillo pad in Singer’s center console, 

and a homemade crack pipe made of tinfoil as well as a roll of tinfoil inside Singer’s 

truck. After Singer was released from the hospital, Officer Price encountered him as he 

was being booked, and Singer admitted that he had been chewing on a “marijuana joint.”

Officer Price acknowledged that prior to stopping Singer, his own windshield 

wipers, as verified by the dashboard camera in his patrol car, were on the intermittent 

setting. He stated that when he first encountered Singer, Singer had pulled out of the 

dead end area of North Maple, a known drug area, and Singer did not have his headlights 

activated. He also said that although he was familiar with many of the vehicles driven by

people who lived in that particular area, he had never seen Singer’s truck before. Officer 

Price admitted that Singer was not speeding or swerving before he initiated the stop. 

The video recording of Singer’s stop was admitted as an exhibit at the suppression 

hearing and was viewed by the trial court. This recording showed that it was raining and 

dark at the time of the stop, that Singer did not have his taillights activated, and that 

Singer immediately moved into the right lane in an effort to evade Officer Price’s patrol

car that had pulled in behind him. Once Officer Price initiated Singer’s stop by turning 

on his blue lights, Singer activated his brake lights and turned into an Office Depot 

parking lot. Singer continued through this parking lot without stopping, and Officer Price 

asked for backup because Singer failed to stop and because Singer appeared to be 

“digging around” for something in his truck. Officer Price activated his siren, and Singer 

finally stopped his truck.

When Officer Price approached the driver’s side of the truck, he asked Singer, 

“What are we doing?” He then repeated this question and told Singer to “hop out,” and 

Singer replied that he was getting his wallet. Officer Price told Singer that he already had 

his wallet in his hand and that he needed to exit his truck. When Singer said that he was 

getting his cigarettes, a struggle ensued between Officer Price and Singer. While the
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audio from this recording showed that this struggle occurred, the video portion of the 

recording did not depict the struggle because Singer’s truck blocked the camera’s view. 

During this struggle, Officer Price ordered Singer several times to relax and to place his 

hands behind his back. He also repeatedly ordered Singer to “spit it out.” 

The recording shows that two other officers appeared at the scene and ran to the 

driver’s side of Singer’s truck, where they were out of the camera’s view. One of the 

officers can be heard asking if another officer had Singer’s arm, and an officer can be 

heard ordering Singer to stand up. During this struggle, Singer dramatically and 

repeatedly screamed, “My back,” and one of the officers commented that Singer had spit

something out of his mouth. Additional officers arrived at the scene, who noted that a 

pipe had been found inside Singer’s truck and that a second pipe had been found outside 

his truck on the ground.

At the conclusion of the suppression hearing, the trial court denied Singer’s 

motion on the basis that Officer Price’s stop of Singer was valid. The court stated that in 

addition to considering Officer Price’s testimony and the video recording from the stop, it 

had also reviewed Code section 55-9-406(b)(1), which requires a driver’s headlights to be 

activated “during any time when rain, mist, or other precipitation, including snow, 

necessitates the constant use of windshield wipers by motorists.” The court found that it 

was raining at the time of Singer’s stop and that Officer Price’s “windshield wipers were 

on constantly.” After determining that the weather conditions that day required drivers to 

have their headlights activated, the court held that Officer Price’s stop of Singer was 

valid. 

On August 16, 2016, the public defender representing Singer filed a motion to 

withdraw after Singer lodged a formal criminal complaint against her alleging that she 

had “act[ed] in concert with the prosecutor and other persons to deprive [him] of his 

rights and due process,” that she “ha[d] failed to file legal claims on his behalf,” that she 

“ha[d] concealed exculpatory evidence,” that she “ha[d] edited the video of the traffic 

stop,” and that she had provided “unprofessional, inadequate” representation.

On August 19, 2016, the trial court appointed trial counsel1to represent Singer. 

However, on November 18, 2016, the court appointed successor trial counsel to represent 

Singer. On April 17, 2017, successor trial counsel filed his first motion to withdraw. 

Second Motion to Suppress. On May 8, 2017, Singer, with the assistance of 

successor trial counsel, filed a second motion to suppress, arguing that any evidence 

 

1

The record does not include a motion to withdraw or accompanying order regarding trial 

counsel’s withdrawal from Singer’s case.
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associated with his alleged confession should be suppressed because he did not give a

knowing, voluntary, and intelligent waiver of his Miranda rights. Singer specifically 

claimed that his waiver was involuntary because he had suffered a back injury, his 

confession had been secretly recorded, and he had been threatened several times that his 

stomach would be pumped if he did not “advise the interrogating officer satisfactorily”

about what he had ingested. 

At the May 15, 2017 suppression hearing, Officer Gibbs of the Murfreesboro 

Police Department testified that he encountered Singer at the scene on October 27, 2015,

after Officer Price called for backup. Shortly after arriving at the scene, Officer Gibbs

advised Singer of his Miranda rights. He acknowledged that Singer had complained 

several times about his back hurting while at the scene. Officer Gibbs acknowledged 

telling Singer that, for medical reasons, he needed to disclose what he had consumed or 

his stomach might be pumped; however, he denied giving Singer this information in a 

threatening manner. He explained that he told Singer this because “[d]epending on the 

type of drug and the amount, [the person] could overdose and die.” Officer Gibbs said he 

later accompanied Singer to the hospital, where he made two video recordings of Singer 

on his cell phone. He acknowledged that Singer seemed to be in a fair amount of distress 

about his back when he arrived at the hospital and was confused about why he had been

arrested. However, Officer Gibbs stated that Singer was able to answer most, if not all, 

of his questions. In the first video, Singer falsely told Officer Gibbs that there were drugs 

in his anus, and Officer Gibbs accused Singer of giving him this false information as a 

way to divert his attention from what Singer was chewing. In the second video, Singer 

admitted to Officer Gibbs that he ingested a partially smoked marijuana joint. While 

Officer Gibbs acknowledged that Singer was calmer during the second video where he 

made the admission, he could not explain the reason for Singer’s change in demeanor, 

other than he had talked with Singer for a while, which seemed to calm him. Officer 

Gibbs could not recall whether Singer had been given any medication by the hospital 

staff prior to admitting that he ingested the marijuana joint. He acknowledged that he did 

not give Singer his Miranda rights again on the way to the hospital or at the hospital 

before Singer gave this admission. While he acknowledged that Singer initially told him

several times that he had not consumed any drugs, Officer Gibbs noted that “there was an 

odor of marijuana” coming from Singer’s person, which was noticed by several other 

officers. He also said Singer had green residue in his mouth and on his teeth from 

whatever he had been chewing, which indicated that Singer had consumed the marijuana 

“very recently.” Officer Gibbs stated that Singer was obviously chewing on something 

both at the scene and during the ambulance ride to the hospital. 

The video recording of Officer Gibbs’ conversation with Singer at the scene was 

played for the court. In it, Officer Gibbs advised Singer of his Miranda rights, and Singer 

stated that he was willing to talk to him. The video recordings that Officer Gibbs made 
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of Singer at the hospital were also played for the court. Officer Price also testified at this 

hearing and provided similar testimony to what he had given at the earlier suppression 

hearing. 

At the conclusion of this hearing, the trial court stated that it had considered the 

testimony presented and had reviewed the relevant videos showing Singer at the scene

and at the hospital. The court found that Singer had been given his Miranda rights at the 

scene and that from the time of Singer’s initial stop to the time Singer confessed to 

ingesting the marijuana joint, he was able to engage in conversation with all of the 

officers present. The court then held that because all of Singer’s statements “were made 

willingly and voluntarily,” they would not be suppressed. 

On March 14, 2018, successor trial counsel filed a second motion to withdraw, 

asserting that Singer insisted on taking action that the attorney considered repugnant and

that Singer himself was so repugnant to successor trial counsel that it likely impaired the 

attorney-client relationship and counsel’s ability to represent Singer. Thereafter, the trial 

court granted the motion to withdraw on the condition that successor trial counsel remain 

as “elbow counsel” for Singer. On April 18, 2018, and May 3, 2018, Singer filed two pro 

se motions to dismiss, alleging in part that his indictment was defective and that the court 

was without jurisdiction because the count charging him with tampering with the 

evidence pursuant to Code section 39-16-503 used the word “substance.” 

 

Trial. At the jury trial on July 30, 2018, Singer represented himself with

successor trial counsel acting as “elbow counsel.” Officer Price provided testimony 

similar to the testimony he had provided at the suppression hearings. In addition, Officer 

Price asserted that he pulled Singer out of his truck because he was concerned that Singer 

was looking for a weapon. As he and Singer fell to the ground, some items also fell to 

the ground, including a glass pipe used to smoke crack cocaine. Officer Price said that 

despite giving Singer repeated commands, Singer continued to try to stand up while 

Officer Price was on his back. Officer Price observed that Singer was continuously 

chewing on something, and when he told him to spit it out because he was concerned that 

Singer had ingested something that could hurt him, Singer refused. Officer Price then

tried to pull Singer’s arms behind his back, but Singer refused to cooperate. They 

continued to struggle until two other officers arrived on the scene, and then all three 

officers worked together to place Singer’s hands behind his back so they could arrest 

him.

Officer Price said that once Singer was handcuffed, Singer’s person was searched 

incident to his arrest. He said that during the entirety of the struggle and even after he 

was placed in custody, Singer continued to chew on something, despite his repeated 

commands for Singer to spit it out. Officer Price also smelled the odor of raw marijuana 
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coming from Singer’s mouth and noted that Singer’s tongue and mouth looked green. He 

said that other officers at the scene also commented that they smelled marijuana on 

Singer’s breath. Officer Price stated that although Singer eventually spit out two packs of 

gauze wrapped in cellophane, he continued to chew something. He asserted that he did 

not collect these gauze packs because they did not contain drugs. A video recording of 

Singer’s stop was played for the jury.

Officer Price and other officers then searched Singer’s truck and found a rolled 

dollar bill containing cocaine wedged in the frame of the driver’s side door. They also 

found a tinfoil crack pipe and a Brillo pad, which acts as a filter for crack pipes, in the 

center console of Singer’s truck. 

Officer Price observed Singer again when he was being booked at the jail. During 

the booking process, Singer admitted to Officer Price that he had been chewing on a 

partially smoked marijuana joint at the time of the stop. 

Officer Gibbs testified that when he first arrived at the scene, Singer was standing 

next to his truck and complaining that his back hurt. He smelled the odor of marijuana 

coming from Singer’s person and observed Singer chewing something. Officer Gibbs 

advised Singer of his Miranda rights at the scene. 

Because Singer had likely ingested drugs and had complained that his back was 

hurting, Officer Gibbs accompanied Singer to the hospital. During the ambulance ride, 

Singer continued to chew on something. When they arrived at the hospital, Officer Gibbs 

observed a green substance on Singer’s tongue and in his teeth. Singer then gave Officer 

Gibbs false information that he had placed drugs in his anus. Later, Singer confessed to 

ingesting a small piece of marijuana from a joint. A video recording of Singer’s 

confession was played for the jury. Officer Gibbs said he asked Singer how much 

marijuana he had consumed so he could advise the medical staff, who were deciding 

what procedures would be necessary. He asserted that although he allowed Singer to use 

his cell phone while at the hospital, he never made any direct or implied promises to 

Singer in exchange for Singer’s confession to ingesting the marijuana. When Singer was 

cleared by the medical staff, he walked out of the hospital. 

Special Agent Laura Cole, a forensic scientist for the Tennessee Bureau of 

Investigation, testified that she tested the white powder that was found on a dollar bill 

wedged in the door frame of Singer’s truck. She confirmed that the white powder was 

0.04 grams of cocaine. 

 At the conclusion of trial, Singer was acquitted of resisting arrest but was 

convicted of the remaining charges. The trial court then sentenced him as a Range II, 
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multiple offender to concurrent sentences of eight years for the tampering with evidence

conviction and eleven months and twenty-nine days for the simple possession of cocaine 

and possession of paraphernalia convictions. The court ordered that this effective eightyear sentence would be served consecutively to Singer’s Texas sentence, for which 

Singer was on parole at the time he committed the offenses in this case. The judgments 

of conviction for the Tennessee offenses were entered on September 21, 2018. 

On October 17, 2018, Singer filed a “Motion in Arrest of Judgment.” In it, he 

alleged that the indictment count charging him with tampering with evidence was 

defective because it failed to charge an offense; that the statute charging him with

tampering with evidence was void for vagueness; that the state trial court lacked 

jurisdiction to hear his case because he had filed a federal civil lawsuit prior to his 

criminal trial; that the trial court judge, the district attorney, the prosecutor, and all of the 

attorneys who represented him had made “false representations concerning a material 

fact;” and that the Tennessee Parole Board failed to conduct a minimal investigation 

pursuant to Code section 40-28-106. On October 22, 2018, before the trial court ruled on 

this motion, Singer filed a timely notice of appeal. 

On December 14, 2018, after Singer filed his notice of appeal, the trial court 

entered a written order denying the motion for arrest of judgment.

2

 In its order, the court

noted that it had previously ruled on a motion to suppress the evidence seized during the 

stop of Singer’s vehicle as well as a motion to dismiss the indictment based upon the 

same grounds alleged in this motion. The court then held that Singer’s indictment was 

not defective because it contained sufficient information to provide Singer with 

knowledge of the accusation to which answer is required, to furnish the court with an 

adequate basis for entry of a proper judgment, and to protect Singer against double 

jeopardy, as required by State v. Hill, 954 S.W.2d 725 (Tenn. 1997).

ANALYSIS

I. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel. Singer argues that he received ineffective 

assistance from all the attorneys who represented him from the preliminary hearing 

through trial.3 He specifically complains that his attorneys failed to confer with him, 

failed to conduct an appropriate investigation and research, failed to obtain evidence in 

the State’s possession, failed to discuss strategies and tactical choices, failed to 

 

2 We note that the trial court did not have jurisdiction of Singer’s case at the time it entered its 

order denying the “Motion in Arrest of Judgment” because Singer had already filed his notice of appeal. 

3 We have reordered Singer’s issues for clarity.
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investigate his civil rights violations that were the subject of his federal lawsuit, failed to 

challenge his defective indictment, failed to emphasize Officer Price’s excessive use of 

force, failed to provide any case law to support his motions to suppress, failed to confront 

the witnesses against him, failed to allow him to present witnesses in his favor, and failed 

to challenge his arrest and the search of his person and his truck. Singer contends that

because his attorneys failed to provide constitutionally adequate representation, he failed 

to receive a fair trial. The State responds that Singer has waived this issue by never 

raising it in the trial court or in a motion for new trial. Waiver notwithstanding, the State 

argues that Singer has failed to show that counsel’s performance was deficient or 

prejudicial. We conclude that Singer has waived plenary review of this issue and is not 

entitled to plain error relief. 

Initially, we recognize that while ineffective assistance of counsel claims may be 

raised on direct appeal, it is a practice “fraught with peril since it is virtually impossible 

to demonstrate prejudice as required without an evidentiary hearing.” State v. Blackmon, 

78 S.W.3d 322, 328 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001) (citation and internal quotation marks 

omitted). This practice is unwise because once an ineffective assistance of counsel claim 

is raised and adjudicated on direct appeal, it may be deemed previously determined for 

purposes of later post-conviction relief. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-30-106(h) (“A 

ground for relief is previously determined if a court of competent jurisdiction has ruled 

on the merits after a full and fair hearing.”), 40-30-106(f) (“If the facts alleged, taken as 

true, fail to show that the petitioner is entitled to relief or fail to show that the claims for 

relief have not been waived or previously determined, the petition shall be dismissed.”). 

Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 3(e) states that all issues for review upon 

which a new trial is sought must be raised in a motion for new trial: 

[I]n all cases tried by a jury, no issue presented for review shall be 

predicated upon error in the admission or exclusion of evidence, jury 

instructions granted or refused, misconduct of jurors, parties or counsel, or 

other action committed or occurring during the trial of the case, or other 

ground upon which a new trial is sought, unless the same was specifically 

stated in a motion for a new trial; otherwise such issues will be treated as 

waived. 

Tenn. R. App. P. 3(e) (emphases added); see Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a) (“Nothing in this 

rule shall be construed as requiring relief be granted to a party responsible for an error or 

who failed to take whatever action was reasonably available to prevent or nullify the 

harmful effect of an error.”). Singer’s claim that he received ineffectiveness of counsel,

for which the appropriate remedy is a new trial, was not included in a motion for new 

trial. 
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Accordingly, we conclude that Singer has waived this issue, absent plain error. 

The plain error doctrine states that “[w]hen necessary to do substantial justice, an 

appellate court may consider an error that has affected the substantial rights of a party at 

any time, even though the error was not raised in the motion for a new trial or assigned as 

error on appeal.” Tenn. R. App. P. 36(b). In order for this court to find plain error,

“(a) the record must clearly establish what occurred in the trial court; (b) a 

clear and unequivocal rule of law must have been breached; (c) a 

substantial right of the accused must have been adversely affected; (d) the 

accused did not waive the issue for tactical reasons; and (e) consideration of 

the error is ‘necessary to do substantial justice.’”

State v. Smith, 24 S.W.3d 274, 282 (Tenn. 2000) (quoting State v. Adkisson, 899 S.W.2d 

626, 641-42 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994)). “[P]lain error must be of such a great magnitude 

that it probably changed the outcome of the trial.” Adkisson, 899 S.W.2d at 642 (internal 

quotations marks and citations omitted). “It is the accused’s burden to persuade an 

appellate court that the trial court committed plain error.” State v. Bledsoe, 226 S.W.3d 

349, 355 (Tenn. 2007) (citing United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 734 (1993)). “[T]he 

presence of all five factors must be established by the record before this Court will 

recognize the existence of plain error, and complete consideration of all the factors is not 

necessary when it is clear from the record that at least one of the factors cannot be 

established.” Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 283.

We note that in order to prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the 

petitioner must establish that (1) his lawyer’s performance was deficient and (2) the 

deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Vaughn v. State, 202 S.W.3d 106, 116

(Tenn. 2006) (citing Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d 930, 936 (Tenn. 1975); Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)). A petitioner successfully demonstrates deficient 

performance when the petitioner establishes that his attorney’s conduct fell “below an 

objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms.” Goad v.

State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 369 (Tenn. 1996) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688; Baxter, 523 

S.W.2d at 936). Prejudice arising therefrom is demonstrated once the petitioner 

establishes “‘a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the 

result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a 

probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.’” Id. at 370 (quoting 

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694). “Because a petitioner must establish both prongs of the test, 

a failure to prove either deficiency or prejudice provides a sufficient basis to deny relief 

on the ineffective assistance claim.” Id.
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After reviewing the entire appellate record in this case, we conclude that none of 

the attorneys who represented Singer were ineffective. Instead, all of Singer’s attorneys 

provided representation that far exceeded the objective standard of reasonableness under 

prevailing professional norms at each and every stage of the proceedings, despite the fact 

that Singer was a difficult, and sometimes impossible, individual to represent. 

Accordingly, we can easily conclude that Singer, who failed to even ask for plain error 

relief from this court, has failed to establish that a clear and unequivocal rule of law was 

breached, that a substantial right of his was adversely affected, or that consideration of 

the error was necessary to do substantial justice. Because Singer has failed to establish 

all five of the required factors, he is not entitled to plain error relief. See Smith, 24 

S.W.3d at 282.

II. Coerced Confession. Singer also argues that his confession to consuming a 

marijuana joint was coerced. He claims that Officer Gibbs secretly recorded his 

confession and that Officer Price’s excessive use of force at the stop made his later 

confession to ingesting the marijuana joint involuntary. In response, the State contends 

that Singer waived this issue by failing to raise it at his suppression hearing or in the

motion to arrest judgment that he filed following his conviction, see Tenn. R. App. P. 

36(a), and by failing to provide any facts to support his contention, see Tenn. Ct. Crim. 

App. R. 10(b). Waiver notwithstanding, the State asserts that Singer had been properly 

advised of his Miranda rights at the time he gave his statement to Officer Gibbs and that 

the reason Officer Gibbs asked Singer what he had ingested was in order to obtain 

appropriate medical care for him. Once again, we conclude that Singer has waived 

plenary review of this issue and is not entitled to plain error relief. 

Although Singer properly raised the claim that his confession was coerced in his 

second suppression motion, he did not include this issue in a motion for new trial. See

Tenn. R. App. P. 3(e); Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a). Accordingly, we conclude that Singer has 

waived this issue, absent plain error. See Tenn. R. App. P. 3(e); Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a); 

Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 282. 

Because “coerced confessions are inherently unreliable,” only voluntary 

confessions are admissible. State v. Climer, 400 S.W.3d 537, 567 (Tenn. 2013). In order 

for a statement to be voluntary, it “‘must not be extracted by any sort of threats or 

violence, nor obtained by any direct or implied promises, however slight, nor by the 

exertion of any improper influence.’” State v. Kelly, 603 S.W.2d 726, 727 (Tenn. 1980) 

(quoting Bram v. United States, 168 U.S. 532, 542-43 (1897)).

Whether a confession is involuntary is a question of fact. State v. Willis, 496 

S.W.3d 653, 695 (Tenn. 2016) (citing State v. Sanders, 452 S.W.3d 300, 305 (Tenn. 

2014)). The State has the burden of establishing the voluntariness of a confession by a 
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preponderance of the evidence. Id. (citing Sanders, 452 S.W.3d at 305). “The test of 

voluntariness for confessions under article I, § 9 of the Tennessee Constitution is broader 

and more protective of individual rights than the test of voluntariness under the Fifth 

Amendment.” State v. Smith, 933 S.W.2d 450, 455 (Tenn. 1996); State v. Freeland, 451 

S.W.3d 791, 815 (Tenn. 2014).

“The due process voluntariness test is distinct from Miranda.” State v. Davidson, 

509 S.W.3d 156, 189 (Tenn. 2016) (citing Dickerson v. United States, 530 U.S. 428, 434-

35 (2000); Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 397-98 (1978)). “[T]he essential inquiry 

under the voluntariness test is whether a suspect’s will was overborne so as to render the 

confession a product of coercion.” Id. (citing Freeland, 451 S.W.3d at 815). The 

voluntariness test requires this court to assess the psychological impact on the accused 

and to evaluate the legal significance of the accused’s reaction. Id. (citing Schneckloth v. 

Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 226 (1973)). When determining whether a confession was 

made voluntarily, this court must examine the totality of the circumstances, including the 

“characteristics of the accused and the details of the interrogation.” Id. (citing Dickerson, 

530 U.S. at 434). These circumstances include:

“[T]he age of the accused; his lack of education or his intelligence level; the 

extent of his previous experience with the police; the repeated and 

prolonged nature of the questioning; the length of the detention of the 

accused before he gave the statement in question; the lack of any advice to 

the accused of his constitutional rights; whether there was an unnecessary 

delay in bringing him before a magistrate before he gave the confession; 

whether the accused was injured[,] intoxicated[,] or drugged, or in ill health 

when he gave the statement; whether the accused was deprived of food, 

sleep[,] or medical attention; whether the accused was physically abused; 

and whether the suspect was threatened with abuse.”

Climer, 400 S.W.3d at 568 (quoting State v. Huddleston, 924 S.W.2d 666, 671 (Tenn. 

1996)).

Regarding Singer’s claim that Officer Gibbs secretly recorded this confession, the

pertinent recording shows that Officer Gibbs recorded Singer’s confession with his cell 

phone at the hospital and that Singer, who was lucid and articulate at the time, was

looking directly at the cell phone when the recording was made. These facts clearly

dispel Singer’s claim that this recording was “secretly” made. Accordingly, we conclude 

that nothing about the way that Singer’s confession was recorded gives any indication 

that his confession was coerced. 
- 13 -

As to Singer’s claim that Officer Price’s excessive use of force at the stop made 

his later confession to ingesting a marijuana joint involuntary, we fully agree with the 

trial court’s findings that Singer was advised of his Miranda rights at the scene and that 

from the time of Singer’s initial stop to the time Singer made the admission regarding 

consuming the marijuana, he was able to fully engage in conversation with all of the 

officers. Officer Gibbs specifically testified at trial that despite Singer’s claim that he 

had received a back injury during the altercation with Officer Price, Singer was able to 

walk out of the hospital of his own accord before being booked at the jail. After 

reviewing the record, including the pertinent video recordings, we conclude that Singer 

has failed to establish that Officer Price used excessive force at the time of the stop or 

that Singer’s alleged back injury rendered his Miranda waiver involuntary. Therefore, we

fully agree with the trial court’s holding that all of Singer’s statements “were made 

willingly and voluntarily”. Because Singer has failed to establish that a clear and 

unequivocal rule of law was breached, that a substantial right of his was adversely 

affected, or that consideration of the error was necessary to do substantial justice, he is 

not entitled to plain error relief on this issue. See Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 282. 

III. Challenges to his Arrest and Search. Singer additionally contends that the 

trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress because his arrest was not supported

by probable cause and the police did not have authority to search his person or his truck. 

Singer specifically claims that Officer Price used excessive force during his arrest and 

admitted he did not see narcotics in Singer’s mouth or on his person. The State responds

that the police had probable cause to arrest Singer because when Officer Price observed 

Singer committing a traffic violation and attempted to pull him over, Singer refused to 

immediately stop, disregarded the officer’s commands to stop reaching for something in 

his center console, smelled of marijuana, and was physically combative with the officer

as a crack pipe fell onto the ground in plain view. The State asserts that because the 

police had probable cause to arrest Singer, the officers validly searched Singer’s person 

and his truck incident to his arrest. We conclude that Singer has waived plenary review 

of this issue and is not entitled to plain error relief.

Although not specifically raised by the State, Singer’s claim that the trial court 

erred in denying his motion to suppress was not included in a motion for new trial. 

Because the record shows that Singer failed to raise this issue in a motion for new trial, 

we again conclude that Singer has waived this issue, absent plain error. See Tenn. R. 

App. P. 3(e); Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a); Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 282. 

The proof presented at the suppression hearing and trial showed that Officer Price 

observed Singer driving in the rain without his headlights activated. Because Officer 

Price observed Singer committing a traffic violation pursuant to Code section 55-9-406, 

he had reasonable suspicion to stop him. Although Officer Price attempted to initiate a 
- 14 -

traffic stop, Singer did not immediately pull over and continued to drive down the road 

and through a parking lot. As Singer continued to drive, Officer Price observed Singer 

lifting himself out of his seat and digging through the contents of his center console, 

which caused Officer Price to be concerned for his safety and led him to call for back-up. 

When Singer finally stopped his vehicle, Officer Price approached Singer’s truck, and 

Singer continued to go through the contents of his center console, even though Officer 

Price told him to stop. Because Singer refused to comply with this command, Officer 

Price became concerned that Singer was looking for a weapon and ordered Singer out of 

his truck. When Singer refused to comply, Officer Price placed his arms around Singer 

and pulled him out of the truck. As he did so, a crack pipe fell to the ground, and Singer 

resisted, which resulted in a physical struggle between Officer Price and Singer that 

lasted several minutes. During this struggle, Officer Price realized that Singer was 

chewing on something, which he believed to be narcotics, and Singer refused to spit out

whatever he was chewing out. Officer Price and Singer continued to struggle for a few 

minutes until other officers arrived on the scene and were able to help Officer Price arrest

Singer. 

We conclude that the evidence presented at the suppression hearing and trial 

overwhelmingly established that Officer Price and the other officers had probable cause 

to arrest Singer. See State v. Clayton, 535 S.W.3d 829, 849 (Tenn. 2017) (“Probable 

cause exists when at the time of the arrest, the facts and circumstances within the 

knowledge of the officers, and of which they had reasonably trustworthy information, are 

sufficient to warrant a prudent person in believing that the defendant had committed or 

was committing an offense.” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)); State v.

Bishop, 431 S.W.3d 22, 41 (Tenn. 2014) (“[T]he strength of the evidence necessary to 

establish probable cause to arrest is significantly less than the strength of evidence 

necessary to find a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”). This evidence also 

established that the officers validly searched Singer’s person and the interior of Singer’s

truck incident to Singer’s arrest. See Arizona v. Gant, 556 U.S. 332, 351 (2009) (“Police 

may search a vehicle incident to a recent occupant’s arrest only if the arrestee is within 

reaching distance of the passenger compartment at the time of the search or it is 

reasonable to believe the vehicle contains evidence of the offense of arrest.”). Because 

Singer has failed to establish that a clear and unequivocal rule of law was breached, that a 

substantial right of his was adversely affected, or that consideration of the error was 

necessary to do substantial justice, he is not entitled to plain error relief. See Smith, 24 

S.W.3d at 282. 

IV. Exculpatory Evidence. Singer also contends that the State withheld 

exculpatory evidence by failing to preserve two packs of gauze wrapped in cellophane 

that he spit out during his arrest. The State counters that while Singer spit out these

gauze packs, he did not spit out the green substance that smelled of marijuana, which was 
- 15 -

never recovered, and that the State had no duty to preserve the gauze packs. We 

conclude that Singer has waived plenary review of this issue and is not entitled to plain 

error relief. 

At trial, Singer never objected or asked for a continuance to address this alleged 

Brady violation, which precluded the trial court from making a ruling on this claim. 

Because Singer made no effort to address this issue at the trial court level and raised it for 

the first time on appeal, this issue is waived. See Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a). Moreover, 

Singer’s claim that the State withheld exculpatory evidence was not included in a motion 

for new trial. Consequently, we again conclude that Singer has waived this issue, absent 

plain error. See Tenn. R. App. P. 3(e); Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 282. 

In order to prove a Brady violation, the defendant must establish the following 

four elements: (1) that the defendant requested the information (unless the evidence is 

obviously exculpatory, in which case the State is bound to release the information 

whether requested or not); (2) that the State suppressed the information; (3) that the 

information was favorable to the accused; and (4) that the information was material. 

Johnson v. State, 38 S.W.3d 52, 56 (Tenn. 2001) (citing State v. Edgin, 902 S.W.2d 387, 

390 (Tenn. 1995); State v. Walker, 910 S.W.2d 381, 389 (Tenn. 1995)). The defendant

has the burden of proving a Brady violation by a preponderance of the evidence. See

Edgin, 902 S.W.2d at 389.

Information favorable to the accused, the third element, includes evidence that 

could exonerate the accused, corroborate the accused’s position in asserting his 

innocence, or enable defense counsel to conduct further and possibly productive 

investigation regarding the fact that someone other than the defendant committed the 

charged crime. Johnson, 38 S.W.3d at 56 (citing State v. Marshall, 845 S.W.2d 228, 233

(Tenn. Crim. App. 1992)). It also includes evidence that corroborates the defendant’s 

version of events, calls into question an important but not indispensable part of the 

State’s version of the events, or challenges the credibility of a key State witness. Id. at 57 

(citing Commonwealth v. Ellison, 379 N.E.2d 560, 571 (1978); Mazzan v. Warden, Ely 

State Prison, 993 P.2d 25, 37 (Nev. 2000)). As to the fourth element, we recognize that 

information is considered material when “‘there is a reasonable probability that, had the 

evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been 

different.’” Id. (quoting Edgin, 902 S.W.2d at 390; Walker, 910 S.W.2d at 389; State v.

Copeland, 983 S.W.2d 703, 706 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998)).

 

Singer has failed to establish any of the four elements required to prove a Brady

violation. Officer Price testified that Singer spit out two gauze packs rolled in 

cellophane. While he acknowledged that the gauze packs that ended up on the ground

did not contain drugs, Officer Price asserted that Singer continued to chew on a green 
- 16 -

substance that smelled of marijuana at the time he spit out the gauze packs . In addition, 

Officer Gibbs testified that while at the hospital, Singer continued to chew on something

he refused to spit out and that Singer’s tongue and mouth were green from this substance. 

Based on this evidence, the gauze packs were not obviously exculpatory. In addition, the 

State did not suppress the gauze packs; instead, the State merely chose not to collect the 

gauze packs because at the time Singer spit them out, they did not contain drugs. Finally, 

the gauze packs were not material because there is no reasonable probability that, had 

they been collected and given to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have 

been different. Because Singer has failed to establish that a clear and unequivocal rule of 

law was breached, that a substantial right of his was adversely affected, or that 

consideration of the error was necessary to do substantial justice, he is not entitled to 

plain error relief. See Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 282. 

V. Defective Indictment. In addition, Singer contends that his indictment was 

defective and that the trial court was without jurisdiction to enter its judgments of 

conviction. He specifically references the count charging him with tampering with 

evidence and asserts that “nothing in the language of section 39-16-503(a) . . . remotely 

suggest[s] that the legislature intended to include ‘substance’ as an element” of the 

offense. Alternatively, Singer argues that the trial court was without jurisdiction to hear 

his criminal case because he had a pending civil lawsuit in federal court,

4 wherein he

asserted that Officer Price used excessive force against him at the time of his arrest. The 

State responds that Singer is not entitled to relief because the indictment in this case

provided Singer with knowledge of the accusations to which he was required to answer, 

furnished the court with an adequate basis for entry of a proper judgment, and protected 

Singer against double jeopardy. We agree with the State that Singer is not entitled to 

relief on this issue. 

Although Singer did not raise his issue regarding the defective indictment in a 

motion for new trial, he was not required to do so because the remedy for a defective 

indictment is the dismissal of the indictment rather than a new trial. See Tenn. R. App. P. 

3(e); State v. Keel, 882 S.W.2d 410, 416 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994) (“The waiver 

provision of Rule 3(e) . . . does not apply when the issue, if found to be meritorious, 

would result in the dismissal of the prosecution against the accused.”); State v. Duncan, 

505 S.W.3d 480, 489 n.10 (Tenn. 2016) (“If the matter is considered jurisdictional and it 

is determined that the indictment does not give proper notice to the defendant, then the 

indictment must be dismissed.”). We also recognize that Singer raised his claim of a 

defective indictment in his pro se pre-trial motions to dismiss and in his pro se “Motion in 

Arrest of Judgment” that was filed after his judgments of conviction were entered. See

 

4 No documentation regarding this federal lawsuit was included in the appellate record. 
- 17 -

Tenn. R. Crim. P. 12(b)(2)(B); Tenn. R. Crim. P. 34(a)(2). Accordingly, we will address 

this issue on its merits. 

The United States Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution state that a 

defendant is entitled to knowledge of “the nature and cause of the accusation.” U.S. 

Const. amend. VI; Tennessee Const. art. I, § 9. The Tennessee Supreme Court has stated 

that an indictment is valid if it contains sufficient information (1) to enable the defendant 

to know the accusation to which answer is required, (2) to furnish the court adequate 

basis for the entry of a proper judgment, and (3) to protect the defendant against double 

jeopardy. State v. Hammonds, 30 S.W.3d 294, 299 (Tenn. 2000) (citing Hill, 954 S.W.2d 

at 727). Moreover, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-13-202, the 

indictment must

state the facts constituting the offense in ordinary and concise language, 

without prolixity or repetition, in such a manner so as to enable a person of 

common understanding to know what is intended, and with that degree of 

certainty which will enable the court, on conviction, to pronounce the 

proper judgment.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-13-202; see Hammonds, 30 S.W.3d at 300 (stating that 

“indictments which achieve the overriding purpose of notice to the accused will be 

considered sufficient to satisfy both constitutional and statutory requirements”).

Because challenges to the validity of an indictment involve issues of law, we 

review them de novo. State v. Smith, 492 S.W.3d 224, 239 (Tenn. 2016) (citing Hill, 954 

S.W.2d at 727). “The provisions of the criminal code are to be ‘construed according to 

the fair import of their terms.’” State v. Majors, 318 S.W.3d 850, 859 (Tenn. 2010) 

(citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-104 (2006)). When interpreting a statute, “we must 

ascertain and give full effect to the General Assembly’s intent.” State v. Smith, 436 

S.W.3d 751, 762 (Tenn. 2014) (citing Walker v. Sunrise Pontiac-GMC Truck, Inc., 249 

S.W.3d 301, 309 (Tenn. 2008)). The General Assembly’s intent must be carried out 

“without unduly expanding or restricting the language of the statute beyond the 

legislature’s intended scope.” Id. (citing Premium Fin. Corp. of Am. v. Crump Ins. 

Servs. of Memphis, Inc., 978 S.W.2d 91, 93 (Tenn. 1998)). “When the statutory 

language is clear and unambiguous, we apply the plain meaning of the statute.” Id. 

However, where the language is ambiguous, we must look to the “broader statutory 

scheme, the history of the legislation, or other sources to discern its meaning.” State v.

Casper, 297 S.W.3d 676, 683 (Tenn. 2009).

Here, Singer was charged with tampering with evidence, which provides, in 

pertinent part:
- 18 -

(a) It is unlawful for any person, knowing that an investigation or official 

proceeding is pending or in progress, to:

(1) Alter, destroy, or conceal any record, document or thing with intent to 

impair its verity, legibility, or availability as evidence in the investigation 

or official proceeding[.]

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-503 (emphasis added).

Singer was specifically indicted for this offense as follows:

The Grand Jurors of Rutherford County, Tennessee, duly impaneled 

and sworn upon their oath present that in Rutherford County, Tennessee 

and before a finding of this indictment during the month of October 2015 

Leonard Singer did unlawfully and feloniously alter, destroy, or conceal 

any substance or thing, to wit: MARIJUANA with the intent to impair its 

availability as evidence in an investigation, knowing that an investigation 

was in progress, in violation of T.C.A. 39-16-503 and against the peace and 

dignity of the State of Tennessee. 

Code section 39-16-503, which criminalizes tampering with evidence, specifically 

includes “any record, document, or thing” in its definition of what a person may not alter, 

destroy, or conceal. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-503(a)(1). The Tennessee Supreme 

Court applied a “broad, generic construction” to the word “thing” as it is used in Code 

section 39-16-503(a)(1). Majors, 318 S.W.3d at 859; State v. Hawkins, 406 S.W.3d 121, 

132 (Tenn. 2013). The court held that “thing,” as used in this statute, refers to “an object 

or entity not precisely designated and perhaps not even capable of being designated.” 

Majors, 318 S.W.3d at 860. In addition, there is no requirement that the State “identify 

exactly what ‘thing’ was tampered with.” Id. at 859. As a result, “the State must show 

only that the defendant, aware of an imminent police investigation, chose to ‘[a]lter, 

destroy, or conceal’ something with the intent to deprive the police of its use as evidence 

in that investigation.” State v. Harvell, 415 S.W.3d 853, 861-62 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010)

(quoting Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-503(a)(1)). “It does not matter for purposes of the 

statute whether the substance at issue was an illegal narcotic, a legal chemical precursor 

to such a narcotic, the ashes of burned currency or counterfeit currency, or, for that 

matter, mere flour or baking soda.” Id. at 862. Because the term “substance” certainly 

falls within the definition provided by the Tennessee Supreme Court for “thing” as used 

in Code section 39-16-503, Singer is not entitled to relief on this issue.
- 19 -

To the extent that Singer argues that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his 

conviction for tampering with evidence, we conclude that based on the evidence 

presented at trial, a rational jury could have found that Singer destroyed and concealed 

whatever was in his mouth in order to prevent the police from uncovering it as a part of 

the pending investigation against him. Accordingly, the evidence is sufficient to sustain 

Singer’s conviction pursuant to Code section 39-16-503. 

As to Singer’s broader claim that his indictment was defective, which deprived the 

trial court of jurisdiction, we note the indictment in this case clearly charged Singer with

the relevant offenses of tampering with evidence, simple possession of cocaine, and 

possession of drug paraphernalia. These charges contained facts constituting the offense 

in ordinary and concise language and identified the applicable statute criminalizing each 

offense. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-13-202. In addition, the indictment in this case (1) 

enabled Singer to know the accusations to which he was required to answer; (2) furnished

the court with an adequate basis for entry of a proper judgment, and (3) protected Singer 

against double jeopardy. See Hammonds, 30 S.W.3d at 299 (citing Hill, 954 S.W.2d at

727). Consequently, we conclude that the indictment in this case achieved the overriding 

purpose of notice to Singer of the charged offenses and satisfied the constitutional and 

statutory requirements. See id. at 300. 

Finally, although Singer claims that the trial court was without jurisdiction in his 

criminal case because he had a pending civil lawsuit in federal court alleging a claim that 

Officer Price used excessive force during the arrest, Singer has waived this issue by 

failing to provide any authority supporting this claim. See Tenn. Ct. Crim. App. R. 

10(b); Tenn. R. App. P. 27(a)(7). In addition, Singer has also waived this issue by failing

to include any documentation regarding the existence of this federal suit. We reiterate 

that the appellant has a duty to prepare a record that conveys “a fair, accurate and 

complete account of what transpired with respect to those issues that are the bases of 

appeal.” Tenn. R. App. P. 24(b). “Where . . . the record is incomplete, and does not 

contain a transcript of the proceedings relevant to an issue presented for review, or 

portions of the record upon which a party relies, this Court is precluded from considering 

the issue.” State v. Roberts, 755 S.W.2d 833, 836 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998) (citing State 

v. Groseclose, 615 S.W.2d 142, 147 (Tenn. 1981); State v. Jones, 623 S.W.2d 129, 131 

(Tenn. Crim. App. 1981)). For all these reasons, we conclude that Singer is not entitled 

to relief. 

VI. Conspiracy to Fabricate Governmental Documents. Singer additionally 

argues that the police, his attorneys, the prosecutors, and the trial judge conspired against 

him by making materially false statements and representations and by concealing and 

fabricating government documents for the purpose of harassing him. He specifically 

claims that Officer Price lied about the information contained in his affidavit of 
- 20 -

complaint; that the prosecutors, his attorneys, and the trial court utilized the false 

affidavit of complaint and the defective indictment during his suppression hearing and 

trial; and that the police, his attorneys, and the prosecutors suppressed exculpatory 

evidence. Singer asserts that he filed a “civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. 1983” 

because of Officer Price’s “use of force” during his arrest and because the prosecutors

used a defective indictment to charge him. We conclude that Singer has waived plenary 

review of this issue and is not entitled to plain error review.

While the record does show that Singer made several unwarranted complaints 

about the attorneys who represented him, it does not show that Singer ever filed a motion 

to recuse the trial judge or prosecutor in his case based on these allegations. See Tenn. R. 

App. P. 36(a). In addition, Singer’s claim that the police, his attorneys, the prosecutors, 

and the trial judge conspired against him was not included in a motion for new trial. 

Therefore, we once again conclude that Singer has waived this issue, absent plain error. 

See Tenn. R. App. P. 3(e); Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 282. 

 We reiterate that “[i]t is the accused’s burden to persuade an appellate court that 

the trial court committed plain error.” Bledsoe, 226 S.W.3d at 355. We have already 

held that Singer’s indictment was not defective. In addition, Singer has failed to present 

any evidence to support his claim that the aforementioned parties conspired against him 

by making materially false statements and representations and by concealing and 

fabricating government documents. Because Singer has failed to establish that a clear 

and unequivocal rule of law was breached, that a substantial right of his was adversely 

affected, or that consideration of the error was necessary to do substantial justice, he is 

not entitled to plain error relief. See Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 282.

VII. Misconduct of Parole Board. Lastly, Singer contends that Kayla Young, 

an employee of the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole, violated Code section 40-

35-207 when she failed to conduct an adequate investigation before submitting her PreSentence Investigation Report to the trial court. Singer claims that had Young conducted 

a proper investigation, she would have discovered that prosecutors charged him under a 

defective indictment, which was the subject of his federal civil lawsuit. Singer also 

appears to contend that Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole violated his due process 

rights when it failed to comply with Code section 40-31-103, which requires all courts, 

departments, agencies, officers and employees of this state and its political subdivisions 

to enforce the Interstate Compact on Detainers. He claims that the Tennessee parole 

board failed to conduct a prompt informal inquiry into his arrest to determine if there 

were reasonable grounds to believe that he had violated his parole from his sentence in 

Texas and failed to appoint him counsel and to allow him to confront and cross-examine 

witnesses at his probable cause hearing. The State responds that Singer’s claim is not 

properly before this court because this court lacks territorial jurisdiction to review 
- 21 -

Singer’s complaints regarding parole proceedings occurring in another state. We 

conclude that Singer is not entitled to relief.

We have already held that Singer’s indictment was not defective. Therefore, we 

conclude that Singer is not entitled to relief on his claim that Kayla Young did not

discover his defective indictment because she allegedly failed to conduct a proper 

investigation into his case when preparing her pre-sentence investigation report.

As to Singer’s claim that the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole violated his 

due process rights when it failed to comply with Code section 40-31-103 regarding the 

Interstate Compact on Detainers, we note that any issue regarding an agency’s failure to 

comply with the Interstate Compact on Detainers is not one of the enumerated actions 

from which a defendant may appeal as of right under Rule 3(b) of the Tennessee Rules of 

Appellate Procedure. Rule 3(b) provides:

Availability of Appeal as of Right by Defendant in Criminal Actions.

In criminal actions an appeal as of right by a defendant lies from any 

judgment of conviction entered by a trial court from which an appeal lies to 

the Supreme Court or Court of Criminal Appeals: (1) on a plea of not 

guilty; and (2) on a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, if the defendant 

entered into a plea agreement but explicitly reserved the right to appeal a 

certified question of law dispositive of the case pursuant to and in 

compliance with the requirements of Rule 37(b)(2)(i) or (iv) of the 

Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, or if the defendant seeks review of 

the sentence and there was no plea agreement concerning the sentence, or if 

the issues presented for review were not waived as a matter of law by the 

plea of guilty or nolo contendere and if such issues are apparent from the 

record of the proceedings already had. The defendant may also appeal as of 

right from an order denying or revoking probation, and from a final 

judgment in a criminal contempt, habeas corpus, extradition, or postconviction proceeding.

Tenn. R. App. P. 3(b) (emphases added). Here, Singer’s issue does not relate to “any 

judgment of conviction entered by a trial court” or any other enumerated actions from 

which a defendant may appeal as of right under Rule 3(b); instead, Singer’s claim

appears to be a constitutional challenge to the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole’s

alleged failure to abide by the Interstate Compact on Detainers. Given this interpretation 

of the issue, Singer is not entitled to relief. Finally, to the extent that Singer’s issue 

relates to the determination that his convictions in this case violated his parole in Texas, 

we conclude that this court lacks territorial jurisdiction to adjudicate this issue. In order 

for this court to exercise judicial power to hear and determine a case, we must have 
- 22 -

territorial jurisdiction. State v. Legg, 9 S.W.3d 111, 114 (Tenn. 1999). Because the 

Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals does not have the power to hear issues regarding 

parole violations for sentences imposed in Texas, we agree with the State that this claim 

is not properly before the court. 

CONCLUSION

Based on the aforementioned authorities and reasoning, we affirm the judgments 

of the trial court. 

____________________________________

 CAMILLE R. MCMULLEN, JUDGE