### IN THE CO URT OF CR IMINAL APPEALS OF T ENN ESSEE

AT JACKSON

Ass ig ne d o n B rie fs Ju ne 7, 2 01 1

STATE OF TENNESS EE v . GUY ALVIN WI LLI AMSON

D i r e c t A p p e a l f

r o m t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t f o r T i p t o n C o u n t y

N o

. 6 5 7 2 J o s e p h H

. W a l k e r , J u d g e

N o

. W 2 0 1 1

- 0 0 0 4 9

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

- F i l e d A u g u s t 1 9

, 2 0 1 1

T h e d ef en d an t, G u y A lv in William so n

, w as co n v icted b y a T ip to n C o u n ty C ircu it C o u rt j u ry

o f b ein g a co n v icted f

elo n in p o ssessio n o f a h a n d g u n a n d p o ssessio n o f a f irearm w h ile

u n d er th e in f

lu en ce o f alco h o l o r a co n tro lled su b stan ce. H e w as sen ten ced to an ef f ectiv e

term o f th ree y ears, su sp en d ed to p ro b atio n

. O n ap p eal, h e arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred

in d en y in g h is m o tio n to su p p ress th e ev id en ce an d d ism iss th e in d ictm en t an d th at th e

e v i d e n c e w as n o t su f

f icien t to su p p o rt h is co n v ictio n f o r co n v icted f

elo n in p o ssessio n o f

a h an d g u n . A f

ter rev iew , w e af

f irm th e j u d g m en ts o f

th e trial co u rt.

T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 3 A p p e a l a s o f R i g h t ; J u d g m e n t s o f t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t A f f i r m e d

A LA N E

. G LE N N

, J

. , d e l i v e r e d t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t

, i n w h i c h J A M E S C U R W O O D W IT T

, J R

.

a n d N O R M A M C G E E O G LE

, J J

. , j o i n e d

.

G a r y A n t r i c a n

, D i s t r i c t P u b l i c D e f e n d e r ; a n d P a r k e r O

. D i x o n

, A s s i s t a n t P u b l i c D e f e n d e r

, f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t

, G u y A l v i n W i l l i a m s o n

.

R o b e r t E

. C o o p e r

, J r

. , A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l a n d R e p o r t e r ; D a v i d H

. F i n d l e y

, S e n i o r C o u n s e l ; D

.

M i c h a e l D u n a v a n t

, D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ; a n d J a m e s W a l t e r F r e e l a n d

, J r

. , A s s i s t a n t

D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l

, f o r t h e a p p e l l e e

, S t a t e o f T e n n e s s e e

.

O P I N I O N

F A C T S

T h is case arises o u t o f th e p at-d o w n o f th e d ef en d an t o u tsid e a m o tel ro o m in

C o v in g to n

, T en n essee, d u r i n g w h i ch o f f icers d isco v ered a h an d g u n

. A s a resu lt, th e

d ef en d an t w as in d icted o n ch arg es o f b ein g a co n v icted f elo n in p o ssessio n o f a h an d g u n

an d p o ssessio n o f a h an d g u n w h ile u n d er th e in f lu en ce o f alco h o l o r a co n tro lled su b stan ce.S u p p ressio n H ea rin g

T h e d ef en d an t f iled a m o tio n to su p p ress th e ev id en ce an d d ism iss t h e i n d i c tm en t,

arg u in g th at h e w as d etain ed an d search ed w ith o u t p ro b ab le cau se o r reaso n ab le su sp icio n

, b ased o n in f

o rm atio n receiv ed f

ro m an an o n y m o u s tip

.

A t th e su p p ressio n h earin g

, O f f icer William N elso n w ith th e C o v in g to n P o lice

D ep artm en t testif

ied th at h e w as w o rk in g th e 1 0 :0 0 p .m

. to 6 :0 0 a.m

. sh if t o n M ay 3 1

, 2 0 0 9

,

w h en h e receiv ed a d isp atch f ro m 9 1 1 to resp o n d to ro o m tw en ty -o n e at th e B ax ter M o tel

b ecau se o f “[ a] n arm ed p arty an d p o ssib le ro b b ery in p ro g ress.” O f f icer N elso n w as f

am iliar

w ith th e B ax ter M o tel an d n o ted th at th e area w as “k n o w n to b e a p lace w h ere lo cal

p ro stitu tes, ad d icts, an d sellers h an g o u t.” O f f icer N elso n “h ad a p o ssib le d escrip tio n o f tw o

su b j ects,” o n e o f w h o m h e i d e n t i f i e d as th e d ef

en d an t. O f

f icer N elso n said th at th e

d ef en d an t’s clo th es m atch ed th e d escrip tio n h e h ad r eceiv ed

, b u t O f f icer N elso n d id n o t

“h av e it listed w h at th e ex act d escrip tio n g iv en w as” o f th e su sp ect.

Wh en h e arriv ed at th e lo catio n

, O f f icer N elso n saw tw o in d iv id u als stan d in g o n th e

seco n d f lo o r w alk w ay b alco n y o u tsid e o f ro o m tw en ty -o n e. H e an d o th er C o v in g to n P o lice

D ep artm en t o f

f icers ap p ro ach ed th e in d iv id u als, an d O f f icer S h o rt co n d u cted a T erry f risk

o f b o th m en f

o r o f f icer saf ety

. T h e f

risk o f th e d ef

en d an t rev ealed a sm all rev o lv er in h is

rig h t f ro n t sh o rts p o ck et. T h e d ef en d an t d en ied k n o w in g to w h o m th e g u n b elo n g ed o r h o w

it h ad g o tten in to h is p o ck et.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n

, O f f icer N elso n ack n o w led g ed th at th e w arran t h e sig n ed d id

n o t in d icate th at an arm ed ro b b ery w as in p ro g ress, e x p l a i n i n g th at h e d id n o t m en tio n an

arm ed ro b b ery in th e w a r ran t “[ b ] ecau se it w asn ’t v alid ated

. We d id n ’t ch arg e h im w ith

ro b b ery

. . . . We d id n ’t h av e a co rro b o ratin g w itn ess to th at.” O f f i c e r N e l s o n stated th at

d isp atch h ad in f

o r med h im th at th ere w as a p o ssib le arm ed ro b b ery in p ro g ress, b u t u p o n

listen in g to a reco rd in g o f th e call, h e ack n o w led g ed th at th e rep o rt o f an arm ed ro b b ery in

p ro g ress m ig h t n o t h av e co m e f ro m d isp atch

. H o w ev er, h e m ain tain ed th at “[ i] f n o t g iv en

b y D isp atch [ ,] it’s w h en w e arriv ed o n th e scen e, b u t, y es, sir, th ere w as an alleg atio n o f an

arm ed ro b b ery

in p ro g ress.”

O f f icer N el s on a c knowl e dge d t ha t di s pa t c h di d not pr ovi de an y in f o rm atio n reg ard in g

th e race o r sex o f th e su sp ect, an y k in d o f p h y sical d escrip tio n

, o r th e k in d o f c l o th es th e

su sp ect w as w earin g

. H e f u rth e r ack n o w led g ed th at th e d isp atch call d id n o t p ro v id e

in f o rm atio n co n cern in g h o w m an y p eo p le w ere aro u n d th e area, ab o u t p o ten tial f u tu re

m o v em en ts o r actio n s o f th e arm ed p arty

, h o w lo n g th e arm ed p arty h ad b een at th e lo catio n

,

o r sp ecif ic in f o rm atio n ab o u t th e arm ed p arty ’s g u n . A sk ed w h eth er h e h ad an y reaso n to

-2-b eliev e th at so m eo n e w as in d an g er, O f f icer N elso n rep lied

, “A rm ed p arty w o u ld m ean th e

p u b lic is in d an g er b ecau se th ere’s p o ssib ly an arm ed p arty .”

O f f icer N elso n testif

ied th at, u p o n en co u n terin g th e d ef en d an t an d an o th er m an

o u tsid e ro o m tw en ty -o n e, h e b eliev ed th ey w ere arm ed an d d an g ero u s “[ b ] ecau se th ey w ere

in f ro n t o f th e ro o m g iv en in th e d isp atch .” O f f icer N elso n testif

ied th at, in clu d in g h im self

, th ere w ere a to tal o f six o f f icers at th e scen e, b u t n o t ev ery o f f icer w en t u p stairs to ro o m

tw en ty -o n e to co n f

ro n t th e su sp ects. A lth o u g h h is w eap o n w as h o lstered

, h e co u ld n o t recall

w h eth er th e o th er o f

f icers’ w eap o n s w ere also h o lstered

.

O n red irect ex am in atio n

, O f f icer N elso n estim ated th at it w as “a m in u te o r less” f ro m

th e tim e h e receiv ed th e call f ro m d isp atch o f an arm ed p arty stan d in g o u tsid e ro o m tw en ty

o n e to th e tim e h e arriv ed at th e B ax ter M o tel.

T h e trial co u rt d en ied th e d ef en d an t’s m o tio n to su p p ress an d d ism iss th e in d ictm en t

ag ain st h im

.

T ria l

A t trial, O f

f icer M ich ael S h o rt w ith th e C o v in g to n P o lice D ep artm en t testif ied th at

h e w as w o rk in g as a p atro lm an o n th e 6 :0 0 p .m

. to 2 :0 0 a.m

. sh if t o n M ay 3 1

, 2 0 0 9

. H e w as

d isp atch ed to th e B ax ter M o tel at 1 :2 5 a.m

. in resp o n se to a co m p lain t o f an arm ed p arty in

ro o m tw en ty -o n e o f th e m o tel, an d h e arriv ed at th e scen e less th an a m in u te af ter receiv in g

th e call. H e n o ted th at f

iv e o th er o f

f icers resp o n d ed to th e scen e as w ell. A s h e w as w alk in g

u p th e stairs to g o to ro o m tw en ty -o n e, O f f icer S h o rt saw a w h ite m ale ex it ro o m tw en ty -o n e,

so h e ap p ro ach ed an d p atted d o w n th e in d iv id u al. F in d in g n o th in g

, O f f icer S h o rt th en w en t

in to th e ro o m

to m ak e su re n o o n e else w as p resen t. O f f icer S h o rt n o ted th at, m ean w h ile,

th e d ef en d an t w as stan d in g a p p r o x im ately th ree d o o rs d o w n f ro m ro o m tw en ty -o n e, an d

O f f icer R o d n ey M cC u rrie ap p ro ach ed h i m an d p atted h im d o w n

. O f f icer M cC u rrie

d isco v ered a sm all h an d g u n

, a R o ssi .2 2 calib er rev o lv er

, w h ich w as d esig n ed to ex p el a

p ro j ectile, in th e d ef

en d an t’s p o ssessio n

. T h ereaf ter, th e d ef

en d an t w as p laced u n d er arrest.

O n cro ss- ex am in atio n

, O f f icer S h o rt said h e o b serv ed th e h an d g u n f o u n d o n th e

d ef en d an t an d n o ted th at “[ t] h e g rip s [ w ere] lo o se [ o ] n it.” H e al s o n o t e d t h at it w as n o t

lo ad ed an d

, w h en h e tried to p u ll th e trig g er, th e h am m er d id n o t reco il an d th e cy lin d er d id

n o t r o t a t e

. T h u s

, h e h y p o th esized th at th e g u n w as n o t cap ab le o f b ein g f ired in its

co n d itio n

.

O n red irect e x am in atio n

, O f f icer S h o rt stated th at, ev en if f o u n d n o t g u ilty

, th e

d ef en d an t co u ld n o t receiv e th e h an d g u n b ack b ecau se it is a f irearm an d h e is a co n v icted

-3-f

elo n

. T h ereaf

ter, th e S tate su b m itted a certif ied co p y o f a p r e v i o u s f

elo n y j u d g m en t o f

co n v ictio n ag ain st th e d ef en d an t.

O f f icer R o d n ey M cC u rrie w ith th e C o v in g to n P o li c e De pa r tm en t testif

ied th at d u rin g

th e early m o rn in g h o u rs o f M ay 3 1

, 2 0 0 9

, h e w as d isp atch ed to th e B ax ter M o tel in resp o n se

to an arm ed p arty co m

p lain t. A rriv in g at th e scen e in less th an a m in u te, O f f icer M cC u rrie

o b serv ed O f

f icer G arrian w ith h is w eap o n o u t an d p o in ted at a su b j ect o n th e b alco n y o f th e

m o tel. O f

f icers S h o rt an d B ask in w ere w ith a w h ite m ale o n th e seco n d f lo o r, an d tw o

A f rican -A m erican m ale su b

j ects w ere also o n th e b alco n y

. O f f icer M cC u rrie testif

ied th at

h e w as m et at th e stairw ell b y an A f rican -A m erican m ale w h o p o in ted u p to th e d ef en d an t

o n th e seco n d f

lo o r b alco n y an d said th at h e w as arm ed

. O f f icer M cC u rrie ap p ro ach ed th e

d ef en d an t an d p atted h im d o w n

, f in d in g a sm all rev o lv er p isto l in h is r i g h t p o ck et. T h e

d ef en d an t sm elled o f alco h o l an d h ad lo u d

, slu rred sp eech

. O n cro ss-ex am in atio n

, O f f icer

M cC u rrie elab o rated th at th e d ef en d an t w as stan d in g o n th e b alco n y a co u p le o f ro o m s d o w n

f ro m ro o m tw en ty -o n e.

A f ter th e co n clu sio n o f

th e p ro o f , th e j u ry co n v icted th e d ef

en d an t as ch arg ed

.

A N A L Y S IS

I. M o tio n s to D ism iss a n d S u p p ress

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred in d en y in g h is m o tio n to su p p ress th e

ev id en ce an d d ism iss th e in d ictm e n t ag ain st h im

. H e asserts th at h e “w as d etain ed an d

search ed w ith o u t p ro b ab le cau se o r reaso n ab le su sp icio n b ased u p o n an an o n y m o u s tip .”

Wh en th is co u rt rev iew s a trial co u rt’s ru lin g o n a m o tio n to su p p ress e v id en ce,

“[ q ] u estio n s o f cred ib ility o f th e w itn esses, th e w eig h t an d v a l u e o f th e ev id en ce, an d

reso lu tio n o f co n f

licts in th e ev id en ce are m atters en tru sted to th e trial j u d g e as th e trier o f

f act.” S tate v

. O d o m

, 9 2 8 S .W.2 d 1 8

, 2 3 (T en n

. 1 9 9 6 ). T h e p arty p rev ailin g at th e

su p p ressio n h earin g is af f o rd ed th e “stro n g est leg itim ate v iew o f th e e v id en ce an d all

reaso n ab le an d leg itim ate in f eren ces th at m ay b e d raw n f ro m th at ev id en ce.” S tate v

. K eith

, 9 7 8 S .W.2 d 8 6 1 , 8 6 4 (T en n . 1 9 9 8 ). T h e f in d in g s o f a trial co u rt in a su p p ressio n h earin g

are u p h eld u n less th e ev id en ce p rep o n d erates ag ain st th o se f in d in g s. S ee id

. H o w ev er, th e

ap p licatio n o f th e law t o t h e f a cts f o u n d b y th e trial co u rt is a q u estio n o f law an d is

rev iew ed d

e n o vo

. S tate v

. Walto n

, 4 1 S .W.3 d 7 5

, 8 1 (T en n

. 2 0 0 1 ); S tate v

. C ru tch er, 9 8 9

S .W.2 d 2 9 5

, 2 9 9 (T en n

. 1 9 9 9 ); S tate v

. Y earg an

, 9 5 8 S .W.2 d 6 2 6

, 6 2 9 (T en n

. 1 9 9 7 )). “[ I] n

ev alu atin g th e co rrectn ess o f a trial co u rt’s ru lin g o n a p retrial m o tio n to su p p ress, ap p ellate

co u rts m ay co n sid er th e p ro o f ad d u ced b o th at th e su p p ressio n h earin g an d at trial.” S tate

v . H en n in g , 9 7 5 S .W.2 d 2 9 0 , 2 9 9 (T en n . 1 9 9 8 ).

-4-B o th th e F o u rth A m en d m en t to th e U n ited S tates C o n stitu tio n an d article I, sectio n

7 o f th e T en n essee C o n stitu tio n p ro tect in d iv id u als ag ain st u n reaso n ab l e search es an d

seizu res. S e e U

. S

. C o n st. am en d

. IV ; T en n

. C o n st. art. I, § 7

. “T h ese co n stitu tio n al

p ro v isio n s are d esig n ed to ‘saf eg u ard th e p riv acy an d secu rity o f in d iv i d u als ag ain st

arb itrary in v asio n s o f g o v ern m en t o f f icials.’” K eith , 9 7 8 S .W.2 d at 8 6 5 (q u o tin g C am ara

v

. M u n icip al C o u rt, 3 8 7 U .S

. 5 2 3

, 5 2 8 (1 9 6 7 )). A search o r seizu re co n d u cted w ith o u t a

w arran t is p resu m ed u n reaso n ab le, an d ev id en ce o b tain ed as a resu lt w ill b e su p p ressed

“u n less th e p ro secu tio n d em o n strates b y a p rep o n d eran ce o f th e ev id en ce th at th e search o r

seizu re w as co n d u cted p u rsu an t to an ex cep tio n to th e w arran t req u irem en t.” Id

. (citatio n s

o m itted ).

O n e su ch ex c e p t i o n to th e w arran t req u irem en t is an in v estig ato ry sto p

, an d

su b seq u en t f

risk

, as au th o rized b y T erry v

. O h io

, 3 9 2 U .S .1

, 2 7 (1 9 6 8 ), w h en an o f f icer h as

a reaso n ab le su sp icio n

, su p p o rted b y sp ecif ic an d articu lab le f

acts, th at a crim in al o f

f en se

h as b een o r is ab o u t to b e co m m itted

. S tate v

. Watk in s, 8 2 7 S .W.2 d 2 9 3

, 2 9 4 (T en n

. 1 9 9 2 ).

A d d itio n ally

, T erry au th o rizes a p ro tectiv e f risk if “th e p o lice o f

f icer h as a reaso n ab le

su sp icio n b ased o n sp ecif ic an d articu lab le f

acts th at th e su sp ect is arm ed .” S tate v

. B rid g es,

9 6 3 S .W.2 d 4 8 7

, 4 9 2 (T en n

. 1 9 9 7 ) (citin g T erry

, 3 9 2 U .S

. at 2 7 ). In ev alu atin g w h eth er a

p o lice o f f icer h as a reaso n ab le su sp icio n su p p o rted b y sp ecif ic an d articu lab le f

acts, a co u rt

m u st co n sid er th e to tality o f th e circu m stan ces. S tate v

. B in ette, 3 3 S .W.3 d 2 1 5

, 2 1 8 (T en n

. 2 0 0 0 ). T h e to tality o f th e circu m stan ces in clu d es, b u t is n o t lim ited to

, an o f f icer’s o b j ectiv e

o b serv atio n s, in f

o rm atio n f

ro m o th er law en f

o rcem en t p erso n n el o r ag en cies, in f o rm atio n

f ro m citizen s, k n o w n p attern s o f crim in al o f f en d ers, o r d ed u ctio n s b ased u p o n an o f f icer’s

ex p erien ce. Watk in s, 8 2 7 S .W.2 d at 2 9 4

. Wh en ev alu atin g th e reaso n ab len ess o f a p o lice

o f f icer’s su sp icio n , co n sid eratio n can b e g iv en to th e n atu re o f th e crim e su sp ected . S tate

v

. Win n

, 9 7 4 S .W.2 d 7 0 0

, 7 0 3 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 8 ) (“A f risk h as b een u p h eld as

reaso n ab le w h e n t h e su sp ected crim e m ig h t ty p ically in v o lv e th e u se o f a w eap o n ; f o r

ex am p le, a su sp icio n o f ro b b ery

, b u rg lary

, rap e, assau lt w ith a w eap o n

, h o m icid e, an d larg e

scale n arco tics traf

f ick in g m ig h t allo w an o f

f icer to reaso n ab ly in f

er th at a w eap o n m ig h t b e

in th e p o ssessio n o f

th e su sp ect.”).

In d en y in g th e d ef

en d an t’s m o tio n to su p p ress, th e trial co u rt f o u n d th at O f

f icer

N elso n resp o n d ed to a rad io co m p lain t o f “so me so rt o f arm ed en co u n ter” at th e B ax ter

M o tel an d h ad “a b rief citizen en co u n ter w ith th e d ef en d an t, w h o w as stan d in g in a p u b lic

p lace o n a w alk w ay u sed t o a c c e s s all ro o m s o n th at f lo o r.” T h e co u rt o b serv ed th at th e

o f f icer n o ted th e d ef

en d an t sm elled o f alco h o l an d h ad slu rred sp eech

. T h e co u rt co n clu d ed

th at th e o f

f icer h ad reaso n ab le su sp icio n to co n d u ct a b rief in v estig ato ry d eten tio n an d p atd o w n o f th e d ef

en d an t, f o r o f f icer saf ety

, b ased o n th e co m

p lain t th at so m eo n e w as arm ed

.

-5-We in itially ack n o w led g e th at th e co u rt so m ew h at erred in statin g th at O f f icer N elso n

co n d u cted th e search o f th e d ef en d an t, w h en O f

f icer N el so n ’s testim o n y w as th at h e w as

p resen t w h en an o th er o f

f icer co n d u cted th e search

. H o w ev er, su ch erro r is in co n seq u en tial

to th e d eterm in atio n o f th e issu e. T h e ev id en ce sh o w s th at th e o f f icers resp o n d ed to a 9 1 1

call o f an arm ed su b

j ect, aro u n d 1 : 3 0 i n t h e mo rn in g

, at a m o tel k n o w n to b e th e p lace o f

f req u en t crim in al activ ity

. In ad d itio n

, th e trial co u rt im p licitly accred ited O f

f icer N elso n ’s

testim o n y th at h e learn ed u p o n arriv in g at th e scen e th at th ere w as an alleg atio n o f an arm ed

ro b b ery in p ro g ress. T h e d ef en d an t w as in th e clo se v icin ity o f th e m o tel ro o m g iv en in th e

d isp atch

, an d h e w as p o in ted o u t to O f f icer M cC u rrie b y an A f

rican -A m erican m ale at th e

scen e as th e arm ed in d iv id u al. E v en th o u g h it w a s an an o n y m o u s tip w h ich d irected th e

p o lice o f f icers to th e area, th e d e t e n t io n o f th e d ef en d an t w as f

u lly j u stif ied b y w h at th e

o f f icers learn ed an d o b serv ed o n ce th ey arriv ed at th e scen e. In lig h t o f th e to tality o f th e

circu m stan ces, w e co n clu d e th at th e p o lice h ad reaso n ab le su sp icio n to d etain th e d ef en d an t

an d th at th eir search o f

th e d ef en d an t w as p erm issib le u n d er T erry an d its p ro g en y

.

II. S u f f icien cy o f

th e E v id en ce

T h e d e f e n d a n t c h a l l e n g e s t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e c o n v i c t i n g h i m o f b e i n g a

c o n v i c t e d f

e l o n i n t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f a h a n d g u n

, a r g u i n g t h a t t h e g u n w a s “ n o t c a p a b l e o f

e x p e l l i n g a p r o

j e c t i l e

. ” W h e n t h e s u f

f i c i e n c y o f t h e c o n v i c t i n g e v i d e n c e i s c h a l l e n g e d

, t h e

r e l e v a n t q u e s t i o n o f t h e r e v i e w i n g c o u r t i s “ w h e t h e r

, a f t e r v i e w i n g t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h e l i g h t

m o s t f a v o r a b l e t o t h e p r o s e c u t i o n

, a n y r a t i o n a l t r i e r o f f a c t c o u l d h a v e f

o u n d t h e e s s e n t i a l

e l e m e n t s o f t h e c r i m e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t

. ” J a c k s o n v

. V i r g i n i a

, 4 4 3 U

. S

. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9

( 1 9 7 9 ) ; s e e a l s o T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 1 3 ( e ) ( “ F i n d i n g s o f g u i l t i n c r i m i n a l a c t i o n s w h e t h e r b y t h e

t r i a l c o u r t o r j u r y s h a l l b e s e t a s i d e i f t h e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t t h e f

i n d i n g s b y

t h e t r i e r o f f

a c t o f g u i l t b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t

. ” ) ; S t a t e v

. E v a n s

, 8 3 8 S

. W

. 2 d 1 8 5

, 1 9 0

-

9 2 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 2 ) ; S t a t e v

. A n d e r s o n

, 8 3 5 S

. W

. 2 d 6 0 0

, 6 0 4 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 2 )

.

A l l q u e s t i o n s i n v o l v i n g t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f w i t n e s s e s

, t h e w e i g h t a n d v a l u e t o b e g i v e n

t h e e v i d e n c e

, a n d a l l f

a c t u a l i s s u e s a r e r e s o l v e d b y t h e t r i e r o f f a c t

. S e e S t a t e v

. P a p p a s

, 7 5 4

S

. W

. 2 d 6 2 0

, 6 2 3 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 8 7 )

. “ A g u i l t y v e r d i c t b y t h e j u r y

, a p p r o v e d b y t h e

t r i a l j u d g e

, a c c r e d i t s t h e t e s t i m o n y o f t h e w i t n e s s e s f o r t h e S t a t e a n d r e s o l v e s a l l c o n f l i c t s i n

f a v o r o f t h e t h e o r y o f t h e S t a t e

. ” S t a t e v

. G r a c e

, 4 9 3 S

. W

. 2 d 4 7 4

, 4 7 6 ( T e n n

. 1 9 7 3 )

. O u r

s u p r e m e c o u r t s t a t e d t h e r a t i o n a l e f o r t h i s r u l e :

T h i s w e l l

- s e t t l e d r u l e r e s t s o n a s o u n d f o u n d a t i o n

. T h e t r i a l j u d g e a n d

t h e j u r y s e e t h e w i t n e s s e s f a c e t o f a c e

, h e a r t h e i r t e s t i m o n y a n d o b s e r v e t h e i r

d e m e a n o r o n t h e s t a n d

. T h u s t h e t r i a l j u d g e a n d j u r y a r e t h e p r i m a r y

i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y o f j u s t i c e t o d e t e r m i n e t h e w e i g h t a n d c r e d i b i l i t y t o b e g i v e n

t o t h e t e s t i m o n y o f w i t n e s s e s

. I n t h e t r i a l f o r u m a l o n e i s t h e r e h u m a n

-6-a t m o s p h e r e a n d t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e e v i d e n c e c a n n o t b e r e p r o d u c e d w i t h a

w r i t t e n r e c o r d i n t h i s C o u r t

.

B o l i n v

. S t a t e

, 2 1 9 T e n n

. 4

, 1 1

, 4 0 5 S

. W

. 2 d 7 6 8

, 7 7 1 ( 1 9 6 6 ) ( c i t i n g C a r r o l l v

. S t a t e

, 2 1 2

T e n n

. 4 6 4

, 3 7 0 S

. W

. 2 d 5 2 3 ( 1 9 6 3 ) )

.

“ A j u r y c o n v i c t i o n r e m o v e s t h e p r e s u m p t i o n o f i n n o c e n c e w i t h w h i c h a d e f e n d a n t i s

i n i t i a l l y c l o a k e d a n d r e p l a c e s i t w i t h o n e o f g u i l t

, s o t h a t o n a p p e a l a c o n v i c t e d d e f e n d a n t h a s

t h e b u r d e n o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t

. ” S t a t e v

. T u g g l e

, 6 3 9 S

. W

. 2 d

9 1 3

, 9 1 4 ( T e n n

. 1 9 8 2 )

.

T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 3 9

- 1 7

- 1 3 0 7 p r o v i d e s

, i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t : “ A p e r s o n

c o m m i t s a n o f

f e n s e w h o p o s s e s s e s a h a n d g u n a n d h a s b e e n c o n v i c t e d o f a f e l o n y

. ” I d

. § 3 9

-

1 7

- 1 3 0 7 ( c ) ( 1 )

. “ H a n d g u n ” i s d e f i n e d a s “ a n y f

i r e a r m w i t h a b a r r e l l e n g t h o f l e s s t h a n t w e l v e

i n c h e s ( 1 2 " ) t h a t i s d e s i g n e d

, m a d e o r a d a p t e d t o b e f i r e d w i t h o n e ( 1 ) h a n d

. ” I d

. § 3 9

- 1 1

-

1 0 6 ( a ) ( 1 6 )

. “ ‘ F i r e a r m ’ m e a n s a n y w e a p o n d e s i g n e d

, m a d e o r a d a p t e d t o e x p e l a p r o j e c t i l e

b y t h e a c t i o n o f a n e x p l o s i v e o r a n y d e v i c e r e a d i l y c o n v e r t i b l e t o t h a t u s e [

. ] ” I d

. § 3 9

- 1 1

-

1 0 6 ( a ) ( 1 1 )

.

T h e d e f e n d a n t d o e s n o t d i s p u t e h i s s t a t u s a s o n e p r e v i o u s l y c o n v i c t e d o f a f e l o n y

. H e

o n l y c o n t e n d s t h a t b e c a u s e t h e h a n d g u n w a s n o t o p e r a b l e

, h e c o u l d n o t b e c o n v i c t e d o f t h e

c r i m e o f f

e l o n i n p o s s e s s i o n o f a h a n d g u n

. H o w e v e r

, o p e r a b i l i t y o f t h e h a n d g u n i s n o t

r e q u i r e d b y t h e s t a t u t e

– o n l y d e s i g n

, m a k e

, o r a d a p t i o n t o e x p e l a p r o j e c t i l e i s r e q u i r e d

.

O f f i c e r S h o r t c l e a r l y t e s t i f

i e d t h a t t h e

. 2 2 c a l i b e r R o s s i p i s t o l f o u n d o n t h e d e f

e n d a n t w a s

d e s i g n e d t o e x p e l a p r o

j e c t i l e

. O u r r e s e a r c h h a s r e v e a l e d n o T e n n e s s e e c a s e t h a t h a s r u l e d

o n t h i s i s s u e

, n o r h a s t h e d e f e n d a n t p r o v i d e d t h i s c o u r t w i t h s u c h

. H o w e v e r

, o u r r e s e a r c h h a s

r e v e a l e d

, a s m e n t i o n e d b y t h e S t a t e i n i t s b r i e f

, a D

. C

. C i r c u i t c a s e a d d r e s s i n g a s i m i l a r

d e f i n i t i o n o f f

i r e a r m a s a p p l i c a b l e t o a f e d e r a l f e l o n i n p o s s e s s i o n o f a f i r e a r m s t a t u t e a n d

c o n c l u d i n g t h a t t h e r e i s n o r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t t h e f i r e a r m b e o p e r a b l e

. U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. G w y n

,

4 8 1 F

. 3 d 8 4 9

, 8 5 5 ( D

. C

. C i r

. 2 0 0 7 ) ( w h e r e “ f i r e a r m ” i s d e f

i n e d a s “ ‘ a n y w e a p o n

. . . w h i c h

w i l l o r i s d e s i g n e d t o o r m a y r e a d i l y b e c o n v e r t e d t o e x p e l a p r o j e c t i l e b y t h e a c t i o n o f a n

e x p l o s i v e [

, ] ’ ” i n o p e r a b i l i t y h a s n o b e a r i n g o n w h e t h e r t h e w e a p o n i s a “ f i r e a r m ” w i t h i n t h e

m e a n i n g o f t h e r e l e v a n t s t a t u t e )

. S e e a l s o U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. R i v e r a

, 4 1 5 F

. 3 d 2 8 4

, 2 8 5 ( 2 n d

C i r

. 2 0 0 5 ) ; U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. A d a m s

, 1 3 7 F

. 3 d 1 2 9 8

, 1 3 0 0 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 8 ) ; U n i t e d S t a t e s v

.

Y a n n o t t

, 4 2 F

. 3 d 9 9 9

, 1 0 0 6 ( 6 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 4 ) ; U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. P e r e z

, 8 9 7 F

. 2 d 7 5 1

, 7 5 4 ( 5 t h

C i r

. 1 9 9 0 ) ( s t a t i n g t h a t “ [ a ] n i n o p e r a b l e f i r e a r m i s n o n e t h e l e s s a f i r e a r m ” ) ; U n i t e d S t a t e s v

.

Y o r k

, 8 3 0 F

. 2 d 8 8 5

, 8 9 1 ( 8 t h C i r

. 1 9 8 7 )

. E v e n i f t h e g u n w a s p r e s e n t l y i n o p e r a b l e

, i t w a s

d e s i g n e d t o e x p e l a p r o

j e c t i l e

, a n d t h u s t h e d e f e n d a n t i s n o t e n t i t l e d t o r e l i e f o n t h i s i s s u e

.

-7-C O N C L U S IO N

B ased o n th e f

o reg o in g au th o rities an d reaso n in g

, w e af f irm th e j u d g m en ts o f th e trial

co u rt.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A L A N E

. G L E N N

, J U D G E

-8-