### IN THE COURT OF CRIMI NAL AP PEALS OF TENNES SEE AT JAC KSON MA RC H2, 201 0 S es sio n
STATE OF TENNESS EE v . OSCAR JO E GARCI A

D irec t A p p ea l f

ro m th e C ircu it C o u rt fo r M a d ison C o u n ty N o. 08- 283 R oy B
. M organ, Jr. , Judge

N o. W 2009- 00592- C C A

- R 3- C D - F i l ed M arch 29, 2010



### Fol l owi ng ajury

tr i a l , the de fe ndant , Os c ar J oe Gar c i a , was c onvi c t e d of four c ount s of faci li tati onof

atte m pted se conddegree m

urder, fo ur coun ts of

f acil it at ion o f agg ravate d
a s s aul t , on e c ount

of fe l ony r ec kl e s s e nd ang e rm e nt , andon e c ount of po s s e s s i onof

a weaponwith inte nt to em ploy duri ng the c omm is si onof an of fense. Th e tri al court m erged the fa c i l i t at i on of a ggr avat e d a s s aul t c onvi c t i ons i nt o the fa c i l i tat i on of att e m pt e d s e c ond d eg ree m urd er co n v ictio n s an dsen ten cedth e d ef en d an t, as a R an g e I stan d ard o f f en d er, to sixyears f

o r eacho f

th e f acilitatio nco n v ictio n s, tw o years f o r th e f elo ny re c k l e ss e ndange rm e nt

c onvi c t i on, and e l e ve n m onths , twe nty- ni ne day s for the we a pon c onvi c t i on. The c ourt or de r e d the s i x- ye ar

s e nt e nc e s t o be s e rve d c ons e c ut i ve l y and the r e m a i ni ng s e nt e nc e s t o be s e rve d c on c ur r e nt l y , fo r at ot a le ff

e c t i ve s e nt e nc e of

twe nty- fo ur

ye ar s
. On
a ppe a l , the de fe ndant

ar gue s that

the tr i a lc ourt

e rr e d i n i m

pos i ng c ons e c ut i ve s e nt e nc e s and i n d e nyi ng hi s m ot i on t o c or r e c t and/ or r e du c e hi s s e nt e nc e
. Ba s e d upo n o ur r e vi e w, we af f irm th e j u d g m en ts o f

th e trial co urt.

T enn. R
. A pp. P
. 3 A ppeal as of R i ght ; Judgm ent s of

t he C i rcui t C ourt A f

f i rm ed

A L AN E. G L ENN , J

. , del i ver ed t he opi ni on of t he C our t , i n w hi ch J OH N E VER ETT W I L L I AMS a n d J

. C. M C L IN , J J

. , j oi ned.

D avi d W

. C amp, J acks on, T ennes s ee, fort he appe l l ant , O s carJ oe G ar ci a.
R ober t E

. C ooper , J r
. , A t t or ney G ener al and R epor t er ; C l ar ence E

. L ut z, A s s i s t antA t t or ney G ener al ; J ames G

. ( J er r y ) W oodal l , D i s t r i ctA t t or neyG ener al ; and R ol f Haz l e h u r s t , As s i s t ant D i s t r i ctA t t or neyG ener al , fort he appe l l ee, St at e of Tennes s ee.
OP I NI ON

FACTSWilliam s testified that sh e also w ent b y the nam e “N icole.” 1
-2- R obi n W i nber r yt es t i fi ed t hat dur i ng t he l at e ni ght hour s and ea r l ym or ni ng hour s of Febr uar y8- 9, 2008, s he w as dr i vi ng her vehi cl e, w i t h T i m m y M anes s and N i col e Jones as p a ss e n g e rs. T h e yw e n t to th e H e rm itag e A p a rtm e n ts t o se e f rie n d s n a m e d Je ss ica a n d B e th An n wh o b e g a n “ y e l l i n g a n d s c r e a mi n g a n d j u mp i n g o u t

. ” M a n e s s a n d J o n e s d i d t h e s a me t hi ng i n r es pons e. A ft ert heypi cked up B. J

. H enl ey , the yr etur ned t o t he H er m i t age A par t m ent s , w her e t her e w er e “a l otof peopl e. ” H ear i ng a l oud boom , w hi ch t heybel i eved t o be a guns hot , t heyl ef t ag ain. Lat eri n t he eve ni ng, as t heyw er e t r avel i ng dow n V ann D r i ve, anot hercarw as behi nd t hem, and W i nber r y s aw R y an L ew i s get out of i t w i t h a l ong, b lack g u n
. S h e “ too k o ff at the l igh t, ” driving at an esti m ated sp ee d o f f ift ym il es p er h o u r, a n d th e n sa w L e w is’ c a r c o m e u p b e sid e h e r. W in b e rryd e sc rib e d w h a t h a p p e n e d n e x t:

B J cal l ed out , “Look out t he w i ndow , ” and I j us t r emem berl i ke goi ng on t he s t eer i ng w heel and cover i ng m y head, and t hen I gues s I bl acke d outfor a mi nut e, and I r emem berget t i ng outof – Ti m m yt el l i ng m e t o s t op ‘ caus e I had w entacr os s t he s t r eetgoi ng t ow ar ds t he up r amp w her e y ou come dow n, and I r em em ber get t i ng ou tand aski ng T i m m yt o call m ym om , and t hen I j ust
s a t th e re b e h in d th e c a r a n d N ic o le s a t th e re w ith m e
. W i nber r ys ai d t hatt he l as tt hi ng s he r emem b ere d befor e bei ng s hotw as s eei ng t he defe ndant , w hom s he knew as A J A l var ez, “out t he w i ndow w i t h t hatgun. ” She s ai d s he had

“ n o d o u b t” th a t th e d e f

e n d a n t w a s th e o n e w h o sh o t h e r. W in b e rrysa id th a t sh o tg u n p e llets
s t r u c k h e r f

a c e , e a r s , a n d a r m a n d t h a ts h e s t i l l h a d p e l l e t s i n h e rb o d y : “ S o me o f t h e m c a me o u to f mymo u t h

. Th e y ’ r e s t i l l i n myf a c e , mo s to f

t h e m a r e
. Al l o f

t h e m a r e s t i l l i n mya r m. D i dn’ t have any s ur ger y , not hi ng l i ke t hat

. ” O n cr os s - exami nat i on, W i nber r yacknow l edged th a t sh e h a d b e e n d rin k in g v o d k a a n d sm o k in g m a riju a n a th e n ig h t s h e w a s s h o t. S h e sa id th a t h e r v e h ic le h a d tin te d w in d o w s
.
D o r o th y W ill iam s te stif ied th a t o n F e b ru a ry8 -9 , 2 0 0 8 , sh e w a s a p a ss e n g e r in 1 W i nber r y ’ s vehi cl e. She s ai d t hataft ert heyd rov e b y the H er m i t age A par t m ent s a s econd t i m e, R y a n Le wi s f

i r e d a s h o tt o war d t h e i rc a r , a n d t h e yd r o v e o f f , e x a mi n e d t h e c a rf

or d am ag e, an d then w en t to “g et s o m e w ee d

. ” S h e said that, lat er in the ev en ing , as th ey w ere dr i vi ng ar ound, s he s aw L ew is g et t i ng outof a ve hi cl e, carr y i ng a fi r earm , and comi ng t ow ar d t hei rvehi cl e. W i l l i ams t hen des cr i bed t he shot bei ng fi r ed i nt o t he vehi cl e i n w hi ch
s he w as r i di ng:
A [W ] e w er e goi ng dow n V ann D r i ve, and w e pul l ed up t o t he l i ghtbyt he
s t at e t r ooper ’ s offi ce a nd t hat ’ s w hen t heypul l ed u p b esi de us

. I nevers een A J. I d o n ’t e v e n k n o w w h o h e is. I se e n R y a n L e w is th e w h o le tim e . B u t I-3-

k n o w th e re w a s s o m e b o d ye lse in th e c a r, an d R o b in w a s lik e , “T h e yg o t a g u n ,” a n d I d u n k e d m yh e a d , an d th a t’s w h e n sh e g o t sh o t. Q A nd t he ca rt hatt he s hotcame fr om , w hatdi d i tdo?

A T heyw er e st il l si t t i ng t her e. R obi n w enton t hr ough t he l i ght

. Y ou know how t he r amp comes dow n? S he w enton up t hr ough t hat

. H ercarw as comi ng dow n, and w e had t o m ake he rs t op. T hen w e got out of t he car , and t hen t heypul l ed off

and w entt hat w ay , an d w e w er e s cr eami ng, “Y ou s hot R obi n. Y ou s hotR obi n, ” and then t hat ’ s w hen I cal l ed 911.

O n cro ss-ex am ination , W il li am s said that sh e d id n o t k n o w w h o fired the s h o t i n to the ca r.
T i m ot hyM anes s t es t i fi ed t hat he w as a pas s enger i n W i nber r y ’ s car on Febr uar y8- 9, 2008. H e s ai d t hat , t he s econd t i m e t hey w ent by t he H er m i t age A par t m ent s t hatni ght , t hey d ro v e a w a y a f

ter h e a rin g a g u n sh o t. H e sa id th a t la ter , a s th e y w e re sto p p e d a t a r e d lig h t, “a c arpul l ed up bes i de [them] a nd s om e guyw as h angi ng outof t he ca rw i t h a gun, ” and W i nber r yw as s hot

. H e s ai d t hatt h e p erso n w i t h t he gun w as notR y an Lew i s , w ho w as dr i vi ng t he car

. O n cr os s - exami nat i on, M anes s s ai d t hathe and W i nber r yhad bee n dr i nki ng vodka and s m oki ng m ar i j uana ear l i er t hat eveni ng. H e sai d t hat he and W i nber r y coul d have
s har ed as m anyas fi ve “bl unt s
. ”

B ill yW a y n e H e n ley, Jr. te stif ied th a t o n F e b ru a ry8 -9 , 2 0 0 8 , h e w a s rid in g in W inb erry ’s ca r a n d , as they w ere leav ing the H erm it ag e A p artm en ts, h e sa w R y an L ew is fir e a s hot gun at t he car

. H e sai d t hat , l at er i n t he eveni ng, W i nber r y w as s hoti n t he fa ce, buthe d id n o t s e e w h o f

ir e d th e s h o t.
O f f ice r S tev e n S to ry o f th e Ja c k so n P o lice D e p a rtm e n t tes tifie d th a t h e w a s c a lled to t he s cene of t he s hoot i ng on Febr uar y9, 2008. A t t he s cene , he found and t agged a s evi dence
s h o tg u n w a d d in g w h ic h h e re c o v e re d f ro m th e f ro n t s e a t o f

W in b e rr y ’s v e h ic le

. A m yO xl eyt es t i fi ed t hats he w as an evi dence tech n ici an and l at entfi ngerpr i nt exami nerw i t h t he J acks on Pol i ce D epar t m ent

. She i dent i fi ed s hot gun w addi ng w hi ch s he
c o llec ted f

ro m th e ro c k e r p a n e l a re a o f th e p a ss e n g e r sid e o f

th e v ictim s’ v e h icle . S h e sa id that the s h o tgu n b lasth ad stru ck the v eh icl e jus t fo rw ard o f th e re a r p a s s en g er d o o r. A ddi t i onal l y , s he r emoved shot gun pel l et s fr om bot h t he dr i ver ’ s and pass enger ’ s s eat s of t he
v e h ic le

. Ser geantT y r eec e M i l l ert es t i fi ed t hathe w as an i nves t i gat or w i t h t he J acks on Pol i ce D epar t m ent

. Ser geant M i l l er s ai d t hat t he defenda nt m ade no ment i on i n hi s fi r s ts t at ement-4-

of t he s hoot i ng. H ow ever , i n hi s s econd s t at ement , t he def endantacknow l edged f i r i ng t he
w eapon a tW i nber r y ’ s aut om obi l e:
I ts ay s , “I ’ m s or r yforl y i ng, get i n m or e t r oubl e. I neveri nt ended t o s hootat t he w i ndow

. I tw as an ac ci dent

. So rry fo r e v er y t hi ng. I had bee n dr i nki ng. R obi n had neve rdone anyt hi ng t o m ake me w antt o hur ther , and I neverw as t r y i ng t o. I ’ m s o s or r yforevery t hi ng. H ope s om edayI can a pol ogi ze t o her and eve r ybodyi n t he ca r for put t i ng t hei rl i fe a tr i s k. I ’ m dum b foreven hangi ng outw i t h R y an ‘ caus e t he pr ob lem s w as
. . . hi s w i t h t he ca rand I chos e t o m ake i tm i ne fors om e dum b r eas on ‘ caus e I w as dr unk and I know t h a tI c o u l d h a v e h u r th e rw o r s e , b u tI n e v e ri n t e n d e d t o r e a l l y s h o o ta n yb o d y. I twa s a n a c c i d e n t

. M a yb e I n e e d s o me t i me t o t h i n k a b o u th o w d u mb I a m. R y an as ked m e t o s hoot at t he car ‘ caus e he w as dr i vi ng. W e hi d t he gun by
a g a rb a g e c a n b e s i d e t h e Ho r i z o n
. Ry a n a s k e d wh e r e i t wa s s o h e c o u l d c o me back a nd geti t

. I w entback a nd goti t

. C hr i s K i ng has i t

. ”

Ser geantM i l l ers ai d t hat , bas ed upon t he s t at ement , he cont act ed C hr i s K i ng and
as k e d h i m t o b r i n g t h e s h o t g u n t o t h e J a c k s o n Po l i c e Dep a r t me n t , whi c h h e d i d. T he d ef en d an t l ater sign ed a p h o tog rap h o f K ing , w ri ti n g , “T h is i s C h ri s K ing , A m an d a’s nephew ’ s fr i end. H e t ook m e t o gett he gun and he has i tnow
. ”

Ser geantM i l l ert es t i fi ed as t o w hatw as sh o w n in the phot ogr aphs he t ook of W i nb erry ’s i njur i es:

T he fi r s tone i s a pi ctur e of the s i de of he rfac e and he rl eftar m
. T he
s econd one i s a cl os e- up of herl eftar m
. C l os e- up of herfac e. A not hercl os eup of herl eftar m
. A cl os e- up of t he l eft s i de of her fac e behi nd herear
. Y ou can see w here pell et s i m pacted her ear and b ehind he r ear
. T he n ext one i s j ust
a p h o to g ra p h o f

th e s a m e . T h e n e x t o n e is a p h o to g ra p h o f ju st a f a c e sh o t. T he nextone i s a cl os e- up of w her e t he pel l et i m pact ed her nos e. T he nextone i s w her e pel l et s w er e under herbot t om l i p and on herl eftchee k. T he nextone i s j us ta dupl i cat e of the pr evi ous
. N exti s a cl os e- up of t he l eftear , l eftchee k. A nd t he s a me t h i n g
. Ano t h e rc l o s e - u p o f h e rl e f ta r m. Th e n e x to n e i s h er ri gh tfi ng er w here a pell et i m pacted her ri gh tfi ng er. A nd t he n ext one i s j ust a cl os e- up of t he r i ght fi nger
. T he next one i s , s he’ s pul l i ng hert op l i p up and y ou can se e w her e a pe l l eti s comi ng t hr ough. I tent er ed her e and y ou can s ee i t ’ s – i ns i de herm out h y ou can s ee i t t her e. T he next one i s s om eone ha s l i ft ed h er h air up

. Y o u ca n see w h ere s o m e o f it im p ac ted ju st ab o v e h er left ea r. A nd t he next one i s t he s ame. Y ou can s ee w her e i ti m pact ed hers cal p above th e le f t e a r.Kin ga ls o te st if ie d th at h e fi rs t s aw th e sh ot gun at th e de fe nd ant’ s ho us e. Wh en a sked to c lari fy h is 2 testim ony abo ut see ingthe gun at the Horiz on, K ingsaid, “Well Ididn’t see it. Im ean, he had som ething .”

-5- Ser geantM i l l ers ai d t hat , dur i ng an unr ecor ded i nt er vi ew , t he def endantadmi t t ed t hat he fi r ed t he s hott hathi tW i nber r y
. D ur i ng cr os s - e x a mi n a t i o n , Se r g e a n tM i l l eracknow l edged t hat, i n hi s w r i t t e n s t a t e ment s , t he de fe nd a nt di d no t a dmi t he s ho t W i nb e r r y
. H e al so acknow l edged thatno fi ngerpr i nt s w er e l i ft ed fr om t h e shot gun and t hatno t es t i ng for g u n s h o t r e s id u e w a s p e rf o rm e d o n th e d e f

e n d a n t.
Ch r i s Ki n g t e s t i f

i e d t h a to n t h e d a y o f t h e s h o o t i n g h e g a v e t h e d e f e n d a n ta r i d e h o me f r o m hi s g i r l f

r i e n d ’ s h o u s e , a n d t h e d e f e n d a n ta s k e d h i m t o “ s t op at t h e Hor i z o n o f f F. E. W r i ght ” w her e t he defenda nt r et r i eved a shot gun. K i ng as ked t he defenda nt w hat he w as 2 goi ng t o do w i t h t he gun and i f he “ coul d geti t

. ” H e s ai d t hathe gott he gun fr om t he defe ndantt he daybefor e Ser geantM i l l ercal l ed hi m and t hat he carr i ed t he gun t o t he pol i ce s ta tio n th e d a ya f

te r t h e s h o o tin g
.
T he t w ent y - y ear - ol d defe ndant t es t i fi ed t hat on t he eve ni ng of Februar y8, 2008, he, B lake B ail ey , A d am M o o re, an d K y le R o ss w en t t o the H erm it ag e A p artm en ts i n R o ss’s ca r. R y an Lew i s , w ho w as al one, fol l ow ed behi nd t hem i n anot hercar
. A t the apar t m ent compl ex, t he def

endants aw J es sica, B et h A nn, and ot her s out s i de and de s cr i bed w hat h a p p e n e d n e x t: “ [ S ]o m e a r g u m e n t s w e r e m a d e b e tw e e n J e s s ic a , . . ., in th e c a r, a n d . . . I d idn ’tk n o w an y thing ab o u t L ew is’ h o u se b eing sh o t u p o r an y thing ab o u t that, b u t I h ea rd
a s hotbei ng fi r ed, and i tw as
. . . fr om L ew i s at[R obi n W i nber r y ’ s ] car
. ”

T h e d e f e n d a n t sa id th a t h e a n d B a ileyth e n g o t b a c k in th e c a r w ith R o ss a n d w e n t to K r o g er L y nnw ood. B eca us e R os s coul d notgi ve t hem a r i de home, t he def endantcal l ed L ew i s w ho came and pi cked up hi m and B ail ey
. L ew i s dr ove B ai l eyhom e and then proceed ed to dri ve the defen dan tt o h i s gi rl fri end ’s ho use. A ft er they go ton t o the bypass heade d t ow ar d I nt er s t at e 40, L ew i s s aw W i nber r y ’ s car pul l up bes i de t hem. T heys t opped att he t r aff

i c l i ghtatV ann D r i ve and the exi tr amp. L ew i s t hen gotoutof t he ca r , r et r i eved a shotgun from t he backseat, l oad ed i t , cock ed i t , and w al ked t ow ard W i nb erry ’s car. L ew i s, w h o w a s “ e n ra g e d ,” re tu rn e d to th e c a r w ith th e g u n a n d c h a s e d a f te r W in b e rr y ’s c a r.
T he def endants ai d t hat , w hen t heycaughtup w i t h W i nber r y ’ s car , L ew i s pul l ed up al ongs i de i t , r ol l ed dow n t he pow erw i ndow on t he pas s enger ’ s s i de w her e t he def endantw as s i t t i ng, and as ked t he d efendantt o s hootatt he ca r
. L ew i s poi nt ed t he gun outt he defe ndant ’ s w i ndow t ow ar d W i nber r y ’ s car , t he defe ndant gr abbed the barr el of t he gun, and i tdi s char ged. T he def

endants ai d t hat L ew i s ’ hand, not hi s , w as on t he t r i ggerw hen t he gun d isch arg ed

. T h e d ef

en d an t sai d that h e n o ti ce d a w ind o w h ad b e e n h it o n W inb erry ’s ca r.-6-

H e sa id tha t L ew is i m m ed iat elyran the traf fic li g h t and g o t on to the interst ate h ea d ed tow ard N ash v il le. L ew is th en ex it ed the i n terst ate by P ri n g le P ark an d d rov e t o the H o ri zo n w h ere t h e yh i d t h e g u n
. Th e d e f e n d a n ts a i d h e h e l p e d Le wi s h i d e t h e g u n b e c a u s e “ t h e s h o tc a me fr om m yw i ndow , and I knew t hatI ’ d be l ooked at l i ke I fi r ed t he s hot

. ” The defe ndantt hen
w entt o hi s gi r l fr i end’ s hous e and w as t her e about t w ent ym i nut es befor e C hr i s K i ng ar r i ved. H e t hen w ent back t o t he H or i zon t o get t he gun t o “cove r up [hi s ] foot t r acks

. ” H e gave t he g u n to K in g b e c a u se h e w a s a f ra id o f “ b e in g in tro u b le f o r th e se c h a rg e s a n d p o ss ib lyL e w is

. . . get t i ng t he gun and doi ng s om et hi ng el s e w i t h i t

. ” H e s ai d t hathe neve ri ntend ed for any on e to g ets hotw hen he gr abbed the gun and thathe w as onl y“t r y i ng t o di ffus e t he
s i t uat i on. ”

O n cr os s - exami nat i on, t he def endantacknow l edged t hat he al s o w ent by t he name of A J A lvare z. T he def

endantadmi t t ed t hathe had l i ed t o Ser geantM i l l er“overand over agai n” and thatbot h hi s gi r l fr i end and hi s m ot herhad l i ed for hi m
. T he def endant
m ai nt ai ned t hat t he s hoot i ng w as acc i dent al butacknow l edged thathe and Lew i s di d nots t op to c h e c k o n th e v ic tim s o r c a ll 9 -1 -1

. A N A L Y S IS

O n appea l , t he defe ndant ar gues bot h t hatt he t r i al cour ter r ed i n i m pos i ng cons ecut i ve se n ten c e s an d in d e n y in g th e d e f e n d a n t’s m o tio n f

o r a red u c tio n o f h is se n ten c e . W e w ill revi ew t hese i ssues.
I
. C ons e c ut i ve Se nt e nc i ng
T he def endantar gues that the fac the r ece i ved an e ffe ct i ve s ent ence of t w ent y - four y ear s , w hi l e hi s co- defe ndantw as s ent ence d t o fi ft een y ear s , vi ol at es t he hol di ng of St at e v. D avi d L amar H ay es , No. M 2 0 0 2

- 0 1 3 3 1

- C C A

- R 3- C D , 2004 W L 1778478 ( T enn. C r i m
. A pp. A ug. 9, 2004) , per m
. t o appea l deni ed ( T enn. M ay23, 2005) , as w el l as the di ct at es of T ennes s ee Code A nnot at ed s ect i on 40- 35- 103.

In sent encing t he d efen dan t , t he co urtfou nd as fol l ow s:
T he C our t ’ s cons i der ed t he ent i r e r ecor d i n t hi s cas e. I do r eca l l t he t es t i m ony and exhi bi t s fr om t he t r i al of t he mat t erand cons i dert he pr es ent ence re p o rt , th e v ic tim ’s s ta te m e n t a n d th e b ills th a t h a v e b e e n s u b m itte d to d a y
. I not e t her e ar e no mi t i gat i ng fac t or s t hathave be en fi l ed on beha l f o f t he [d]efend ant, and t hat the C ou rtcon sider s t he y ou t h o f t he [d ]efendan tas a m iti g a tin g f

a c to r b u t n o th in g f

u rth e r c o u ld b e f

o u n d a s the C o u rt re v iew e d in
m yow n m i nd aboutm i t i gat i on.-7- A s t o enhanc i ng fac t or s , I have r evi ew ed t hos e enha nci ng fac t or s t hat hav e been fi l ed b yt he S t at e and no t e t hat the C ou rtdo es fi nd t hat there’ s a hi s t or ysu ff

ici entbey ond t hatt o es t abl i s h t he r ange, and he i s a R ange I O ffe nder , and enha nci ng fac t or s can be cons i der ed.

T h e re w a s m o re th a n o n e v ictim in v o lv e d in th is c a se . It w a s a v e h icle th a t c o n ta in e d se v e ra l v ictim s, a n d , o f c o u rse , a f

in d in g o f g u iltyre latin g to fourvi ct i m s i n t he ca s e.
T h e C o u rt a lso c o n sid e rs th is [ d ]e f e n d a n t h a s f

a iled to c o m p lyw ith condi t i ons i n t he pas t , and t hat ’ s al r eadybeen a l l uded t o i n t hathe w as on pr obat i on att he t i m e of thi s offe ns e. T he [d] efe ndant comm i t t ed cr i m es t hat
w e re a h ig h risk to h u m a n life

. T h e [ d ]e f e n d a n t, a n d th is is v e ryim p o rta n t in t he C our t ’ s cons i der at i on, comm i t t ed t hes e s er i ous offe ns es for w hi ch he ha s been f ound gui l t yw hi l e he w as r el eas ed on pr obat i o n att he t i m e, t hatbei ng p ro b a tio n I b e liev e o u t o f G e n e ra l S e ss io n s C o u rt.
Th o s e a r e c e r t a i n l y p r o p e r f a c t o r s f o r t h e Cou r t t o c o n s i d e r , and I
w ant ed t o not e ea ch of thos e. N o one f act ori s – I ’ m notemphasi zi ng how
m uch m ore w ei gh t , bu tt he las tfact or I m enti on ed regardi ng th e off ense o c c u rr in g w h ile re le a s e d o n p ro b a tio n is c e rt a in ly an im p o rt a n t f a c to r.
T h e c o u rt m a d e a d d iti o n a l f in d in g s in d e ter m in in g th a t ce rta in o f th e se n ten c e s s h o u ld b e s e r v e d c o n s e c u t i v e l y:

N ow , as t o t he issu e o f cons ecut i ve i n t hi s cas e,
. . . , I do fi nd
cons i der i ng w hati s s etfor t h i n t h e st atut e on t he i s s ue of c ons ecut i ve se n ten c in g th a t th e [ d ]e f e n d a n t d o e s h a v e a c rim in a l re c o rd

. I ca n c o n sid e r th is
r ecor d acc or di ng t o t hatcase aut hor i t yj us ts ubm i t t ed byt he St at e. H e does have a cr i m i nal r ecor d t hat i nvol ves pr i or offe ns es t hat can be cons i der ed by t he C our t

. I getconce r ned as t o w het heri t ’ s cons i der ed ext en sive

. If I can cons i dert hi s par t i cul arcase to be fac t or , I cer t ai nl yt hi nk i t ’ s ext ens i ve b e c a u se thi s case car ri es quit e a few con vict i on s. I am con si deri ng t ho se w hi ch have been unchal l enged i n t he pre s ent ence r epor t , and w hen I cons i der t hos e in co n

j unct i on w i t h t hi s par t i cul arcas e forw hi ch he’ s now been
c o n v icte d o f

1 0 se p a ra te c o u n ts, I th in k it q u a lifie s f o r p u rp o se s o f th e sta tu te underI bel i eve 40- 35- 115 forext ens i ve, and t hatcan be a f act ori n cons i der i ng cons ecut i ve.
H e h a s d isp layed , an d th is is a n o th e r f a c to r, d isre g a rd f

o r h u m a n life in-8-

th is p a rt ic u la r c a s e . T h e a c ts c o m m itte d w h ic h d is p la y e d a h ig h d is re g a rd , a hi gh r i s k t o hum an l i fe, and I t hi nk t hat ’ s a fa ct ori n t hi s cas e j us tcons i der i ng t h e f a c t s o f t h e c a s e a n d t h e p r o o f

t h a tw a s s u b m i t t e d t o t h e j u r y.
A n d a g a in , o n e o f th e m a jo r fa c to rs o f c o n sid e ra tio n is th a t t h is [d] efe ndantw i t h hi s pr i orcr i m i nal hi story w as on proba t i on att he t i m e t he offe ns e w as comm i t t ed, and t hati s a fa ct ort hatw ei ghs agai ns thi m i n deci di ng cons ecut i ve s ent enci ng.
I f in d th a t co n f

in e m e n t is n e c e ss a ryf

o r a n e x ten d e d p e rio d o f tim e to p ro tec t so c ietyf

ro m th e [ d ]e f

e n d a n t b e c a u se o f

h is u n w ill in g n e ss to c o m p ly and fol l ow t he rul es w hen pl ace d and gi ven t h e oppor t uni t ys uch as on p ro b a tio n in th e p a st, a n d th a t is a f a c to r th a t w e ig h s w ith th e C o u rt to d a yin d ec iding co n sec u ti v e se n tenc [in g ].
So i n m aki ng t hos e fi ndi ngs , I t hi nk cons ecut i ve s ent enc[ i ng] i s goi ng t o be appr opr i at e forcons i der at i on. I t ’ s j us tt o w hatext ents houl d cons ecut i ve s ent enci ng l i e i n t hi s cas e. N ot i ng pr evi ous l yt he mer ger s , I fi nd undert he fac t s of t hi s cas e t hati tw ould b e appr opr i at e t hatC ount s 1, 3, 5 and 7 be
c o n se c u tiv e w ith e a c h o th e r a n d th a t th is to tal e f f e c tiv e se n ten c e w ith C o u n ts 9 and 10 conc ur r entw oul d be a t ot al eff ect i ve s ent ence of 24 y ear s as a R ange I O ffe nder

. H e w oul d be el i gi bl e fo r re l eas e at30 per cent , butt her e i s no a u to m a tic re le a s e tim e u n d e r t h e c ir c u m s ta n c e s
.
T h e d ef en d an t do es n o t co n test an y o f thes e fin d ing s b ythe tri al co u rt , o n lythe c o u rt ’s
s et t i ng of an eff

ect i ve t w ent y - four

- y ears ent ence , w hi ch, i n t he def endant ’ s vi ew , cr eat es an ill e g a l d isp a rityw h e n c o m p a re d w ith th e f if tee n -y e a r se n ten c e im p o se d o n h is c o -d e f e n d a n t. W e w i l l r e v i e w thi s c la im.

W hen an a ccus ed cha l l enges t he l engt h and m anner of ser vi ce of a s ent ence , i ti s t he dut yof t hi s cour tt o conducta de novo r evi ew on t he r ecor d w it h a p resu m pt i on t hat“t he det er m i nat i ons m ade byt he cour tfr om w hi ch t he appe al i s t aken ar e corr ect

. ” Tenn. C ode A nn. § 40- 35- 401( d) ( 2006)

. T hi s pr es um pt i on i s “condi t i oned upon t he af fi r m at i v e s h ow i ng i n t he r ecor d t hatt he t r i al cour tcons i der ed t he s ent enci ng pr i nci pl es and al l r el evantfac t s and ci r cumst ance s
. ” St at e v. A s hby , 823 S. W

. 2d 166, 169 ( T enn. 1991)

. T he pr es um pt i on does
n o t ap p lyto th e leg a l c o n c lu sio n s re a c h e d b y th e trial c o u rt in se n ten c in g th e a c c u se d o r to t he d et erm i nati on s m ade b yt he tr i al cou rtw hich a re pr edicat ed u po n u nco ntr ov ert ed fa ct s. St at e v. B ut l er , 900 S. W

. 2d 305, 311 ( T enn. C r i m
. A pp. 1994) ; St at e v. Sm i t h, 891 S. W

. 2d 9 2 2 , 9 2 9 ( Te n n
. Cr i m. Ap p
. 1 9 9 4 ) ; S t a t e v
. Bo n e s t e l , 8 7 1 S

. W

. 2 d 1 6 3 , 1 6 6 ( Te n n
. Cr i m. A p p
. 1 9 9 3 ), o v erru led o n o ther g rou n d s b yS tat e v
. H o o p er, 29 S

. W

. 3 d 1 , 9 (T en n
. 2 0 0 0 ).-9-

I n conduct i ng a de novo r evi ew of a s ent ence , t hi s court m u st c o ns i der( a) any evi dence r ece i ved att he t r i al and/ o r se n tenci ng hear i ng, ( b) t he pr es ent ence r epor t , ( c) t he pr i nci pl es of s ent enci ng, ( d) t he ar gum ent s of couns el r el at i ve t o s ent enci ng al t er nat i ves , ( e) t he natur e and c har act er i s t i cs of t he offens e, ( f) any m i t i gat i ng orenhanc ement fac t or s , ( g) anys t at i s t i cal i nfor m at i on pr ovi ded by t he adm i ni s t r at i ve offi ce of t he cour t s as t o T ennes s ee s e n t e n c i n g p r a c t i c e s f

o rs i mi l a ro f

f e n s e s , ( h ) a n ys t a t e me n t s ma d e b y t h e a c c u s e d i n h i s o wn b e h a lf , an d (i) th e a c c u s e d ’ s p o ten tial o r la c k o f p o ten tial f

o r re h a b ili tatio n o r tre a tm e n t. T en n
. Cod e Ann

. § § 4 0

- 3 5

- 1 0 3 , - 2 1 0 ( 2 0 0 6 ) ; St a t e v
. Ta y l o r , 6 3 S. W

. 3 d 4 0 0 , 411 ( T enn. C r i m
. A pp. 2001)

. T he par t ychal l engi n g the sen te nce i m pos ed byt he t r i al cour thas t he b u rde n o f e stab li sh ing that the sen tenc e is erro n eo u s. T en n
. C o d e A n n
. § 4 0 -35 -40 1 (20 0 6 ), Sent enci ng C om m i s s i on C m t s
. ; A s hby , 823 S. W

. 2d at169.

T ennes s ee Code A nnot at ed s ect i on 40- 35- 115( b) pr ovide s t hati ti s w i t hi n t he t r i al
cour t ’ s di s cr et i on t o i m pos e co n sec u ti ve s ent enci ng i f i tfi nds bya pr eponder ance of t he evi dence t hatanyone of a num berof cr i t er i a appl i es , i ncl u d i ng t hat“[t ] he def endanti s an offe nderw hos e r ecor d of cr i m i nal act i vi t yi s ext ens i ve, ” and “[t ] he defe ndanti s s ent ence d foran offens e com m i t t ed w hi l e on pr obat i on[. ] ” Tenn. C ode A nn. § 40- 35- 115( b) ( 2) & ( 6) ( 2006)

. T he defenda nt does not cont es t t he appl i cat i on of t hes e fact or s , and w e conc l ude t hat t he r ecor d s uppor t s t he i m pos i t i on of cons ecut i ve s ent enci ng.
G i ven t he fa ctof t he def endant ’ s pr i orconvi ct i ons and hi s bei ng on pr obat i on att he t i m e of the comm i s s i on of t he off ens es w hi ch ar e t he bas i s fort hi s appea l , w e conc l ude t hat th e tr ia l c o u rt d id n o t a b u s e its d is c re tio n in s e n te n c in g th e d e f e n d a n t.

I I
. M ot i on f

or C orre ct i on or R educt i on of Sent ence
T h e d e f e n d a n t als o a rg u e s th a t th e trial c o u rt e rre d in d e n y in g h is m o tio n , p u rsu a n t to T e n n e ss e e R u le o f C rim in a l P ro c e d u re 3 5 , f o r a co rre c tio n o r red u c tio n o f h is s e n ten c e . H is
ar gum ent s i n t hi s r egar d ar e t hat , even though he w entt o t r i al , he s houl d have r ece i ved t he
s a m e s e n te n c e a s h is c o -d e f e n d a n t, w h o p le d g u ilty. W e re s p e c tf u lly d is a g re e
.
I n St at e v. M ann, 959 S. W

. 2d 503 ( T enn. 1997) , ours upr eme cour ts etoutt he d i f f e r i n g t r e a t m e n tw h i c h c o u l d b e a f f o r d e d t o t h o s e d e f

e n d a n t s w h o p l e a d g u i l t y:
A defe ndantw ho pl eads gui l t yext ends a s ubstan ti al benef i tt o t he cri m i nal j ust i ce sy st em , and i n exch ang e, t he S t at e i s en t i t l ed t o ex t end a l ess h a rsh sent ence t han m i gh t other w i se be gi ven
. L i kew i se, i f a plea of f e r is
re jec ted , the S tate m a y p ro se c u te th e d e f e n d a n t to th e f

u lles t ex ten t p o ss ib le
a n d s e e k w h a te v e r p u n is h m e n t is a p p ro p ri a te u n d e r t h e la w
.-10-

Id. at 50 9 (cit ati o n s o m it ted).

T he def endant ’ s ar gum entt hathe shoul d have r ece i ved t he same s ent ence as hi s codefe ndantoverloo k s sever al cr i t i cal fac t s
. A l t hough t he def endantt es t i fi ed att r i al t o t he cont r ar y , W i nber r yt es t i fi ed t h at i tw as t he def endantw ho fi r ed t he s hot gun fr om t he pas s enger s eat of hi s vehi cl e i nt o her vehi cl e and t hat hi s co- defe ndantw as d r i vi ng. A ddi t i onal l y , t he defenda nt cannot expec t t he same t r eatm entas t hatgi ven hi s co- defe ndant b e c a u se t he co -defend ant pl ed g uil t y
. W e agree w i t h the Stat e t hat the h oldi ng i n D avid L a m a r H a y e s, 2 0 0 4 W L 1 7 7 8 4 7 8 , d o e s n o t b e n e f it th e d e f e n d a n t. In th a t ca se , the d e f e n d a n t,
w h o w a s th irty -se v e n y e a rs o f a g e , w a s s e n ten c e d to a n e f f e c tiv e se n ten c e o f

2 2 0 y e a rs, to be s er ved at 100% for t hi r t een count s of r ape of a chi l d and s even count s of r ape. I d. at*10. T h is c o u rt re d u c e d th e e f f e c tiv e se n ten c e to six ty -six y e a rs, ex p lain in g th a t “w e b e liev e th is par t i cul areff

ect i ve s ent ence of 22 0 y ear s farexce eds t hatal l ow ed underourgener al
s e n te n c in g p ri n c ip le s .” Id

.
T hi s defe ndantr ece i ved an e ffe ct i ve s ent ence of t w ent y - four y ear s for di s char gi ng a s hot gun i nt o an aut om obi l e occ upi ed by four per s ons , w i t h pel l et s s t r i ki ng one vi ct i m i n t he
a rm a n d f

a c e . W e c o n c lu d e , a s d id th e trial c o u rt, th a t a s e n ten c e o f tw e n ty -f o u r y e a rs is
w i t hin t he sentenci ng pri ncipl es.
CO NC L US I ON

B as ed upon t he for egoi ng aut hor i t i es and r eas oni ng, w e af fi r m t he j udgm ent s of t he trial c o u rt.

_________________________________ AL AN E

. GL E NN, J UDGE