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

Nov em be r 4, 2 01 4 S es si on

STATE OF TENNESS EE v . PATRICK LE IG HTO N RYAN, JR.

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 H a r d e m a n C o u n t y
N o

. 1 3

- C R

- 7 4 J

. W e b e r M c C r a w , J u d g e

N o

. W 2 0 1 4

- 0 0 3 2 7

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

- F i l e d J a n u a r y 2 2
, 2 0 1 5

T h e d ef en d an t, P atrick L eig h to n R y an , Jr., w as co n v icted o f m isd em ean o r th ef t u n d er $ 5 0 0

an d sen ten ced to elev en m o n th s an d tw en ty -n in e d ay s o f su p erv ised p ro b atio n , w ith cred it
f o r tim e serv ed

. O n ap p eal, h e a rg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred b o th b y n o t req u irin g th e S tate to m ak e an electio n o f o f f en ses o r g iv in g a sp ecial j u ry in stru ctio n as to u n an im ity

, in

ex c l u d i n g a p o lice p ro p erty in v en to ry f ro m 2 0 0 5

, an d in n o t tak in g j u d icial n o tice o f th e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice M an u al an d th at th e ev id en ce is in su f f icien t to su stain h is co n v ictio n

. F o llo w in g o u r rev iew , w e af f irm th e j u d g m en t 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 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 T H O M A S T

. W O O D A LL
, P

. J

. ,

a n d R O B E R T L

. H O LLO W A Y
, J R

. , J

. , j o i n e d

.

P a r k e r O

. D i x o n , M e m p h i s , T e n n e s s e e ( o n a p p e a l ) ; a n d C

. M i c h a e l R o b b i n s , C o v i n g t o n , T e n n e s s e e ( a t t r i a l )

, f

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

, P a t r i c k L e i g h t o n R y a n , J r

.

H e r b e r t H

. S l a t e r y , I I I

, 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 o e V a n D y k e , 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

F o rm erly

, th e d ef

en d an t w as em

p lo y ed as a d ep u ty sh erif

f in H ard em an C o u n ty an d

, d u rin g th e ev en ts resu ltin g in t h e s e ch arg es, as th e p o lice ch ief in G ran d Ju n ctio n , T en n essee. T h e in d ictm en t alleg ed th at h e co n tin u ed to ex ercise co n tro l o v er certain item s

v alu ed o v er $ 1 0 0 0 b u t less t h a n $ 1 0

, 0 0 0 issu ed to h im b y th e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o liceD ep artm en t o r th e H ard em an C o u n ty S h erif f ’s D ep artm en t.

F o r th e co n v en ien ce o f read ers o f th is o p in io n , w e are settin g o u t t h e t e s tim o n y o f

w itn esses in an o rd er d if

f eren t f ro m th at at th e trial.

S ta te’s P ro o f

William C u rtis L an e testif ied th at h e w as th e m ay o r o f G ran d Ju n ctio n an d th at th e d ef en d an t h ad b een em

p lo y ed b y th e city ’s p o lice d ep artm en t as a p art-tim e o f f icer d u rin g th e p e r i o d s f

r o m M arch u n til Ju ly 2 0 0 1 an d D ecem b er 2 0 0 5 to N o v em

b er 2 0 0 6

. T h e d ef en d an t th en serv ed as th e p o lice ch ief f ro m D ecem

b er 2 0 0 6 u n til M arch 2 0 1 2

, w h en h e

w as term in ated

. B o th th e p o lice d ep artm en t an d th e city h ad a p o licy r e q u i rin g th at all

em p lo y ees retu rn city

p ro p erty at th e en d o f

th eir em p lo y m en t.

L an e said th at d u rin g th e tim e th at th e d ef en d an t w as em

p lo y ed as th e ch ief o f p o lice,
h e an d th e d ef

en d an t b eliev ed th at a d ru g d o g w o u ld b e o f b en ef it, so th ey ch eck ed p rices
f o r th e n ecessary eq u ip m en t an d p u rch ased it f ro m m o n ey in th e d ru g f u n d

. R eceip ts sh o w ed th at th e C ity

o f G ran d Ju n ctio n p u rch ased a d o g k en n el f o r $ 2 0 0 an d a d o g h o u se f o r $ 8 4 .7 8

.

L an e said th at a b u rg lary o ccu rred at city h all o n M arch 1 0

, 2 0 1 2

, an d law

en f o rcem en t ag en cies w ere co n tacted

. T h e d ef en d an t w as term in ated f

ro m h is p o sitio n , an d

,

u p o n ch eck in g , n o in v en to ry sh eets w ere f o u n d alth o u g h th e d ef

en d an t h ad b een resp o n sib le
f o r k eep in g su ch reco rd s. L an e m et w ith th e d ef en d an t w h o to ld h im th at h e still h ad so m e

o f th e city p ro p erty issu ed to h im an d ag reed to h av e it read y to b e p ick ed u p b y M arch 1 2

. L an e to ld th e d ef

en d an t th is sh o u ld in clu d e th e k en n el an d d o g h o u s e

. T h e a c t i n g p o lice
ch ief w en t to th e d ef

en d an t’s resid en ce an d retriev ed so m e o f th e p ro p erty an d w as to ld th e d ef en d an t w as still g ettin g th e rest o f th e p ro p erty to g eth er. T h e C i t y d i d n o t reco v er th e k en n el u n til th ese ch arg es w ere b ro u g h t. L an e w as sh o w n a p h o to g rap h o f t h e k e n n el

r e c o v ered f

ro m th e d ef

en d an t’s resid en ce an d said it ap p eared to b e th e k en n el p u rch ase d
b y th e C ity

. H e also id en tif ied a p h o to g rap h o f a reco v ered d o g h o u se w ith a g reen b ase as

o n e p u rch ased b y

th e C ity

.

L an e testif

ied th at B en n y Jen n in g s, a f o rm er p o lice o f

f icer, p u rch ased sh irts f

ro m th e d ef en d an t, w h i c h b elo n g ed to th e city

, as ev id en ced b y “G JP D ” sew n o n th e sleev es. O f f icers w ere re q u ired to tu rn in su ch item s u p o n leav in g em p lo y m en t to p rev en t
im p erso n atio n

. L an e said th at p an ts an d ref lectiv e v ests, w h ich h e also id en tif ied

, w ere o f
th e sam e ty

p e as issu ed to o f

f icers a n d w o u l d h a v e b een o n o n e o f th e m issin g in v en to ry sh eets.

-2-T h e trial co u rt to o k j u d icial n o tice o f th e city ch arter, settin g th e m ay o r’s sp en d in g

au th o rity at $ 5 0

.

In v esti ga t or J a s on W i l s on of t he Ha r de m a n Count y She rif f ’s D ep artm en t testif

ied th at
h e u sed a co n f

id en tial in f

o rm an t to p u rch ase item s f ro m th e d ef

en d an t. O n S ep tem

b er 1 9

an d 2 7

, 2 0 1 2

, tw o p u rch ases w ere m ad e, each tim e f o r $ 2 5 0

, b o t h a t th e d ef en d an t’s
resid en ce. D u rin g th e S ep tem b er 1 9 b u y , a d o g k en n el, th ree d o g h o u ses, an d a d o g carrier

w ere p u rch ased

. D u rin g th e S ep tem b er 2 7 b u y , G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice D ep artm en t u n if o rm sh irts, p an ts

, r a i n j ack et, tw o p o lice v ests, an d a b u lletp ro o f v est w ere am o n g th e item s

p u rch ased

. A t th e tim e o f h is arrest, th e d ef en d an t ad m itted th e d o g k en n el b elo n g ed to th e

p o lice d ep artm en t b u t said th at s o me o f th e item s b elo n g ed to h im

. In v estig ato r G reg M o o re, also o f th e H ard em an C o u n ty S h eriff’s D ep artm en t, v erif ied th at th e d ef

en d an t m ad e th ese statem en ts at th e tim e o f h is arrest. C h ief D ep u ty B illy D av is o f th e H ard em an C o u n ty
S h erif f ’s D ep artm en t testif

ied th at b u lletp ro o f v ests w ere cu sto m m ad e to f it in d iv id u al

o f f icers an d ea c h b o r e a serial n u m b er. T h e v ests co st $ 4 5 0 each an d w ere to b e retu rn ed

w h en an o f

f icer lef t th e d ep artm en t. R eco rd s at th e d ep artm en t w ere n o t w ell m ain tain ed

,

an d th ere w as n o reco rd sh o w in g th at a v est h ad b een issu ed to th e d ef en d an t.

B en n y Jen n in g s testif

ied th at h e h ad b een em p lo y ed as a G ran d Ju n c t i o n p o lice

o f f icer an d w o rk ed f

o r th e d ef en d an t. H e w o rk ed w ith th e f irst d ru g d o g an d d ecid ed th at it w as n o t su itab le. H e later resig n e d f ro m th e p o lice d ep artm en t an d in S ep tem b er 2 0 1 2

, th e d ef en d an t to ld h im th at “h e h ad a lo t o f th in g s th at

. . . b elo n g ed to G ran d Ju n ctio n ” an d
th at “h e w as g o in g to h av e to g et rid o f it if th ey [ d id n o t] co m e g et it.” L ater, h e telep h o n ed

Jen n in g s ask in g if h e w an ted to b u y th e k en n el, an d Jen n in g s p assed alo n g th is in f o rm atio n
to th e m ay o r. F ro m th e d ef en d an t, h e p u rch ased a d o g k en n el, th ree d o g h o u ses, an d a p et

p o rter. L ater, h e b o u g h t f ro m th e d ef

en d an t a b u lletp ro o f v est. O n a su b seq u en t o ccasio n , th e d ef en d an t so ld h im

u n if o rm sh irts an d p an ts, ref

lecto r v ests, an d v ario u s o th er item s.

L o ri R ice, th e f

in an ce o f f i c e r f o r th e C ity o f G ran d Ju n ctio n , testif ied th at th e

rep lacem en t co sts f

o r th e p o lic e u n if

o rm sh irts w ere $ 3 5 each

, th e p an ts w ere $ 3 5 to $ 3 8

, ref lectiv e v ests w ere $ 2 8

, an d th e p atch es f o r th e sh irts w ere $ 4 .5 0 each

, w ith an ad d itio n al

setu p f ee o f $ 7 5

.

D ef en d a n t’s P ro o f

S am m y B rash er testif

ied th at h e w as a f

o rm er G ran d Ju n ctio n p o lice o f f icer an d h ad
h elp ed th e d ef

en d an t d esig n a sh o u ld er p atch f o r th e u n if

o rm sh irt. H e w as o f

f ered “clo se
to a b o x ” o f

p atch es as co m

p en satio n f

o r th is w o rk

.

-3-S am m y F lak e testif ied th at h e w as em

p lo y ed as a d ep u ty b y th e H ard em an C o u n ty
S h erif f ’s D ep artm en t, u n d er a p rev io u s sh erif f

, f ro m 2 0 0 2 u n til 2 0 0 7

. H e said th at, aro u n d

2 0 0 4

, h e w as issu ed a b u lletp r o o f v est, an d

, at th e tim e, th ere h ad b een n o p ro ced u re

reg ard in g retu rn o f su ch v ests u p o n leav in g th e em p lo y m en t o f th e d ep artm en t. H e lef t th e d ep artm en t u p o n b ein g co n v icted o f sex u al b attery b y an au th o rity f ig u re. D u rin g h is

em p lo y m en t, h e w as a “ro ad d ep u ty ,” w ith o u t su p erv isio n o v er o th ers.

R o b ert G ilm o re testif

ied th at “[ s] o m etim e in th e n in eties,” h e an d h i s w if e g av e a D o b erm an p u p p y

to P at an d B ren d a R y an an d h ad d eliv ered th e d o g in a p o rtab le crate.

R ich ard H e n r y K ee testif ied th at h e w as a d ata co n v ersio n sp ecialist f o r O rg ill an d

an ald erm an f

o r th e C ity o f G ran d Ju n ctio n

. P rev io u sly

, h e h ad serv ed a s m ay o r an d v ice

m ay o r. H e said th at in 2 0 0 6

, w h en h e d id n o t h o l d a n o f f i c i a l p o sitio n w ith th e city

, th e

m ay o r “b ro u g h t u p th e su g g estio n o f d o in g a K -9 d o g f

o r th e city .” H e said th at, in 2 0 0 0

,

w h en h e w as m ay o r, th e m atter also h ad b een d iscu ssed

. In h is o p in io n , M ay o r L an e w as “u n tru stw o rth y .” T h e w itn ess ack n o w led g ed th at h e w as th e n ep h ew o f th e d ef en d an t.

H erm an H ay es testif

ied th at h e w as em

p lo y ed b y t h e C i ty o f G ran d Ju n ctio n

. In
2 0 1 2

, h e o v erh eard th e d ef en d an t tellin g th e m ay o r th at “h e n eed ed to co m e an d g et” th e d o g k en n el, an d th e m ay o r said th at “h e co u ld h av e it.”

A N A L Y S IS

O n ap p eal, th e d ef

en d an t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred b y n o t u tilizin g a sp ecial j u ry in stru ctio n as to u n an im i t y , b y n o t allo w in g in to ev id en ce certain 2 0 0 5 p o lice p ro p erty

reco rd s, b y n o t tak in g j u d icial n o tice o f th e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lic e M a n u a l an d th at th e

ev id en ce is in su f

f icien t to su stain h is co n v ictio n

. T h e S tate resp o n d s th at an e l e ctio n o f

o f f en ses w as n o t req u ired b ecau se th e d ef en d an t’s ex ercise o f co n tro l o v er th e g o v ern m en t

co n stitu ted a sin g le sch em e; th at th e ev id en ce is su f f icien t to su stain th e co n v ictio n ; th at th e trial co u rt p ro p erly ex clu d ed th e 2 0 0 5 p o lice p ro p erty reco rd s; an d th at th e co u rt p ro p erly
ref u sed to tak e n o tice o f

th e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice M an u al. We w ill rev iew th ese issu es.

I. S p ecia l J u ry In stru ctio n a s to U n a n im ity

T h e d ef en d an t w as ch arg ed in a sin g le-co u n t in d ictm en t, as am en d ed

, w ith v io latin g T en n essee C o d e A n n o tated sectio n 3 9 -1 4 -1 0 3 :

T H E G R A N D J U R O R S o f H ard em an C o u n ty

, T en n essee, d u ly

em p an elled a

nd s worn , u p o n th eir o ath

, p resen t th at P A T R IC K L E IG H T O N

R Y A N J R

. , o n v ario u s d ates b etw een S ep tem b er 1

, 2 0 1 2 an d O cto b er 3 1

,

-4-2 0 1 2

, in H ard em an C o u n ty

, T en n essee, an d b ef o re th e f in d in g o f t h is
in d ictm en t, d id u n law f

u lly

, f elo n io u sly an d k n o w in g ly ex ercise co n tro l o v er

p ro p erty to -w it: f

o u r ch ain lin k d o g k en n el p an els, o n e d o g carrier, th ree d o g h o u ses, o n e U S a r mo u r b a llistic v est serial n o

. 5 9 9 9 6 -0 1 0

, tw o ref lectiv e

p o lice v ests, o n e p o lice rain co at, o n e leath er b elt w ith h o lster an d accesso ries,

o n e f irst resp o n d er b ag , tw o tactical k n ee p ad s, o n e f lash lig h t p o u ch

, o n e

p o rtab le b lu e lig h t, sev en G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice D ep artm en t u n if o rm sh irts,
f iv e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice D ep artm en t u n if o rm p an ts a n d o n e b elt, a m o re

p a r t i c u lar d escrip tio n th ereo f b ein g to th e G ran d Ju ro rs u n k n o w n , v alu ed at

o v e r o n e th o u san d d o llars ($ 1 ,0 0 0 ) b u t less th an ten th o u san d d o l l a r s ($ 1 0 ,0 0 0 ), o f G ran d Ju n c t i o n P o lice D ep artm en t o r H ard em an C o u n ty
S h erif f ’s D ep artm en t w ith o u t th eir ef f ectiv e co n sent

, wi t

h t he i nt e nt to d ep riv e said G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice D ep artm en t o r H ard em an C o u n ty S h erif f ’s

D ep artm en t th ereo f

, in v io latio n o f T .C .A

. 3 9 -1 4 -1 0 3

, ag ain st th e p eace and
d ig n ity o f th e S tate o f

T en n essee.

T o su p p lem en t th e j u ry in stru ctio n s o f T en n essee P attern Ju ry In stru ctio n 4 2 .2 5

, th e d ef en d an t su b m itted th e f

o llo w in g sp ecial req u est as to u n an im ity :

T h e state h as o f

f ered p ro o f in its case in ch ief o f m o re th an o n e act o f
th ef t b y ex ercisin g co n tro l o v er p ro p erty o f an o th er w ith in ten t to d ep riv e th e

o w n er th ereo f

o f th e p ro p erty

w ith o u t ef

f ectiv e co n sen t.

T h e state h as p resen ted ev id en ce o f ev e n t s o n th ree sep arate d ates in
th e in d ictm en t. T h ese are: S ep tem b er 1 9

, S ep tem

b er 2 7 an d O cto b er 9

, 2 0 1 3 [ sic]

.

T h e ev i d e n c e o f th e state in su p p o rt o f th e in d ictm en t is th at th e d ef en d an t co m m itted sp ecif ic acts co n stitu tin g th ef

t b y ex ercise o f co n tro l

o v er p ro p erty , to w it:

S ep tem b er 1 9 : f o u r ch ain lin k d o g k en n el p an els, o n e d o g carrier, th ree d o g h o u ses.

S ep tem b er 2 7 : A rm o r b allistic v est serial n o

. 5 9 9 9 6 -0 1 0

, tw o ref lectiv e p o lice v ests, o n e rain co at, o n e leath er b elt w ith h o lster an d

accesso ries, o n e f

irst resp o n d er b ag , tw o tactical k n ee p a d s , o n e f lash lig h t

p o u ch

, o n e p o rtab le b lu e lig h t, sev en G r a n d Ju n ctio n P o lice D ep artm en t

u n if o rm sh irts, f

iv e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice D ep artm en t u n if o rm p an ts an d o n e b elt.

-5-T h e v erd ict y o u rep o rt in th is case m u st b e th e co n sid ered j u d g m en t o f
each j u ro r. In o rd er to retu rn a v erd ict, th e law req u ires th at each j u ro r ag ree th ereto . Y o u r v erd ict m

u st b e u n an im o u s.

It is y o u r d u ty

, as j u ro rs, to co n su lt w ith o n e an o th er an d to d elib erate

w ith a v iew to reach in g an ag reem en t if y o u can d o so w i t h o u t v io len ce to
in d iv id u al j u d g m en t. E ach o f y o u m u st d ecid e t h e c a s e f

o r y o u rself

, b u t d o

so o n ly af

ter an im p artial co n sid eratio n o f th e ev id en ce w ith y o u r f ello w j u ro rs. In th e co u rse o f y o u r d elib eratio n s, d o n o t h esitate to reex am in e y o u r

o w n v iew s an d ch an g e y o u r o p in io n if co n v in ced it is erro n eo u s. B u t d o n o t

su rren d er y o u r h o n est co n v ictio n a s t o th e w eig h t o r ef f ect o f th e ev id en ce

so lely b ecau se o f th e o p in io n o f y o u r f ello w j u ro rs, o r f

o r th e m ere p u rp o se

o f retu rn in g a v erd ict.

In o rd er f o r y o u to retu rn a v erd ict o f g u ilty

, th e state m u st h av e p ro v en b ey o n d a reaso n ab le d o u b t each an d ev ery elem en t o f th e o f f en se o f th ef

t b y

ex ercise o f co n tro l o v er p ro p erty as to each an d ev ery o n e o f th e m u ltip le

sp ecif ic acts in v o l v in g m

u ltip le item s o f p ro p erty w h ich are alleg ed to

co n stitu te th e o f

f en se o f th ef

t b y ex ercise o f co n tro l o v er p ro p erty as d etailed
in th is in stru ctio n an d g ro u p ed o n tw o d ates, S ep tem b er 1 9 an d 2 7

, 2 0 1 3

, [ sic]

an d as alleg ed in th e in d ictm en t.

T h e trial co u rt ex p lain ed w h y th is ad d itio n al in stru c t i o n w o u ld n o t b e g iv en to th e j u ry :

T h e C o u rt f in d s th at th a t ’s n o t an ap p ro p riate in stru ctio n , m o st

p ar t i c u l arly sin ce th e S h erif f is stan d in g in th e co u rtro o m av ailab le to b o th

p arties. A lso

, co u n sel h as th is m o rn in g f iled so m e req u ested j u ry in stru ctio n s. H e’s ask ed th e C o u rt to ch arg e 4 3 .0 3 co n cern in g th e d ef en d an t’s electio n n o t

to testif y

. T h at w ill b e ch arg ed

. C red ib ility o f w itn ess, 4 2 .0 4 is req u ested to b e ch arg ed an d is b ein g ch arg ed

. 4 2 .1 1 w il l b e ch arg ed o n ly w ith reg ard to ad m issio n ag ain st in ter e s t o n th is co n f essio n w h ich is th e altern ativ e o r ad d itio n al lan g u ag e co n tain ed in th at in stru ctio n

. T h ere’s also a req u est th at th e C o u rt am

p lif y its in stru ctio n an d ch arg e 1 1 .0 1

, w h ich is th e th ef t o f

p ro p erty statu te. C o u n sel h as s e t o u t in th e p lead in g th e lan g u ag e th at h e

w an ts am p lif ied as set o u t in th is m em o ran d u m o f u n d erstan d in g

. It w as at a late h o u r w h en co u n sel p rep ared th is req u est. I th in k ev ery o n e ag rees th at th e

o f f en se at issu e o ccu rred in 2 0 1 2 an d n o t 2 0 1 3 so , n o tin g th at ch an g e, th is w as

p resen t e d s o m ew h at at th e m o tio n f o r j u d g m en t f

o r acq u ittal issu e. T h e

e l ectio n o f o f

f en ses issu e, th e C o u rt h as co n sid ered it an d w h ile th e C o u r t

-6-th in k s it is an in terestin g q u estio n , th e C o u rt th in k s th at th at issu e h as alread y

b een co n sid ered b y th e co u rts an d w h ile it u n d erstan d s th e electio n o f o f f en ses

w ith reg ard to sex o f

f en ses w h ich ty

p ically is d riv en b u t th e issu e b ef o re th e C o u rt th at’s g o in g to b e p resen ted to th e j u ry is th e ex ercise an d co n tro l o v er

n o t b e (i n a u d i b le) o p erativ e, th e in stru ctio n , th e C o u rt b eliev es th e j u ry can

co n sid er if th ere’s ex ercise an d co n tro l o v er p ro p erty

, w h ich p ro p er t y , an d
th en th e C o u rt w ill also b e in s t r u c t i n g to co n sid er an d f ix th e v alu e, so th at

w ill req u ire th e d elib erate ef f o rt o f th e j u ro rs to d eterm in e each item as it

co n sid ers th e ap p ro p riate v alu e. S o th e C o u rt d eclin es to ex p an d o r en larg e th e th ef t o f p ro p erty

.

We w ill rev iew th is ru lin g b y th e trial co u rt.

“It is w ell-settled in T en n essee th at a d ef en d an t h as a rig h t to a co rrect an d co m p lete
ch arg e o f th e law so th at each issu e o f f act raised b y

th e ev id en ce w ill b e su b m itted to th e j u ry o n p ro p er in stru ctio n s.” S tate v

. F arn er, 6 6 S .W.3 d 1 8 8

, 2 0 4 (T en n

. 2 0 0 1 ) (citin g S tate

v

. G arriso n , 4 0 S .W.3 d 4 2 6

, 4 3 2 (T en n

. 2 0 0 0 ); S tate v

. T eel, 7 9 3 S .W.2 d 2 3 6

, 2 4 9 (T en n

. 1 9 9 0 )). A cco rd in g ly

, trial co u rts h av e t h e d u ty to g iv e “a co m p lete ch arg e o f th e law

ap p licab le to th e f

acts o f th e case.” S tate v

. D av en p o rt, 9 7 3 S .W.2 d 2 8 3

, 2 8 7 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 8 ) (citin g S tate v

. H arb iso n , 7 0 4 S .W.2 d 3 1 4

, 3 1 9 (T en n

. 1 9 8 6 )). A n in stru ctio n

w ill b e co n sid ered p rej u d icially erro n eo u s o n ly if it f ails to su b m it th e leg al issu es f airly o r

m islead s th e j u ry as to th e ap p l i c a b l e law

. S tate v

. F au lk n er, 1 5 4 S .W.3 d 4 8

, 5 8 (T en n

. 2 0 0 5 ) (citin g S tate v

. V an n , 9 7 6 S .W.2 d 9 3

, 1 0 1 (T en n

. 1 9 9 8 )). A trial co u rt’s d en ial o f a

req u est f o r sp ecial j u ry in stru ctio n s is erro r o n ly w h en th e trial co u rt’s ch arg e d o es n o t f u lly

an d f airly state th e ap p licab le law . S tate v . C o zart, 5 4 S .W.3 d 2 4 2 , 2 4 5 (T en n . 2 0 0 1 ).

A s w e h av e s e t o u t, th e in d ictm en t alleg ed th at b etw een S ep tem b er 1

, 2 0 1 2 an d
O cto b er 3 1

, 2 0 1 2

, th e d ef en d a n t u n l a w f

u lly ex ercised co n tro l o v er a n u m b er o f item s b elo n g in g to th e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice D ep artm en t o r H ard em an C o u n ty S h erif f ’s

D ep artm en t, v alu ed at o v er $ 1 0 0 0 b u t less th an $ 1 0 ,0 0 0

.

In S tate v

. B y

rd

, 9 6 8 S .W.2 d 2 9 0

, 2 9 1 (T en n

. 1 9 9 8 ), o u r su p rem e co u rt co n sid ered

a ma t t e r i n w h ich th e d ef en d an t h ad b een co n v icted o n a sin g le co u n t o f th ef t, af ter items

sto len f ro m n in e sep arate P ig eo n F o rg e m erch an ts h ad b een reco v ered f ro m th e tru n k o f h er

v eh icle. T h e S tate ch arg ed th e th ef t in a s i n g le co u n t, th e v alu es to talin g $ 2 ,6 4 4 .9 2

. T h e d ef en d an t asserted th at th e in d ictm en t w as d u p licito u s an d th at th ere sh o u ld h av e b een a

sep arate co u n t f

o r each m erch an t. T h e co u rt ex p lain ed th at, b e c a u se th e d ef en d an t h ad

ex ercised sim

u ltan eo u s p o ssessio n o r co n tro l o v e r s to len p ro p erty

, T en n essee C o d e A n n o tated sectio n 3 9 -1 4 -1 0 3 allo w ed th e v alu es o f e a c h to b e ag g reg ated in to a sin g le

co u n t:

-7-In th e case n o w b ef o re u s, th e d ef

en d an t w as in a n a u to m o b ile th at

co n tain ed in ex cess o f $ 2 ,5 0 0 .0 0 in sto len p ro p erty

. T h e ev id en ce in d icated
th at sh e h ad sim

u ltan eo u s access to o r co n tro l o v er th e p ro p erty w ith o u t

co n sen t. T he e vid en ce f

u rth er in d icated th at th e d ef en d an t in ten d ed to d ep riv e th e in d iv id u al o w n ers o f th e p ro p erty

. A cco rd in g ly

, th e p ro secu to r acted

w ith in h is d iscretio n an d h ad p ro b ab le cau se to in d ict th e d ef en d an t f o r th ef t

o v er $ 1 ,0 0 0 .0 0

. S ee S tate v

. G illiam

, 9 0 1 S .W.2 d 3 8 5

, 3 8 9 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 5 ) (statin g d istrict atto rn ey s h av e b ro ad d iscretio n in d eterm in in g w h at crim e to ch arg e). We f

in d th at th e in d ictm en t w as f acially v alid

.

B y rd , 9 6 8 S .W.2 d at 2 9 2

.

In th e p resen t ap p eal, th e S t a t e ’ s p ro o f sh o w ed th at th e d ef en d an t ex ercised
sim u ltan eo u s co n tro l o v er v ario u s item s w h ich w ere th e p ro p erty o f th e G ran d J u n c tio n P o lice D ep artm en t o r th e H a r d e ma n C o u n ty S h erif f ’s D ep artm en t. T h e h o ld in g in B y rd clearly p erm its th e ag g reg atio n o f th e m u ltip le item s in to a sin g le co u n t. A cco rd in g ly , w e

co n clu d e th at th e reco rd an d ap p licab le case law su p p o rt th e trial co u rt’s d en ial o f th e sp ecial j u ry in stru ctio n su b m itted b y

th e d ef en d an t.

II. S u f f icien cy o f

th e E v id en ce

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e ev id en ce is in su f f icien t to su stain h is c o n v ictio n b ecau se, in h is v iew

, th e S t a t e f ailed to sh o w th at an y o f th e item s in q u estio n h ad b een
sto len

, an d w itn esses co u ld n o t id en tif y th e item s as h av in g b een p u rch ased b y th e

g o v ern m en tal en tities, o n ly th at th ey w ere o f a “sim ila r c h a r a c t er.” We w ill rev iew th ese claim s.

In co n sid erin g th is issu e, w e ap p ly th e ru le th at w h ere su f f icien cy o f th e co n v ictin g

ev id en ce is ch a l l en g ed

, th e relev an t q u estio n o f th e rev iew in g co u rt is “w h eth er, af ter

v iew in g th e ev id en ce in th e lig h t m o st f av o rab le to th e p ro secu tio n , a n y ratio n al trier o f f

act

co u ld h av e f

o u n d th e essen tial elem en ts o f th e crim e b ey o n d a reaso n ab le d o u b t.” Jack so n

v . V irg in ia, 4 4 3 U .S . 3 0 7 , 3 1 9 (1 9 7 9 ); see also T en n . R . A p p . P . 1 3 (e) (“F in d in g s o f g u ilt
in crim in al actio n s w h eth er b y th e trial co u rt o r j u ry sh all b e s e t a sid e if th e ev id en ce is
in su f f icien t to su p p o rt th e f

in d in g s b y th e trier o f f

act o f g u ilt b ey o n d a reaso n ab le d o u b t.”);
S tate v

. E v an s, 8 3 8 S .W.2 d 1 8 5

, 1 9 0 -9 2 (T en n

. 1 9 9 2 ); S tate v

. A n d erso n , 8 3 5 S .W.2 d 6 0 0

, 6 0 4 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 2 ). T h e sam e st an d ard ap p lies w h eth er th e f in d in g o f g u ilt is

p red icated u p o n d i r e c t ev id en ce, circu m stan tial ev id en ce, o r a co m b in atio n o f d irect an d
circu m stan tial ev id en ce. S tate v

. M atth ew s, 8 0 5 S .W.2 d 7 7 6

, 7 7 9 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 0 ).

A crim in al o f

f en se m ay b e estab lish ed en tirely b y circu m stan tial ev id en ce. S tate v

.

-8-M aj o rs, 3 1 8 S .W.3 d 8 5 0

, 8 5 7 (T en n

. 2 0 1 0 ). It is f o r th e j u ry to d eterm in e th e w eig h t to b e

g iv en th e circu m stan tial ev id en ce an d th e ex ten t to w h ich th e circu m stan ces are co n sisten t

w ith th e g u ilt o f th e d ef

en d an t an d in co n sisten t w ith h is in n o cen ce. S tate v

. Jam es, 3 1 5
S .W.3 d 4 4 0

, 4 5 6 (T en n

. 2 0 1 0 ). In a d d i t i o n , t h e S tate d o es n o t h av e th e d u ty to ex clu d e

ev ery o th er reaso n ab le h y p o th esis ex cep t th at o f th e d ef en d an t's g u ilt in o rd er to o b t a i n a

co n v ictio n b ased so lely o n circu m stan tial ev id en ce. S ee S tate v

. D o ran tes, 3 3 1 S .W.3 d 3 7 0

, 3 8 0

- 8 1 (T en n

. 2 0 1 1 ) (ad o p tin g th e f ed eral stan d ard o f rev iew f o r cases in w h ich t h e

ev id en ce is en tirely

circu m stan tial).

A ll q u estio n s in v o lv in g th e cred ib ility o f w itn esses, th e w eig h t an d v alu e to b e g iv en th e ev id en ce, an d all f

actu al issu es are reso lv ed b y th e trier o f f act. S ee S tate v

. P ap p as, 7 5 4
S .W.2 d 6 2 0

, 6 2 3 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 8 7 ). “A g u ilty v erd ict b y th e j u ry , ap p ro v ed b y th e trial j u d g e, accred i t s th e testim o n y o f th e w itn esses f o r th e S tate an d reso lv es all co n f licts
in f av o r o f th e th eo ry o f th e S tate.” S tate v

. G race, 4 9 3 S .W.2 d 4 7 4

, 4 7 6 (T en n

. 1 9 7 3 ). O u r

su p rem e co u rt stated th e ratio n ale f o r th is ru le:

T h is w ell-settled ru le rests o n a so u n d f o u n d atio n

. T h e trial j u d g e an d
th e j u ry see th e w itn esses f ace to f ace, h ear th eir testim o n y an d o b serv e th eir
d em ean o r o n th e stan d

. T h u s th e trial j u d g e a n d j u ry are th e p rim ary in stru m en tality o f j u stice to d eterm in e th e w eig h t an d cred ib ility to b e g iv en
to th e testim o n y o f w itn esses. In th e trial f o ru m alo n e is th ere h u m an
atm o sp h ere an d th e to tality o f t h e ev id en ce can n o t b e rep ro d u ced w ith a

w ritten reco rd in th is C o u rt.

B o lin v

. S tate

, 2 1 9 T en n

. 4

, 1 1

, 4 0 5 S .W.2 d 7 6 8

, 7 7 1 (1 9 6 6 ) (citin g C arro ll v

. S tate, 2 1 2

T en n

. 4 6 4

, 3 7 0 S .W.2 d 5 2 3 (1 9 6 3 )). “A j u ry co n v ictio n rem o v es th e p resu m p tio n o f
i n n o cen ce w ith w h ich a d ef en d an t is in itially clo ak ed an d rep laces it w ith o n e o f g u i l t

, s o th at o n ap p eal a co n v icted d ef en d an t h as th e b u rd en o f

d em o n stratin g th at th e ev id en ce is
in su f f icien t.” S tate v . T u g g le, 6 3 9 S .W.2 d 9 1 3 , 9 1 4 (T en n . 1 9 8 2 ).

T o su stain th is co n v ictio n , th e S tate h ad to p ro v e b ey o n d a reaso n ab le d o u b t th at th e d ef en d an t, w ith th e in ten t to d ep riv e th e o w n er o f p ro p erty

, k n o w in g ly o b tain ed o r ex ercised

co n tro l o v er p ro p erty w ith o u t th e o w n er’s ef f e c t i v e c o n sen t an d th at th e v alu e o f th e

p ro p erty w as $ 5 0 0 o r less. T en n . C o d e A n n . § § 3 9 -1 4 -1 0 3 (a), -1 0 5 (1 ).

We w ill rev iew th e ev id en ce in th e lig h t m o st f av o rab le to th e S tate.

M ay o r L an e testif

ied th at th e d o g h o u se o b tain ed f ro m th e d ef

en d an t in a co n tro lled
b u y o rig in ally h ad b een p u rch ased f ro m Walm art f

o r $ 8 4 .7 8

. H e h ad req u ested th at th e d ef en d an t retu rn th e d o g h o u se an d k en n el. A f ter th e d ef

en d an t w as term in ated b y th e city

,

-9-h e ack n o w led g ed to L an e th at h e still p o ssessed city p ro p erty

, in clu d in g d o g h o u ses an d th e

d o g k en n el. L an e f

u rth er said th at th e d ef

en d an t h ad n o t retu rn ed th e k en n el. In v estig ato r Wilso n an d In v estig ato r M o o re b o th testif ied th at, as th e d ef

en d an t w as b ein g arrested

, h e ack n o w led g ed th at w h ile th e k en n el b elo n g ed to th e city

, so m e o f th e p ro p erty b elo n g ed to
h im

. F o rm e r M a y o r R i c h ard K ee said th e d ef en d an t ask ed th at h e tell M ay o r L an e to retriev e th e p r o p e r t y th at w as to b e retu rn ed to th e city

. A s f o r th e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice

D ep artm en t sh o u ld er p atch es, K ee testif ied th at h e d id n o t au th o rize th e d ef en d an t’s
receiv in g a b o x o f th e p atch es; an d S am m y B rash er t e s t i f ied th at th e d ef

en d an t h ad th e

p atch es in h is p o ssessio n

.

T h e d ef en d an t w as co n v icted o f m isd em ean o r th ef t, m ean i n g th at th e v alu e o f th e

p ro p erty w h ich h e h ad illeg ally

tak en am o u n ted to $ 5 0 0 o r less.

B ased u p o n t h e testim o n y , as w e h av e set o u t, a reaso n ab le j u ry co u ld h av e d eterm in ed th at th e d ef

en d an t co m m itted th ef

t o f item s v alu ed at $ 5 0 0 o r less, w h ich w as th e p ro p erty o f th e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice D ep artm en t o r th e H ard em an C o u n ty S h erif f ’s

D ep artm en t.

III. P o lice In v en to ry R eco rd s f ro m 2 0 0 5

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred b y n o t allo w in g in to ev id en ce 2 0 0 5
G ran d Ju n ctio n p o lice in v en to ry d o cu m en ts an d e v i d en ce. T h e S tate resp o n d s th at th e d ef en d an t f ailed to seek ad m issio n o f th ese item s in to ev id en ce an d

, ad d itio n ally

, th at h e w as

n o t p rej u d iced b y

th eir ex clu sio n

.

R elev an t ev id en ce is “ev id en ce h av in g an y ten d en cy to m ak e th e ex isten ce o f an y f act th at is o f co n seq u en ce to th e d eterm in atio n o f th e actio n m o re p ro b ab le o r less p ro b ab le th an i t w o u ld b e w ith o u t th e ev id en ce.” T en n

. R

. E v id

. 4 0 1

. A ll relev an t ev id en ce, s u b j e c t t o certain ex cep tio n s , i s g e n erally ad m issib le u n d er R u le 4 0 2 o f th e T en n essee R u les o f

E v i d en ce. R elev an t ev id en ce m ay b e ex clu d ed if “its p ro b ativ e v alu e is su b stan tially

o u tw eig h ed b y

th e d an g er o f

u n f air p rej u d ice.” T en n . R . E v id . 4 0 3

.

F irst, w e w ill set o u t th e b ack g ro u n d o f th is d isp u te. T h e d ef en d an t serv ed a

su b p o en a f

o r reco rd s reg ard in g p u rch ases an d in v en to ries f o r th e p erio d f

ro m 2 0 0 6 th ro u g h

2 0 1 2

, an d

, o n A u g u st 1 5

, 2 0 1 3

, receiv ed tw en ty p ag es o f d o cu m en ts. T h e d ay p rio r to th e S ep tem b er 1 1

, 2 0 1 3 b eg in n in g o f th e trial o f th is m atter, th e 2 0 0 5 in v en to ry reco rd s w ere

sen t to th e d ef

en d an t b y f

acsim ile tran sm issio n

. T h e reco rd s p ro d u ced co n sisted o f a list o f

p o lice d ep artm en t p ro p erty

, w ith serial n u m b ers, b u t d id n o t sh o w to w h o m th e p ro p erty h ad
b een assig n ed . A f

ter p resen tin g h is f

in al w itn ess, b u t b ef

o re restin g , d ef

en se co u n sel to ld
th e co u rt th at h e h ad n o t h ad su f f icien t tim e to rev iew th e 2 0 0 5 reco rd s an d m o v ed th at th ey

-10-b e ad m itted in to ev id en ce. T h e S tate o b j ected

, say in g th at th e reco rd s w ere “f ro m tw o p o lice
ch ief s ag o .” T h e trial co u rt co n clu d ed th at th e reco rd s w o u ld n o t b e en tered in to ev id en ce:

T h e C o u rt f

in d s th at th o se d o cu m en ts w ere p ro v id ed o n S ep tem b er 1 1 th as [ c] o u n sel h as in d icated th at’s b een m ark ed I.D

., th e f acsim ile. A lso

, as I u n d ersto o d [ th e p ro secu to r]

, n o t o n ly w ere th ey sen t b y f ax , th ere w as a telep h o n e co n v ersatio n so co u n sel w as m ad e aw are o f th o se p rio r to th e trial
startin g , alth o u g h th e C o u rt reco g n izes it w as o n ly a sh o rt tim e b ef o re th e trial.

T h e trial b eg an , th ere w as n o o b j ectio n p rio r to th e trial th at th o se d o cu m en ts
h av e b een j u st receiv ed an d th ey w ere m aterial. T h ere w as n o req u est f o r a

co n tin u an ce. With reg ard to n o w en terin g th o se d o cu m en ts, sin ce th ey w ere

av ailab l e to [ c] o u n sel p rio r to trial, th ey co u ld h av e b een ad m itted th ro u g h

, ap p aren tly

, th e M ay o r o r

. . . M s

. R ice, th e city p erso n w h o testif ied w h o

p ro v id ed th o se to [ th e p ro secu to r]

. S o th ey co u ld h av e b een ad m itted if th ey

w ere so ad m ittab le th ro u g h th o se w itn esses, so th ey w ill n o t b e p erm itted to b e ad m itted n o w

.

T en n essee R u le o f E v id en ce 8 0 3 (6 ), th e b u sin ess reco rd s ex cep tio n to th e h earsay

ru le, p ro v id es as f

o llo w s:

R eco rd s o f R eg u larly C o n d u cted A ctiv ity .--A m em o ran d u m , rep o rt,

reco rd

, o r d ata co m

p ilatio n , in an y f

o rm , o f acts, ev en ts, co n d itio n s, o p in io n s,

o r d iag n o ses m ad e at o r n ear th e tim e b y o r f ro m in f o rm atio n tran sm itted b y

a p erso n w ith k n o w led g e an d a b u sin ess d u ty to reco rd o r tran sm it if k ep t in
th e co u rse o f a reg u larly co n d u cted b u sin ess activ ity an d if it w as th e reg u lar

p ractice o f th at b u sin ess activ ity to m ak e th e m em o ran d u m , rep o rt, reco rd o r d ata co m p ilatio n , all as sh o w n b y th e testim o n y o f th e cu sto d ian o r o th er

q u alif ied w itn ess o r b y cer t i f

i c atio n th at co m

p lies w ith R u le 9 0 2 (1 1 ) o r a
statu te p erm ittin g certif

icatio n , u n less th e so u rce o f in f o rm atio n o r th e m eth o d

o r circu m stan ces o f p rep aratio n in d icate lack o f tru stw o rth in ess. T h e term “b u sin ess” as u sed in th is p arag rap h in clu d es b u sin ess, in stitu tio n , p ro f essio n ,
o ccu p atio n , an d callin g o f ev ery k in d , w h eth er o r n o t co n d u cted f o r p ro f it.

A lth o u g h , ap p aren tly , th e 2 0 0 5 reco rd s h ad co m e f ro m th e C ity

o f G ran d Ju n ctio n , th e reco rd o n ap p eal in clu d es n o testim o n y f ro m a k n o w led g eab le w itn ess so as to q u alif y th e late-p ro d u ced reco rd s as “b u sin ess reco rd s.” We n o te th at th e d ef en d an t h ad so u g h t city

reco rd s f ro m 2 0 0 6

, an d th ese reco rd s w ere d ated 2 0 0 5

. A lth o u g h th e d ef en d an t arg u es o n

ap p eal th at th e late p ro d u ctio n o f th e 2 0 0 5 reco rd s p rev en tin g h is m ak in g certain arg u m en ts

to th e j u ry , w e co n clu d e th at th ese reco rd s w er e o f v e r y mi n im al, if an y , relev an ce to th e issu es at th e trial. A cco rd in g ly , th is claim is w ith o u t m erit.

-11-IV. J u d icia l N o tice o f G ra n d J u n ctio n P o lice M a n u a l

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred b y ref u sin g to tak e j u d icial n o tice o f
th e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice M an u al. T h e S tate resp o n d s th at th e trial co u rt ru led co rrectly

, b ecau se th e d ef

en d an t h ad n o t so u g h t to au th en ticate th e ma n u a l t h ro u g h an y o f th e

w itn esses an d

, sin ce th e p u r p o rted co p y o f th e m an u al w as n o t p ag in ated

, it w as n o t clear
th at it w as co m

p lete.

T h is issu e d ev elo p ed f

ro m th e testim o n y

o f M ay o r L an e, w h o said th at th e p o licies

o f b o th th e city an d th e p o lice d ep artm en t req u ired th at city p ro p erty b e retu rn ed w h en an in d iv id u al lef

t city em p lo y m en t. L ater i n h i s t e s tim o n y , h e ack n o w led g ed th at th e p o lice
d ep artm en t p o licies w ere b ein g rev i s ed

, so h e co u ld n o t say th at th e retu rn p ro p erty

req u irem e n t h a d b e e n in th e p o lice m an u al p rio r to th e d ef en d an t’s b ein g arrested

. T h e d ef en d an t d id n o t u tilize in h is ex am in atio n o f an y o f th e w itn esses w h at p u rp o rted to b e a

co p y o f th e p o lice m an u al. A f ter b o th sid es co n clu d ed th e p resen tatio n o f th eir w itn esses, th e d ef en d an t ask ed th at th e co u rt tak e j u d icial n o tice o f th e p o lice m an u al. In p articu lar,
th e d ef en d an t w an ted th e co u rt to tak e j u d icial n o tice o f “th is sin g le f act th at th e p ro ced u re testif ied to b y th e M ay o r as to th e p o lice m an u al h av in g t h is p ro v isio n th at d eals w ith th e issu e o n reco v erin g p ro p erty

. . . . T h e f act is th e m an u al d o es n o t co n tain th at.” T h e co u rt d en ied th e d ef

en d an t’s req u est reg ard in g j u d icial n o tice, ex p lain in g th ere h ad b een n o sh o w in g th at th e m an u al in q u estio n h ad b een in ef f ect at th e tim e o f

th e o f f en ses ch arg ed
in th e in d ictm en t an d th at th e d ef en d an t sh o u ld h av e q u estio n ed M ay o r L an e ab o u t th e ab sen ce o f

a retu rn p ro p erty

req u irem en t.

T en n essee R u le o f E v id en ce 2 0 1 p ro v id es th at a trial co u rt m ay tak e j u d icial n o tice

o f a “f act [ th at is] n o t su b

j ect to reaso n ab le d isp u te, in th at it is eith er (1 ) g en erally k n o w n

w ith in th e territo rial j u risd ictio n o f th e trial co u rt o r (2 ) cap ab le o f accu rate an d read y d eterm in atio n b y reso rt to so u rces w h o se accu racy can n o t reaso n ab ly b e q u estio n ed .” T en n

. R . E v id . 2 0 1 (b ).

We ag ree w ith th e trial co u rt’s ru lin g in th is reg ard

. T h e d ef en d an t w an ted th e co u rt

to tak e j u d icial n o tice o f th e f a c t t h a t t h e G ran d Ju n ctio n P o lice M an u al d id n o t h av e a

req u irem en t th at p ro p erty b e retu rn ed w h en an o f f icer lef t em p lo y m en t w ith th e d ep artm en t.
T h e b est w itn ess to th is, as th e trial co u rt co rrectly n o ted

, w o u ld h av e b een M ay o r L an e, w h o

co u ld h av e b een cro ss

- e x a mi n ed d u rin g h is testim o n y b o th as to th e au th en ticity o f th e

m an u al an d its co n ten ts. We co n clu d e th at th e d ef en d an t f ailed to m ak e th e sh o w in g

req u ired b y

T en n essee R u le o f E v id en ce 2 0 1 (b ), an d

, acco rd in g ly , th e reco rd su p p o rts th e

ru lin g o f th e trial co u rt.

-12-T h is assig n m en t is w ith o u t m erit.

C O N C L U S IO N

B ased u p o n th e f

o reg o in g au th o rities an d reaso n in g , th e j u d g m en t o f th e trial co u rt is af f irm ed

.

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

. G L E N N

, J U D G E

-13-