IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT JACKSON

April 11, 2017 Session

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. JUSTICE BALL

Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County

No. 14-06091 Glenn Ivy Wright, Judge

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No. W2016-01358-CCA-R3-CD

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A Shelby County jury found the defendant, Justice Ball, guilty of especially aggravated 

kidnapping, aggravated robbery, carjacking, employing a firearm during a dangerous 

felony, and evading arrest. The trial court imposed an effective fifteen-year sentence to 

be served at one hundred percent, and the defendant appealed. On appeal, the defendant 

challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions, arguing the 

evidence was insufficient to find him criminally responsible for the indicted offenses, 

while further challenging the constitutionality of the criminal responsibility statute. The 

defendant also argues the trial court erred in instructing the jury on criminal 

responsibility and their duty to not independently investigate the case. The defendant 

asserts the trial court erred by not granting his pre-trial motion to suppress or motion for a 

mistrial made during the State’s case-in-chief. Finally, the defendant asserts the trial 

court’s cumulative errors warrant a new trial. After our review, we affirm the judgments 

of the trial court.

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

J. ROSS DYER, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which ALAN E. GLENN and 

TIMOTHY L. EASTER, JJ., joined.

Gregory D. Allen, Memphis, Tennessee, for the appellant, Justice Ball.

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

General; Amy P. Weirich, District Attorney General; and Austin Scofield and Omar 

Malik, Assistant District Attorneys General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

OPINION

06/07/2017
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FACTS

In the early morning hours of July 8, 2014, four men carjacked, kidnapped, and 

robbed Muhammed Ceesay, the victim, as he was driving home from work in Shelby 

County, Tennessee. While pursuing the stolen vehicle, an officer saw the defendant jump 

out of and run from the victim’s car. As a result, the defendant was charged with 

especially aggravated kidnapping, Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-305; 

aggravated robbery, Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-402; carjacking, 

Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-404; employing a firearm during the 

commission of a dangerous felony, Tennessee Code Annotated sections 39-17-1324(b); -

1324(i)(1); and evading arrest, Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-16-603.

At the joint trial of the defendant and co-defendant, Kennith Kimble, the victim

stated he was driving home from work at approximately 3:20 a.m. on July 8, 2014, when 

his 1996 Toyota Rav 4 stalled as he approached a red light on Shelby Drive. At the time, 

the driver’s side window was rolled down and the doors were unlocked. As the car 

restarted, two men approached the victim’s stationary car. One man hit the victim across 

the face with a gun, and both men began demanding money. Despite giving the men his 

wallet and cell phone, the two men got into the backseat of the victim’s car, continued to 

hit him, and told him to drive to an ATM located at the First Tennessee Bank branch on 

Shelby Drive. The frightened victim complied. 

On the way to the bank, the men instructed the victim to stop near the WalMart on

Shelby Drive. There, the men in the backseat started “shouting at two of their friends 

across the road.” The two “friends” got into the victim’s car, “one of them jumped in the 

back and one of them jumped in the front.” According to the victim, the defendant was

the “friend” who got into the front seat and Kimble got into the backseat. Kimble 

demanded the gun from the man who initially hit the victim, and continued hitting the 

victim, while the defendant did not say anything or hit him. The victim explained he 

intentionally looked at the men in his car throughout the incident. He also stated he did 

not give any of the men permission to enter his car.

After picking up the defendant and Kimble, the men told the victim to drive to 

another ATM located at a gas station near Kirby Parkway and Shelby Drive. There, the 

victim tried to explain to the men that he could not withdraw cash. Upon hearing this, the 

original gunman hit the victim on the head, causing him to fall out of the car. The victim 

explained, “when he hit me, I felt dizzy and my weight fell on the door and the door 

opened, because it was already unlocked.” After falling out of the car, the victim ran 

away and called police from a nearby gas station. During the incident, the victim was 

forced to drive several city blocks with the four men.
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Officer Brandon Hazlerig with the Memphis Police Department responded to the 

victim’s call around 3:20 a.m. When he arrived at the gas station, he noted the victim 

“had a swollen, bloody lip and he was very nervous, scared.” The victim explained four 

black males carjacked him and gave a description of his vehicle. Less than ten minutes 

later, dispatch announced that the victim’s car had been located. Specifically, Officer 

David Garrett spotted the victim’s car on Hickory Hill and Mingle Drive. He began 

following the car as it headed northbound on Hickory Hill. Officer Garrett stayed 

approximately one hundred feet behind the car, explaining that he “followed it, giving 

directions through dispatch for other cars to come into the area to assist.” While

following the victim’s car, Officer Garrett noticed “[t]he vehicle slowed to, maybe, five 

to ten miles per hour, so I realized they were getting ready to bail.” At that time, Officer 

Garrett turned on the headlights, a spotlight, and the blue lights on his patrol car.

After jumping out of the car, two of the suspects ran north and two ran south. 

Officer Garrett stated he clearly saw the defendant run from the car. He testified, “[t]he 

rear passenger side door flew open and a male black jumped out, however, he stumbled 

and fell in the street. When he popped up, he popped up right in front of my, looking 

right into my headlights and I immediately recognized him as Justice Ball.” Officer 

Anthony Billingsley testified that he helped establish a perimeter after the suspects ran

from the victim’s car. He saw footprints emerging from the wood-line, and ultimately 

arrested Kimble as a result. Though Officer Billingsley’s name is listed on the 

defendant’s arrest ticket, he maintained he did not arrest the defendant. Additionally, 

Officer Billingsley explained he did not photograph the scene.

Michael Coburn, a crime scene investigator with the Memphis Police Department, 

processed the victim’s 1996 Toyota Rav 4 after the July 8, 2014 crimes. Investigator

Coburn photographed items found inside the victim’s car, including two cell phones and 

the victim’s wallet and its contents. He also lifted fingerprints from the victim’s cell 

phone and the exterior of the victim’s car. Nathan Gathright, an expert in latent prints, 

testified that the defendant’s left palm print was found on the victim’s cell phone, and 

prints belonging to a man named Malik Pounds were found on the exterior of the victim’s 

car.

Finally, the State offered the defendant’s statement into evidence through Sergeant 

Reginal Titus of the Memphis Police Department. Sergeant Titus interviewed the 

defendant after the defendant waived his Miranda rights. See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 

U.S. 436, 444 (1966). Sergeant Titus explained that he believed the defendant “tried to 

downplay his involvement” as he explained the events of July 8, 2014. In the statement, 

which Sergeant Titus read into the record, the defendant admitted to fleeing from the 

victim’s car, but stated he “didn’t know nothing about the stolen car but [he] knew about 

them trying to get the money and taking him to the ATM.” The defendant admitted to 
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turning off the victim’s cell phone but stated the other men told him “to turn it off 

because they can track it.” The defendant stated he “was sitting in the back behind the 

passenger,” and noted that he did not hit the victim while in the car.

In his statement, the defendant further explained that after failing to get cash from 

the victim at the ATM, another suspect “pushed the victim away,” and they drove off. 

The defendant claimed he asked the men to take him home, but a police car, with its 

lights on, started following them. The defendant told the men to pull over and “[j]ust 

take the ticket,” but they continued driving down Myers Road instead. The defendant 

stated, “[w]hen the car started slowing down, everybody hopped out. When everybody 

hopped out, the car was still moving and I hit the ground and then I got up and start 

running.” The defendant ran into the woods as the victim’s car crashed, and was soon

arrested in the area, along with Kimble. After being arrested, officers took the defendants

to the Kroger on Hickory Hill where officers “let the victim identif[y]” the two suspects.

During their testimonies, the victim and Officer Hazlerig described the 

identification of the defendants in the Kroger parking lot. According to Officer Hazlerig, 

the showup occurred because two men were located in the area, “and we wanted to make 

sure that we had the right suspects.” Officer Hazlerig explained the showup procedure, 

as follows:

It is a procedure that we do where if we locate a suspect within an 

hour in the vicinity of a crime we are allowed to do what they call a single 

shot identification. We have to get approval from our supervisor, or he 

dictates whether we do it, or not. And that’s when we do the procedure 

where we bring a suspect in front, and we keep the victim in the squad car, 

so they could see a good view of the suspect and then they tell us if we 

have the right person.

According to Officer Hazlerig, officers followed this procedure. He explained that 

approximately thirty minutes passed between his initial meeting with the victim and the 

showup conducted in the Kroger parking lot located near Ridgeway Road and Hickory 

Hill Road. Officer Hazlerig stated that the victim’s car “had crashed in [the] area of 

Myers and Hickory Hill,” approximately four miles from the gas station where he 

initially met the victim. During the showup, the victim sat in the backseat of Officer 

Hazlerig’s patrol car as the defendant and Kimble “were taken out of the squad car, one 

at a time.” Officer Hazlerig told the victim “to take a good look at each one, tell me if he 

recognized those people as the ones that committed the crime.” At the time, the 

defendant was handcuffed, though the victim stated he could not tell, and illuminated by 

a spotlight. The victim told officers the defendant and Kimble were two of the men 

involved in the crimes against him.
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The defendant did not offer any proof in his defense. Kimble, however, testified

at trial. Aside from claiming he was misidentified, the only testimony Kimble offered 

pertinent to the defendant’s case was his attack on the credibility of Officers Billingsley 

and Garrett. Specifically, Kimble testified that the officers lied about his involvement in 

the crimes against the victim. At the close of the proof, the jury was unable to reach a 

decision as to Kimble’s charges. However, the jury returned a guilty verdict against the 

defendant on all of the charged offenses, and this appeal followed.

ANALYSIS

On appeal, the defendant presents several issues for our review. First, the 

defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence for his convictions obtained under 

the theory of criminal responsibility, arguing he was merely present during the crimes 

rather than an active participant. The defendant also challenges the constitutionality of 

the criminal responsibility statute and argues the trial court did not properly instruct the 

jury on criminal responsibility or their duty to not independently investigate the case. 

Additionally, the defendant asserts the trial court erred by not granting his motion to 

suppress or his motion for a mistrial. Finally, the defendant argues the trial court’s 

cumulative errors warrant a new trial. The State asserts sufficient evidence exists to 

sustain the defendant’s convictions and argues the defendant is not entitled to relief as to 

the alleged unconstitutionality of the criminal responsibility statute or the alleged errors 

of the trial court. Upon our thorough review of the record, we agree with the State and 

affirm the judgments of the trial court.

I. Sufficiency of the Evidence

When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged, the relevant question of the 

reviewing court is “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the 

prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime 

beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); see also

Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e) (“Findings of guilt in criminal actions whether by the trial court or 

jury shall be set aside if the evidence is insufficient to support the findings by the trier of 

fact of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”); State v. Evans, 838 S.W.2d 185, 190-92 

(Tenn. 1992); State v. Anderson, 835 S.W.2d 600, 604 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992). All 

questions involving the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given the 

evidence, and all factual issues are resolved by the trier of fact. See State v. Pappas, 754 

S.W.2d 620, 623 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). “A guilty verdict by the jury, approved by 

the trial judge, accredits the testimony of the witnesses for the State and resolves all 

conflicts in favor of the theory of the State.” State v. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Tenn. 

1973). Our Supreme Court has stated the rationale for this rule:
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This well-settled rule rests on a sound foundation. The trial judge and the 

jury see the witnesses face to face, hear their testimony and observe their 

demeanor on the stand. Thus the trial judge and jury are the primary 

instrumentality of justice to determine the weight and credibility to be 

given to the testimony of witnesses. In the trial forum alone is there human 

atmosphere and the totality of the evidence cannot be reproduced with a 

written record in this Court. 

Bolin v. State, 405 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tenn. 1966) (citing Carroll v. State, 370 S.W.2d 

523 (1963)). “A jury conviction removes the presumption of innocence with which a 

defendant is initially cloaked and replaces it with one of guilt, so that on appeal a 

convicted defendant has the burden of demonstrating that the evidence is insufficient.” 

State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982).

Guilt may be found beyond a reasonable doubt where there is direct evidence, 

circumstantial evidence, or a combination of the two. State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 

776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990) (citing State v. Brown, 551 S.W.2d 329, 331 (Tenn. 

1977); Farmer v. State, 343 S.W.2d 895, 897 (Tenn. 1961)). The standard of review for 

sufficiency of the evidence “‘is the same whether the conviction is based upon direct or 

circumstantial evidence.’” State v. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d 370, 379 (Tenn. 2011) 

(quoting State v. Hanson, 279 S.W.3d 265, 275 (Tenn. 2009)). The jury as the trier of 

fact must evaluate the credibility of the witnesses, determine the weight given to 

witnesses’ testimony, and reconcile all conflicts in the evidence. State v. Campbell, 245 

S.W.3d 331, 335 (Tenn. 2008) (citing Byrge v. State, 575 S.W.2d 292, 295 (Tenn. Crim. 

App. 1978)). Moreover, the jury determines the weight to be given to circumstantial 

evidence and the inferences to be drawn from this evidence, and the extent to which the 

circumstances are consistent with guilt and inconsistent with innocence are questions 

primarily for the jury. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d at 379 (citing State v. Rice, 184 S.W.3d 

646, 662 (Tenn. 2006)). This Court, when considering the sufficiency of the evidence, 

shall not reweigh the evidence or substitute its inferences for those drawn by the trier of 

fact. Id.

As alleged against the defendant by the State, one is “criminally responsible for an 

offense committed by the conduct of another, if: [a]cting with intent to promote or assist 

the commission of the offense, or to benefit in the proceeds or results of the offense, the 

person solicits, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another person to commit the offense.” 

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-402(2). If convicted under the criminal responsibility theory, 

defendants are “considered to be principal offenders, just as if they had committed the 

crime themselves.” State v. Little, 402 S.W.3d 202, 217 (Tenn. 2013) (citing State v. 

Carson, 950 S.W.2d 951, 954 (Tenn. 1997)).
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Generally, the defendant claims he did not have the requisite intent to be found 

criminally responsible for the crimes against the victim because he simply “entered the 

vehicle, sat there quietly, and never help[ed] in any manner.” While “[m]ere presence 

during the commission of a crime is insufficient to support a conviction,” we disagree 

with the defendant’s characterization of his involvement in the crimes against the victim.

Id. (citing Flippen v. State, 365 S.W.2d 895, 899 (1963)). The defendant was convicted 

under the theory of criminal responsibility as to especially aggravated kidnapping, 

aggravated robbery, carjacking, and employing a firearm during a dangerous felony. We 

will discuss the sufficiency of the evidence as it applies to each offense, in turn. 

First, the record clearly establishes that the defendant participated in the carjacking 

of the victim. A carjacking “is the intentional or knowing taking of a motor vehicle from 

the possession of another by use of: (1) [a] deadly weapon; or (2) [f]orce or intimidation.” 

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-404(a)(1), (a)(2). At trial, the victim described how two men 

gained entry into his car by hitting him across the face with a gun. Once in his car, the 

men demanded the victim drive to an ATM while continuing to hit him with the gun. 

The men then told the victim to stop to allow the defendant and Kimble in the car. The 

defendant took the victim’s phone and turned it off so as to avoid being “tracked” by the 

police. The four men ordered the victim to drive to another ATM where, after the victim 

explained he could not access any money, one of the men again hit the victim and

knocked him out of the car. The four men, including the defendant, then drove away in 

the victim’s car and did not abandon the stolen vehicle until they were followed by 

police. Officer Garrett testified that he saw the defendant jump out of the victim’s car 

and run away, and the defendant admitted the same in his statement to police. The 

defendant also admitted that he was aware of the plan to rob the victim, but claimed he 

was unaware that he entered a stolen car on July 8, 2014. Upon our review of the record, 

it is apparent the jury weighed the defendant’s statement against the vast amount of 

evidence produced against him at trial, and found in favor of the State. In addition, any 

inconsistencies alleged by the defendant were resolved by the jury in reaching their 

verdict. This Court will not reweigh the evidence. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d at 379.

Accordingly, sufficient evidence exists to show the defendant is criminally responsible 

for carjacking the victim. The defendant is not entitled to relief.

Similarly, the record shows the defendant confined the victim in his car in order to 

steal from him. Especially aggravated kidnapping occurs when one “knowingly removes 

or confines another unlawfully so as to interfere substantially with the other’s liberty” 

through the use of a deadly weapon. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-302(a); -305(a)(1). 

Robbery is “the intentional or knowing theft of property from the person of another by 

violence or putting the person in fear.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-401. An aggravated 

robbery occurs when the theft is “accomplished with a deadly weapon.” Tenn. Code 
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Ann. § 39-13-402(a)(1). To be found guilty under the theory of criminal responsibility, 

“[i]t is not, however, necessary for one to take a physical part in the crime; 

encouragement of the principal is sufficient.” Little, 402 S.W.3d at 217 (citing State v. 

McBee, 644 S.W.2d 425, 428 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1982)). 

Here, the victim testified that he did not give any of the men permission to enter 

his car on July 8, 2014. The victim was scared and forced to drive several miles to two 

ATM locations at gunpoint. The men took the victim’s cell phone and wallet, all while 

continuing to hit him with a gun. The victim was confined in the car and was only able to 

escape after being hit and falling into the unlocked driver’s side door while stopped at an 

ATM. The defendant argues that because he did not physically possess the gun, he 

cannot be convicted for especially aggravated kidnapping or aggravated robbery. 

However, the defendant need not physically hold the gun to be found criminally 

responsible for kidnapping or robbing the victim at gunpoint. This argument is without 

merit. Accordingly, sufficient evidence exists to show the defendant participated in 

confining the victim in his car and robbing him at gunpoint. See id.

The defendant was also convicted of employing a firearm during the commission 

of a dangerous felony, to wit: carjacking. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-17-1324(b)(1); -

1324(i)(1)(D). As detailed above, the record is undisputed that the crimes against the 

victim were accomplished through the use of a gun. The victim and responding officers 

testified to the presence of a gun at the scene of the crimes on July 8, 2014. No evidence 

was presented to rebut this fact. As such, sufficient evidence exists in the record to show 

the defendant committed the felonies of carjacking, especially aggravated kidnapping, 

and aggravated robbery through the use of a firearm. The defendant is not entitled to 

relief as to this conviction.

Though not addressed by the defendant, the record clearly supports the 

defendant’s evading arrest conviction as well. “[I]t is unlawful for any person to 

intentionally conceal themselves or flee by any means of locomotion from anyone the 

person knows to be a law enforcement officer if the person [] [k]nows the officer is 

attempting to arrest the person.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-603(a)(1)(A). The defendant 

admitted in his statement to running from the victim’s car after being followed by police 

with activated blue lights. Officer Garrett also testified he saw the defendant do so. 

Relying on the above analysis, sufficient evidence exists to support the defendant’s 

conviction for evading arrest. The defendant is not entitled to relief.

The defendant also argues the trial court erred in denying his motion for judgment 

of acquittal because it recognized “the proof was far less damming against [the 

defendant] than against his co-defendant, Mr. Kimble,” and “no rational juror could have 

concluded [the defendant] was guilty, especially over Mr. Kimble.” However, as 
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explained above, sufficient evidence exists in the record to support the defendant’s 

convictions regardless of his co-defendant’s trial results. “But verdicts as between two or 

more defendants tried together in a criminal case need not demonstrate rational 

consistency.” Pulley v. State, 506 S.W.2d 164, 169 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1973) (internal 

citations omitted). Accordingly, the jury’s failure to reach a unanimous verdict as to 

Kimble has no bearing on the outcome of the defendant’s case, and the trial court did not 

err in denying the defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal. This argument is 

without merit.

II. Motion to Suppress 

Suppression issues on appeal are subject to a well-established standard of review. 

Appellate courts are bound by a trial court’s findings of facts determined after a 

suppression hearing unless the evidence preponderates against them. State v. Odom, 928 

S.W.2d 18, 23 (Tenn. 1996); State v. Matthew T. McGee, No. E2011-01756-CCA-R3-

CD, 2012 WL 4017776, at *2 (Tenn. Crim. App. Sept. 13, 2012). “Questions of 

credibility of the witnesses, the weight and value of the evidence, and resolution of 

conflicts in the evidence are matters entrusted to the trial judge as the trier of fact.” 

Odom, 928 S.W.2d at 23. Appellate courts should consider the entire record, affording 

the prevailing party “the strongest legitimate view of the evidence and all reasonable 

inferences drawn from that evidence.” Matthew T. McGee, 2012 WL 4017776, at *2 

(citing State v. Hicks, 55 S.W.3d 515, 521 (Tenn. 2001)); see also State v. Sanders, 452 

S.W.3d 300, 306 (Tenn. 2014). However, applying the law to the factual findings of the 

trial court is a question of law, which is reviewed de novo on appeal. State v. Yeargan, 

958 S.W.2d 626, 629 (Tenn. 1997).

On appeal, the defendant suggests the “showup” identification of the defendant in 

the Kroger parking lot was improper. It is understood in Tennessee that though 

“showups,” like the one that occurred in this case, “are inherently suggestive,” they are 

permissible if “the showup occurs as an on-the-scene investigatory procedure shortly 

after the commission of the crime.” State v. Thomas, 780 S.W.2d 379, 381 (Tenn. Crim. 

App. 1989). At the suppression hearing, the trial court noted that the defendant’s 

“showup” was “suggestive,” but found it was allowed because it occurred “shortly after 

the crime, it was within one hour and that is permissible, by law.” We agree with the trial 

court’s assessment.

The evidence produced at trial established that the defendant’s “showup” occurred 

in the area of the criminal activity less than an hour after the victim’s initial meeting with 

police in accordance with Memphis Police Department policy. Officer Hazlerig 

explained the procedure of the Memphis Police Department and provided a timetable 

which established that the defendant’s identification occurred less than an hour after the 
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crimes were completed and in the same area of the criminal activity. Officer Hazlerig 

provided street names and details of the area which established that the Kroger parking 

lot was located in the same vicinity as the area where the victim’s car crashed, both off of 

Hickory Hill Road. The victim’s testimony corroborated that the “showup” occurred less 

than an hour after his initial interaction with police, and he further testified that he 

intentionally looked at the men in his car throughout the criminal episode. As a result, 

nothing in the record preponderates against the trial court’s finding that the “showup”

was permissible in this case. The defendant’s arguments on appeal are unpersuasive, and 

we affirm the trial court’s denial of the defendant’s motion to suppress.

III. Jury Instructions and the Criminal Responsibility Statute

Generally, the defendant asserts the trial court erred in instructing the jury on 

criminal responsibility. He argues “the proof did not fairly raise this instruction” as he 

was merely present during the crimes against the victim. However, it is well settled that 

“[t]rial courts should provide a jury instruction on criminal responsibility if the ‘issue is 

fairly raised by the evidence.’” Little, 402 S.W.3d at 217 (quoting State v. Andrew L. 

Collins, No. M2005-01685-CCA-R3-CD, 2006 WL 2380610, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App. 

Aug. 15, 2006). As explained above, the facts established at trial clearly warranted the 

instruction. 

In order to establish guilt through the theory of criminal responsibility, the State 

must show the defendant “knowingly, voluntarily and with common intent unite[d] with 

the principal offender[] in the commission of the crime.” Id. (quoting State v. Maxey,

898 S.W.2d 756, 757 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994) (internal citations omitted)). The State 

accomplished this at trial. Although the defendant told police that he was unaware the 

car was stolen, the defendant admitted he knew the plan was to force the victim to drive 

to ATMs in order to rob the victim. The defendant also admitted that he turned off the 

victim’s cell phone in order to evade the police. As a result, the defendant was indicted 

for the primary offenses of especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, 

carjacking, employing a firearm during a felony, and evading arrest. The trial court 

instructed the jury as to the charges, their lesser-included offenses, and criminal 

responsibility for the conduct of another. The defendant’s own statement was sufficient 

to establish that he was not only present during the crimes, but also that he had helped in 

the commission of the same. The trial court did not err by providing an instruction on 

criminal responsibility for the conduct of another.

The defendant further argues the trial court failed to give a proper jury instruction 

regarding criminal responsibility. Specifically, the defendant argues the trial court erred 

in providing the jury with the Tennessee Pattern Jury Instruction, rather than providing 
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the jury with specific language drafted by the defendant explaining criminal 

responsibility. Again, we disagree. 

“It is well-settled in Tennessee that a defendant has a right to a correct and 

complete charge of the law so that each issue of fact raised by the evidence will be 

submitted to the jury on proper instructions.” State v. Farner, 66 S.W.3d 188, 204 (Tenn. 

2001) (citing State v. Garrison, 40 S.W.3d 426, 432 (Tenn. 2000); State v. Teel, 793 

S.W.2d 236, 249 (Tenn. 1990)). Accordingly, trial courts have the duty to give “a 

complete charge of the law applicable to the facts of the case.” State v. Davenport, 973 

S.W.2d 283, 287 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998) (citing State v. Harbison, 704 S.W.2d 314, 

319 (Tenn. 1986)). An instruction will only be considered prejudicially erroneous if it 

fails to submit the legal issues fairly or misleads the jury as to the applicable law. State v. 

Faulkner, 154 S.W.3d 48, 58 (Tenn. 2005) (citing State v. Vann, 976 S.W.2d 93, 101 

(Tenn. 1998)).

With respect to criminal responsibility, the trial court instructed the jury as 

follows:

The defendants are criminally responsible as a party to the offenses 

of: Especially Aggravated Kidnapping; Aggravated Robbery; Carjacking; 

Employing a Firearm during a Felony; Intentionally Evading Arrest with a 

Motor Vehicle and Evading Arrest, if the offenses were committed by the 

defendant’s own conduct, by the conduct of another for which the 

defendant is criminally responsible, or by both. Each party to the offense 

may be charged with the commission of the offense.

The defendant is criminally responsible for an offense committed by 

the conduct of another if, acting with the intent to promote or assist the 

commission of the offense, or to benefit in the proceeds or results of the 

offense, the defendant solicits, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another 

person to commit the offense.

In deciding the criminal responsibility of the defendant, the jury may 

also take into consideration any evidence offered that the defendant 

attempted to thwart or withdraw from any of the offenses that followed 

from the original offense.

To find a defendant criminally responsible for the acts of another, it 

is not necessary that you find the defendant was present or that the 

defendant took a physical part in the crime; encouragement of the principal 
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offender is sufficient. However, mere presence during the commission of 

the offense is not sufficient to support a conviction.

Before you find the defendants guilty of being criminally responsible 

for said offenses committed by the conduct of another, you must find that 

all the essential elements of said offenses have been proven by the State 

beyond a reasonable doubt.

This instruction was almost identical to the instruction found in the Tennessee 

Pattern Jury Instructions. See T.P.I. - Crim. 3.01 (19th ed. 2015). This Court has 

previously described pattern instruction 3.01 as “a correct statement of the law.” State v. 

Mario Green, No. W2006-01383-CCA-R3-CD, 2008 WL 2331020, at *7 (Tenn. Crim. 

App. June 5, 2008). Accordingly, the trial court did not err when denying the defendant’s 

request for a different instruction. The defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.

Finally, the defendant argues the criminal responsibility theory, statute, and jury 

instruction are unconstitutional. The State asserts the defendant has waived this issue 

“because he did not file a pre-trial motion challenging the constitutionality of the criminal 

responsibility statute.” However, regardless of the State’s waiver argument, this Court 

recently held that the criminal responsibility statute is not void for vagueness and is 

constitutional. See State v. George G. Thomas, No. E2013-01738-CCA-R3-CD, 2015 

WL 513583, at *28-30 (Tenn. Crim. App. Feb. 5, 2015), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Aug.

12, 2015), cert. denied, 136 S. Ct. 1458 (2016); see also Gallaher v. Elam, 104 S.W.3d 

455, 459 (Tenn. 2003) (“In evaluating the constitutionality of a statute, we begin with the 

presumption that an act of the General Assembly is constitutional.”). This issue is 

without merit.

IV. Mistrial

Courts should only declare a mistrial in a criminal matter when required by 

manifest necessity. State v. Millbrooks, 819 S.W.2d 441, 443 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). 

A mistrial is an appropriate remedy when the trial cannot continue or a miscarriage of 

justice would result if it did. State v. McPherson, 882 S.W.2d 365, 370 (Tenn. Crim. 

App. 1994). The decision to grant a mistrial is within the sound discretion of the trial 

court, and this Court will not interfere absent a clear abuse appearing on the face of the 

record. State v. Hall, 976 S.W.2d 121, 147 (Tenn. 1998). The party seeking the mistrial 

has the burden of establishing the necessity for it. State v. Williams, 929 S.W.2d 385, 

388 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996).

On appeal, the defendant argues the trial court abused its discretion by denying his 

motion for mistrial made during the testimony of Officer Garrett. While providing his 
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narrative of the events that occurred on July 8, 2014, Officer Garrett testified that he 

recognized the defendant when he fled from the victim’s car. According to the 

defendant, Officer Garrett’s testimony “l[e]d to the impermissible inference that [Officer] 

Garrett knew [the defendant] previously due to an arrest or some negative interaction 

with police.” The State disagrees, citing additional testimony from Officer Garrett 

wherein he stated “that he had met the defendant through prior community outreach 

efforts made by the police department to improve community relations.” 

Upon our review of the record, we do not find that Officer Garrett’s testimony 

warrants a mistrial. When read in full context, Officer Garrett did not imply he knew the 

defendant through prior arrests. Rather, when Officer Garrett testified that he and the 

defendant knew each other “[]very well,” the defendant immediately moved for a 

mistrial. The trial court overruled the defendant’s motion and allowed Officer Garrett to 

“clear this up” by explaining his familiarity with the defendant. Officer Garrett then 

testified that he recognized the defendant through his work in “community policing,” 

which he defined as “when officers are involved in the neighborhoods.” Thus, Officer 

Garrett specifically explained that he knew the defendant only through his work in 

community policing. As such, the defendant has failed to meet his burden and is not 

entitled to relief as to this issue.

V. Jury Instructions Regarding Outside Research

The defendant argues “it was error for the [c]ourt not to instruct the jury to not 

perform their own investigation or research the case outside of trial on the first day of 

trial.” However, “[a] party challenging the validity of a verdict must produce admissible 

evidence to make an initial showing that the jury was exposed to extraneous prejudicial 

information or subjected to an improper outside influence.” State v. Adams, 405 S.W.3d 

641, 651 (Tenn. 2013) (citing Caldararo ex rel. Caldararo v. Vanderbilt Univ., 794 

S.W.2d 738, 740-41 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1990)). The defendant has failed to meet his initial 

burden because he has not presented any evidence that the jury was exposed to 

extraneous information or outside influence. Absent evidence of abuse, the defendant is 

not entitled to relief. Furthermore, the record shows the trial court instructed the jury on 

their duty to not investigate the case at the start of the second day of trial. This Court 

presumes the jury followed the trial court’s instructions. State v. Joshua R. Starner, No. 

M2014-01690-CCA-R3-CD, 2016 WL 1620778, at *21 (Tenn. Crim. App. Apr. 20, 

2016) (citing State v. Young, 196 S.W.3d 85, 111 (Tenn. 2006); State v. Shaw, 37 S.W.3d 

900, 904 (Tenn. 2001)). This issue is without merit. 
- 14 -

VI. Cumulative Error

The defendant argues he was denied a fair trial because of an accumulation of 

errors by the trial court. We discern no error by the trial court, so the defendant’s 

argument is without merit. See State v. Odom, 137 S.W.3d 572, 605 (Tenn. 2004).

CONCLUSION

Based upon the foregoing authorities and reasoning, the judgments of the trial 

court are affirmed.

____________________________________

 J. ROSS DYER, JUDGE