IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT NASHVILLE

Assigned on Briefs October 18, 2000

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. NICHOLAS WILLIAMS

Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Giles County

Nos. 8650, 8651, 8652 Jim T. Hamilton, Judge

No. M1999-00780-CCA-R3-CD - Filed July 3, 2001

In 1998, the Giles County Grand Jury indicted the Defendant for one count of statutory rape and ten

counts of sexual battery. In 1999, a Giles County jury tried the Defendant and found him guilty of

one count of statutory rape and five counts of sexual battery. Following a hearing, the trial court

sentenced the Defendant to two years incarceration for each conviction and ordered that five of the

six sentences be served consecutively, resulting in an effective sentence of ten years. The Defendant

now appeals as of right, arguing (1) that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support

his convictions for sexual battery; (2) that the trial court erred by consolidating all counts for trial;

and (3) that he was improperly sentenced. We conclude that the evidence is insufficient as to one

count of sexual battery and thus reverse one of the Defendant’s convictions for sexual battery. In

addition, we conclude that the trial court erred by consolidating all counts for trial, but conclude that

this error was harmless. Finally, following our reversal of the sexual battery conviction in case 8652,

count one, with a two-year sentence, and a de novo review of the remaining sentences imposed by

the trial court, we conclude that an effective sentence of eight years in the Tennessee Department of

Corrections is appropriate.

Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Reversed in Part and

Affirmed in Part

ROBERT W.WEDEMEYER,J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which THOMAS T.WOODALL and

NORMA MCGEE OGLE, JJ., joined.

Claudia Jack, Beverly J. White and Shipp Weems, Pulaski, Tennessee, for the appellant, Nicholas

Williams.

Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Todd R. Kelley, Assistant Attorney General;

Elizabeth T. Ryan, Assistant Attorney General; T. Michael Bottoms, District Attorney General;

Patrick S. Butler, Assistant District Attorney General; and Richard H. Dunavant, Assistant District

Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

OPINION
1

 Due to the a ges of the victims and the natu re of the crime s, we will refer to the v ictims by initial only.

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In July 1998, the Giles County Grand Jury indicted the Defendant, Nicholas Williams, for

one count of statutory rape and ten counts of sexual battery. In June 1999, the trial court granted the

State’s motion to consolidate all offenses for trial. Prior to trial, the State dismissed five counts of

sexual battery. In June 1999, the Defendant was tried by jury and found guilty of one count of

statutory rape and five counts of sexual battery. The trial court sentenced the Defendant as a Range

I standard offender to two years incarceration for statutory rape and to two years incarceration for

each count of sexual battery. The trial court ordered that five of the counts be served consecutively

for an effective sentence of ten years. 

The Defendant now appeals his convictions and sentence, arguing (1) that the trial court erred

by consolidating all counts for trial; (2) that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions

for sexual battery; and (3) that he was improperly sentenced. We reverse one of the Defendant’s

convictions for sexual battery because we agree that the evidence was insufficient to support this

conviction. We also conclude that the trial court erred by consolidating all counts for trial, but find

such error harmless.

The charges in this case stem from a series of incidents involving three friends of the

Defendant’s daughter. The friends, all victims in this trial, were M.B., G.M., and A.Y.1 At trial, the

Defendant’s daughter, Amanda Williams, testified that in 1997, she began her senior year of high

school and moved to Lynnville, Tennessee with her father, the Defendant, who was thirty-eight years

old at the time. Williams testified that she became friends with a number of girls at her high school

and asked many of her friends to visit the two-bedroom trailer where she lived with her father.

Williams maintained that her father pressured her to bring friends to their home, and she testified

that if she did not “[f]ind someone to come over,” she “would get in trouble.” Williams stated that

when she brought friends home, the Defendant provided alcohol and marijuana for them at the

trailer. She recalled that she and her friends would drink alcohol, smoke marijuana, and play cards

with the Defendant. She also testified that the Defendant sometimes took her and her friends to

Columbia for a movie or dinner, and she recalled that on these occasions, the Defendant always

“paid everyone’s way.” 

According to Williams, the first friend to visit their home was M.B., who was seventeen

years old at the time. Williams stated that she introduced M.B. to the Defendant, and they became

friends. Williams testified that the Defendant eventually told her that he and M.B. were “kind of like

dating.” According to Williams, the Defendant revealed to her that he and M.B. “had sex, but when

she told him to stop, he did. And it would have gone further, but [M.B.] didn’t want it to, and they

quit.” Williams stated that the Defendant put M.B.’s senior photograph on their living room wall

“‘[c]ause they liked each other.”

Several months later, A.Y., a fifteen-year-old high school freshman, began to visit the

Williams’ trailer. Williams testified that she, A.Y., and the Defendant “would party and go places

together.” She stated that on weekends, they would usually “go out, but . . . sometimes [they] would
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stay home, get drunk and smoke weed” provided by the Defendant. Williams recalled that one night

when A.Y. visited her home, the Defendant pressured Williams to “get [A.Y.] to keep drinking, ‘til

she’d pass out.” Williams stated that she complied with her father’s request, and A.Y. continued to

consume alcohol. Eventually, A.Y. fell asleep in Williams’ bedroom. Williams testified that she

slept on the couch that night because the Defendant told Williams not to enter her room until he

came out. Williams stated that her father entered the bedroom with A.Y., stayed for a few minutes,

and then left. The Defendant later told Williams that “when [A.Y.] was asleep, he tried to mess with

her, and she would . . . roll over and tell him, no, and he would quit.” Williams testified that she

spoke with A.Y. on the telephone after that night. After their conversation, in response to a question

A.Y. had asked her on the phone, she asked her father “if [A.Y.] would come over again, would he

promise not to bother her like last time and to have her just be a friend.” 

Williams recalled that on another occasion, the Defendant transported her, her former

boyfriend, and A.Y. to Columbia for the evening. She stated that while she and the Defendant were

driving to pick up A.Y., the Defendant told Williams to stay in the front seat of the car so that he

could ride in the back seat with A.Y. In addition, Williams testified that her father gave A.Y. a

birthstone ring that he had purchased for her at Wal-Mart.

On cross-examination, Williams testified that police officers had told her that if she did not

“tell [the police] everything [she] knew,” she would be charged with contributing to the delinquency

of a minor, and she stated that this frightened her. She also admitted that her friends, especially

A.Y., often wanted to come to her home. In addition, she testified that she and her friends smoked

marijuana and consumed alcohol at parties outside of her home. She stated that her friends

sometimes had marijuana of their own, but she explained that her father always provided the alcohol

and marijuana at their home. Finally, Williams testified that when she smoked marijuana, her

memory sometimes became foggy, but she insisted that she remembered all of the events that she

had testified about on direct examination.

M.B. testified that during her senior year of high school, she became friends with Amanda

Williams, and she started occasionally spending the night at the Williams’ trailer in Lynnville. She

recalled that one Sunday after she spent the night there, she and Williams went to church. When

they arrived back at the trailer after church, Williams decided to visit her boyfriend and asked M.B.

to stay at the trailer. After Williams left, M.B. and the Defendant sat on the couch and began to talk.

While they talked, the Defendant put his arm around M.B. M.B. recalled that “at first, [she] was

willing.” She testified, 

You know, he kissed me and I kissed him back. And then it started going onto more

stuff. And he tried to touch my breast . . . . And he undone his pants and pulled out

his penis. . . . [H]e tried to get me to touch it, . . . and I was like, no . . . . just leave

me alone.

M.B. testified that the Defendant then pulled back her dress, pushed aside her panties, and penetrated

her vaginally with his penis. M.B. continued to protest, however, and the Defendant “finally just

stopped.” M.B. then called Williams and asked her to return home.
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M.B. testified that some time after this incident, she returned to the Williams’ trailer with two

of her friends to pick up Amanda Williams. She stated that the Defendant was present when they

arrived, and she “told him to leave [her] alone.” M.B. testified, “[The Defendant] started calling me

and [Amanda Williams] slut, . . . and he wouldn’t let [Amanda Williams] go out with me, just ‘cause

I wouldn’t stay there with him. . . . And he wouldn’t even let me and Mandy talk [n]o more, just

‘cause I wouldn’t stay there no more.” 

M.B. further testified that she gave Williams a copy of her senior photograph. She stated that

the Defendant put the photograph in a picture frame on the living room wall and later placed it in his

Bible. She also recalled that when she visited the Williams’ trailer, she sometimes consumed

alcohol and smoked marijuana that the Defendant provided for her and for his daughter.

G.M., who was fifteen years old at the time of the crimes, testified that she was friends with

Amanda Williams and A.Y. She stated that she visited the Williams’ trailer several times, where

she drank alcohol and smoked marijuana bought by the Defendant. She recalled that one night while

she was at the trailer, she, Williams, and A.Y. went to sleep in Williams’ bed. She stated that while

they slept, the Defendant entered Williams’ bedroom and “mess[ed] with” A.Y. She recalled that

she and A.Y. discussed the incident the following morning. 

G.M. testified that on another occasion when she visited the trailer, she played cards with

Amanda Williams and the Defendant while they all drank and smoked marijuana. Afterwards, G.M.

went into Williams’ bedroom to sleep while Williams slept on the couch in the living room.

According to G.M., about fifteen to twenty minutes after she got into the bed, the Defendant entered

the bedroom. G.M., who was lying on her stomach at the time, felt him put his hands “underneath

the elastic of [her] shorts” and try to pull them down. She testified that the Defendant’s hand was

on her buttocks. G.M. testified that when this happened, she moved “to make him think [she] was

waking up,” and he left the room. However, a few minutes later, he returned and tried again. G.M.

stated that this happened about five times until she finally rolled herself up in the blanket. G.M.

testified that she never returned to the Williams’ trailer after the incident.

A.Y. also testified at trial. She stated that she was a freshman in high school at the time of

the crimes in this case. She recalled that she and Amanda Williams were “best friends” at that time

and that she visited the Williams’ trailer two or three times a week after she and Williams became

friends. A.Y. testified that she kept a journal in which she recorded several incidents that occurred

at the Williams’ home. She stated that on March 26, 1998, she went to the trailer after school and

spent the night there with the Defendant, Williams, and G.M. She recalled that during the evening,

they all played cards, smoked marijuana, and drank alcohol. Afterwards, she, Williams, and G.M.

fell asleep in Williams’ bed. A.Y. stated that she was awakened by the Defendant, who was

caressing her legs. When she realized what was happening, she kicked him and then fell back asleep.

The Defendant, according to A.Y., left the room, but came back in numerous times to rub her legs.

Each time, she kicked him, and eventually, he stopped. A.Y. stated that while the Defendant was

in the room, she tried to awaken Williams and G.M. by hitting them, but neither of them woke up.

A.Y. testified that the next morning she told G.M. what had happened and then went home. 
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On March 28, 1998, A.Y. returned to the Williams’ home. A.Y. testified that on that night,

as they did on each occasion she visited the Williams’ home, she, Williams, and the Defendant got

“drunk and high” by drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana bought by the Defendant. At the end

of the night, she and Williams fell asleep in Williams’ bed. Again, the Defendant entered the

bedroom and began caressing A.Y.’s legs, and A.Y. kicked him. A.Y. stated that when he rubbed

her legs, the Defendant rubbed her legs “above [her] knee[s].” Several times, the Defendant

attempted to caress A.Y.’s legs while she slept, and several times, she kicked him. A.Y. testified that

every time the Defendant believed she had fallen back asleep, he would begin to touch her. A.Y.

stated that she tried “to curl up in the covers, to try to get away from him, . . . just hoping he

wouldn’t come in there.”

A.Y. testified that another incident occurred on the night of April 3, 1998. A.Y. stated that

during the evening, she, Williams, and the Defendant drank several shots of tequila and smoked

marijuana. The Defendant encouraged her to keep drinking when she wanted to stop. She recalled

that after she and Williams “passed out,” A.Y. awakened to find the Defendant’s hand inside of her

shorts underneath her panties. When she woke up, she kicked the Defendant, and the Defendant

apparently left the room. On April 9, 1998, a similar incident occurred. A.Y. stated that after she,

Williams, and the Defendant “‘got drunk and high” and she “passed out,” the Defendant woke her

up by trying to “jerk [her shorts] off of [her].” A.Y. recalled that when this happened, the Defendant

was holding the back of her shorts while trying to pull them down. She stated that his fingers were

inside of her panties and that the Defendant managed to pull her shorts and panties below her

buttocks. 

When asked why she continued to return to the Williams’ home despite these incidents, A.Y.

responded that she did so because Amanda Williams “would beg [her] to go over there.” She also

testified that Williams and the Defendant “would show up at [her] softball practices,” and she left

with them because she was afraid to tell her mother what had occurred at the Williams’ trailer. A.Y.

recalled that once when the Defendant and Williams arrived at her softball practice, Williams

retrieved a birthstone ring from the glove compartment of their car and handed it to A.Y. A.Y. stated

that she understood the ring to be a gift from the Defendant. 

A.Y. said she once told Amanda Williams that she would not come over because she “didn’t

want [the Defendant] touching” her. A.Y. heard Williams relay this message to the Defendant.

Later that day, Williams, the Defendant, and Williams’ former boyfriend drove to A.Y.’s house to

take her out that evening. A.Y. recalled that when they arrived, Williams and her former boyfriend

were sitting in the front seat of the car, and the Defendant was sitting in the back seat. However,

A.Y. told Williams that she did not feel comfortable sitting in the back seat with the Defendant, and

they changed seating positions. 

A.Y. testified that one day at school she noticed that Amanda Williams’ eye was injured.

Although Williams claimed that a screen door had hit her, A.Y. began to suspect that the Defendant

was abusing Williams. A.Y. therefore considered reporting the Defendant’s actions to the police.
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She wrote a letter to G.M. detailing what the Defendant had done to her, but before she could deliver

it to G.M., A.Y.’s mother discovered the letter. A police investigation ensued.

Deputy Joey Dickey of the Giles County Sheriff’s Department testified that he investigated

the allegations against the Defendant in this case. He stated that he initially interviewed G.M. and

A.Y. separately, and based on their interviews, he decided to conduct an additional interview of M.B.

Chief Investigator Michael Chapman of the Giles County Sheriff’s Department testified that he

arranged for Amanda Williams to be interviewed by a female employee of the Department of

Children’s Services because he was concerned that Williams may have been victimized byherfather.

He stated that after he received the results of all interviews, he obtained a warrant and arrested the

Defendant.

I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

The Defendant contests the sufficiency of the evidence used to convict him. The jury found

the Defendant guilty of one count of statutory rape against victim M.B., one count of sexual battery

against victim G.M., and four counts of sexual battery against victim A.Y. The Defendant argues

that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of all five counts of sexual battery. With regard

to his convictions for sexual battery against victim A.Y, he argues that there was no “sexual contact,”

as defined by our statute, with any of the victim’s “intimate parts.” See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-

501(2), (6). He further contends that no evidence was presented that each alleged sexual battery was

accomplished by means of force or coercion. 

When an accused challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court’s standard

of review is whether, after considering 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, 324 (1979); State v. Duncan, 698 S.W.2d 63, 67 (Tenn.

1985); Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e). This rule applies to findings of guilt based upon direct evidence,

circumstantial evidence, or a combination of both direct and circumstantial evidence. State v. Dykes,

803 S.W.2d 250, 253 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990), overruled on other grounds, State v. Hooper, 29

S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2000). 

In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court should not re-weigh or re-evaluate

the evidence. State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). Nor may this

Court substitute its inferences for those drawn by the trier of fact from the evidence. Liakas v. State,

286 S.W.2d 856, 859 (Tenn. 1956); State v. Buggs, 995 S.W.2d 102, 105 (Tenn. 1999). Questions

concerning the credibility of the witnesses, the weight and value of the evidence, as well as all

factual issues raised by the evidence are resolved by the trier of fact. Liakas, 286 S.W.2d at 859.

This Court must afford the State of Tennessee the strongest legitimate view of the evidence

contained in the record, as well as all reasonable inferences which may be drawn from the evidence.

State v. Evans, 838 S.W.2d 185, 191 (Tenn. 1992). Because a verdict of guilt against a defendant

removes the presumption of innocence and raises a presumption of guilt, the convicted criminal
2

 Although there are several means by w hich an individ ual can acc omplish sex ual battery, see id. § 39-13-

505(a)(1)-(4), the Defendant was indicted for each count of sexual ba ttery as follows: T he Defend ant “did unlaw fully,

intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, and forcibly or coercively en gage in sexual contact with” the victim. Thus, the

only means o f sexual battery tha t we may con sider is sexual b attery accom plished by fo rce or coe rcion. 

-7-

defendant bears the burden of showing that the evidence was legally insufficient to sustain a guilty

verdict. Id.

Sexual battery is defined, in pertinent part, as “unlawful sexual contact with a victim by the

defendant . . . accompanied by any of the following circumstances: (1) Force or coercion is used to

accomplish the act . . . .” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-505(a)(1).2

“Sexual contact” includes the intentional touching of the victim’s, the defendant’s,

or any other person’s intimate parts, or the intentional touching of the clothing

covering the immediate area of the victim’s , the defendant’s, or any other person’s

intimate parts, if that intentional touching can be reasonably construed as being for

the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification . . . .

Id. § 39-13-501(6). “‘Intimate parts’ includes the primary genital area, groin, inner thigh, buttock

or breast of a human being . . . .” Id. § 39-13-501(2). “Coercion” is defined as “the threat of

kidnapping, extortion, force or violence to be performed immediately or in the future.” Id. § 39-13-

505(b). Finally, “‘[f]orce’ means compulsion by the use of physical power or violence and shall be

broadly construed . . . .” Id. § 39-11-106(12).

The Defendant first contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions

for sexual battery against A.Y. because no evidence was presented that “unlawful sexual contact”

occurred. To properly resolve this question, we must carefully consider A.Y.’s testimony at trial:

A.Y. first testified that on March 26 while she slept, she “felt someone rubbing on her legs,” and she

“kicked them off.” She stated that this occurred several times. When asked how the Defendant

rubbed her legs, she stated, “He would get his hands, and . . . start rubbing them up my legs. And

when he would get up to about right here, I would kick him off of me.” There is no clarification in

the record of what A.Y. meant by “right here.” On cross-examination, defense counsel asked A.Y.

if the Defendant rubbed her legs “right up to about the knee,” and A.Y. responded, “Yes, ma’am.”

A.Y then testified that on March 28, the Defendant again rubbed her legs while she slept, and

she again kicked him. She stated that he touched her “[r]ight above her knee” and indicated to the

jury where the Defendant touched her. 

A.Y. next recalled that on April 3, she “woke up, and [the Defendant’s] hand was in [her]

shorts, trying to get underneath [her] pants.” She stated that his hands were “underneath [her] shorts,

under [her] panties” and showed the jury where the Defendant touched her. She testified that she

again “kicked him off.” 

Finally, A.Y. testified that on April 9, the Defendant “tried to jerk [her shorts] off” by

grabbing the back of her shorts and “jerk[ing]” them down. On this occasion, the Defendant’s hands
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were “underneath [her] panties and [her] shorts.” Again, A.Y. indicated to the jury where the

Defendant had touched her. On cross-examination, A.Y. recalled that the Defendant managed to pull

her shorts and panties down below her buttocks. 

Because the definition of “intimate parts” includes the “the primary genital area, groin, inner

thigh, [and] buttock,” of a human being, id. § 39-13-501(2), we conclude that sufficient evidence

was presented from which a jury could have determined that the Defendant had “unlawful sexual

contact” with A.Y. on March 28, April 3, and April 9. However, we must conclude that insufficient

evidence was presented to support the jury’s verdict that the Defendant had “unlawful sexual

contact” with A.Y. on March 26. A.Y. testified that on March 26, the Defendant rubbed her legs to

about the knee, and although she indicated to the jury where the Defendant touched her, the State

unfortunately failed to clarify on the record precisely where A.Y. was touched. No evidence is

included in the record indicating that the Defendant touched any part of A.Y.’s thigh, or any of her

other “intimate parts,” on March 26. Accordingly, we must reverse the Defendant’s conviction for

the sexual battery of A.Y. that occurred on March 26, 1998.

The Defendant next argues that the evidence was insufficient to show that each count of

sexual battery was accomplished by means of coercion or force. As previously stated, “coercion”

is defined as “the threat of kidnapping, extortion, force or violence to be performed immediately or

in the future,” id. § 39-13-505(b), and “‘[f]orce’ means compulsion by the use of physical power

or violence and shall be broadly construed . . . .” Id. § 39-11-106(12). 

Having reviewed the record, we conclude that sufficient evidence was presented that force

was used to accomplish all remaining counts of sexual battery as to A.Y. and the count of sexual

battery as to G.M. A.Y. testified that on each occasion that the Defendant tried to touch her, she

kicked him. She recalled that each time she kicked him, he left the room, but soon returned to try

to touch her again. In addition, she testified that on one occasion, the Defendant tried to “jerk” her

shorts off of her. In light of the foregoing, a rational trier of fact could reasonably have found that

the Defendant used force to commit each count of sexual battery against A.Y. 

Likewise, G.M. testified that she was lying on her stomach in bed when the Defendant

entered the room several times and tried repeatedly to pull her panties down. The Defendant

persisted in this behavior until G.M. eventually rolled herself into a blanket. Although G.M. made

an effort to protect herself by wrapping herself in the blanket, she testified, “I didn’t know if I should

say anything or not, because I didn’t know what he would do.” We conclude that a broad

construction of “force” could allow the jury to rationally conclude that the element of “force” was

proven beyond a reasonable doubt with regard to the Defendant’s conduct toward G.M. We thus

reverse one conviction for sexual battery on the basis of insufficient evidence and affirm all

remaining convictions. 
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II. CONSOLIDATION

The Defendant argues that the trial court erred by consolidating the offenses in this case for

trial. Rule 14 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure provides as follows: “If two or more

offenses have been joined or consolidated for trial . . . , the defendant shall have a right to a

severance of the offenses unless the offenses are part of a common scheme or plan and the evidence

of one would be admissible upon the trial of the others.” Tenn. R. Crim. P. 14(b)(1). A trial court’s

denial of a motion for severance under this rule will be reversed only when there has been an abuse

of discretion. State v. Shirley, 6 S.W.3d 243, 247 (Tenn. 1999). In Tennessee, there are three

categories of common scheme or plan evidence: (1) evidence showing a distinctive design or

signature crime; (2) evidence demonstrating a larger, continuing plan or conspiracy; and (3) evidence

that is part of the same transaction. State v. Moore, 6 S.W.3d 235, 240 (Tenn. 1999). “Before

multiple offenses may be said to reveal a distinctive design, . . . the ‘modus operandi employed must

be so unique and distinctive as to be like a signature.’” Id. (citing State v. Carter, 714 S.W.2d 241,

245 (Tenn.1986)). 

However, the Tennessee Supreme Court has noted that 

the mere existence of a common scheme or plan is not a proper justification for

admitting evidence of other crimes. Rather, admission of evidence of other crimes

which tends to show a common scheme or plan is proper to show identity, guilty

knowledge, intent, motive, to rebut a defense of mistake or accident, or to establish

some other relevant issue. Unless expressly tied to a relevant issue, evidence of a

common scheme or plan can only serve to encourage the jury to conclude that since

the defendant committed the other crime, he also committed the crime charged.

Id. at 239 n.5. The court has also stated that “a common scheme or plan for severance purposes is

the same as a common scheme or plan for evidentiary purposes.” Id. at 240 n.7. Thus, Tennessee

Rule of Evidence 404(b) is also relevant to our analysis of this issue. See State v. McCary, 922

S.W.2d 511, 513-14 (Tenn. 1996).

The crimes in this case can be construed as being part of a common scheme or plan in that

the evidence shows a distinctive design. The Defendant committed all of the offenses against friends

of his daughter who were visiting the Defendant’s home. The Defendant provided each victim with

alcohol and marijuana. Furthermore, in each instance except that involving M.B., the Defendant

touched the victim or tried to remove her shorts while she was “passed out” on his daughter’s bed.

However, we cannot conclude that evidence of each of the crimes in this case “would be

admissible upon the trial of the others,” Tenn. R. Crim. P. 14(b)(1), to establish some other relevant

issue. Although offenses that are part of a common scheme or plan are typically offered to establish

the identity of the perpetrator, Moore, 6 S.W.3d at 239; McCary, 922 S.W.2d at 514, identity is not

a material issue in this case. Nor do we find that the evidence is admissible to establish some other

relevant issue. We therefore conclude that the trial court erred by consolidating the cases for trial.
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Nevertheless, we conclude that this error was harmless. Rule 52(a) of the Tennessee Rules

of Criminal Procedure provides that “[n]o judgment of conviction shall be reversed on appeal except

for errors which affirmatively appear to have affected the result of the trial on the merits.” We

cannot conclude that consolidation of all charges in this case affirmatively affected the result of the

trial. With the exception of evidence presented concerning one count of sexual battery against A.Y.

which we have reversed on the basis of insufficient evidence, the State presented ample, strong

evidence to support each separate conviction in this case. Not only did each of the victims in this

case testify unequivocally that the Defendant committed the crimes of which he was convicted, but

the Defendant’s daughter verified much of the girls’ testimony. In addition, G.M. verified A.Y.’s

testimony as to at least one count of sexual battery. We believe that if this evidence had been

presented at separate trials, the trials would have yielded the same convictions. We therefore

conclude that the trial court’s error in consolidating the separate counts for trial was harmless. 

III. SENTENCING 

Finally, the Defendant contends that he was improperly sentenced. The trial court sentenced

the Defendant to two years incarceration for each count of sexual battery and to two years

incarceration for statutory rape. The trial court ordered that the Defendant’s sentence for two counts

of sexual battery be served concurrently, but consecutive to all other sentences. The court ordered

that all other sentences be served consecutively. The Defendant contests the length of his sentences.

He also argues that the trial court erred by ordering consecutive sentences and by denying alternative

sentencing.

When a criminal defendant challenges the length, range, or manner of service of a sentence,

the reviewing court must conduct a de novo review of the sentence with a presumption that the

determinations made by the trial court are correct. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d). This

presumption, however, “is conditioned upon the affirmative showing in the record that the trial court

considered the sentencing principles and all relevant facts and circumstances.” State v. Ashby, 823

S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991). In the event that the record fails to show such consideration, the

review of the sentence is purely de novo. State v. Shelton, 854 S.W.2d 116, 123 (Tenn. Crim. App.

1992). 

In making its sentencing determination, the trial court, at the conclusion of the sentencing

hearing, determines the range of sentence and then determines the specific sentence and the propriety

of sentencing alternatives by considering (1) the evidence, if any, received at the trial and the

sentencing hearing, (2) the presentence report, (3) the principles of sentencing and arguments as to

sentencing alternatives, (4) the nature and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved, (5)

evidence and information offered by the parties on the enhancement and mitigating factors, (6) any

statements the defendant wishes to make in the defendant's behalf about sentencing, and (7) the

potential for rehabilitation or treatment. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-35-210(a), (b), -103(5); State v.

Williams, 920 S.W.2d 247, 258 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
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Sexual battery and statutory rape are both Class E felonies. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-505(c),

-506(c). The presumptive sentence to be imposed by the trial court for a Class B, C, D or E felony

is the minimum within the applicable range unless there are enhancement or mitigating factors

present. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(c). If there are enhancement or mitigating factors, the court

must start at the presumptive sentence, enhance the sentence as appropriate for the enhancement

factors, and then reduce the sentence in the range as appropriate for the mitigating factors. Id. § 40-

35-210(e). The weight to be given each factor is left to the discretion of the trial judge. Shelton, 854

S.W.2d at123. However, the sentence must be adequately supported by the record and comply with

the purposes and principles of the 1989 Sentencing Reform Act. State v. Moss, 727 S.W.2d 229,

237 (Tenn. 1986).

When imposing a sentence, the trial court must make specific findings of fact on the record

supporting the sentence. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-209(c). The record should also include any

enhancement or mitigating factors applied by the trial court. Id. § 40-35-210(f). Thus, if the trial

court wishes to enhance a sentence, the court must state its reasons on the record. The purpose of

recording the court’s reasoning is to guarantee the preparation of a proper record for appellate

review. State v. Ervin, 939 S.W.2d 581, 584 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). 

If our review reflects that the trial court followed the statutory sentencing procedure, that the

court imposed a lawful sentence after having given due consideration and proper weight to the

factors and principles set out under the sentencing law, and that the trial court’s findings of fact are

adequately supported by the record, then we may not modify the sentence "even if we would have

preferred a different result." State v. Fletcher, 805 S.W.2d 785, 789 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). The

defendant bears the burden of showing the impropriety of the sentence imposed. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d

at 169.

In this case, the trial court failed to make an affirmative showing on the record that it

considered all relevant facts, circumstances, and sentencing principles in sentencing the Defendant.

Our review of the Defendant’s sentence is thus de novo without a presumption of correctness.

A. LENGTH OF SENTENCES

The Defendant first contests the length of his sentences. The sentencing range for a Range

I standard offender convicted of a Class E felony is between one and two years. Tenn. Code Ann.

§ 40-35-112(a)(5). In sentencing the Defendant, the trial court applied enhancement factor (4), that

“[a] victim of the offense was particularly vulnerable because of age,” and enhancement factor (15),

that “[t]he defendant abused a position of public or private trust . . . .” Id. § 40-35-114(4), (15). The

trial judge explained, “[T]hese children came home to someone’s home where . . . one of the parents

is there, and . . . we all know what type of trust children should, at least, put in a parent.” In addition,

the trial court stated, 

[The Defendant] was not charged or convicted of what I guess would have been

contributing to the delinquency of a minor, in that the proof showed he provided

alcohol and/or marijuana to these young girls at his home. And I think the Court will
-12-

have to consider that as an enhancing factor, even though he wasn’t convicted or

charged with those offenses . . . .

The trial court should not have considered “proof . . . [that the Defendant] provided alcohol

and/or marijuana to [the victims] at his home.” As the trial court pointed out, the Defendant was not

charged or convicted of any crime based on these allegations, and we note that there is no catch-all

provision for enhancement factors in our statute. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114.

The trial court, however, correctly applied enhancement factor (4) in sentencing the

Defendant for each remaining count of sexual battery. Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-114(4)

provides for enhancement of a defendant’s sentence when the victim of the offense is “particularly

vulnerable because of age or physical or mental disability . . . .” A victim is particularly vulnerable

if, due to her physical or mental limitations, she is incapable of resisting, summoning help, or

testifying against the perpetrator. State v. Adams, 864 S.W.2d 31, 35 (Tenn. 1993); State v. Clayton

Eugene Turner, No. 03C01-9805-CR-000176, 1999 WL 817690, at *18 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).

Furthermore, a victim’s physical or mental limitation may be temporary or self-induced. Clayton

Eugene Turner, 1999 WL 817690, at *18. The State must prove that a victim’s limitations render

her particularly vulnerable, and this is a factual issue to be determined by the trier of fact on a caseby-case basis. State v. Gray, 960 S.W.2d 598, 611 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997).

The Defendant committed three of the remaining counts of sexual battery against victim A.Y.

while she was asleep and intoxicated. He committed one count of sexual battery against G.M. while

she was intoxicated. We conclude that the sleeping, intoxicated minor victims in this case were

particularly vulnerable to the Defendant’s attack. See id.; Clayton Eugene Turner, 1999 WL 817690,

at *18. The record thus justifies application of enhancement factor (4) as to all remaining counts of

sexual battery. 

We note that enhancement factor (4) does not apply with regard to the statutory rape of M.B.,

who was neither intoxicated nor asleep at the time of the offense. However, we conclude that

enhancement factor (15) was appropriately applied with regard to the statutory rape of M.B., as well

as with regard to all remaining counts of sexual battery. See State v. Jernigan, 929 S.W.2d 391, 397

(Tenn. Crim. App. 1996); State v. Hayes, 899 S.W.2d 175, 187 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). The

Defendant was entrusted with the care of the victims while they visited his home and on other

occasions. He befriended the victims by buying them gifts, treating them to dinner and movies, and

engaging in other activities with them. After gaining their trust and friendship, he used his influence

to get them into an intoxicated state so that he could sexually abuse them. We therefore agree with

the trial court that the Defendant abused a position of private trust when committing these crimes.

With regard to mitigating factors, the trial court made the following findings:

Mitigating factors in this case, certainly the proof is plain, and the presentence

report is plain, that [the Defendant] completed a high school education. He evidently

has an excellent employment record with the company he’s employed with. He also
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has an exemplary military record. He has no prior criminal record, to speak of, other

than I believe one conviction of reckless driving.

 . . . I note over here in this presentence report, that in . . . Houston County .

. . although the case was never prosecuted, he was charged with . . . [a]ttempted

spousal rape.

. . . Another charge, here, that he brought up to the probation officer that he

was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor in December of 1995.

I don’t know anything about that. But here again, that obviously involved a minor

child in some respect.

In our de novo review of the record in this case, we find that mitigating factors were present

in this case: The Defendant does have an excellent work history. In addition, we note that he has

only one prior conviction for reckless driving in 1996. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-113(13).

However, we give the mitigating factors little weight and conclude that the mitigating factors are

outweighed by the enhancement factor in this case. We therefore conclude that the trial court

properly sentenced the Defendant to two years on each count.

B. CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES

The Defendant next contests the imposition of consecutive sentences. With regard to

consecutive sentencing, the trial court stated, 

The State has also requested consecutive sentencing and [h]as filed some

factors for the Court to consider. And of course, the Court has to consider the facts

of this case. I’ve already mentioned the fact that he did provide whiskey and

marijuana to these children and then attempted to . . . fondle them or undress them

while they slept in his daughter’s bedroom. 

It is within the sound discretion of the trial court whether or not an offender should be

sentenced consecutively or concurrently. State v. James, 688 S.W.2d 463, 465 (Tenn. Crim. App.

1984). A court may order multiple sentences to run consecutively if it finds by a preponderance of

the evidence that

(1) [t]he defendant is a professional criminal who has knowingly devoted

such defendant’s life to criminal acts as a major source of livelihood;

(2) [t]he defendant is an offender whose record of criminal activity is

extensive;

(3) [t]he defendant is a dangerous mentally abnormal person so declared by

a competent psychiatrist who concludes as a result of an investigation prior to

sentencing that the defendant’s criminal conduct has been characterized by a pattern

of repetitive or compulsive behavior with heedless indifference to consequences;

(4) [t]he defendant is a dangerous offender whose behavior indicates little or

no regard for human life, and no hesitation about committing a crime in which the

risk to human life is high;
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(5) [t]he defendant is convicted of two (2) or more statutory offenses

involving sexual abuse of a minor with consideration of the aggravating

circumstances arising from the relationship between the defendant and victim or

victims, the time span of the defendant’s undetected sexual activity; the nature and

scope of the sexual acts and the extent of the residual, physical and mental damage

to the victim or victims;

(6) [t]he defendant is sentenced for an offense committed while on probation;

or

(7) [t]he defendant is sentenced for criminal contempt.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-115(b)(1)-(7).

In this case, factor (5) is applicable and supports imposition of consecutive sentences. See

State v. Lane, 3 S.W.3d 456, 459-60 (Tenn. 1999). The Defendant was entrusted with the care of

the minor victims when they visited his home and used his influence as the parent of their friend to

gain access to the girls. He exploited his relationship with the victims by smoking marijuana and

drinking alcohol with the girls, often encouraging them to drink as much as possible apparently so

that they would be less likely to protest his subsequent actions. The Defendant then sexually abused

the girls, often while they slept and often despite their protests. The Defendant persisted in this

reprehensible conduct for a number of months, stopping only at the time of his arrest. In addition,

we note that two of the victims submitted victim impact statements describing the emotional damage

they suffered as a result of the Defendant’s abuse. We therefore conclude that the trial court’s

imposition of consecutive sentences is amply supported by the record.

C. ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING

Finally, the Defendant argues that he should have been granted some form of alternative

sentencing. Although the trial court obviously denied alternative sentencing in this case, the court

failed to state on the record its reasons for doing so. The court also failed to make an affirmative

showing on the record that it considered sentencing principles regarding alternative sentencing. As

previously stated, we therefore will proceed to review this issue de novo. 

Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-102(5) provides as follows: 

In recognition that state prison capacities and the funds to build and maintain them

are limited, convicted felons committing the most severe offenses, possessing

criminal histories evincing a clear disregard for the laws and morals of society, and

evincing failure of past efforts at rehabilitation shall be given first priority regarding

sentencing involving incarceration . . . . 

A defendant who does not fall within this class of offenders “and who is an especially mitigated

offender or standard offender convicted of a Class C, D, or E felony is presumed to be a favorable

candidate for alternative sentencing in the absence of evidence to the contrary.” Tenn. Code Ann.

§ 40-35-102(6). Furthermore, unless sufficient evidence rebuts the presumption, “[t]he trial court

must presume that a defendant sentenced to eight years or less and not an offender for whom

incarceration is a priority is subject to alternative sentencing and that a sentence other than
-15-

incarceration would result in successful rehabilitation . . . .” State v. Byrd, 861 S.W.2d 377, 379-80

(Tenn. Crim. App. 1993); see also Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-303(a). The Defendant, as a standard

offender convicted of Class E felonies, is presumed to be a favorable candidate for alternative

sentencing. 

However, all offenders who meet the criteria are not entitled to relief; instead, sentencing

issues must be determined by the facts and circumstances of each case. See State v. Taylor, 744

S.W.2d 919, 922 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987) (citing State v. Moss, 727 S.W.2d 229, 235 (Tenn.

1986)). Even if a defendant is presumed to be a favorable candidate for alternative sentencing under

Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-102(6), the statutory presumption of an alternative sentence may

be overcome if

(A) [c]onfinement is necessary to protect society by restraining a defendant

who has a long history of criminal conduct;

(B) [c]onfinement is necessary to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the

offense or confinement is particularly suited to provide an effective deterrence to

others likely to commit similar offenses; or

(C) [m]easures less restrictive than confinement have frequently or recently

been applied unsuccessfully to the defendant . . . .

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-103(1)(A)-(C). In choosing among possible sentencing alternatives, the

trial court should also consider Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-103(5), which states, in pertinent

part, “The potential or lack of potential for the rehabilitation or treatment of a defendant should be

considered in determining the sentence alternative or length of a term to be imposed.” Id. § 40-35-

103(5); State v. Dowdy, 894 S.W.2d 301, 305 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994).

The Defendant in this case does not have a long history of criminal conduct. Nor have

measures less restrictive than confinement been frequently or recently applied unsuccessfully to the

Defendant. Furthermore, no evidence was offered that confinement would provide deterrence to

others likely to commit similar offenses. See State v. Hooper, 29 S.W.3d 1,6 (Tenn. 2000) (stating

that the record must contain some proof of the need for deterrence before a defendant who is

presumed eligible for alternative sentencing may be incarcerated). The remaining question, then,

is whether confinement is necessary in this case to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense.

To deny an alternative sentence solely based upon the nature of the offense, the circumstances of the

offense must be “‘especially violent, horrifying, shocking, reprehensible, offensive, or otherwise of

an excessive or exaggerated degree,’ and the nature of the offense must outweigh all factors favoring

probation.” State v. Hartley, 818 S.W.2d 370, 374-75 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991) (citing State v.

Cleavor, 691 S.W.2d 541, 543 (Tenn. 1985)). 

We conclude that in this case, confinement is necessary “to avoid depreciating the

seriousness of the offense.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-103(1)(B). We must again emphasize the

seriousness of the crimes in this case. The Defendant brought minor friends of his young daughter

to his home and provided alcohol and marijuana to the girls to gain their trust and friendship and to

gain access to the girls. According to the Defendant’s daughter, the Defendant asked her to ensure

that young girls often visited their home, and on at least one occasion, he also asked his daughter to
-16-

ensure that one of her friends became inebriated while visiting them. He then sexually abused the

girls while they slept. We conclude that this evidence supports the trial court’s denial of alternative

sentencing.

Accordingly, we REVERSE the Defendant’s conviction for sexual battery in case number

8652, count one and dismiss that charge. We AFFIRM the convictions and sentences for the

remaining counts, resulting in an effective sentence of eight years. 

______________________________

ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, JUDGE