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

Ass ig ne d o n B rie fs Decem be r 4, 2 01 2

STATE OF TENNESS EE v . MICHAE L J OHN ST IT TS

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 M a d i s o n C o u n t y
N o

. 1 1

- 5 8 R o y B

. M o r g a n , J r

. , J u d g e

N o

. W 2 0 1 1

- 0 2 6 7 3

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

- F i l e d J a n u a r y 2 3
, 2 0 1 3

T h e d ef en d an t, M ich ael Jo h n S titts, w as co n v icted b y a M ad iso n C o u n ty C ircu it C o u rt j u ry

o f th ef t o f p ro p erty o v er $ 1 0 0 0 , a C lass D f

elo n y , an d sen ten ced to six y ears as a R an g e II

o f f en d er in th e T en n essee D ep artm en t o f C o rrectio n

. O n ap p eal, h e c h a l l e n g es th e

su f f icien cy o f t h e c o n v i c t i n g ev id en ce an d th e sen ten ce im p o sed b y th e trial co u rt. A f ter

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 R O B E R T W

. W E D E M E Y E R

a n d J E F F R E Y S

. B IV IN S

, J J

. , j o i n e d

.

A n g e l a J

. H o p s o n , J a c k s o n , T e n n e s s e e , f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t

, M i c h a e l J o h n S t i t t s

.

R o b e r t E

. C o o p e r , J r

. , A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l a n d R e p o r t e r ; S o p h i a S

. L e e , S e n i o r C o u n s e l ; J a m e s G

. ( J e r r y ) W o o d a l l

, 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 R o l f G

. S

. H a z l e h u r s t

, A s s i s t a n t D i s t r i c t

A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l

, f

o r t h e a p p e l l e e , S t a t e o f T e n n e s s e e

.

O P I N I O N

F A C T S

T h is case arises o u t o f th e d ef en d an t’s sellin g a 1 9 9 9 F o rd T au ru s, o w n ed b y L o la
O h o n b a, to a salv ag e y ard w ith o u t O h o n b a’s p erm issio n

.

S ta te’s P ro o fC h arles O h o n b a testif ied th at h is w if

e, L o la’s, car b ro k e d o w n w h en h e w as d riv in g 1

h o m e to Jack so n f

ro m M em

p h is. A m ech an ic f

ro m A u to Z o n e lo o k ed at th e v eh icle an d
d e t e r min ed th at it n eed ed a n ew m o to r an d reco m m en d ed th e d ef

en d an t to in stall i t

. T h e d ef en d an t sto p p ed b y th e O h o n b as’ h o u se, ex am in ed th e car, an d ag reed th at it n eed ed a n ew

m o to r. T h e d ef

en d an t to ld C h arles th at h e w o u ld d o th e j o b f o r $ 6 2 5 an d th at th e car w o u ld
b e read y in th ree d ay s.

B ecau se C h arles n eed ed th e car rig h t aw ay , h e g av e th e d ef en d an t $ 3 0 0 to b eg in w o rk

o n th e car. T h e d ef

en d an t h ad th e car to w ed f ro m th e O h o n b as’ resid en ce, b u t C h arles d id

n o t k n o w to w h ere th e car w as to w ed

. C h arles m et w ith th e d ef en d an t th e f

o llo w in g w eek

, b u t th e d ef

en d an t to ld h im th at th e car w as n o t read y an d th at h e n eed ed th e rem ain in g $ 3 2 5

to co m p lete th e w o rk . T h e d ef

en d an t co llected th e $ 3 2 5 f ro m C h arles early th e f

o llo w in g

m o n th

. T h ereaf

ter, ev ery tim e C h arles co n tacted th e d ef en d an t to ch eck o n th e statu s o f h is car, th e d ef

en d an t g av e h im

a n u m b er o f ex cu ses as to w h y

th e car w as n o t read y

.

C h arles said th at th e d ef

en d an t n ev er to ld h im

th at h e w as g o in g to sell th e car to a salv ag e y ard

, an d h e n ev er co n sen ted f o r th e d e f e n d a n t t o d o so

. T h e d ef en d an t d id n o t

retu rn th e m o n ey

C h arles p aid to h av e th e car rep aired o r g iv e h im an y o f th e m o n ey f ro m th e sale o f th e car. H e said th at h e d id n o t sell th e car to th e d ef en d an t. H e recalled th at th e d ef en d an t cam e o v er to h is h o u se tw o tim es, b o th tim es to g et m o n ey f ro m C h arles, an d L o la

w as p resen t w h en h e p aid th e d ef en d an t $ 3 2 5

. C h arles stated th at h e ev en tu ally called th e

p o lice an d learn ed f

ro m an in v estig ato r th at th e d ef en d an t h ad so ld h is car to a salv ag e y ard

.

T w o receip ts w ere ad m itted as ex h ib its at trial. O n th e f irst, th e d ef

en d an t h an d w ro te,
“F u ll am o u n t $ 6 2 5 .0 0

. C h arles O h o n b a p aid $ 3 0 0 .0 0 d o w n o n g ettin g a m o to r in stall[ ed ]
in h is 1 9 9 9 F o rd T au ru s statio n w ag o n

. H e o w e[ s] a b alan ce o f $ 3 2 5 .0 0 to [ th e d ef en d an t] .”

T h e receip t w as d ated Ju ly 1 3

, 2 0 1 0

. T h e seco n d receip t in d icates th at C h arles p aid th e d ef en d an t $ 3 2 5 “f

o r h is en g in e & p arts” o n A u g u st 1 4 , 2 0 1 0

.

L o la O h o n b a testif

ied th at sh e m et th e d ef

en d an t w h en h e cam e to h er an d C h arles’
h o m e to co llect th e b alan ce o w ed f o r rep airin g h er car. T h e d ef en d an t h ad alread y tak en th e

car af ter th e f irst p ay m en t. L o la said th at sh e w a s t h e l a w f u l o w n er o f th e 1 9 9 9 F o rd an d

p ro d u ced a certif

icate o f title ref

lectin g h er o w n ersh ip

. S h e recalled th at sh e p u rch ased th e

v eh icle in 2 0 0 8 f

o r $ 1 2 ,0 0 0

. S h e said th at sh e d id n o t sell h er car to t h e d e f e n d a n t o r

co n sen t to h i m t a k i n g th e car to th e salv ag e y ard

. T h e d ef en d an t d id n o t retu rn h er car o r th e m o n ey th at w as p aid to rep air it, o r g iv e h er th e m o n ey h e receiv ed f ro m sellin g th e car
to th e salv ag e y ard

.

Beca use two of the wit nes ses have the same sur name, we wil l re fe r to the m by fi rs t name for cl ar it y. 1

We m ean no d is re spe ct by thi s pr act ic e.

-2-O f

f icer L u cille E llen William s w ith th e Jack so n P o lice D ep artm en t testif ied th at th e O h o n b as co n tacted th e p o l i c e o n A u g u st 2 8

, 2 0 1 0

, reg ard in g a p o ssib le th ef t. S h e to o k a

su sp icio u s situ atio n rep o rt, b u t n o ch arg es w ere b ro u g h t b ecau s e i t w as n o t k n o w n at th e tim e th at th e car h ad b een so ld to a salv ag e y ard

.

E lain e R o b b in s, o f

f ice m an ag er at H u tch erso n M etals, id en tif ied sev eral d o cu m en ts sh o w in g th at th e d ef

en d an t so ld th em a 1 9 9 9 F o rd T au ru s

. T h e f i r s t d o cu m en t w as th e

w eig h tick et, w h ich in d icated th at th e d ef en d an t b ro u g h t in a car, as w ell as th e g ro ss, tare,

an d n et w eig h t. T h e tick et also in clu d ed th e d ef en d an t’s sig n atu re, p h o n e n u m b er, an d rig h t th u m b p rin t. T h e tick et sh o w ed th at H u tch erso n p u r ch ased th e v eh icle f o r $ 3 8 4 .8 0

. T h e

seco n d d o cu m en t w as a m o to r v eh icle b ill o f sale th e d ef en d a n t su b m itted to H u tch erso n , af f irm in g th at h e w as th e leg al an d law f u l o w n er o f th e v eh icle

– a 1 9 9 9 F o rd an d its v eh icle
id en tif icatio n n u m

b er (“V IN ”).

T h e th ird d o cu m en t w as th e y ard tick et, w h ich w as co m p leted b y th e g u ard

. T h e tick et sh o w ed

, am o n g o th e r t h i n g s , t h e m ak e an d V IN n u m b er o f th e v eh icle, th e tag

n u m b er, an d th e d ate an d tim e th e tran sactio n o ccu rred

– O cto b er 2 0 at 1 :4 5

. It also

co n tain ed a sig n atu re lin e w h ere th e d ef en d an t in d icated th at h e w as th e law f u l o w n er o f th e

m aterials b ein g so ld

. T h e f o u rth d o cu m en t w as a co p y o f th e ch eck issu ed to th e d ef en d an t
in th e am o u n t o f $ 3 8 4 .8 0

, b earin g th e d ef en d an t’s th u m

b p rin t. T h e f

if th d o cu m en t w as a

co p y o f th e d ef en d an t’s T en n essee id en tif icatio n card

.

R o b b in s testif

ied th at sh e w as su b seq u en tly co n tacted b y th e Jack so n P o l i c e D ep artm en t reg a r d i n g a p o ssib le sto len v eh icle an d w as p ro v id ed w ith a V IN n u m b er. R o b b in s u sed th at V IN n u m b er to lo cate th e tick et an d p u ll u p th e d ef en d an t’s in f

o rm atio n

. S h e said th at th e d ef

en d an t rep resen ted h im self to b e th e law f

u l o w n er o f

th e car.

In v estig ato r S tev e P o p e w i th th e Jack so n P o lice D ep artm en t w as assig n ed to
in v estig ate th e su sp icio u s situ atio n rep o rt in v o lv in g th e O h o n b as’ v eh icle. A f ter talk in g to
C h arles, h e b eg an search in g f o r th e car in th e scrap y ar d s , “th e f irst an d m o st o b v io u s

p lace[ .] ” H e co n tacted H u tch erso n M etals, w h ere a m atch w as lo cated to th e V IN n u m b er

o n t h e F o r d b e lo n g in g to L o la an d a v eh icle so ld f o r scrap b y th e d ef

en d an t. R o b b in s

p ro v id ed h im w ith th e s u p p o rtin g d o cu m en ts d em o n stratin g th at th e d ef en d an t h ad so ld

L o la’s car to H u tch erso n f o r scrap m etal.

In v estig ato r P o p e said th at th e V IN n u m b er o n th e m o to r v eh icle b ill o f sale an d th e

y ard tick et p ro v id ed b y R o b b in s m atch ed th e V IN n u m b er o n th e certif

icate o f title p ro v id ed
b y L o la. In ad d itio n , th e f in g erp rin t o n th e scan n ed ch eck m at c h e d t h e d ef en d an t’s

-3-f

in g erp rin ts. In v estig ato r P o p e stated th at, g iv en th e to tality o f th e circu m st a n c e s , i t w as

2

h is o p in io n th at th e d ef

en d an t’s “in ten t f

ro m th e b eg in n in g w as to p erm an en tly d ep riv e th e O h o n b as o f th e v eh icle.” H e u n co v ered n o ev id en ce in th e co u rse o f h is in v estig atio n th at th e O h o n b as tran sf

erred title o f

th eir v eh icle to th e d ef

en d an t.

D ef en d a n t’s P ro o f

G erald T ay lo r testif

ied th at h e d id “m ech an ic w o rk ” f o r th e d ef en d a n t a n d t h at, in

Ju ly 2 0 1 0

, h e h elp ed th e d ef en d an t p u ll th e m o to r o u t o f a 1 9 9 9 F o rd T au ru s. T ay lo r ad m itted th at h e d id n o t h elp th e d ef en d an t try to f ix th e m o to r, o r see th e d ef en d an t try to
f ix th e m o to r o r th e car.

T h e d ef en d an t testif

ied th at h e m et th e O h o n b as in Ju ly 2 0 1 0 w h en h e assessed th eir

car f o r rep airs, d eterm in in g th at it n eed ed a n ew m o to r

. H e d en ied tellin g C h arles th at h e

w o u ld h av e th e car rep aired in th ree d ay s. H e said th at C h arles p aid h im $ 3 0 0 to rem o v e th e

en g in e an d co v er th e “w reck er f ee,” b u t th at h e h ad to w ait f o r C h arles to p ay th e b alan ce

o f $ 3 2 5 b ef

o re h e co u ld b u y th e n ew en g in e. A f t e r receiv in g th e $ 3 2 5

, h e b eg an lo o k in g f o r th e rep lacem en t m o to r.

T h e d ef en d an t testif

ied th at, so m etim e in O cto b er, C h arles b ecam e f ru strated th at th e d ef en d an t h ad n o t y et f

o u n d a rep lacem en t en g in e an d ask ed th e d ef en d an t to sell th e car to a salv ag e y ard . C h arles to ld th e d ef en d an t th at h e w o u ld u se th e m o n ey f ro m salv ag e an d

m o n ey p aid to th e d ef

en d an t f o r th e rep air to b u y an o th er car. T h e d ef en d an t su b seq u en tly

w en t to th e co u rth o u se, p ick ed u p a b ill o f sale, an d sig n ed it b ecau se C h arles h ad g iv en h im

p erm issio n to sell th e car as scrap

. A f ter sellin g th e car to H u tch erso n , th e d ef en d an t called
C h arles to in f

o rm h im th at th e car h ad b een so ld b u t w as u n ab le to reach h im

. T h e n ex t tim e th e d ef en d an t h eard f

ro m C h arles w as th ro u g h th e p o lice.

T h e d ef en d an t ag reed th at th e m o n ey C h arles p aid f o r th e rep air, as w ell as th e m o n ey f ro m th e sale to th e salv ag e y ard

, sh o u ld b e g iv en to C h arles. T h e d ef en d an t id en tif

ied th e d o cu m en ts f

ro m H u tch erso n reg ard in g th e sale o f th e O h o n b as’ v eh icle. H e c l a im ed th at
h is f ian cée, M ary A n n G reer, w as p resen t w h en C h arles g av e h im p erm issio n to sell th e car. T h e d ef en d an t m ain tain ed th at h is in ten tio n w as to f ix th e car u n til C h arles ask ed h im “to
salv ag e th e car f

o r h im [ .] ”

T h e d ef en d an t ac k n o w l e d g ed th at h e h ad p rio r f elo n y co n v ictio n s f

o r assau lt an d

ev ad in g arrest b u t said th at h e h ad n ev er sto len an y th in g

. O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , h e ad m itted
th at h e w as co n v icted o f ag g rav ated assau lt o n Ju ly 3 0

, 2 0 0 1

, an d sen ten ced to n in e y ears;

T he d ef end ant st ipu la te d t hat hi s f inger pri nts wer e on th e do cuments fr om Hut che rs on. 2

-4-h e p led g u ilty to tw o co u n ts o f ag g rav ated assau lt o n O cto b er 1 5

, 1 9 9 2

, an d w as sen ten ced

to six y ears; an d h e p led g u ilty to reck less en d an g erm e n t o n O cto b er 1 5

, 1 9 9 2

, an d w as

sen ten ced to tw o y ears.

T h e d ef en d an t e x a min ed th e tw o h an d w ritten receip ts g iv en to C h arles an d
ack n o w led g ed th at h e w ro te th e term s o f ag reem en t. H e also ack n o w led g ed th at th ere w as

n o d o cu m en tary p ro o f th at th e O h o n b as tran sf erred title o f th e car to h im

. H e ad m itted th at
h e w as n o t th e law f

u l o w n er o f th e O h o n b as’ v eh icle, ev en th o u g h h e rep resen ted h im self

as su ch to H u tch erso n

.

M ary A n n G reer, th e d ef en d an t’s liv e-in g irlf

rien d

, testif

ied th at sh e w as n o t

p h y sically p resen t w h en C h arles an d th e d ef en d an t talk ed ab o u t scrap p in g th e v e h i c l e, alth o u g h sh e h eard th e d ef en d an t’s sid e o f

th e telep h o n e co n v ersatio n

.

F o llo w in g th e co n clu sio n o f th e p ro o f

, th e j u ry f o u n d th e d ef

en d an t g u ilty o f th ef

t o f

p ro p erty v alu ed b etw een $ 1 ,0 0 0 an d $ 1 0 ,0 0 0

.

A N A L Y S IS

O n ap p eal, th e d ef

en d an t ch allen g es th e su f f icien cy o f th e co n v ictin g ev id en ce an d
th e sen ten ce im

p o sed b y th e trial co u rt.

I. S u f f icien cy o f

th e E v id en ce

T h e d e f e n d a n t a r g u e s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t h i s c o n v i c t i o n b e c a u s e h e s o l d t h e c a r t o t h e s a l v a g e y a r d a t t h e o w n e r ’ s r e q u e s t

. H e c l a i m s t h a t “it is

ev id en t th at [ h e] to o k p o ssessio n o f th e v eh icle w ith th e p erm issio n o f th e o w n ers. It is also
clear th at [ h is] o n ly in ten tio n w as to f o llo w th e w ish es o f C h arles O h [ o ] n b a.

. . . [ H ] e w o u ld
h av e f ix ed th e v eh icle if O h [ o ] n b a h ad n o t req u ested h im to scrap th e v eh icle.” T h e d e f e n d a n t a l s o a r g u e s t h a t t h e r e w a s n o p r o o f e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e v a l u e o f t h e c a r t o su p p o rt th e j u ry ’s f in d in g th at it “w as w o rth m o re th an o n e th o u san d d o llars.”

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

e v i d e n c e i s c h a l l e n g e d

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

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

c o u l d h a v e f

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

. ” J a c k s o n

v

. V i r g i n i a , 4 4 3 U

. S

. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9 ( 1 9 7 9 ) ; s e e a l s o T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 1 3 ( e ) ( “ F i n d i n g s o f g u i l t i n

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

i n d i n g s b y t h e t r i e r o f f

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

. ” ) ; S t a t e v

. E v a n s , 8 3 8 S

. W

. 2 d 1 8 5

, 1 9 0

- 9 2 ( T e n n

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

. A n d e r s o n , 8 3 5 S

. W

. 2 d 6 0 0

,

-5-6 0 4 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 2 )

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

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

f a c t

. S e e S t a t e v

. P a p p a s , 7 5 4 S

. W

. 2 d 6 2 0

, 6 2 3 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 8 7 )

. “ A g u i l t y v e r d i c t
b y t h e j u r y , a p p r o v e d b y t h e t r i a l j u d g e , a c c r e d i t s t h e t e s t i m o n y o f t h e w i t n e s s e s f o r t h e S t a t e

a n d r e s o l v e s a l l c o n f

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

. ” S t a t e v

. G r a c e , 4 9 3 S

. W

. 2 d

4 7 4

, 4 7 6 ( T e n n

. 1 9 7 3 )

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

T h i s w e l l

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

.

B o l i n v

. S t a t e , 2 1 9 T e n n

. 4

, 1 1

, 4 0 5 S

. W

. 2 d 7 6 8

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

. S t a t e , 2 1 2

T e n n

. 4 6 4

, 3 7 0 S

. W

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

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

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

, s o t h a t

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

. ” S t a t e v

. T u g g l e , 6 3 9 S

. W

. 2 d 9 1 3

, 9 1 4 ( T e n n

. 1 9 8 2 )

.

T o su stain th e th ef

t co n v ictio n in th is case, 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 te n t t o 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 ectiv e co n sen t an d th at th e v alu e o f th e p ro p erty w as b etw een $ 1 0 0 0 an d $ 1 0 ,0 0 0

. T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § § 3 9 -1 4 -1 0 3

, -1 0 5 (a)(3 ) (S u p p

. 2 0 1 2 ). T en n essee C o d e A n n o tated sectio n 3 9 -1 1 -1 0 6 d ef in es “v alu e” as “(i) [ t] h e f

air m ark et v alu e o f th e p ro p erty o r serv ice at th e tim e an d p lace o f th e o f f en se; o r (ii) [ i] f th e f

air m ark et v alu e o f th e p ro p erty can n o t b e ascertain ed

, th e co st o f rep lacin g th e

p ro p erty w ith in a reaso n ab le tim e af ter th e o f f en se[ .] ” Id

. § 3 9

- 1 1

- 1 0 6 ( a ) (3 6 )(A ). If th e

v alu e o f t h e p ro p erty can n o t b e ascertain ed b y th e af o rem en tio n ed criteria, th e p ro p erty is
d eem ed to h av e a v alu e o f less th an f if ty d o llars. Id

. § 3 9 -1 1 -1 0 6 (a)(3 6 )(C ). T h e f air m ark et

v alu e o f p ro p erty is a q u estio n o f f act f o r th e j u ry

. S ee S tate v

. H am m , 6 1 1 S .W.2 d 8 2 6

, 8 2 8 -2 9 (T en n

. 1 9 8 1 ). “T h e m ark et v alu e o f th e article sto len

, an d n o t its o rig in al co st, is th e
tru e criterio n w h en it is n ecessary to estab lish th e v alu e o f th e p ro p erty i n o rd er to f ix th e

g rad e o f th e o f f en se[ .] ” Id . at 8 2 9 (in tern al citatio n s o m itted ).

In th e lig h t m o st f

av o rab le to th e S tate, th e ev id en ce sh o w s th at th e O h o n b as p aid th e d ef en d an t $ 6 2 5 to in stall a n ew m o to r in th eir car, b u t th e d ef en d an t to o k th e car an d so ld
it to a salv ag e y ard

. L o la an d C h arles b o th testif ied th at n eith er o f th em so ld th e f am ily car

t o t h e d e f

en d an t o r co n sen ted to th e d ef en d an t’s sellin g th e car to th e salv ag e y ard

. T h e

-6-d ef

en d an t d id n o t r e t u r n th e m o n ey th e O h o n b as p aid to h av e th e m o to r rep aired o r g iv e th em th e p ro ceed s f

ro m th e sale o f th e car. T h e d ef en d an t ev en ad m itted in h is testim o n y
at trial th at h e w as n o t th e leg al an d law f u l o w n er o f L o la’s car w h en h e so ld it to th e salv ag e

y ard

. A n y testim o n y f

ro m th e d ef

en d an t th at h e o n ly so ld th e car to th e salv ag e y ard p er th e

o w n ers’ req u est w as rej ected b y th e j u ry as th e trier o f f act, as w as its p ro v in ce. M o reo v er, th e j u ry d eterm in ed th at th e v alu e o f th e car w as m o re th an $ 1 ,0 0 0 b u t les s t h a n $ 1 0

, 0 0 0

, b ased o n L o la’s testim o n y th at sh e p u rch ased th e 1 9 9 9 v eh icle in 2 0 0 8 f o r $ 1 2 ,0 0 0

. T h e j u ry u sed its co m m o n sen se in m ak in g its d eterm in atio n reg ard in g v alu e g iv en th e p u rch ase

p rice an d elap sed tim e. S ee S tate v

. S tev en B ern ard S y d n o r, N o

. M 2 0 0 7 -0 2 3 9 3 -C C A -R 3

- C D , 2 0 1 0 WL 3 6 6 6 7 0 , at * 2 0 (T en n . C rim . A p p . F eb

. 2

, 2 0 1 0 ), p erm

. ap p

. d en ied (T en n

. Ju n e 1 7

, 2 0 1 0 ); S tate v

. J e r e my G ro o m s, N o

. 0 3 C 0 1 -9 4 0 9 -C R -0 0 3 2 1

, 1 9 9 5 WL 2 3 8 6 0 6

, at * 2 (T en n . C rim . A p p . A p r. 2 5 , 1 9 9 5 ), p erm . ap p . d en ied (T en n . A u g . 2 8 , 1 9 9 5 ).

II. S en ten cin g

T h e trial co u rt co n d u cted a sen ten cin g h earin g at w h ich th e d ef en d an t testif

ied th at
h e w as self

-em p lo y ed as an au to m ech an ic. H e w a s also seek in g d isab ility d u e to a b ack
in j u ry

. H e ask ed th e co u rt to g ran t h im p ro b atio n an d said th at h e w o u ld p ay restitu tio n an d
all o f h is f

in es. M ary A n n G reer, th e d ef en d an t ’ s g i r l f

rien d

, testif

ied th at sh e an d th e d ef en d an t liv e to g eth er an d th at h e is h er m ain f in an cial p ro v id er. S h e ask ed th at th e co u rt b e len ien t o n th e d ef

en d an t an d g iv e h im

p ro b atio n

.

T h e d ef en d an t’s p resen ten ce rep o rt w as in tro d u ced as an ex h ib it at th e h earin g

. T h e

rep o rt rev ealed th at th e d ef en d an t h ad th ree p rio r f

elo n y ag g rav ated assau lt co n v ictio n s, as

w e ll as a f

elo n y reck less en d an g erm en t co n v ictio n

. H e also h ad a n u m b er o f p rio r

m isd em ean o r co n v ictio n s, in clu d i n g c o n v ictio n s f o r assau lt, v an d alism

, ev ad in g arrest, crim in al tresp ass, d riv in g o f f en ses, an d escap e f

ro m j ail.

T h e trial co u rt d eterm in ed th at th e a p p ro p riate sen ten ce w as six y ears in th e D ep artm en t o f C o rrectio n , w h ich th e d ef en d an t n o w ch allen g es. H e asserts th at h e sh o u ld
h av e receiv ed th e m in im

u m sen ten ce o f f

o u r y ears an d b een g ran ted f u ll p ro b atio n o r a sp lit

sen ten ce.

U n d er th e 2 0 0 5 am en d me n t s t o th e sen ten cin g act, a trial co u rt is to co n sid er th e f o llo w in g w h en d eterm in in g a d e f e n d an t’s sen ten ce an d th e ap p ro p riate co m b in atio n o f

sen ten cin g altern ativ es:

(1 ) T h e ev id en ce, if

an y , receiv ed at th e trial an d th e sen ten cin g h earin g ;

(2 ) T h e p resen ten ce rep o rt;

-7-(3 ) T h e p rin cip les o f sen ten cin g an d arg u m en ts as to sen ten cin g altern ativ es;

(4 ) T h e n atu re an d ch aracteristics o f th e crim in al co n d u ct in v o lv ed ;

(5 ) E v id en ce an d in f

o rm atio n o f

f ered b y th e p a r t i e s o n th e m itig atin g an d

en h an cem en t f

acto rs set o u t in § § 4 0 -3 5 -1 1 3 an d 4 0 -3 5 -1 1 4 ;

(6 ) A n y statistical in f

o rm atio n p ro v id ed b y th e a d mi n i strativ e o f f ice o f th e

co u rts as to sen ten cin g p ractices f o r sim ilar o f

f en ses in T en n essee; an d

(7 ) A n y statem en t th e d ef

en d an t w ish es to m ak e in th e d ef en d an t’s o w n b eh alf
ab o u t sen ten cin g

.

T en n . C o d e A n n . § 4 0 -3 5 -2 1 0 (b ) (2 0 1 0 ).

T h e trial co u rt is g ran ted b ro ad d iscretio n to im p o se a sen ten ce an y

w h ere w ith in th e

ap p licab le ran g e, reg ard less o f th e p r e s e nc e or a bs e n ce o f en h an cem en t o r m itig atin g f acto rs,

an d “sen ten ces sh o u ld b e u p h eld so lo n g as th e statu to ry p u rp o ses an d p rin cip les, alo n g w ith

an y en h an cem en t an d m itig atin g f acto rs, h av e b een p ro p erly ad d ressed .” S tate v

. B ise, 3 8 0
S .W.3 d 6 8 2

, 7 0 6 (T en n

. 2 0 1 2 ). A cco rd in g ly

, w e rev iew a trial co u rt’s sen ten cin g d eterm in atio n s u n d er an ab u se o f d iscretio n stan d ard

, “g ran tin g a p resu mp tio n o f

reaso n ab len ess to w ith in -ran g e sen ten cin g d ecisio n s th at ref lect a p ro p er ap p licatio n o f th e

p u rp o ses an d p rin cip les o f o u r S en ten cin g A ct.” Id . at 7 0 7

.

U n d er th e rev ised T en n essee sen ten cin g statu tes, a d ef en d an t is n o lo n g er p resu m ed

to b e a f av o rab le can d id ate f

o r altern ativ e sen ten cin g

. S tate v

. C arter, 2 5 4 S .W.3 d 3 3 5

, 3 4 7 (T en n

. 2 0 0 8 ) (citin g T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0 -3 5 -1 0 2 (6 )). In stead

, th e “ad v iso ry ” sen ten cin g

g u id elin es p ro v id e th at a d ef en d an t “w h o is an e s p e c i a l l y m itig ated o r stan d ard o f f en d er

c o n v icted o f a C lass C

, D o r E f elo n y , sh o u ld b e co n sid ered as a f av o rab le can d id ate f

o r altern ativ e sen ten cin g o p tio n s in th e ab sen ce o f ev id en ce to th e co n trary .” T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0 -3 5 -1 0 2 (6 ).

A d ef en d an t sh all b e elig ib le f o r p r o b a t io n , su b

j ect to certain ex cep tio n s, if th e

sen ten ce im

p o sed o n th e d ef

en d an t is ten y ears o r less. Id

. § 4 0 -3 5 -3 0 3 (a). A d ef en d an t is

n o t, h o w ev er, au to m atically en titled to p ro b atio n as a m atter o f law

. T h e b u rd en is u p o n th e d ef en d an t to sh o w th at h e is a su itab le can d id ate f o r p ro b atio n

. Id

. § 4 0 -3 5 -3 0 3 (b ); S tate v

. G o o d e, 9 5 6 S .W.2 d 5 2 1

, 5 2 7 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 7 ); S tate v

. B o g g s , 9 3 2 S .W.2 d 4 6 7

, 4 7 7 ( T e n n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 6 ). In o rd er to m eet th is b u rd en , th e d ef en d an t “m

u st d em o n strate th at p ro b atio n w ill ‘su b serv e th e en d s o f j u stice an d th e b est in terest o f b o th th e

-8-p u b lic an d th e d ef en d an t.’” S tate v

. B in g h a m, 9 1 0 S .W.2 d 4 4 8

, 4 5 6 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 5 ) (q u o tin g S tate v . D y k es, 8 0 3 S .W.2 d 2 5 0 , 2 5 9 (T en n . C rim . A p p . 1 9 9 0 )).

T h ere is n o b rig h t lin e ru le f o r d e t e r min in g w h en a d ef en d an t sh o u ld b e g ran ted

p ro b atio n

. B in g h am , 9 1 0 S .W.2 d at 4 5 6

. E v ery sen ten cin g d ecisio n n ecessarily req u ires a case-b y -case an aly sis. Id

. F acto rs to b e co n sid ered in clu d e th e circu m stan ces su rro u n d in g th e o f f en se, th e d ef

en d an t’s crim in al reco rd

, t h e d ef en d an t’s so cial h isto ry an d p resen t

co n d itio n , th e n eed f

o r d eterren ce, an d th e b est in terest o f th e d ef en d an t an d th e p u b lic.
G o o d e, 9 5 6 S .W.2 d at 5 2 7

.

In d eterm in in g if in carceratio n is ap p ro p riate in a g iv en case, a trial co u rt sh o u ld

co n sid er w h eth er:

(A ) C o n f i n e me n t is n ecessary to p ro tect so ciety b y restrain in g a d ef en d an t

w h o h as a lo n g h isto ry

o f crim in al co n d u ct;

(B ) C o n f in em en t is n ecessary to av o id d ep reciatin g th e serio u sn ess o f t h e

o f f en se o r co n f

in em en t is p articu larly su ited to p ro v id e an ef f ectiv e d eterren ce
to o th ers lik ely

to co m m it sim ilar o f

f en ses; o r

(C ) M easu res less restrictiv e th an co n f in em en t h av e f

req u en tly o r recen tly
b een ap p lied u n su ccessf

u lly to th e d ef

en d an t.

T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0 -3 5 -1 0 3 (1 ). F u rth erm o re, th e d ef en d an t’s p o ten tial f

o r reh ab ilitatio n

o r lack th ereo f sh o u ld b e ex am in ed w h en d eterm in in g w h eth er an altern ativ e s e n t e n c e is

ap p ro p riate. Id . § 4 0 -3 5 -1 0 3 (5 ).

I n d eterm in in g th e d ef

en d an t’s sen ten ce in th is case, th e co u rt co n sid ered th e

en h an cem en t an d m itig atin g f acto rs an d f

o u n d th at th e d ef

en d an t h ad a p rev io u s h isto ry o f
crim in al b eh av io r in ad d itio n to th at n ecessary to estab lish h is ran g e. S ee T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0 -3 5 -1 1 4 (1 ). T h e co u rt o b serv ed th at th e f act th e d ef

en d an t’s crim in al co n d u ct n eith er

cau sed n o r th reaten ed serio u s b o d ily in j u ry , see id

. § 4 0 -3 5 -1 1 3 (1 ), “certain ly co u ld ap p ly ”
in m itig atio n b u t th at th e co u rt “in n o w ay co u ld co n ceiv e” h o w th e o th er m itig atin g f acto rs

arg u ed b y th e d ef

en d an t co u ld ap p l y

. T h e co u rt co n clu d ed th at, “[ c] o n sid erin g th e circu m stan c e s a n d th e ran g e in th is case, I d o f in d th at a 6 -y ear sen ten ce w o u ld b e

ap p ro p riate.” With reg ard to th e m an n er o f serv ice o f

th e sen ten ce, th e co u rt d eterm in ed :

T h e D ef en d an t w ill b e o rd ered to serv e h is sen ten ce in [ th e] T en n essee D ep artm en t o f C o rrectio n [ ] co n sid erin g th e f acts in th is case. I recall th e f acts

o f th e case an d th e ex ten siv e reco rd th at h as b een o u tlin ed

, an d th e C o u rt f eels

-9-it ap p ro p riate th at h e serv e th is sen ten ce. It w ill n o t b e su sp en d ed

. H e w ill

n o t b e p laced o n p ro b atio n

. H e w ill b e o rd ered to serv e it in [ th e] T D O C .”

We d iscern n o ab u se o f d iscretio n in th e len g th o f sen ten ce im p o sed b y th e trial co u rt.
T h e six -y ear sen ten ce w as w ith in th e ap p licab le ran g e o f p u n ish m en t an d w as su p p o rted b y th e d ef en d an t’s len g th y crim in al reco rd as d etailed in th e p resen ten ce rep o rt. A s to th e trial

co u rt’s im p o sitio n o f a sen ten ce o f co n f in em en t, th e reco rd sh o w s th at th e th irty -eig h t-y earo ld d ef en d an t h as co n sis t e n tly en g ag ed in crim in al co n d u ct sin ce th e ag e o f sev en teen

. M o reo v er, h e f

ailed to accep t resp o n sib ility f o r h is actio n s, w h ich ref

lects p o o rly o n h is

p o ten tial f

o r reh ab ilitatio n an d is a b asis f o r th e d en ial o f p ro b atio n

. S ee S tate v

. Z eo lia, 9 2 8
S .W .2 d 4 5 7

, 4 6 3 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 6 ). T h e trial co u rt ap p ro p riately co n sid ered th e ab o v e sen ten cin g p rin cip les as w ell as all th e relev an t f acts an d circu m stan ces. We d iscern

n o erro r in th e trial co u rt’s sen ten cin g d eterm in a t i o n s an d

, acco rd in g ly

, af f irm th e trial

co u rt’s d en ial o f

p ro b atio n o r o th er altern ativ e sen ten cin g

.

C O N C L U S IO N

B ased o n th e f

o reg o in g au th o rities an d reaso n in g , w e af f irm th e j u d g m en t o f

th e trial co u rt.

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

. G L E N N

, J U D G E

-10-