Opinion ID: 1743607
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Based upon information learned by the Sumner County Drug Task Force through electronic surveillance of the cordless telephone conversations of Sheryl Pendergrass in October, 1991, a search warrant was obtained for her residence. In executing the warrant on October 14, 1991, officers discovered marijuana, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. As a result, Pendergrass was indicted on November 6, 1991, with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Prior to trial, Pendergrass moved to suppress the items seized in the search of her residence on the grounds that the surveillance of her cordless telephone conversations violated her rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, § 7 of the Tennessee Constitution. Following a hearing, on August 14, 1992, the trial court orally denied the motion. At that time, defense counsel advised the court that in all likelihood the defendant would plead guilty and take an appeal under Rule 37. Defense counsel stated I think this question of law is dispositive of the case, and I think the District Attorney has no objection to this. Thereafter, on August 26, 1992, a written order was filed denying the motion to suppress. On November 23, 1992, the defendant entered guilty pleas to the charges in the indictment. Immediately before the guilty plea hearing, however, the defense was allowed to re-open the proof on the motion to suppress and additional testimony was presented. At the conclusion of the proof, defense counsel again stated that a Rule 37 appeal would be taken. The trial court did not make a final ruling on the motion to suppress at that time, but proceeded into colloquy with the defendant in order to determine whether the pleas were being entered voluntarily and knowingly. During the colloquy, the court told the defendant, [n]ow if you plead guilty, these [convictions] will go on your record, of course, determined by the outcome of the appeal. But for the purposes now, we're going to assume that this is going to be it. The trial court's minutes of November 23 reflect the guilty pleas, but make no mention of a Rule 37 appeal. After considering the supplemental evidence, the trial court, on December 15, 1992, entered a second order denying the motion to suppress. Thereafter, on January 15, 1993, the trial court conducted a sentencing hearing and imposed a total effective sentence of two (2) years in community corrections and a fine of $3,000. Judgments entered on that date in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 17 contained no reference to a reservation of the right to appeal a certified question of law dispositive of the case. The defendant filed a notice of appeal pursuant to Rule 37 on February 12, 1993. On February 19, 1993, the trial court entered an order, purporting to note the appeal of a certified question of law, which provides as follows: It appears that the Defendant, SHERYL PENDERGRASS, by and through counsel, has timely filed a Notice of Appeal in this case. The Defendant is appealing a certified question of law with regard to a Motion to Suppress evidence. It appears that the Defendant filed a Motion to Suppress evidence based upon allegations that the State illegally obtained evidence by listening to conversations of the Defendant and other persons by electronically monitoring the Defendant's cordless telephone conversations. This Motion was heard on August 14, 1992. The Court entered an order overruling the Defendant's Motion. Subsequently on November 23, 1992 a hearing was had to supplement the record and the Court duly considered all the new evidence presented with regard to the suppression of the evidence and after considering all of the other evidence entered another order overruling the Motion to Suppress. The Defendant entered a plea of guilty on that day and subsequently a sentencing hearing was held on January 15, 1993. The Defendant has now timely filed a Notice of Appeal and has explicitly reserved with consent of the State and of the trial court the right to appeal the certified question of law that is dispositive of the case. In the Court of Criminal Appeals, the State sought dismissal of the appeal on the ground that the defendant had failed to comply with the requirements of Tenn. R.Crim. P. 37 as it was interpreted in Preston . While concluding that the January 15, 1993 judgments failed to satisfy Rule 37 and Preston , the intermediate court refused to dismiss the appeal, finding that the February 19, 1993 order constituted substantial compliance. The Court of Criminal Appeals then affirmed the trial court's judgment on the merits, however, finding that the surveillance did not violate the defendant's constitutional rights. Thereafter, we granted permission to appeal.