Opinion ID: 1058506
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: Failure to Grant a Continuance

Text: The defendant challenges the trial court's refusal to grant an overnight continuance to permit him to obtain a tattoo expert. At the motion for new trial hearing, this claim was expanded to include a witness regarding dental work. The defendant asserts that the denial prevented him from obtaining testimony which would have cast serious doubt upon the defendant's identity as the person who gave the orders on the night of the murder. The defendant asserts he was surprised by the testimony of his witness, Officer Parker, who testified on cross-examination by the state that a tattoo could possibly be altered. The defendant sought permission to find a tattoo expert who could examine his tattoos. The trial court denied the request, noting the testimony was from a defense witness, the cross-examination should have been anticipated by the defendant, and the testimony, at most, indicated a mere possibility of an alteration. At the time the request was made, the defendant had not identified any particular expert nor had his tattoos been examined by someone to determine whether they exhibited signs of alteration. At the motion for new trial hearing, defense counsel stated Jason Owens, a tattoo artist, would have examined the defendant's tattoos, and he would have testified to the effect that [defense counsel had] represented and, also, as to his opinion as to whether there had been any cover-up or erasure of the defendant's tattoos. Defense counsel stated Owens would further testify that coverups or erasures are detectable. The defendant also presented a proffer from the records clerk of a dentist. The proffer indicated that the defendant had paid for gold crowns two months prior to the murder and gave no indication that the crowns contained letters or designs of the type attributed to MacGreg. As the trial court noted, there had been testimony to the fact that gold caps are removable, and the proffer did not address that possibility. The decision whether to grant a motion for a continuance is a matter of discretion for the trial court, the denial of which will not be overturned on appeal absent a clear showing the trial court abused its discretion to the prejudice of the defendant. State v. Melson, 638 S.W.2d 342, 359 (Tenn.1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1137, 103 S.Ct. 770, 74 L.Ed.2d 983 (1983); Baxter v. State, 503 S.W.2d 226, 230 (Tenn. Crim.App.1973). In order to establish an abuse of discretion, the complaining party must make a clear showing of prejudice as a result of the continuance being denied. State v. Teel, 793 S.W.2d 236, 245 (Tenn.), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1007, 111 S.Ct. 571, 112 L.Ed.2d 577 (1990). The offer to secure dental testimony was not a basis for the motion for a continuance. Since an appellant cannot change theories from the trial court to the appellate court, this aspect of the issue is waived. Alder, 71 S.W.3d at 303; State v. Dooley, 29 S.W.3d 542, 549 (Tenn.Crim. App.2000). As to the request for a tattoo expert, we note, as did the trial court, that the controverted testimony was elicited from Officer Parker, who was a defense witness. The witness only stated that it was possible that the defendant's tattoos could have been altered. No particular witness was identified at the time of the request for a continuance, nor had the defendant's tattoos been examined by a potential witness. The trial court had no assurance that a witness could be secured by the next day of trial. We also note that the basis of identification by the state's witnesses did not relate to tattoos or gold teeth. The issue of tattoos and gold teeth arose during the testimony of defense witnesses. Under these circumstances, we are unable to conclude the trial court abused its discretion in denying the request for a continuance. [4]