Opinion ID: 1060660
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: continuing offenses

Text: An offense may be considered a continuing offense only when the explicit language of the substantive criminal statute compels such a conclusion, or the nature of the crime involved is such that [the legislature] must assuredly have intended that it be treated as a continuing one. Toussie v. United States, 397 U.S. 112, 115, 90 S.Ct. 858, 25 L.Ed.2d 156 (1970). Therefore, in deciding whether the General Assembly intended for an offense to constitute a continuing offense, this Court will look to the statutory elements of the offense and determine whether the elements of the crime themselves contemplate a continuing course of conduct. Cf. State v. Hoxie, 963 S.W.2d 737, 743 (Tenn.1998) (discussing requirements for finding continuing offenses so as to render the election of offenses requirement inapplicable). A person commits the offense of aggravated kidnapping when that person (1) knowingly removes or confines another unlawfully so as to interfere substantially with the other's liberty, Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-302; and (2) the unlawful removal or confinement is committed: (1) To facilitate the commission of any felony or flight thereafter; (2) To interfere with the performance of any governmental or political function; (3) With the intent to inflict serious bodily injury on or to terrorize the victim or another; (4) Where the victim suffers bodily injury; or (5) While the defendant is in possession of a deadly weapon or threatens the use of a deadly weapon. See id. § 39-13-304(a). As evidenced by both the elements and nature of aggravated kidnapping, it is clear to us that the General Assembly intended for this offense to sanction a continuing course of conduct. As is the case with kidnapping offenses generally in Tennessee, aggravated kidnapping essentially consists of the offense of false imprisonment plus the existence of one additional element. The offense of false imprisonment was clearly intended to punish a continuing course of conduct. The very use of the terms removes or confines contemplates a continued state of being restrained. Consequently, an act of removal or confinement does not end merely upon the initial restraint, and a defendant continues to commit the crime at every moment the victim's liberty is taken. In fact, under the present statute, no period of removal or confinement is capable of being reasonably divided into multiple segments with various points of termination. Cf. State v. Rhodes, 917 S.W.2d 708, 713 (Tenn.Crim.App.1995) (finding the offense of driving under the influence to be a continuing offense in part because it would be impossible under the present statute reasonably to divide into more than one segment any one period of continuous driving under a continuing state of intoxication). So long as the removal or confinement of the victim lasts, the offense of false imprisonment continues. Therefore, because the statute itself contemplates that the victim's removal or confinement is one continuous event, we conclude that the General Assembly intended for the offense of aggravated kidnapping to punish a continuing course of conduct. [4] Because aggravated kidnapping is a continuing offense, the State needed only to show that at least one element of the crime continued into Tennessee for territorial jurisdiction to properly attach. We find that the State has met this burden. Although the State concedes that there is no evidence that any bodily injury occurred in Tennessee, the evidence is more than sufficient to establish that Ms. Legg was unlawfully removed or confined within this state so as to interfere substantially with her liberty. While the appellee argues that Ms. Legg had a number of opportunities to escape and was therefore not confined, this Court will not reweigh or reevaluate the evidence presented where the evidence is sufficient for conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. See State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn.1978). The resolution of factual issues raised by the evidence is within the sole province of the jury, State v. Burns, 979 S.W.2d 276, 287 (Tenn.1998), and as evidenced by the verdict, the jury was satisfied that Ms. Legg was confined by the appellee. Therefore, we conclude that the State has met its burden in showing that at least one essential element of the continuing offense of aggravated kidnapping was continued into Tennessee.