Court Opinion

ID: 1082545
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:59:46.707865+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:39:45.716852
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

                                      AT NASHVILLE                   FILED
STATE OF TENNESSEE,                            )
                                                                     July 29, 1998
                                               )   C.C.A. NO. 01C01-9803-CC-00139
       Appellee,                               )
                                                                  Cecil W. Crowson
                                               )   FRANKLIN COUNTY
                                                                 Appellate Court Clerk
VS.                                            )   (No. 919139 Below)
                                               )
WILLIAM BURT SMITH,                            )   The Hon. J. Curtis Smith
                                               )
       Appellant.                              )   (Revocation of Probation)
                                               )   AFFIRMED PURSUANT TO RULE 20

                                         ORDER

              This case came to be heard on the state’s motion for affirmance of the

judgment pursuant to Rule 20, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Rules.

              The appellant pled guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to five

years on supervised probation. Subsequently, a probation violation report was issued,

alleging the following violations: (1) failure to obey the laws -- arrested for driving on a

suspended license, drug abuse, and possession of drug paraphernalia, (2) failure to report

these arrests to the probation officer, (3) failure to notify the probation officer or request

permission to change residence to Ohio, (4) failure to report to the probation officer, (5)

possession of narcotic drugs, (6) failure to pay $180 in probation fees, and (7) failure to

pay restitution in the amount of $94. A probation violation warrant was issued, and after

a hearing, the trial court revoked the appellant’s probation and ordered him to serve the

entire five-year sentence in incarceration.

              The revocation of probation is committed to the sound discretion of the trial

court. State v. Mitchell, 810 S.W.2d 733, 735 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). An appellate court

will not find that a trial court has abused its discretion unless the record contains no

substantial evidence to support the trial court's conclusion that the probation should be

revoked. State v. Harkins, 811 S.W.2d 79, 82 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1981). The evidence at

the revocation hearing need only show that the trial court exercised a conscientious and

intelligent judgment in making the decision to revoke probation. State v. Leach, 914
S.W.2d 104, 106 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). Moreover, once the trial court finds by a

preponderance of the evidence that a probationer violates a condition of his probation, it

is within the court's discretion to revoke probation and cause execution of the judgment as

it was originally entered. T.C.A. §§ 40-35-310,-311(d); State v. Harkins, 811 S.W.2d 79,

82.

              Based upon a reading of the record, the state’s motion, the appellant’s brief,

and the applicable law, this Court finds that the trial court did not abuse its discretion and

the judgment should be affirmed.

              IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the state’s motion to affirm the

judgment pursuant to Rule 20 is granted. The judgment of the trial court is hereby

affirmed. The petitioner being indigent, costs of this appeal are taxed to the state.

              In the event the appellant indicates an intention to file an application for

permission to appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court, he may be admitted to bail in the

additional amount of $5,000 for a total bond amount of $25,000 with sufficient sureties to

be approved by the clerk of the trial court pending filing and disposition of said application.

In default of such bond, the appellant shall be remanded to the custody of the Tennessee

Department of Correction.

                                           _____________________________
                                           DAVID H. WELLES, JUDGE

CONCUR:

_____________________________
JERRY L. SMITH, JUDGE

_____________________________
THOMAS T. WOODALL, JUDGE

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