Court Opinion

ID: 1051651
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-08 20:22:25.362593+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:34:20.624232
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                          AT KNOXVILLE
                            Assigned on Briefs January 27, 2009

              STATE OF TENNESSEE v. SCOTTY LEE JOHNSON

                      Appeal from the Circuit Court for Blount County
                     Nos. C-16576, C-16606    Michael H. Meares, Judge

                     No. E2008-01527-CCA-R3-CD - Filed March 5, 2009

The defendant, Scotty Lee Johnson, appeals from the revocation of his probation. In this appeal, he
contends that the trial court erred by ordering incarceration. Discerning no error, we affirm.

                Tenn. R. App. P. 3; Judgments of the Circuit Court Affirmed

JAMES CURWOOD WITT , JR., J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which NORMA MCGEE OGLE
and D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., JJ., joined.

J. Liddell Kirk, Knoxville, Tennessee (on appeal), and Mack Garner, District Public Defender (at
trial), for the appellant, Scotty Lee Johnson.

Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Melissa Roberge, Assistant Attorney General;
Mike Flynn, District Attorney General; and Robert Headrick, Assistant District Attorney General,
for the appellee, the State of Tennessee.

                                             OPINION

               On June 29, 2007, the defendant entered a plea of guilty in the Blount County Circuit
Court to one count of robbery in case number C-16576 and one count of theft of property valued at
$1,000 or more in case number C-16606. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the State, the defendant
received consecutive four-year sentences to be served as six months’ incarceration followed by
probation.

               On October 9, 2007, the defendant’s probation officer prepared a probation violation
report alleging that the defendant had violated the terms of his probation by failing to report,
incurring new criminal charges, testing positive for drugs and alcohol, and failing to apprise his
probation officer of his current address. The trial court issued a probation violation warrant on that
same date. The defendant’s probation officer filed an amended probation violation warrant on
October 24, 2007, alleging that the defendant left the state without permission, failed to pay
probation fees, and failed to pay court costs. On January 4, 2008, the trial court entered an order
finding “that the defendant materially violated the rules of probation and that he has successfully
completed treatment at Centerpointe” and ordering “that the defendant be returned forthwith to
supervised probation.”

                On January 18, 2008, the defendant’s probation officer filed a new probation violation
warrant alleging that the defendant had violated the terms of his probation by failing to report a new
arrest. On March 31, 2008, the trial court entered an order finding “that the defendant has materially
violated his probationary rules” and ordering “that his probation be revoked with time served. The
defendant shall be immediately released from the Blount County Jail and placed back on supervised
probation for the balance of his sentence.”

               Then, on April 30, 2008, a probation violation warrant issued alleging that the
defendant had violated the terms of his probation by failing to contact his probation officer upon his
release from jail.

                At the June 16, 2008 probation revocation hearing, the defendant’s probation officer,
Terry Fowlkes, testified that the defendant failed to report after being released from the Blount
County Jail on March 31, 2008. Ms. Fowlkes stated that she had sent a letter to the defendant’s last
known address and unsuccessfully attempted to contact him via telephone. She testified that when
she eventually spoke with the defendant, he told her “that he was homeless. He asked for treatment.”
She stated that her “recommendation would be treatment.”

               During cross-examination, Ms. Fowlkes acknowledged that the defendant suffered
from substance abuse and mental health problems. She stated that the defendant told her “he had
an addiction to cocaine,” and she conceded that “there [are] obviously some mental disabilities.”
Ms. Fowlkes testified that it was her opinion that the defendant could not successfully complete a
probationary sentence “without some assistance, whether it be treatment or . . . some type of mental
facility.” She stated, “I think he’s trying, but due to his capabilities, he’s not able to complete
probation.” She testified that if the court placed the defendant in a treatment facility, she believed
“he would try and make a good faith effort.”

                 The 24-year-old defendant testified that he had been using drugs since the age of 17
and that he had developed an addiction to cocaine and morphine. He stated that his drug “problem
is so bad that [he] would just . . . do whatever comes to mind.” He testified that between the ages
of 19 and 22 he worked for his father’s roofing business and lived with his parents, with whom he
shared responsibility for the household bills. The defendant stated that he had been diagnosed as
bipolar and placed on “Depakote, Seroquel, and lithium and Trazodone.” The defendant admitted
getting in a fight at the jail, but he claimed that he was “attacked by a federal inmate” who was
“trying to get into the federal prison as soon as possible and he couldn’t get to nobody [sic] else, so
he figured if he attacked [the defendant] it would get him there quicker.” The defendant stated that
he tried “to mind [his] own business” but claimed that “it’s like almost . . . impossible.” He stated
that he had never had a driver’s license because he was unable to obtain the necessary
documentation.

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                The defendant testified that when he was released from jail, he “didn’t have nowhere
[sic] to go.” He claimed that his family “pretty much turned [him] down on [his] own doorstep.”
He testified that he “pretty much gave up,” and, upon learning that a violation warrant had been filed
based upon his failure to report, began using drugs again. The defendant stated that he telephoned
Ms. Fowlkes and told her that he needed help. He stated that he had made arrangements to attend
the Salvation Army drug treatment program called “Bootstraps” in Knox County if released on
probation again. He testified that his father had agreed to pay for the treatment as well as for his
transportation to probation appointments via the East Tennessee Human Resources Agency.

               Upon questioning by the trial court, the defendant stated that he had completed a 28-
day drug treatment program at Centerpointe but returned to drug use within two months of
completing the program. He stated that the Bootstraps program requires 45 days of inpatient
treatment followed by residence in a halfway house.

                 At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court revoked the defendant’s probation on
the basis of his failure to report and ordered the defendant to serve the balance of his sentence. The
court then issued the following order:

               [T]he [c]ourt further orders that the [d]efendant be evaluated by the
               Cherokee Mental Health forthwith to determine the status of his
               psychological problems . . . and his suitability for placement in a
               halfway house. The [c]ourt further orders that the [d]efendant will
               remain in the Blount County Jail for a minimum of . . . at least the
               next 120 days while that mental health evaluation is taking place, and
               will entertain during that 120 days, if it appears possible, his
               application for admission to a halfway house, provided the mental
               health evaluation indicates such is suitable.

                  On June 17, 2008, the trial court entered a written order revoking the defendant’s
probation and requiring service of “the sentence as previously ordered.” On July 8, 2008, the trial
court entered an order rescinding its earlier order requiring the defendant to remain in the Blount
County Jail for 120 days on the basis that the “defendant had multiple incidents with other inmates
in the jail relating to his personal safety and the disruption of jail security.” The court also ordered
the defendant “to serve his sentence as previously imposed” and that the defendant “may be
transported to another appropriate facility as soon as one becomes available.”

                 A trial court may revoke a sentence of probation upon a finding by a preponderance
of the evidence that the defendant has violated the conditions of his release. T.C.A. § 40-35-311(e)
(2006); Stamps v. State, 614 S.W.2d 71, 73 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1980). A revocation will be upheld
absent a showing that the trial court abused its discretion. State v. Harkins, 811 S.W.2d 79, 82
(Tenn. 1991). In order to establish that the trial court has abused its discretion, the defendant must
show that there is no substantial evidence to support the determination that he violated his probation.
Id. (citing State v. Grear, 568 S.W.2d 285, 286 (Tenn. 1978); State v. Delp, 614 S.W.2d 395, 398

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(Tenn. Crim. App. 1980)). Relief will be granted only when “‘the trial court’s logic and reasoning
was improper when viewed in light of the factual circumstances and relevant legal principles
involved.’” State v. Shaffer, 45 S.W.3d 553, 555 (Tenn. 2001) (quoting State v. Moore, 6 S.W.3d
235, 242 (Tenn. 1999)). Upon finding a violation, the trial court may “revoke the probation and
suspension of sentence and cause the defendant to commence the execution of the judgment as
originally entered.” T.C.A. § 40-35-311(e). Furthermore, when probation is revoked, “the original
judgment so rendered by the trial judge shall be in full force and effect from the date of the
revocation of the suspension.” Id. § 40-35-310. The trial judge retains the discretionary authority
to order the defendant to serve the original sentence. See State v. Duke, 902 S.W.2d 424, 427 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1995).

                The defendant candidly admitted violating the terms of his probation and
acknowledged that his probation was revoked in this case on more than one occasion. Although he
asked the trial court to place him in a drug treatment program, the trial court was under no duty to
do so. Upon finding that the defendant violated the terms of his probation, the trial court acted
within its authority by ordering service of the original sentence in confinement. T.C.A. §§
40-35-310, -311(e).

               Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

                                                      ___________________________________
                                                      JAMES CURWOOD WITT, JR., JUDGE

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