Court Opinion

ID: 1044605
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-08 02:14:46.218639+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:09:29.859725
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                         AT NASHVILLE
                                 August 14, 2012 Session

          STATE OF TENNESSEE v. PAUL ROBERT CARRIER, JR.

                  Appeal from the Circuit Court for Montgomery County
                       No. 41001064 Clayburn L. Peoples, Judge

                   No. M2011-01950-CCA-R3-CD - Filed June 18, 2013

Appellant, Paul Robert Carrier, Jr., who was a police officer, was indicted by the Gibson
County Grand Jury for one count of reckless homicide for a shooting death that occurred
while he was on duty. Following a change of venue, he was tried by a jury in Montgomery
County. The jury convicted him as charged. The trial court sentenced Appellant to two years
incarceration and denied his request for judicial diversion. On appeal, Appellant argues that
the trial court erred in allowing certain testimony at trial and in denying his request for
judicial diversion. After a thorough review of the record, we conclude that the trial court did
not err and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

  Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Trial Court is Affirmed.

J ERRY L. S MITH, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which R OBERT W. W EDEMEYER and
C AMILLE R. M CM ULLEN, JJ., joined.

Randy C. Camp and David W. Camp, Jackson, Tennessee, for the appellant, Paul Carrier.

Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; David H. Findley, Assistant Attorney
General; and Garry Brown, District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

                                         OPINION

                                          I. FACTS

       On February 22, 2009, Appellant, who was a Humboldt Police Officer, was patrolling
an area known as “the crossing.” The crossing is the location of several bars. His supervisor,
Sergeant Jimmy Arnold, was also patrolling the area. When the bars closed at 3:00 a.m., the
officers saw a white Crown Victoria squeal its tires as it left a parking lot. Sergeant Arnold
told Appellant that they needed to check the Crown Victoria out. The officers got into their
cars and followed the Crown Victoria.

        Sergeant Arnold was behind Appellant while they were following the Crown Victoria.
The Crown Victoria pulled into a driveway about a block away. Sergeant Arnold stood with
the driver of the car, Derrick Motley. Sergeant Arnold saw Appellant get out of his car and
run behind a house. Sergeant Arnold heard Appellant yelling at someone to stop. He saw
an African-American male running and quickly lost sight of him. Witnesses testified at trial
that Appellant was chasing the African-American male and Appellant had a gun in his hand.
Shortly thereafter, Sergeant Arnold heard a gunshot. Sergeant Arnold found Appellant in the
backyard of a home. Appellant was in shock and said that he had shot the victim. Sergeant
Arnold secured Appellant’s weapon, a Glock .40 caliber pistol. When Appellant returned
to the police station, he stated that he had tripped, his gun had gone off, and he had shot an
unarmed person.

       The Gibson County Grand Jury indicted Appellant for one count of reckless homicide.
Appellant successfully moved for a change of venue, and he was tried in Montgomery
County. Appellant also filed a motion in limine requesting that the State be prevented from
presenting proof of Appellant’s firearms training and proper procedures for using a firearm.
The trial court denied this motion and the State was allowed to present such evidence.

        Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (“TBI”) Agent Kevin Warner testified at
Appellant’s trial. His position is special agent forensic scientist and his specialty is firearms
identification. He stated that the shell casing found at the scene and the bullet that was
removed from the victim’s body were consistent with being fired from Appellant’s gun.
Agent Warner testified that he was able to determine that the fatal bullet wound was not a
contact wound. He estimated that the gun was fired within 36 inches of the victim. Agent
Warner also stated that Appellant’s gun did not contain any sort of safety device. The trigger
had to be pulled in order to fire the weapon.

       At the autopsy, Dr. Marco Ross determined that the bullet entered the middle of the
victim’s back and continued through the victim’s body with a slight downward trajectory.
Dr. Ross opined that the trajectory of the bullet was consistent with Appellant’s contention
that he tripped and was down on his hands and knees when the gun fired.

       Agent Cathy Ferguson is a special agent with the TBI. She investigated the case at
hand. As part of her investigation, she interviewed Appellant. She stated that Appellant was
visibly upset when she interviewed him. The interview occurred several hours after the
shooting. Initially, Appellant told her that he chased the victim after a traffic stop. A foot
chase ensued, and he fired a warning shot during the foot chase because the victim threw a

                                               -2-
rock at him. The victim fell while Appellant was chasing him and as Appellant approached
him, the victim grabbed Appellant’s sleeve. When he grabbed the sleeve, Appellant pulled
away and the gun discharged as a result. A few days later, Appellant gave a different
explanation to Agent Ferguson. He said that the victim did not grab his coat sleeve. He told
her instead that the victim grabbed his hand, which caused Appellant to slip on some gravel.
As he slipped, his gun discharged. He told Agent Ferguson that his finger was not on the
trigger while he was pursuing the victim, but it did slip onto the trigger as he fell.

        Agent Ferguson stated that she is a Peace Officers Standards and Training (“POST”)
certified firearms instructor. POST is a state agency that oversees firearm training for all law
enforcement officers in Tennessee. Agent Ferguson is also a firearms instructor for the TBI
She is certified to teach any law enforcement officer firearm training. She stated that she had
testified on previous occasions as an expert in the field of firearms and firearm instruction.
In addition, she was qualified as a certified armorer in regards to Glock firearms. A certified
armorer with regard to a Glock weapon is qualified to repair and analyze a Glock weapon.
After a bench conference and a subsequent jury-out hearing, the trial court instructed the jury
that they should consider Agent Ferguson an expert witness in the field of firearms.

        Agent Ferguson testified that part of firearms instruction included instruction under
when and under what circumstances an officer may use deadly force. She stated that the
instruction is based on the language found in Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-7-108
regarding that topic. She said that “in general it means that you may use deadly force in
protection of yourself or in the protection of another person . . . .” Agent Ferguson testified
that in a ten-week police academy training course one week would be dedicated to firearms
including the appropriate use of deadly force. In addition, officers are required to complete
an annual in-service training which also includes instruction on the use of deadly force.

       With regard to Appellant’s specific training, Agent Ferguson testified that Appellant
attended police academy training at Cleveland State in 2007. She found the training
materials from that time frame. She stated that the training materials included a Powerpoint
presentation that she presented at trial. The Powerpoint presentation included the following
language:

                                   Safety Considerations

       C      Developing a “Safety Reflex”
              - Safety rules should become so ingrained that you can’t make yourself
              violate them
       C      Set of Safety Rules

                                              -3-
     - CORE Rules that are always applicable
     - Other Range Safety Rules
C    You are responsible for your safety and that of everyone around you!

                          CORE Safety Rule #1
1.   It is my responsibility to keep myself, and everyone else, safe. Safety
     is a personal commitment made by everyone at all times

                         CORE Safety Rule #2
C    Muzzle Discipline
     -     I will always keep my muzzle pointed in the safest possible
           direction and never intentionally cross the muzzle across
           anything I am not prepared to shoot
     -     The Safest Possible Direction is one where NO injury and only
           minor/no property damage could occur [if] an unintentional
           round is fired.

                         CORE #2 Continued

C    Remember the “Laser Rule” – Consider your handgun as having a laser
     beam coming out of the muzzle and whatever it touches will be cut
     through. Wherever the muzzle points is where the laser beam goes.

                               CORE #3

C    Trigger Finger
     -     I will keep my trigger finger straight along the frame of the gun
           unless the muzzle is pointed at something I am prepared to
           shoot.

                               CORE #3

C    The Trigger finger is only placed inside the trigger guard and on the
     trigger when coming onto target just before firing.
C    When you stop firing, take the trigger finger out of the trigger guard
     and lay it straight along the frame.
C    Holding finger just outside the trigger guard could cause a convulsive
     reaction where the finger goes inside the frame

                                   -4-
                                          At Work

       Never remove a firearm from its holster during duty hours unless:
       *     Ordered to produce the firearm for inspection by a qualified firearms
             instruction
       *            Involved in, or about to become involved in, a confrontation
                    reasonably believed to require the use of deadly force

                                    At Work Continued

       The two principle safety rules are applicable on the street
       -Finger along frame
       -Muzzle in the safest possible direction
       -Be sure to keep weapon secured in the holster WHEN NOT NEEDED!

       -Responsible for who?

                                        Point of Aim

       C      always center of mass of the target offered or selected.
       C      Why?
              -     Primary reason - biggest target and most room for error.
              -     Secondary reason - greatest concentration of vital organs

       Agent Ferguson testified that this slide presentation was consistent with what is taught
in POST training given to officers in Tennessee. She stated that warning shots are prohibited
in Tennessee. At trial, Agent Ferguson demonstrated for the jury the proper technique of
handling a gun by placing the trigger finger along the pistol’s frame, unless the officer
intended to shoot the gun. The weapon used by Appellant, the Glock, had no safety feature
other than a trigger safety. The trigger safety allows the trigger to only be pulled straight
back with a five and a half pound pull. The trigger on the Glock cannot be pulled at an angle.
Agent Ferguson stated that Appellant’s weapon could hold a maximum of fifteen rounds.
When the weapon was received immediately after the shooting, it contained thirteen rounds.

      Agent Ferguson stated that her conclusion was that the shooting was the result of an
accidental discharge. She stated the following without objection:

                                              -5-
       I believe, based on the facts, that [Appellant] had fired a warning shot; I
       believe his finger was still on the trigger when he was running; I believe when
       he encountered [the victim] in the alleyway between the two houses, that when
       he slipped his finger was still on the trigger and it was a sympathetic reflex to
       – to flex your fingers to fall to catch yourself, and I believe that’s why the gun
       accidentally went off was because he had his finger on the trigger.

        Bill Baker is the assistant police chief with the Humboldt Police Department.
Assistant Chief Baker testified at trial that Appellant was issued a Glock when he was hired.
When he was hired, the Humboldt Police Department also supplied the regulations on the use
of deadly force. Appellant was required to acknowledge reading the regulations by signing
at the conclusion of the packet. According to Assistant Chief Baker, the Humboldt Police
Department’s guidelines state that “Officers are justified in drawing a weapon when they
perceive a life-threatening situation or a threat of serious injury.” Otherwise, they should
“not unnecessarily draw or display any firearms or other weapons.” In addition, the
guidelines specifically prohibit the firing of warning shots. “No warning shots shall be fired.
Deadly force may not be used if it creates more risk or danger to innocent bystanders and/or
property than it does the suspect.” The department guidelines also state the following:

       [T]he value of human life far outweighs the gravity of an offense that does not
       inflict or threaten to inflict serious bodily harm. Consequently deadly force
       shall not be used to affect the arrest of a person who is to be charged with any
       misdemeanor offense or any noncapital felony offense.

       Appellant also testified at trial. He stated that he and Sergeant Arnold were patrolling
“the crossing” at 3:00 a.m. when they saw a white Crown Victoria screeching as it left the
parking lot. Both officers jumped in their patrol cars and followed the Crown Victoria. The
suspect vehicle pulled into a driveway and both occupants got out. The passenger ran around
the house, and Appellant followed him. Appellant stated that he went to see where the
passenger was going because he did not want the passenger “to ambush” them. Appellant
said he drew his gun. Appellant said that while he was chasing the victim, the victim threw
something at him. According to Appellant, he was fearful of bodily injury and fired a
warning shot and ordered the victim to stop. Appellant specifically stated that after firing the
warning shot, he placed his trigger finger along the side of the gun as he was taught to do to
avoid accidental discharge.

      At this point of the chase, Appellant considered the victim a perpetrator of assault and
evading arrest. Appellant stated that the victim tripped and fell but got up and continued to

                                              -6-
run. The victim slipped again, and Appellant caught up to him. He approached the victim
when the victim raised his right arm. Appellant believed the victim was reaching for his gun
so he jerked away from the victim and fell. As Appellant fell, he stated that the gun
accidentally fired. Appellant maintained that his finger was not on the trigger but alongside
the frame as he fell. Nonetheless, the victim was shot in the back and died from the wound.

       At the conclusion of a trial, the jury found Appellant guilty of one count of reckless
homicide. The trial court sentenced Appellant to two years incarceration. He was denied
judicial diversion and alternative sentencing.

                                         ANALYSIS

                                      Motion in Limine

       Appellant’s first issue is the that the trial court erred in denying his motion in limine
to prevent the presentation of evidence “as to the training of [Appellant] as a police officer
or what the actions of a police officer should be as part of [the State’s] case in chief.”
Appellant briefed the issue as follows:

       The trial court erred when it denied the Defendant’s motion in limine and
       allowed the State of Tennessee to introduce evidence of policy and procedure
       violations by and through an expert witness that testified to said violations
       when the expert’s opinion had not been disclosed after having been requested
       in discovery from the Defendant and said opinions were speculative.

The State argues that the trial court properly denied the motion in limine; that the record is
not clear that there was a discovery violation and furthermore the discovery violation issue
was not raised in the motion for new trial; and the witness’s testimony on redirect was proper
because Appellant opened the door and Appellant failed to object at trial.

       Appellant argues that the trial court erred because “there [was] no basis to support
introduction of the evidence as to ‘police officer’ standard. By allowing introduction of
evidence regarding the actions of a ‘police officer’, the trial court erred by holding
[Appellant] to a higher standard than that of an ‘ordinary person’ required by the statute.”

        The Tennessee Rules of Evidence embody, and our courts traditionally have
acknowledged, “a policy of liberality in the admission of evidence in both civil and criminal
cases . . . .” State v. Banks, 564 S.W.2d 947, 949 (Tenn. 1978); see also State v. Robinson,

                                              -7-
930 S.W.2d 78, 84 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). To be admissible, evidence must satisfy the
threshold determination of relevancy mandated by Rule 401 of the Tennessee Rules of
Evidence. See, e.g., Banks, 564 S.W.2d at 949. Rule 401 defines “relevant evidence” as
being “evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence
to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without
the evidence.” Tenn. R. Evid. 401. However, relevant “evidence may be excluded if its
probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice . . . .” Tenn.
R. Evid. 403; see also Banks, 564 S.W.2d at 951.

       Appellant was charged with reckless homicide. Under Tennessee Code Annotated
section 39-13-215(a) reckless homicide is defined as “a reckless killing of another.”
Reckless is defined at Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-11-106(a)(31) as follows:

       “Reckless” means that a person acts recklessly with respect to circumstances
       surrounding the conduct or the result of the conduct when the person is aware
       of, but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the
       circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature
       and degree that its disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of
       care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as
       viewed from the accused person’s standpoint . . . .

       In State v. Ballard Eugene Anderson, No. 03C01-9902-CR-00084, 2000 WL 122218
(Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, Jan. 26, 2000), this Court analyzed the meaning of the term
“reckless” in regard to reckless homicide. This Court stated the following:

               The risk of which the accused is aware must be substantial in order for
       the recklessness judgment to be made. The risk must also be unjustifiable.
       The awareness of the risk is measured from the actor’s point of view. The
       question remains as to what standard is used in determining how substantial
       and how unjustifiable the risk must be in order to warrant a finding of
       culpability. These are questions to which the jury must evaluate the actor’s
       conduct and determine whether it should be condemned. Thus, the jury must
       answer two questions: (1) to what extent was the actor aware of the risk, of
       factors relating to its substantiality, and of factors relating to its
       unjustifiableness; and (2) whether the actor’s conscious disregard of the risk
       justifies condemnation. See Comment, MODEL PENAL CODE §§ 2.02 and
       210.2(4) (1985). See e.g., State v. Dean Benjamin Clark, II, No.

                                             -8-
       02C01-9705-CC-00186[, 1998 WL 227774] (Tenn. Crim. App. at Jackson,
       May 8, 1998).

Ballard Eugene Anderson, 2000 WL 122218, at *3 (emphasis added).

        As stated above, in its determination as to whether Appellant’s actions were reckless,
the jury was to look at his actions from his point of view. Because this Court has interpreted
the finding of reckless based upon the actor’s point of view, we conclude that Appellant’s
training as a police officer with regard to the handling of firearms is relevant to show
Appellant’s awareness of the risks of handling a weapon during the chase of a suspect.
Appellant’s training and instruction to not unholster his weapon unless the officer’s life or
another life was being threatened, to not fire warning shots, and to keep the trigger finger
along the frame instead of on the trigger counsel how a person in Appellant’s position, i.e.,
a trained police officer should deal with the risks involved with firearms during encounters
with criminal suspects. Therefore, we agree with the trial court’s determination that the
information was relevant at trial and denial of the motion in limine.

                                     Discovery Violation

       Appellant also argues that he filed a discovery request prior to trial for any and all
witnesses and information to be used by such witnesses to offer opinion testimony. He
argues that Agent Ferguson and her testimony constituted such a witness and that Appellant
was not given the information regarding Agent Ferguson as requested. The State argues that
Appellant did not included this argument in his motion for new trial, so the issue should be
waived.

       The State is correct in its assertion that Appellant did not base his motion for new trial
on the failure of the State to comply with a discovery request. Appellant’s issue in the
motion for new trial with regard to Agent Ferguson’s testimony is as follows:

       3.     That in a pretrial Motion in Limine as well as during the trial Movant
              objected to introduction of training policies and procedures as it relates
              to his profession as a police officer. That the Movant submits
              introduction of said evidence was confusing and misleading to the jury
              and placed the Movant to a higher standard of responsibility than other
              persons charged with similar offenses which clearly violates his rights
              to trial.

                                               -9-
       4.     Moreover, introduction of said evidence was not relevant to the events
              and circumstances as they arose during the early morning hours of
              February 22, 2009.

       As noted by the State, Appellant did not raise any issue with regard to the exclusion
of Mr. Taylor’s statement in a written motion for new trial, as required by Tennessee Rule
of Appellate Procedure 3(e). That rule provides, in pertinent part:

       [I]n all cases tried by a jury, no issue presented for review shall be predicated
       upon error in the admission or exclusion of evidence, jury instructions granted
       or refused, misconduct of jurors, parties or counsel, or other action committed
       or occurring during the trial of the case, or other ground upon which a new
       trial is sought, unless the same was specifically stated in a motion for a new
       trial; otherwise such issues will be treated as waived.

Tenn. R. App. P. 3.

         Additionally, “[a] motion for a new trial shall be in writing or, if made orally in open
court, be reduced to writing, within thirty days of the date the order of sentence is entered.
The court shall liberally grant motions to amend the motion for new trial until the day of the
hearing on the motion for a new trial.” Tenn. R. Crim. P. 33(b) (emphasis added). Further,
a trial court loses jurisdiction with the filing of a notice of appeal. See State v. Pendergrass,
937 S.W.2d 834, 837 (Tenn. 1996). In the case herein, Appellant raised the issue orally at
the hearing on the motion for new trial but failed to reduce the issue to writing or submit an
amended motion for new trial within thirty days.

       Moreover, a party may not take one position regarding a ground in the trial court and
change its strategy or theory midstream and advocate a different ground or reason in this
Court. See State v. Aucoin, 756 S.W.2d 705, 715 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988); State v. Dobbins,
754 S.W.2d 637, 641 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988).

        Both before trial and during trial, Appellant argued that Agent Ferguson’s testimony
should be excluded because the police officer training requirements were not relevant to the
issue at trial. During trial, Appellant also lodged an objection to Agent Ferguson’s testimony
based on the failure to receive her materials. However, after a jury-out hearing, Appellant
withdrew his objection. He did not include this issue in his motion for new trial. Because
he withdrew his objection, Appellant did not allow the trial court to rule on the objection.

                                              -10-
This Court has no obligation to grant relief “to a party responsible for an error or who failed
to take whatever action was reasonably available to prevent or nullify the harmful effect of
an error.” Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a). Under these circumstances the issue of an alleged
discovery violation is waived.

                                  Agent Ferguson’s Opinion

       Appellant argues that Agent Ferguson should not have testified as to her opinion that
Appellant had his finger on the trigger because there was no evidence in the record to support
her opinion.

Appellant has cited no authority, such as Tennessee Rules of Evidence 702 or 703 or any
caselaw, to support this argument. As stated above, Rule 27(a)(7) of the Tennessee Rules
of Appellate Procedure provides that a brief shall contain “[an] argument . . . setting forth the
contentions of the appellant with respect to the issues presented, and the reasons therefor,
including the reasons why the contentions require appellate relief, with citations to the
authorities and appropriate references to the record . . . relied on.” Tennessee Court of
Criminal Appeals Rule 10(b) states that “[i]ssues which are not supported by argument,
citation to authorities, or appropriate references to the record will be treated as waived in this
court.”

        Furthermore, Appellant did not object at trial to Agent Ferguson’s opinion testimony.
 Appellant’s failure to object to the statements at trial constitutes waiver of the issue on
appeal. See Tenn. R. App. P. 3(e) and Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a) (stating “nothing in this rule
shall be construed as requiring relief be granted to a party responsible for an error or who
failed to take whatever action was reasonably available to prevent or nullify the harmful
effect of an error.”). This issue is waived.

                                      Judicial Diversion

         The Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989 states that, after accepting a guilty plea,
a trial court may do the following:

       [D]efer further proceedings against a qualified defendant and place such
       defendant on probation upon such reasonable conditions as it may require
       without entering a judgment of guilty and with the consent of the qualified
       defendant. Such deferral shall be for a period of time not less than the period
       of the maximum sentence for the misdemeanor with which the person is

                                              -11-
       charged, or not more than the period of the maximum sentence of the felony
       with which the person is charged.

T.C.A. § 40-35-313(a)(1)(A). Judicial diversion is substantially similar to pretrial diversion;
however, the decision to grant diversion rests with the trial court, not the prosecutor. State
v. Anderson, 857 S.W.2d 571, 572 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992). The decision of whether to
place a criminal defendant on judicial diversion is within the sound discretion of the trial
court and that decision will not be reversed on appeal if there is any substantial record
evidence to support it. State v. Bonestel, 871 S.W.2d 163, 168 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993),
overruled on other grounds by State v. Hooper, 29 S.W.3d 1, 9 (Tenn. 2000).

        Before determining whether to grant or deny judicial diversion, a trial court must
consider the following factors: “(a) the accused’s amenability to correction, (b) the
circumstances of the offense, (c) the accused’s criminal record, (d) the accused’s social
history, (e) the status of the accused’s physical and mental health, and (f) the deterrence value
to the accused as well as others.” Id. at 168. Additionally, the trial court should consider the
accused’s attitude, behavior since arrest, emotional stability, current drug use, past
employment, home environment, marital stability, family responsibility, general reputation,
and the likelihood that judicial diversion will serve the ends of justice and best interests of
both the public and the accused. See State v. Cutshaw, 967 S.W.2d 332, 343-44 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1997). In addition, this Court has stated the following:

       Moreover, the record must reflect that the court has weighed all of the factors
       in reaching its determination. The court must explain on the record why the
       defendant does not qualify under its analysis, and if the court has based its
       determination on only some of the factors, it must explain why these factors
       outweigh the others.

State v. Electroplating, Inc., 990 S.W.2d 211, 229 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998) (citation
omitted).

      We review a trial court’s decision on whether or not to grant judicial diversion under
an abuse of discretion standard. See Cutshaw, 967 S.W.2d at 344. Where the trial court
follows the required procedure for determining whether or not to grant judicial diversion, we
must affirm the trial court’s ruling if any substantial evidence exists to support it. See id.

                                              -12-
       The trial court discussed Appellant’s amenability, his remorse, the circumstances of
the offense the lack of a criminal record, the fact that he had spent most of his life in public
service, and that his physical and mental health was exemplary. The trial court, however,
based its decision on the deterrence effect of Appellant’s sentence.

The trial court stated the following:

       If all I had to consider were those aspects of the Defendant’s life that have
       occurred prior to this offense and since this offense, then obviously he would
       be an ideal candidate for diversion, but there are other factors that I must
       consider. One of them is the deterrence value to the accused as well as others.
       The emphasis of the discussion has been upon law-enforcement officers using
       weapons in the line of duty or outside the line of duty.

               The fact is we now live in a society in this state in which a great, great
       number of people carry firearms legally for all sorts of purposes. . . . [W]hen
       you get into deterrence there are some kinds of people who are deterred much
       more successfully than other people. Generally speaking people who have
       jobs, people who are forward looking, people who care enough to obtain a
       license before they carry a firearm are the very kinds of people who could be
       deterred and, perhaps, would be deterred by however this case is treated. So
       I think the deterrent value to people in like circumstances being people who
       carry guns will, like circumstances being people who carry guns legally. I
       think that -- I think that is considerable.

               I also think, with all due respect, the Defense argument that, you know,
       just because he had the audacity to shoot a gun in the air, this is a -- this wasn’t
       -- this wasn’t an unfortunate accident; according to the jury and according to
       the way I interpreted the evidence this was a crime. We can’t -- we can’t
       evaluate this case based upon the idea that this was -- it was unfortunate, it
       was accidental according to the definition of -- of the offense with which he
       was convicted but that doesn’t -- that doesn’t change the fact that he
       committed a crime.

              And then we have to ask whether diversion serves the interest of the
       public as well as the accused. We didn’t hear any proof and I don’t think that
       there could have been any proof about what the public thinks about crimes
       committed by people in -- I certainly don’t want to use the term high profile,

                                              -13-
       but publicly visible positions, people who are charged with enforcing the law,
       the public is certainly interested in what happens as they out to be. I do not
       think that diversion in this case would serve the interest of the public. I do
       think that given the extreme cost in this case that diversion would depreciate
       the seriousness of this crime. So I don’t think diversion is appropriate, that
       does not however answer the question of what sentence should be imposed.

        As stated above, if the trial court follows the procedure we must affirm the trial
court’s ruling if there is evidence to support it. Cutshaw, 967 S.W.2d at 344. We conclude
that the trial court’s reliance upon deterrence in this case is well-founded and, therefore, the
trial court did not abuse its discretion. We affirm the denial of Appellant’s request for
judicial diversion.

                                       CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                            ___________________________________
                                            JERRY L. SMITH, JUDGE

                                              -14-