Court Opinion

ID: 1080045
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:37:21.014114+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:05:09.838611
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                               AT NASHVILLE

             STATE OF TENNESSEE, v. FREDERICK RYDEL WALKER.

                      Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Marshall County
                                    No. 13422 Charles Lee, Judge

                                     01C01-9807-CC-00301
                         No. M1998-00068-CCA-R3-CD - Decided May 12, 2000

On April 23, 1998, the appellant, Frederick Rydel Walker, was convicted by a jury in the Marshall
County Circuit Court of one count of attempted second degree murder and two counts of reckless
endangerment. On June 3, 1998, the trial court sentenced the appellant as a multiple Range II
offender to twenty years incarceration and imposed a five thousand dollar fine for the attempted
second degree murder conviction. The trial court also sentenced the appellant to three years and
eight months incarceration for each of the reckless endangerment convictions and imposed a one
thousand five hundred dollar fine for each offense. The trial court ordered that the two reckless
endangerment sentences be served concurrently with each other but consecutively to the attempted
second degree murder sentence for an effective sentence of twenty-three years and eight months
incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction.1 In this appeal as of right, the appellant
presents the following issues for our review: (1) whether Count One of the indictment sufficiently
alleges the crime of attempted second degree murder; and (2) whether the evidence is sufficient to
sustain the appellant’s conviction of one count of attempted second degree murder. Following a
review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

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

OGLE , J. delivered the opinion of the court, in which WADE, P.J. and PEAY, J., joined.

John E. Herbison, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Frederick Rydel Walker.

Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter, Kim R. Helper, Assistant Attorney General, for
the appellee, State of Tennessee.

         1
           The judgment form for the attempted second degree murder conviction mistakenly states that this count runs
concurrent with counts four (reckless endangerment) and five (reckless endangerment). However, the transcript and
the judgments for the reckless endangerment convictions clearly state the consecutive nature of the senten ces. When
there is a conflict be tween a judgm ent form and the tra nscript of th e procee dings, the tra nscript con trols. See State v.
Moore , 814 S.W.2d 381, 383 (T enn. Crim . App. 1 991); State v. Da vis, 706 S.W.2d 96, 97 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1985);
State v. Kaywood, No. 03C01-9901-CC-00041, 2000 WL 5044 , at *8 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knox ville, January 5, 2000).
                                            OPINION

                                      I. Factual Background
                The appellant’s convictions resulted from a shooting at the residence of Thomas
Anthony Blackwell in Lewisburg, Tennessee on January 14, 1998. Blackwell testified on behalf
of the State that he regularly repaired cars in the garage of his home. Prior to the shooting,
Blackwell had repaired the appellant’s car on several occasions and the appellant had promptly
paid Blackwell for his services. Approximately one month before the shooting, the appellant
called Blackwell and told him that his car was at the Marco Motel and could not be driven.
Blackwell towed the car to his garage and advised the appellant that the car needed a new
transmission. The appellant told Blackwell to wait on the repairs and the car remained parked in
Blackwell’s yard for approximately one month.

                Additionally, Blackwell testified that during this time the appellant was moving
and Blackwell rented a U-Haul for the appellant’s use. When Blackwell returned the truck, he
was advised that there were additional charges because the appellant had exceeded the mileage
allowance and had failed to return the truck with half a tank of gasoline. Blackwell paid the
excess charges and as a result, the appellant owed him for the use of the truck and for towing the
car. Blackwell told Philip Walker, the appellant’s father, that he would not return the appellant’s
car until the debt was paid.

               On January 14, 1998, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Blackwell drove by Phillip
Walker’s house and saw the appellant outside. Blackwell stopped and asked the appellant to do
something about the car. The appellant asked for his car keys but was advised by Blackwell that
the keys were at Blackwell’s house. At the appellant’s suggestion, he and Blackwell got into
Blackwell’s car and started toward Blackwell’s house. As Blackwell drove toward his house, he
noticed that the appellant had a pistol in his hand. According to Blackwell, the appellant became
angry and moved his hand up and down several times in order to ensure that Blackwell saw the
gun.

                As they approached Blackwell’s house, Blackwell told the appellant that he did
not need the gun to get his car. He also advised the appellant that he would not get his car until
the debt was paid. When they reached Blackwell’s house, Blackwell parked the car near the
porch, reached over, pushed the appellant’s arm, and jumped out of the car. As Blackwell ran
toward the house, the appellant started firing the gun in the direction of Blackwell. The bullets
shattered the glass storm door and also hit the wooden side door leading into the house. During
the shooting, Blackwell’s wife and seven year old stepdaughter were inside the house. As
Blackwell entered the house, he told them to go to the back of the house. After entering the
house, Blackwell heard several more gunshots.

                Once inside, Blackwell located his shotgun but decided not to take it outside. He
left the house and jumped into his car to pursue the appellant. As he was leaving his driveway,

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he heard another gunshot and saw the appellant running across the yard of his neighbor, Connie
Blackwell. Blackwell drove to Connie Blackwell’s house and asked her to call the police.

                Blackwell was not injured as a result of the shooting. Blackwell recalled that he
heard a total of six or seven gunshots during the shooting. The glass storm door was shattered by
bullets, and as he entered the house, several bullets entered the frame of the wooden side door
only inches from his head. Blackwell identified the appellant as the shooter in a photographic
lineup and at trial.

               Dawn Blackwell testified that on January 14, 1998, she and her seven year old
daughter were in the living room of their home when her husband, Thomas Blackwell, ran into
the house and told her to take her daughter and go to the back of the house. She heard a “pop,
pop, pop” sound but did not realize that the sound was gunfire. When her husband left the house
to pursue the shooter, Mrs. Blackwell looked out a bedroom window and saw a person running
down the street. She later identified the appellant at a photographic lineup and also at trial as the
person she saw running down the street.

                Brian Cook, a detective with the Lewisburg Police Department, investigated the
shooting at Thomas Blackwell’s residence. When Cook arrived at the scene, he located
approximately five bullet holes scattered around the side door. Cook found a spent bullet lying
on the floor inside the home and two more bullets embedded in an interior door frame near the
utility room. Cook concluded that at least three bullets entered the inside of the residence.

                                                      II. Analysis
Sufficiency of the Indictment
               The appellant first contends that Count One of indictment did not sufficiently
allege the crime of attempted second degree murder.2 Specifically, the appellant argues that
Count One states only a legal conclusion and fails to aver facts constituting every element of
attempted second degree murder.

                It is well known principle of law that a criminal indictment must include a
sufficient description of the charged offense to insure that the accused understands the special
nature of the charge he is called upon to answer. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 314, 99
S. Ct. 2781, 2786 (1979). In Tennessee, an indictment must “state the facts constituting the
offense in ordinary and concise language, without prolixity or repetition, in such a manner as to
enable a person of common understanding to know what is intended. . . .” Tenn. Code Ann. §
40-13-202 (1997). Moreover, provisions of state and federal constitutions guarantee the
criminally accused knowledge of “the nature and cause of the accusation.” U.S. Const. amend.
VI; Tenn. Const. Art I, § 9.

         2
         The appellant did not challenge the sufficiency of the indictment prior to trial or in his motion for new trial.
However, because the indictm ent confe rs subject-m atter jurisdiction on this cou rt, it is properly raised on appeal. Tenn.
R. Crim. P. 1 2(b)(2); T enn. R. A pp. P. (13 (b); Dykes v. Compton, 978 S.W .2d 528 , 529(T enn. 19 98); State v.
Seagraves, 837 S.W .2d 615 , 617-18 (Tenn. C rim. Ap p. 1992 ).

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                 While the indictment must contain a sufficient description of the charged offense,
“it is not necessary to amplify and encumber the charge by circumstantial detail and minute
description.” State v. Griffis, 964 S.W.2d 577, 591 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). The basic
requirements are: (1) to provide notice to the accused of the offense with which he is charged; (2)
to notify the trial court of the charge so that it can enter an appropriate judgment and sentence;
and (3) to describe the offense so as to protect the accused against double jeopardy. State v.
Byrd, 820 S.W.2d 739, 741 (Tenn. 1991); Griffis, 964 S.W.2d at 590-91.

                 This court has held that failure to specifically allege an element of the offense is
not fatal “if the elements are necessarily implied from the allegations made.” State v. Christian,
No. 03C01-9609-CR-00336, 1998 WL 125562, at *5 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knoxville, March 23,
1998), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1999) (citing State v. Marshall, 870 S.W.2d 532, 536
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1993). If the offense is alleged in such a way that the defendant cannot fail to
be apprised of the elements of the offense, the charge is sufficient, notwithstanding the fact that
an element may not be specifically alleged. Id.

                Furthermore, in several recent cases, our supreme court has relaxed the common
law requirements governing indictments. First, in State v. Hill, 954 S.W.2d 725, 728 (Tenn.
1997), the Court noted that “the description of the proof necessary to sustain a conviction must
be both more inclusive and conclusive than the language of the indictment.” In Dykes v.
Compton, 978 S.W.2d 528, 530 (Tenn. 1998), the Court stated, “We wish to emphasize once
again the fact that the Court has moved away from the strict pleading requirements of common
law.” Also, in Ruff v. State, 978 S.W.2d 95, 100 (Tenn. 1998), our supreme court reiterated its
intent to “relax strict pleading requirements of the common law” and concluded that “where the
constitutional and statutory requirements in Hill are met, the indictment will be sufficient to
support a conviction.” See also State v. Carter, 988 S.W.2d 145, 149 (Tenn. 1999).

               Recently, this court held that an indictment charging attempt to commit a crime
should specifically allege the criminal intent to commit the specific crime and an overt act.
Christian, No. 03C01-9609-CR-00336, 1998 WL 125562, at *8-9; see also Freeman v. Raney,
No. 02C01-9807-CC-00202, 1999 WL 157397, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Jackson, March 24,
1999); Wyatt v. State, No. 03C01-9802-CC-00057, 1999 WL 71967, at * 7 (Tenn. Crim. App. at
Knoxville, February 16, 1999), perm. to appeal granted, (Tenn. 1999) (Wade, J., concurring).

               The indictment in the instant case includes the following language:
               Frederick Rydel Walker on the 14th day of January, 1998, in
               Marshall County, Tennessee, and before the finding of this
               indictment did unlawfully, feloniously, intentionally, and
               knowingly attempt to kill Thomas Anthony Blackwell, thereby
               attempting to commit the offense of Second Degree Murder, in
               violation of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-13-210, all in
               violation of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-12-101, and
               against the peace and dignity of the State of Tennessee.

                                                 -4-
                In order for this indictment to be sufficient, it should specifically allege the
criminal intent to commit the specific crime and an overt act. Christian, No. 03C01-9609-CR-
00336, 1998 WL 125562, at *8-9. First, the terms “unlawfully, feloniously, intentionally, and
knowingly” embody the criminal intent required to commit the specific crime of second degree
murder. Furthermore, the words “attempt to kill” sufficiently describe an overt act. Wyatt, No.
03C01-9802-CC-00057, 1999 WL 71967, at * 7. We conclude this count provided sufficient
detail to apprise the appellant of the charge and to give the trial court a basis for entering a proper
judgment. Therefore, this challenge to the attempted second degree murder charge is without
merit.

Sufficiency of the Evidence
                The appellant also contends that the evidence is not sufficient to sustain his
conviction of attempted second degree murder. Specifically, the appellant alleges that the State
failed to rebut a hypothesis that the appellant’s actions were only intended to frighten or
intimidate the victim.

                 In Tennessee, appellate courts accord considerable weight to the verdict of a jury
in a criminal trial. In essence, a jury conviction removes the presumption of the defendant’s
innocence and replaces it with one of guilt, so that the appellant carries the burden of
demonstrating to this court why the evidence will not support the jury’s findings. State v.
Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982). The appellant must establish that “no reasonable
trier of fact” could have found the essential elements of the offenses beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789 (1979); Tenn R. App. P. 13(e).

               Accordingly, on appeal, the State is entitled to the strongest legitimate view of the
evidence and all reasonable inferences which may be drawn therefrom. State v. Williams, 657
S.W.2d 405, 410 (Tenn. 1983). In other words, questions concerning the credibility of witnesses
and the weight and value to be given the evidence, as well as factual issues raised by the
evidence, are resolved by the trier of fact, and not the appellate courts. State v. Pruett, 788
S.W.2d 559, 561 (Tenn. 1990).

              In this case, the jury found the appellant guilty of attempted second degree
murder. With respect to the appellant’s conviction, the applicable statute provides, “(a) Second
degree murder is: (1) A knowing killing of another. . ..” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-210(a)(1)
(1997). With regard to the culpable mental state, the applicable statute instructs:
              “Knowing” refers to a person who acts knowingly with respect to
              the conduct or to the circumstances surrounding the conduct when
              the person is aware of the nature of the conduct or that the
              circumstances exist. A person acts knowingly with respect to a
              result of the person’s conduct when the person is aware that the
              conduct is reasonably certain to cause death.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-302(b) (1997). Moreover, criminal attempt occurs when a person
acting with the kind of culpability otherwise required for the offense:

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               (1) Intentionally engages in action or causes a result that would
               constitute an offense if the circumstances surrounding the conduct
               were as the person believes them to be;

               (2) Acts with intent to cause a result that is an element of the
               offense, and believes the conduct will cause the result without
               further conduct on the person’s part; or

               (3) Acts with intent to complete a course of action or cause a result
               that would constitute the offense, under the circumstances
               surrounding the conduct as the person believes them to be, and the
               conduct constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of the
               offense.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-12-101(a) (1997).

                We conclude that the State adduced ample evidence from which a rational juror
could have concluded that the appellant knowingly attempted to kill the victim. Construing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the State, the record in this case reveals that on January
14, 1998, the appellant insisted on going with Blackwell to his residence to get the keys to the
appellant’s car. Blackwell testified that during the car ride, the appellant became angry and
repeatedly displayed a pistol. When they arrived at Blackwell’s house, Blackwell ran into the
house through the side door. The appellant stepped out of the car and began shooting in
Blackwell’s direction. The bullets shattered the glass storm door and damaged the wooden side
door leading into the house. Blackwell additionally noted that several of the bullets struck the
frame of the wooden side door only several inches from his head. Brain Cook testified that when
he investigated the crime scene, he discovered approximately five bullet holes scattered around
the side door and concluded that at least three bullets entered the residence. The evidence
established that the appellant “deliberately aimed a pistol and shot several times at his intended
victim,” which is sufficient proof to support a conviction for second degree murder. State v.
Porter, No. 03C01-9606-CC00238, 1997 WL 661419, at *3 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knoxville,
October 23, 1997), perm to appeal filed, (Tenn. February 2, 1998). The jury rejected the
appellant’s theory of the case. Again, this court may not reweigh the evidence nor substitute its
own view for that properly reached by the trier of fact. The evidence is sufficient for a rational
jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the appellant knowingly attempted to kill
Thomas Anthony Blackwell. This issue is without merit.

               Accordingly, the judgment of the trial is affirmed.

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