Court Opinion

ID: 1046473
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-08 02:36:31.090305+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:53:20.779157
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                         AT NASHVILLE
                        Assigned on Briefs September 14, 2011

        STATE OF TENNESSEE v. MONROE JAMES DODSON, JR.

                   Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
                           No. 2009-A-829 Steve Dozier, Judge

                    No. M2010-01615-CCA-R3-CD - Filed July 12, 2012

Appellant, Monroe James Dodson, Jr. and his co-defendants were indicted by the Davidson
County Grand Jury for three counts of aggravated rape, two counts of especially aggravated
kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of aggravated burglary, and one
count of possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony. Appellant pled guilty
to one count of aggravated rape, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, two counts
of aggravated robbery, one count of aggravated burglary, and one count of employing a
weapon during a felony with prior convictions. The trial court held a separate sentencing
hearing and sentenced Appellant to an effective sentence of eighty-two years. Appellant
appeals both the length of his sentences and the imposition of consecutive sentences. After
a review of the record on appeal, we have determined that the enhancement factors used by
the trial court were supported by the record and that, therefore, the length of the sentences
is affirmed. We also conclude that the record on appeal supports the trial court’s conclusion
that Appellant is a dangerous offender and that consecutive sentences are warranted in his
case. For these reasons, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

 Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Trial Court are Affirmed.

J ERRY L. S MITH, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which J AMES C URWOOD W ITT, J R.
and N ORMA M CG EE O GLE, JJ., joined.

Michael A. Colavecchio, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Monroe James Dodson, Jr.

Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Meredith DeVault, Assistant Attorney
General; Victor S. Johnson, District Attorney General, and Rob McGuire, Assistant District
Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
                                   OPINION

                              Factual Background

The trial court related the following facts in its sentencing order:

        Prior to the defendants’ election to enter to pleas of guilty, E.K. [one of
the victims] testified in trial to the events of December 22, 2008. She stated
that she and her boyfriend R.C. [the other victim] were at home that evening
putting weather stripping on the windows inside their house and packing for
a family visit. They heard a knock on the door and as they went to answer the
door two men with guns forced their way into the house. She saw the eyes of
both men. They were taken back to the office, tied up, their eyes covered, and
placed on the floor. She saw a gun and believed she would get shot. The men
were using vulgar language, calling her a “bitch” and telling her “to get down
or we will shoot you.” They continually asked her where the drugs or money
was in the house, but she told them that they did not have any. They took
televisions, dvds, two purses, a new cell phone, smashed an old cell phone and
took cash from her wallet. They also referred to their puppy who was barking
and told them to shut the dog up or they would shoot it. At trial, the victim
identified the defendants as two of the men who committed these offenses. A
third defendant was present during these events.

        She continued her testimony stating that a weapon was fired and the
defendants said it was to show they were serious. R.C. was taken from the
office. The defendants asked E.K. if she had a condom. She told them she did
not. They then asked about saran wrap, which she told them was in the
kitchen. One of the defendants started [feeling] around in her pockets then put
his fingers inside of her vagina stating they were looking for drugs. She was
lying on her stomach and the defendants pulled down her pants and one of the
defendants penetrated her with his penis and told her to “pump her ass.” The
defendants used the saran wrap as they would have used a condom. The same
person flipped her over on her back and penetrated her again. Then a second
person flipped her onto her stomach and anally raped her with his penis. She
stated she was in a lot of pain and was praying. The other defendants were
carrying stuff out of the house and continued to tell them to shut the dog up.
The defendants then asked E.K. where the bleach was in the house. She knew
that they wanted to use it to clean her and she stated this really scared her. She
told them that they did not have bleach and they went under the kitchen sink

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       and found floor cleaner. They took her to the bathroom, told her to take her
       sweat shirt off and began to pour the floor cleaner all over her. At this point,
       the Court took a recess at the request of a juror, and during that recess, the
       defendants requested to enter a plea agreement to negotiated offenses.

              At the sentencing hearing, R.C. testified as to the impact the crime had
       on his life. He stated [he] and E.K. had been unable to return to the house in
       which they had been assaulted based upon the crimes. He testified they were
       constantly reliving the crime. They moved to secure condominium complex
       which was not the type of home they had envisioned themselves living. He
       stated during the crime, his eyes were covered, his hands were bound behind
       his back for approximately an hour. During that time, the defendants went
       around the house, seeming to enjoy the crimes they were committing by the
       way they laughed at items they found as they ransacked the house, stating
       “Merry Christmas F***er – this may be your last Christmas” and placing
       weapons to their heads several times throughout the ordeal. He testified that
       the defendants also fired a gunshot inside the home and stated, “next time it
       could be you.” He was taken to the front room while bound and heard water
       running in the bathroom and some talk about cleaning up. He ran out of the
       house thinking that he was going to be shot. He stated they had to begin
       counseling after the trauma and are continuing that counseling.

               E.K., who had testified under oath at the start of the trial, testified as to
       how the events altered her life. She stated her life is completely changed in the
       sense of how she perceives her safety. She stated she began counseling after
       this incident and now goes about once a week.

        After the jury was selected and the victim, E.K. testified, Appellant decided he wanted
to enter a plea of guilty as part of a plea bargain. He pled guilty to one count of aggravated
rape, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery, one
count of aggravated burglary, and one count of employing a weapon during a felony with
prior convictions. The trial court subsequently held a sentencing hearing on March 26, 2010.
On April 5, 2010, the trial court filed a sentencing order in which the trial court sentenced
Appellant to twenty-five years for the aggravated rape, twenty-three years for each especially
aggravated kidnapping, ten years for each aggravated robbery, five years for the aggravated
burglary and six years for possession of a weapon during a felony. He was sentenced as a
Range I, standard offender. Appellant’s sentences for aggravated rape, especially aggravated
kidnapping and employment of a weapon during a dangerous felony were to be served at
100%. The trial court ordered the sentencing for aggravated rape, both sentences for
especially aggravated kidnapping, the sentence for aggravated burglary, and the sentence for

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possession of a weapon during a felony to be served consecutively to each other and the other
sentences. The sentences for aggravated robbery were ordered to be served concurrently.
Appellant’s effective sentence was eighty-two years. In addition, the trial court ordered that
the eighty-two year sentence be served consecutively to any sentence that was remaining on
a prior conviction.

                                        ANALYSIS

      On appeal, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in its application of enhancement
and mitigating factors and in imposing consecutive sentences. The State disagrees.

       “When reviewing sentencing issues . . . , the appellate court shall conduct a de novo
review on the record of the issues. The review shall be conducted with a presumption that
the determinations made by the court from which the appeal is taken are correct.” T.C.A. §
40-35-401(d). “However, the presumption of correctness which accompanies the trial court’s
action is conditioned upon the affirmative showing in the record that the trial court
considered the sentencing principles and all relevant facts and circumstances.” State v.
Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991). We are to also recognize that the defendant bears
“the burden of demonstrating that the sentence is improper.” Ashby, 823 S.W.2d at 169.

                                    Length of Sentence

        In making its sentencing determination, a trial court, at the conclusion of the
sentencing hearing, first determines the range of sentence and then determines the specific
sentence and the appropriate combination of sentencing alternatives by considering: (1) the
evidence, if any, received at the trial and the sentencing hearing; (2) the presentence report;
(3) the principles of sentencing and arguments as to sentencing alternatives; (4) the nature
and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved; (5) evidence and information offered
by the parties on the enhancement and mitigating factors; (6) any statistical information
provided by the administrative office of the courts regarding sentences for similar offenses;
(7) any statements the defendant wishes to make in the defendant’s behalf about sentencing;
and (8) the potential for rehabilitation or treatment. T.C.A. §§ 40-35-210(a), (b), -103(5);
State v. Williams, 920 S.W.2d 247, 258 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). When imposing the
sentence within the appropriate sentencing range for the defendant:

       [T]he court shall consider, but is not bound by, the following advisory
       sentencing guidelines:

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       (1) The minimum sentence within the range of punishment is the sentence that
       should be imposed, because the general assembly set the minimum length of
       sentence for each felony class to reflect the relative seriousness of each
       criminal offense in the felony classifications; and

       (2) The sentence length within the range should be adjusted, as appropriate, by
       the presence or absence of mitigating and enhancement factors set out in §§
       40-35-113 and 40-35-114.

T.C.A. § 40-35-210(c) (2006).

        At the outset we note that Appellant committed the criminal offenses at issue on
December 22, 2008; therefore, the 2005 amendments to the Sentencing Act apply to our
review of his sentencing. The 2005 amendments to the Sentencing Act made the application
of the enhancement factors advisory in nature. See T.C.A. § 40-35-114; State v. Jackie Lynn
Gray, No. M2007-02360-CCA-R3-CD, 2008 WL 2579175, at *5 (Tenn. Crim. App., at
Nashville, June 28, 2008), perm. app. denied, (Tenn. Dec. 29, 2008); State v. Troy Sollis, No.
W2007-00688-CCA-R3-CD, 2008 WL 1931688, at *3 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, May,
2, 2008). In fact, “[t]he 2005 amendments [to the sentencing act] deleted as grounds for
appeal a claim that the trial court did not weigh properly the enhancement and mitigating
factors.” State v. Carter, 254 S.W.3d 335, 344 (Tenn. 2008).

        After a review of the sentencing order, it is clear that the trial court considered the
nature and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved, Appellant’s history and
background, the mitigating and enhancement factors, and the principles of sentencing. See
id. at 345-46. Therefore, there is a presumption that the trial court’s determination is correct.

       The trial court applied six enhancement factors and no mitigating factors. The trial
court made the following findings with regard to the applicable enhancement factors:

       (1)    The defendant has a previous history of criminal convictions or
              criminal behavior, in addition to those necessary to establish the
              appropriate range. The defendant has two prior weapons offenses
              among nine other misdemeanor convictions.

       (5)    The defendant treated, or allowed a victim to be treated, with
              exceptional cruelty during the commission of the offense. The victims
              described the language and statements the defendant used, the manner

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              in which the victim’s clothing was removed in addition to their
              inhumane actions towards the victim in the bathtub. This factor applies
              to counts one [aggravated rape] and four [especially aggravated
              kidnapping].

       (8)    The defendant, before trial or sentencing, failed to comply with the
              conditions of a sentence involving release into the community. The
              defendant has two previous probation violations, one of which sadly
              was not served until the day after these horrible crimes.

       (10)   The defendant had no hesitation about committing a crime when the
              risk to human life was high. The defendant shot a weapon inside the
              home of the two victims with them present.

       (13)   At the time the felony was committed the defendant was on probation
              for a felony drug conviction.

       (16)   The defendant was adjudicated to have committed a delinquent act or
              acts as a juvenile that would constitute a felony if committed by an
              adult. The defendant was adjudicated delinquent on an Aggravated
              Burglary charge.      He has additional adjudications which are
              misdemeanors or which do not indicate felonies and the Court cannot
              consider.

              The Court places great weight on the criminal convictions, the
       probation violations and the treatment of the victim.

        Appellant argues that the trial court erred in applying enhancement factors (1), (5),
and (10). See T.C.A. § 40-35-115(1), (5), (10). With regard to enhancement factor (1),
Appellant argues that “[t]here is no proof in the record that the Appellant had any prior
convictions for violent offenses or felony convictions.” (emphasis added). However, as is
clearly stated in the statute, this enhancement factor is not based upon solely violent or felony
offenses. The statute clearly reads “history of criminal convictions or criminal behavior.”
See T.C.A. § 40-35-115(1). We have reviewed the presentence report submitted at the
sentencing hearing. Appellant’s criminal history is quite extensive, starting when he was a
juvenile and extending throughout the six years he was an adult leading up to the instant
convictions. We conclude that this enhancement factor was properly applied.

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       Appellant argues the following with regard to the application of enhancement factors
(5) and (10):

              The trial court applied Enhancement Factor #5. There is no proof in the
       record that the Appellant said or did anything attributed to at least one (1) of
       the men alleged to have entered the victim’s home and perpetrate the other acts
       alleged. The testimony presented from [R.C.] was that his eyes were bound
       [ ]. Additionally, the statement of facts as asserted by [the State] was that both
       [E.K.] and [R.C.] were blindfolded[ ]. Neither witness could identify the
       Appellant as having performed any of the acts alleged, whether the Appellant
       was even in the room when the acts were alleged to have occurred, or in fact
       whether or not the Appellant was even inside the house at any of those times.

              The trial court applied Enhancement Factor #10. There is no proof in
       the record that the Appellant was the one who fired the weapon, that the even
       [sic] Appellant possessed a weapon that could be fired, or was even inside the
       home when a weapon was fired by someone else. As stated previously, both
       [E.K.] and [R.C.] were blindfolded[ ].

        As stated above, Appellant pled guilty to aggravated rape, two counts of especially
aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of aggravated burglary,
and one count of employing a weapon during a felony. Therefore, Appellant has admitted
that he participated in the offenses. He cannot now argue that the above enhancement factors
do not apply because there was no proof that he was involved in the commission of the
offenses. We conclude that the application of the enhancement factors are supported by the
record. As stated above, the weight given to the enhancement and mitigating factors are no
longer a basis for appeal. Carter, 254 S.W.3d at 344.

       Therefore, this issue is without merit.

                                   Consecutive Sentences

       Appellant also argues that the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences. The
State disagrees.

       Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115(a), if a defendant is convicted
of more than one offense, the trial court shall order the sentences to run either consecutively
or concurrently. A trial court may impose consecutive sentencing upon a determination that

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one or more of the criteria set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115(b)
exists. This section permits the trial court to impose consecutive sentences if the court finds,
among other criteria, that:

       (1) The defendant is a professional criminal who has knowingly devoted the
       defendant’s life to criminal acts as a major source of livelihood;

       (2) The defendant is an offender whose record of criminal activity is extensive;

       (3) The defendant is a dangerous mentally abnormal person so declared by a
       competent psychiatrist who concludes as a result of an investigation prior to
       sentencing that the defendant’s criminal conduct has been characterized by a
       pattern of repetitive or compulsive behavior with heedless indifference to
       consequences;

       (4) The defendant is a dangerous offender whose behavior indicates little or
       no regard for human life, and no hesitation about committing a crime in which
       the risk to human life is high; . . . .

T.C.A. § 40-35-115(b). When imposing a consecutive sentence, a trial court should also
consider general sentencing principles, which include whether or not the length of a sentence
is justly deserved in relation to the seriousness of the offense. See State v. Imfeld, 70 S.W.3d
698, 708 (Tenn. 2002). The imposition of consecutive sentencing is in the discretion of the
trial court. See State v. Adams, 973 S.W.2d 224, 230-31 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997).

         This section permits the trial court to impose consecutive sentences if the court finds,
among other criteria, that “the defendant is a dangerous offender whose behavior indicates
little or no regard for human life, and no hesitation about committing a crime in which the
risk to human life is high.” T.C.A. § 40-35-115(b)(4). However, before ordering the
defendant to serve consecutive sentences on the basis that he is a dangerous offender, the
trial court must find that the resulting sentence is reasonably related to the severity of the
crimes, necessary to protect the public against further criminal conduct, and in accord with
the general sentencing principles. See State v. Imfeld, 70 S.W.3d 698, 708-09 (Tenn. 2002);
State v. Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d 933, 938-39 (Tenn. 1995).

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       The trial court made the following findings:

       In this case, the actions of the defendant during the offense, including the
       defendant’s threatening statements, the firing of a weapon, the inhumane
       treatment of the victim and the nature of the offenses, indicate he is a danger
       to this community with little or no regard for human life. The Court finds the
       defendant has not demonstrated an ability to be rehabilitated. Based on the
       totality of the circumstances, the Court finds the aggregate sentence is
       necessary to protect the public. See State v. Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d 933 (Tenn.
       1995).

      The trial court made the appropriate findings to support the imposition of consecutive
sentences based upon the conclusion that Appellant is a dangerous offender. The record
amply supports the findings of the trial court.

       Therefore, this issue is without merit.

                                      CONCLUSION

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

                                           ___________________________________
                                           JERRY L. SMITH, JUDGE

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