Court Opinion

ID: 1079252
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:30:55.419833+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:37:12.708348
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                          AT NASHVILLE
                                     August 2000 Session

                STATE OF TENNESSEE v. ANTHONY ROBERTS

                    Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
                       No. 98-T-431    Frank G. Clement, Jr., Judge

                  No. M1999-00750-CCA-R3-CD - filed September 20, 2000

Defendant appeals his conviction by a Davidson County jury of DUI second offense. He raises the
following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress
based upon the lack of probable cause to arrest; (2) whether the evidence was sufficient to support
the conviction; (3) whether the prosecutor committed misconduct during final argument, and (4)
whether records pertaining to his prior DUI conviction were properly admitted. Finding no error,
we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

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

JOE G. RILEY, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which JERRY L. SMITH, J., and L. TERRY
LAFFERTY, SENIOR J., joined.

Dennis L. Tomlin, Hendersonville, Tennessee (at trial), and Nan Shelby Calloway, Nashville,
Tennessee (on appeal), for the appellant, Anthony Roberts.

Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Lucian D. Geise, Assistant Attorney General;
Victor S. (Tory) Johnson III, District Attorney General; Sean K. Allen and Edward S. Ryan,
Assistant District Attorneys General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

                                            OPINION

                                              FACTS

       The state's proof revealed that at approximately 7:30 p.m. on December 16, 1997, Metro DUI
Officer Jeb Johnston was dispatched to an accident near Briley Parkway in Davidson County. He
encountered the defendant in the driver's seat of his limousine which was stuck in a ditch. The
defendant's tires were spinning as the defendant unsuccessfully endeavored to drive out of the ditch.

       The officer testified that the defendant had an "extreme odor" of alcohol about him, was very
unsteady on his feet, had bloodshot eyes and had slurred speech. The defendant initially stated that
he had been robbed by three men; however, he was unable to describe them. The defendant later
changed his account and stated he was attempting to make a U-turn when he got stuck. The
defendant subsequently stated he had "four or five vodka drinks." At one point the defendant stated
that they were on Second Avenue near his studio, whereas they were in fact nowhere near Second
Avenue. The defendant was argumentative throughout his dealings with Officer Johnston. Officer
Johnston did not perform field sobriety tests when the defendant stated that one leg was shorter than
the other.

        After Officer Johnston advised the defendant of the Implied Consent Law, the defendant
refused to take the breath-alcohol test. Believing that the defendant was clearly under the influence
of an intoxicant, Officer Johnston arrested the defendant for DUI.

        Two fire department emergency medical technicians testified for the state. Both testified that
the defendant smelled of alcohol. One of the EMT's further testified that the defendant was
belligerent, had slurred speech, and was under the influence of an intoxicant.

        The defendant testified at trial. He testified he was a Pulitzer Prize winning
writer/photographer. He stated that on the night of his arrest he was going to mail a film script and
made a wrong turn. He said when he backed up to turn around, one wheel went off the pavement
on the grass. According to the defendant, the car would not pull forward.

         The defendant denied that he was in a ditch, denied that he was in the vehicle when the
officer arrived, denied that he told the officer he was making a U-turn and denied that he told the
officer that he had four or five drinks of vodka. He testified that he told the officer he had one vodka
drink the night before and three non-alcoholic beers that afternoon. He testified he consumed no
alcoholic beverages on the date in question. He further testified that he had a hearing problem which
affected his ability to communicate with the officer and further had Meniere's disease which affected
his balance while walking.

       The jury convicted the defendant of driving under the influence of an intoxicant. In the
second stage of the bifurcated trial, the defendant waived a jury. The trial court determined that the
defendant had a prior DUI conviction in Kentucky. The defendant was sentenced for DUI second
offense and ordered to serve 75 days in the county jail with the balance of 11 months and 29 days
on probation.

                                     MOTION TO SUPPRESS

        Defendant contends the officer did not have probable cause to arrest him; therefore, the trial
court erred in not suppressing all the evidence. Unfortunately, the record does not contain a
transcript of the hearing on the motion to suppress. We are, therefore, precluded from considering
this issue. State v. Ballard, 855 S.W.2d 557, 561 (Tenn. 1993). We note, however, that if the
evidence at the suppression hearing was similar to the evidence adduced at trial and the trial court

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found the officer to be credible, the motion to suppress was without merit. Clearly, the officer had
probable cause to approach, interview and arrest the defendant.

                              SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

        Defendant contends as a part of his argument on the motion to suppress that the evidence was
insufficient to support the verdict. We respectfully disagree.

        In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court does not reweigh or reevaluate the
evidence. State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn. 1978). A jury verdict approved by the trial
judge accredits the state's witnesses and resolves all conflicts in favor of the state. State v. Bigbee,
885 S.W.2d 797, 803 (Tenn. 1994). On appeal, the state is entitled to the strongest legitimate view
of the evidence and all legitimate or reasonable inferences which may be drawn therefrom. Id. This
Court will not disturb a verdict of guilt due to the sufficiency of the evidence unless the defendant
demonstrates that the facts contained in the record and the inferences which may be drawn therefrom
are insufficient, as a matter of law, for a rational trier of fact to find the accused guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. State v. Brewer, 932 S.W.2d 1, 19 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). Accordingly, it is
the appellate court's duty to affirm the conviction if the evidence, viewed under these standards, was
sufficient for any rational trier of fact to have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a
reasonable doubt. Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e); Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781,
2789, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); State v. Cazes, 875 S.W.2d 253, 259 (Tenn. 1994).

        Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the state, as we must, the evidence is more
than sufficient to support the conviction. The state’s proof indicated that the defendant had been
driving the automobile and smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech, had bloodshot eyes and was
unsteady on his feet. According to the officer, the defendant admitted to having consumed several
drinks of vodka. The officer and an EMT testified that the defendant appeared to be under the
influence of an intoxicant. Although the defendant denied consuming alcohol on the date in
question, it was the jury’s responsibility to weigh the credibility of the witnesses. The jury chose
to discredit the defendant’s testimony and accredit the state’s witnesses. This was the jury’s
prerogative. The evidence is sufficient to support the conviction.

                              PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT

         During final argument the prosecuting attorney argued that the defendant voluntarily gave
up his license for one year instead of taking the breath test. Upon objection, the prosecutor rephrased
his argument and stated the defendant “knew he could lose his license for a year and still refused to
take the breath test.” The defendant contends this argument was improper. We disagree.

        During trial the officer testified that he advised the defendant, pursuant to the Implied
Consent Law, that he would lose his license for one year if he did not submit to the breath test. The
officer further stated that the defendant said he understood this.

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       The admission into evidence of a defendant’s refusal to submit to a blood or breath test is
proper. State v. Frasier, 914 S.W.2d 467, 471-73 (Tenn. 1996). Since the evidence indicated that
the defendant was advised of the consequences of his failure to submit to the breath test, the
prosecutor’s argument was proper.

                                   PRIOR DUI CONVICTION

        Defendant contends the state did not establish a valid prior DUI conviction. First, he
contends the state did not provide notice of enhancement pursuant to Tenn. R. Crim. P. 12.3(a).
Second, he contends the records of the alleged Kentucky DUI conviction were inadequate to
establish a valid conviction. Finally, he contends the record does not establish that the defendant
voluntarily waived his right to counsel. We reject defendant’s contentions.

       A. Tenn. R. Crim. P. 12.3(a) Notice

        Tenn. R. Crim. P. 12.3(a) requires the district attorney to give notice when seeking enhanced
punishment. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-403(g)(2) provides that an indictment alleging a second or
subsequent DUI offense must set forth “the time and place of each prior conviction” and, if from
another state, the state where the prior conviction was obtained. The indictment in this case
specifically identified the 1997 Kentucky DUI conviction. No further notice was required pursuant
to Tenn. R. Crim. P. 12.3(a).

       B. Sufficiency of Kentucky Records

        The state introduced, pursuant to Act of Congress, several documents relating to defendant’s
prior DUI conviction in Kentucky. Included in the documents is a guilty plea form signed by the
defendant, wherein he indicated his understanding of his right to counsel and various other
constitutional rights which were waived. The Abstract of Court Record indicated the defendant was
convicted of “Driving Under the Influence/1st Offense” on April 10, 1997, in Trigg County District
Court. The state also introduced proof of a restricted driver’s license granted by a judge of the
Davidson County General Sessions Court based upon this April 1997 Kentucky DUI conviction.
We conclude these documents were properly introduced and were sufficient to establish the prior
DUI conviction. We further conclude the guilty plea signed by the defendant waiving his right to
counsel distinguishes this case from State v. Whaley, which noted the absence of a record reflecting
a waiver of the right to counsel. 982 S.W.2d 346, 348, n.3 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997).

       C. Voluntariness of Plea

        Although the defendant testified that he signed the plea of guilty, he stated he did not read
the document prior to signing it. Therefore, he contends he did not understand and did not properly
waive his right to counsel. Defendant is attempting to collaterally attack his waiver of counsel which
is valid on its face. This he may not do. See State v. McClintock, 732 S.W.2d 268, 272 (Tenn.
1987).

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       We, therefore, conclude the prior Kentucky DUI conviction was properly introduced and
proven.

                                       CONCLUSION

       Based upon our review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                                           _________________________________
                                                           JOE G. RILEY, JUDGE

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