Court Opinion

ID: 1078927
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:29:04.181423+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:17:51.100182
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                         AT KNOXVILLE
                          Assigned on Briefs October 17, 2000

             JEFFREY ARCH CARTER v. STATE OF TENNESSEE

                Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Sullivan County
                          No. 42,839    Phyllis H. Miller, Judge

                                No. E2000-00738-CCA-R3-CD
                                      January 26, 2001

The defendant, after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, DUI second offense,
and violation of seat belt law, sought alternative sentencing. A sentencing hearing was held and
the trial court denied the defendant any form of alternative sentence. The defendant now appeals
that denial, asserting that the trial court erred in denying him an alternative sentence. After
review, we affirm the trial court’s denial of an alternative sentence.

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

JOHN EVERETT WILLIAMS, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which DAVID H. WELLES, J.,
and WILLIAM B. ACREE, JR., SP . J., joined.

Nat H. Thomas, Kingsport, Tennessee, for the appellant, Jeffrey Arch Carter.

Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Marvin E. Clements, Jr., Assistant Attorney
General; H. Greeley Wells, Jr., District Attorney General; and Barry P. Staubus, Assistant
District Attorney, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

                                          OPINION

                                             Facts

        In this case the defendant, Jeffrey Carter, was driving a flatbed truck south on State
Route 37 when he struck the vehicle driven by Deborah Cleek from behind. Ms. Cleek’s vehicle
shifted sideways in the accident, causing motorcyclist Gary Meyers to collide with Cleek. Both
Cleek and Meyers were injured as a result. The Tennessee Highway Patrolman who responded
to the accident noticed a strong odor of alcohol on the defendant’s breath. After informing the
trooper that he had consumed some alcohol, the defendant was administered several field
sobriety tests, all of which he performed poorly. The defendant was then arrested and charged
with two counts of aggravated assault, DUI second offense, and violation of the seat belt law.
        The defendant subsequently pleaded guilty to each of the four charges and pursuant to the
agreement was sentenced as a Range I standard offender to the following: thirty months on each
aggravated assault charge and eleven months and twenty-nine days, all suspended but forty-five
days, for the DUI second conviction. The trial court ordered these sentences to run concurrent
with each other. The plea agreement did not, however, include any agreement on the manner of
service of this sentence. The defendant sought probation and an alternative sentence hearing
was held on March 13, 2000. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Sullivan County Criminal
Court denied all forms of alternative sentencing and instead ordered Carter to serve his sentence
in confinement. The trial court’s denial is the subject of this appeal, which is properly before
this Court.

                                            Analysis

        The defendant asserts that the trial court erred in sentencing him to incarceration and
denying him any form of alternative sentence. This Court’s review of the sentence imposed by
the trial court is de novo with a presumption of correctness. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
401(d). This presumption is conditioned upon an affirmative showing in the record that the trial
judge considered the sentencing principles and all relevant facts and circumstances. State v.
Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991). If the trial court fails to comply with the statutory
directives, our review is de novo with no presumption of correctness. State v. Poole, 945 S.W.2d
93, 96 (Tenn. 1997). Furthermore, the burden is on the appealing party to show that the sentence
is improper. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d), Sentencing Commission Comments.

        Under the Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989, trial judges are encouraged to use
alternatives to incarceration. An especially mitigated or standard offender convicted of a Class
C, D or E felony is presumed to be a favorable candidate for alternative sentencing options in the
absence of evidence to the contrary. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-102(6).

       A court may also consider the mitigating and enhancing factors set forth in Tennessee
Code Annotated sections 40-35-113 and -114 as they are relevant to the section 40-35-103
considerations. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(b)(5); State v. Boston, 938 S.W.2d 435, 438
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). Additionally, a court should consider the defendant’s potential or lack
of potential for rehabilitation when determining if an alternative sentence would be appropriate.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-103(5); Boston, 938 S.W.2d at 438.

       There is no mathematical equation to be utilized in determining sentencing alternatives.
Not only should the sentence fit the offense, but it should fit the offender as well. Tenn. Code
Ann. § 40-35-103(2); State v. Boggs, 932 S.W.2d 467, 476-77 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). Indeed,
individualized punishment is the essence of alternative sentencing. State v. Dowdy, 894 S.W.2d
301, 305 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). In summary, sentencing must be determined on a case-by-
case basis, tailoring each sentence to that particular defendant based upon the facts of that case
and the circumstances of that defendant. State v. Moss, 727 S.W.2d 229, 235 (Tenn. 1986).

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        A defendant is eligible for probation if the sentence received by the defendant is eight
years or less, subject to some statutory exclusions. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-303(a). The
defendant in this case is eligible because he was sentenced as a Range I standard offender to
thirty months on each aggravated assault count and eleven months and twenty-nine days on the
DUI second count, all to run concurrent. A trial court must presume that a defendant sentenced
to eight years or less, and for whom incarceration is not a priority, is subject to alternative
sentencing. State v. Byrd, 861 S.W.2d 377, 379-80 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993). Therefore, this
defendant is not only eligible for probation, but also is presumed to be a favorable candidate for
alternative sentencing.

        It is further presumed that a sentence other than incarceration would result in successful
rehabilitation unless rebutted by sufficient evidence in the record. Byrd, 861 S.W.2d at 380. A
defendant presumed to be a favorable candidate for alternative sentencing has the burden of
establishing suitability for total probation. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-303(b); Boggs, 932 S.W.2d
at 477. Although probation must be considered, “the defendant is not automatically entitled to
probation as a matter of law.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-303(b), Sentencing Commission
Comments; State v. Hartley, 818 S.W.2d 370, 373 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). A defendant
seeking full probation bears the burden on appeal of showing the sentence imposed is improper,
and that full probation will be in the best interest of the defendant and the public. State v. Baker,
966 S.W.2d 429, 434 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997).

        In determining whether to grant or deny probation, a trial court should consider the
circumstances of the offense, the defendant’s criminal record, the defendant’s social history and
present condition, the need for deterrence, and the best interest of the defendant and the public.
State v. Grear, 568 S.W.2d 285, 286 (Tenn. 1978); State v. Boyd, 925 S.W.2d 237, 244 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1995). The defendant’s lack of credibility is also an appropriate consideration and
reflects on a defendant’s potential for rehabilitation. State v. Dowdy, 894 S.W.2d 301, 306
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1994).

         In determining if incarceration is appropriate, a trial court considers (1) the need to
protect society by restraining a defendant having a long history of criminal conduct; (2) the need
to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense; (3) whether confinement is particularly
appropriate to effectively deter others likely to commit similar offenses; and (4) whether less
restrictive measures have often or recently been unsuccessfully applied to the defendant. Tenn.
Code Ann. § 40-35-103(1); see also Ashby, 823 S.W.2d at 169; State v. Grigsby, 957 S.W.2d
541, 545 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997); State v. Millsaps, 920 S.W.2d 267, 270 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1995).

        After reviewing the record, we find that the trial court considered the sentencing
principles and all relevant facts and circumstances; therefore, this Court’s review is de novo with
a presumption of correctness. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d); Poole, 945 S.W.2d at 96;
Ashby, 823 S.W.2d at 169. The trial court heard testimony at the sentencing hearing and was
further aided in its review by submission of a pre-sentence report. In denying the defendant

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alternative sentencing, the trial court, in its oral recitation of its findings, extensively reviewed
and considered each of the State’s reasons for denying alternative sentencing and each of the
defendant’s reasons for granting an alternative sentence.                 Although defense counsel
acknowledged at the sentencing hearing that the defendant should not receive total probation, he
nevertheless argues that the trial court erred by not considering the defendant’s good
employment, the defendant’s remorse, and the steps that the defendant had taken to rehabilitate
himself since the offenses had occurred.

        However, the trial court considered each of these and concluded that the defendant had
shown no remorse and that the defendant in fact had not taken the steps requested of him by his
counselors to continue on his path of drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Furthermore, the trial court
noted that the defendant had a lengthy prior criminal record consisting of several prior
convictions of driving under the influence, one felony hit and run, driving on a revoked license,
and numerous other misdemeanor offenses, some also involving alcohol. After considering this
prior record, the defendant’s reluctance to follow the law, and the defendant’s inability to correct
his criminal behavior when faced with less restrictive measures of punishment, the trial court
denied the defendant’s request for an alternative sentence.

                                            Conclusion

        In reviewing the record on appeal, if the record demonstrates that the trial court followed
the statutory sentencing procedure by imposing a lawful sentence after giving due consideration
and proper weight to the factors and principles set out under sentencing law, and these findings
are adequately supported by the record, we may not modify the sentence. See State v. Fletcher,
805 S.W.2d 785, 789 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). The trial court here clearly followed the
sentencing procedures and gave proper weight and consideration to sentencing factors and
principles, all of which is adequately supported by the record. Therefore, we affirm the trial
court’s decision in denying the defendant an alternative sentence.

                                                      ___________________________________
                                                      JOHN EVERETT WILLIAMS, JUDGE

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