Court Opinion

ID: 4023087
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-10 14:15:40.116681+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:40.506408
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                         AT NASHVILLE
                           Assigned on Briefs July 19, 2016

              STATE OF TENNESSEE v. DANNIE BRUMFIELD

               Appeal from the Circuit Court for Rutherford County
          Nos. F-73075, F-72444, F-71940, M-71976, M-72273, M-73908
                              David M. Bragg, Judge

               No. M2015-01940-CCA-R3-CD – Filed August 10, 2016

The Defendant, Dannie Brumfield, appeals as of right from the Rutherford County
Circuit Court‘s revocation of his probation and order of confinement for six years. The
Defendant contends that the trial court abused its discretion in revoking his probation and
ordering him to serve two additional sentences concurrently with the remainder of his
original sentence. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

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

D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which JAMES CURWOOD
WITT, JR., and TIMOTHY L. EASTER, JJ., joined.

Thomas D. Frost, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for the appellant, Dannie Brumfield.

Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Benjamin A. Ball, Senior Counsel;
Jennings Hutson Jones, District Attorney General; and Shawn Puckett, Assistant District
Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

                                    OPINION
                              FACTUAL BACKGROUND

       On August 20, 2014, the Defendant pled guilty in case number F-71940, to one
count of possession of a Schedule III drug, third offense, and one count of driving on a
suspended license. On that same day he pled guilty to one count of driving on a
suspended license in case number M-71976. The Defendant received an effective
sentence of two years and eleven months and twenty-nine days on probation for these
charges. In addition, the trial court entered an order in case number M-72273 declaring
the Defendant to be a motor vehicle habitual offender. Two days later, on August 22,
2014, the Defendant was arrested for theft of property valued at $500 or less and criminal
trespass. On September 12, 2014, the Defendant was arrested for driving on a suspended
license and violating the motor vehicle habitual offender statute. A probation violation
report was filed based on these two arrests, and a warrant was issued.

       On December 15, 2014, the Defendant pled guilty in case number F-72444 to sale
of a Schedule II drug and received a six-year probationary sentence, to be served
concurrently with the sentences imposed in cases F-71940 and M-71976, resulting in an
effective six-year sentence for all cases. The following month, on January 7, 2015, the
Defendant was indicted in case number F-73075 for those crimes alleged to have
occurred in September 2014—driving on a suspended license and violating the motor
vehicle habitual offender statute. The Defendant pled guilty to violating the motor
vehicle habitual offender statute in case F-73075 on June 26, 2015, and received a two-
year sentence with the manner of service to be determined at a later hearing. The
remaining count was dismissed.

       On June 12, 2015, a probation violation report was filed with the trial court. This
report alleged that the Defendant violated the conditions of his sentences in the following
respects: ―Rule #1: On 04/20/2015, Murfreesboro PD arrested Offender for Theft < $500,
Resisting Arrest, and Criminal Trespassing‖ and ―Rule #8: On 05/27/2015, Offender
tested positive for [c]ocaine and [o]piates in a random drug screen.‖ On July 1, 2015, a
violation of probation warrant was issued. The Defendant was indicted on July 7, 2015,
case number M-73908, for theft of property valued at $500 or less, resisting arrest, and
trespassing, the alleged crimes documented in the probation violation report occurring on
April 20, 2015. Upon his failure to appear for a probation revocation hearing, a capias
was issued.

       The trial court held a combined hearing to address sentencing for case M-73075
and the probation revocation on cases F-71940, F-72444, and M-71976 on September 4,
2015. Murfreesboro Police Department Officer Tim Higgins testified that, on April 20,
2015, he came into contact with the Defendant. On that date, Officer Higgins was
working an off-duty job at a Kroger on Middle Tennessee Boulevard in Rutherford
County. Officer Higgins observed the Defendant take packs of bacon and make his way
toward the store‘s main entrance. Officer Higgins testified that when he intercepted the
Defendant, ―I even told [Defendant] what his name was, because I had arrested him a
couple of other times. [I] told him he had to come back inside with me, he had a couple
of packs of meat on him.‖ The Defendant resisted Officer Higgins‘s request and was
placed on the ground and handcuffed. When Officer Higgins placed the Defendant in
handcuffs, the packs of meat ―just fell out while [he] had ahold of [the Defendant‘s]
arms.‖ Officer Higgins testified that ―[the Defendant] was not supposed to be on Kroger
property,‖ having been arrested for shoplifting on prior occasions.

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       Reswavvy Spinks, a State Probation and Parole Officer, testified that he was the
Defendant‘s probation officer and had asked the court for a violation warrant. Mr. Spinks
stated that the basis for this warrant was the Defendant‘s ―being arrested for theft under
$500, resisting arrest, criminal trespassing, and testing positive for cocaine and opiates in
a random drug screening.‖ Mr. Spinks testified that the Defendant did not inform him of
this new arrest.

       The Defendant testified that he had some health difficulties, including Type II
diabetes and congestive heart failure, and that he had been without a job for five years.
The Defendant stated that he received a government disability payment that was his only
source of income and that this payment would stop immediately upon incarceration. The
Defendant testified, ―[I]n the past I have did [sic] a lot of things that brought me here, and
I regret it. And for my medical – you know, my medical condition is deteriorating.‖ On
cross-examination, the Defendant agreed that he had been in and out of jail for the past
five years. In addition, when asked about his May 2015 drug screen, the Defendant
acknowledged that he used cocaine ―to relieve [his] pain.‖

       After finding that the Defendant had ―violated his probation by failing to comply
with the rules of probation by his drug use‖ and by continuing ―a pattern of criminal
behavior,‖ the trial court ordered that the Defendant serve the remainder of his six-year
sentence in confinement. The Defendant was sentenced to a term of two years for case F-
73075—violating the motor vehicle offender statute—and to a term of 11 months and
twenty-nine days for case M-73908— theft of property valued at $500 or less—with each
to run concurrently with the prior convictions, resulting in an effective six-year sentence
to be served in confinement on all cases. The Defendant timely appeals.

                                        ANALYSIS

        The Defendant contends that the trial court abused its discretion in finding that he
violated his probation and sentencing him to serve two years and eleven months and
twenty-nine days concurrently with his prior sentences in confinement. The Defendant
argues that due to his age of sixty-four years, his Type II diabetes, his congestive heart
failure, his extensive list of medications, and his only source of income will be terminated
by incarceration, serving this sentence under probation would be more reasonable. The
State responds that the trial court properly ―determined that the defendant violated the
terms of his probation – specifically by using cocaine and opiates and incurring new
charges.‖ Therefore, the State concludes that the trial court acted within its discretion in
revoking the Defendant‘s probation in cases F-71940, F-72444, and M-71976, and
ordering his effective six-year sentence to be served in confinement.

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       First, to the extent that the Defendant attempts to challenge his effective two-year
sentence in case numbers F-73075 and M-73908 to be served in confinement, we note
that he has waived review of this issue due to inadequacies in his brief. Although
included in his statement of the issue presented for review, he provided no citations to
authorities or argument relevant to that issue, and the brevity of his argument qualifies it
for waiver. Tenn. R. App. P. 27(a); see also Tenn. R. Crim. P. 10(b) (―Issues which are
not supported by argument… will be treated as waived in this court.‖). Next, we consider
whether the trial court abused its discretion when revoking his probationary sentence
       .
       A trial court may revoke a sentence of probation upon finding by a preponderance
of the evidence that the defendant has violated the conditions of his release. Tenn. Code
Ann. § 40-35-311(e). Upon finding by a preponderance of the evidence that a defendant
has violated the conditions of his release, the trial court ―shall have the right . . . to revoke
the probation and suspension of sentence‖ and either ―commence the execution of the
judgment as originally entered‖ or ―[r]esentence the defendant for the remainder of the
unexpired term to any community-based alternative to incarceration.‖ Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 40-35-311(e). In a probation revocation hearing, the credibility of the witnesses is
determined by the trial court. State v. Mitchell, 810 S.W.2d 733, 735 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1991).

        Furthermore, the decision to revoke probation is in the sound discretion of the trial
judge. State v. Kendrick, 178 S.W.3d 734, 738 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2005); Mitchell, 810
S.W.2d at 735. The judgment of the trial court to revoke probation will be upheld on
appeal unless there has been an abuse of discretion. State v. Harkins, 811 S.W.2d 79, 82
(Tenn. 1991). To find an abuse of discretion in a probation revocation case, ―it must be
established that the record contains no substantial evidence to support the conclusion of
the trial judge that a violation of the conditions of probation has occurred.‖ Id. (citing
State v. Grear, 568 S.W.2d 285, 286 (Tenn. 1978); State v. Delp, 614 S.W.2d 395, 398
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1980)); see also State v. Farrar, 355 S.W.3d 582, 586 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 2011). Such a finding ―‗reflects that the trial court‘s logic and reasoning was
improper when viewed in light of the factual circumstances and relevant legal principles
involved in a particular case.‘‖ State v. Shaffer, 45 S.W.3d 553, 555 (Tenn. 2001)
(quoting State v. Moore, 6 S.W.3d 235, 242 (Tenn. 1999)).

      Criminal conduct that is the basis of pending charges may serve as the basis for a
revocation of probation. State v. Andrew B. Edwards, No. W1999-01095-CCA-R3-CD,
2000 WL 705309, at *3 (Tenn. Crim. App. May 26, 2000). However, the trial court
cannot rely solely on the mere fact of an arrest or an indictment. Id. (citing Harkins, 811
S.W.2d at 83). Instead, the State must offer proof by a preponderance of the evidence
showing that a defendant violated the law. See State v. Catherin Vaughn, No. M2009-

                                               -4-
01166-CCA-R3-CD, 2010 WL 2432008, at *3 (Tenn. Crim. App. June 14, 2010) (noting
that proof of a conviction is not necessary).

        In rendering its decision to revoke the Defendant‘s probation and ordering a period
of incarceration, the trial court concluded that the Defendant violated the terms of his
probation ―by failing to comply with the rules of probation by his drug use‖ and ―also
continu[ing] a pattern of criminal behavior.‖ In terms of the Defendant‘s health, the court
stated: ―based on [the Defendant‘s] record, he is unable to comport his behavior in spite
of his health,‖ and ―the [c]ourt is unaware of any statutory or case authority that says
people with severe medical conditions who continually violate the law should be
continually placed back into the community.‖

       Officer Higgins‘ testimony established the Defendant violated the law. Mr.
Spinks requested a warrant upon the failed drug test. The trial court was within its
discretion to determine that the Defendant violated the conditions of his probation by a
preponderance of the evidence. This court has repeatedly held that ―an accused, already
on probation, is not entitled to a second grant of probation or another form of alternative
sentencing.‖ State v. Jeffrey A. Warfield, No. 01C01-9711-CC-00504, 1999 WL 61065,
at *2 (Tenn. Crim. App. Feb. 10, 1999); see also State v. Timothy A. Johnson, No.
M2001-01362-CCA-R3-CD, 2002 WL 242351, at *2 (Tenn. Crim. App. Feb. 11, 2002).
It was within the trial court‘s authority to order the Defendant to serve his previously
imposed six-year sentence in confinement upon revoking the Defendant‘s probation. See
Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-35-310, -311(e); Mitchell, 810 S.W.2d at 735. We conclude that
the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing the Defendant to serve his
sentence in confinement following the revocation of his probation.

                                        CONCLUSION

        Upon consideration of the foregoing and the record as a whole, the judgments of
the trial court are affirmed.

                                                  _________________________________
                                                  D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., JUDGE

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