State of Tennessee v. Jacquie Upchurch Giardina

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT KNOXVILLE

Assigned on Briefs January 22, 2002

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. JACQUIE UPCHURCH GIARDINA

Appeal from the Criminal Court for Hawkins County

No. 7809 James E. Beckner, Judge

No. E2001-00581-CCA-R3-CD

May 2, 2002

Convicted by a jury of third-offense driving while under the influence (DUI), the defendant, Jacquie

Upchurch Giardina, challenges on appeal the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and her sentence

of eleven months and 29 days to be served in confinement. Discerning no error, we affirm the

conviction and the sentence.

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

JAMES CURWOOD WITT, JR., J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which JOSEPH M. TIPTON and

NORMA MCGEE OGLE, JJ., joined.

R. Russell Mattocks, Assistant Public Defender, Morristown, Tennessee, for the Appellee, Jacquie

Upchurch Giardina.

Paul G. Summers, Attorney General & Reporter; Thomas E. Williams, III, Assistant Attorney

General; C. Berkeley Bell, Jr., District Attorney General; and Jack Marecic, Assistant District

Attorney General, for the Appellee, State of Tennessee.

OPINION

In the light most favorable to the state, the evidence showed that on October 12,

2000, Reverend Teddy Webb drove a Ford Ranger pick-up truck he had borrowed from a friend into

the parking lot at the Amoco Quick-Stop in Church Hill. He parked, walked away from the truck,

and stood outside the store building talking with Jim Tilson, the owner and operator of the Amoco

Quick-Stop. Tilson noticed that a gray Ford LTD bumped into the back of the Ranger. Then, Tilson

saw the LTD, with the defendant in the driver’s seat, move in reverse a few feet away from the

Ranger and stop. Mr. Tilson testified that the backward movement of the car was “upgrade.” Mr.

Tilson and Mr. Webb went over to investigate and discovered damage to the rear bumper and fender

of the Ranger and a broken headlight on the LTD.

The defendant approached Mr. Webb and asked him to “forgive” her. He responded

that the would forgive her, but he would still have to have the truck fixed.

Mr. Tilson testified that the defendant’s speech was “kind of slurry” and that “she

seemed to be disoriented.” Mr. Webb testified that the defendant was “mumbling and she couldn’t

stay focused and she couldn’t hardly walk.”

A police officer, who was helping a motorist unlock his car parked at the Amoco

Quick-Stop, heard a “bang” noise and the sound of breaking glass. He turned within a “second” to

see “two vehicles together,” a Ford pick-up and a Ford LTD. He saw the defendant alone in the LTD

and seated in the driver’s seat. The LTD then moved backward a few feet away from the truck

The officer went over and spoke to the defendant, whose speech was slurred to the

point that “you could hardly understand a word she was saying.” Upon extracting the defendant

from the LTD, she staggered and was unsteady on her feet. She had to hold onto the car for support,

and the officer determined she was too intoxicated to perform field sobriety tests. The officer opined

that the defendant was too impaired to safely operate a motor vehicle.

The officer testified that during his investigation of the incident and arrest of the

defendant, the keys to the LTD were in its ignition switch. Hayden Young, the defendant’s uncle,

had been standing near the station’s air compressor and walked up to the two vehicles after the

collision occurred. The officer testified that Mr. Young told him that Mr. Young had gone inside

the store to get the air hose and “didn’t know [the defendant] was going to drive [his] car around

there.”

The defendant testified that on the morning of October 12, 2000, in preparation for

a uterine biopsy to be performed that day, she consumed no food or alcoholic beverages but took two

“Lortabs” which were prescribed for the biopsy procedure. Her uncle, Hayden Young, was driving

her to her doctor’s office in his LTD and stopped at the Amoco Quick-Stop to buy gas and put

compressed air into an air tank he carried in his car trunk. The defendant testified that Mr. Young

parked the car behind the Ford Ranger, took the keys from the switch to open the trunk, removed the

tank, pocketed the keys, and went to the station’s compressed air dispenser. The defendant testified

that she got out of the car with a tire gauge to check the pressure in the tires. As she was preparing

to remove the valve-stem cap from a rear tire she felt an impact when the LTD rolled into the back

of the Ranger. She testified that she then got into the LTD to set the automatic transmission gear

selector in “park.” She further testified that, although she was impaired from the prescription

medication, she had not been drinking. She denied driving the LTD at any time on October 12,

2000.

Mr. Young testified that he removed the keys from the switch and kept them in his

pocket until after the defendant was arrested and removed from the scene. He further testified that

there was only one set of keys to the LTD and that the car could not be started without them.

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After the jury convicted the defendant, the trial court conducted a sentencing hearing.

Based upon the presentence investigative report, the judge determined that the defendant’s prior

conviction record consisted of convictions for public intoxication in 1996 and 1999 and convictions

for DUI in 1992, 1998, and 2001. The 2001 DUI occurred on March 6, 2000 in Sullivan County,

and the defendant was on bond for this latter offense when she committed the current offense on

October 12, 2000. Based on the March 6 offense, she was convicted in Sullivan County of third-

offense DUI a few days before her conviction in the present case. The trial judge sentenced the

defendant to serve eleven months and 29 days in confinement consecutively to the Sullivan County

sentence. In her appeal to this court, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the convicting

evidence and the propriety of her sentence.

We address the sufficiency-of-the-evidence issue first. It is well established that a

jury verdict, approved by the trial judge, accredits the testimony of the witnesses for the state and

resolves all conflicts in favor of the theory of the state. State v. Hatchett, 560 S.W.2d 627, 630

(Tenn. 1978); State v. Townsend, 525 S.W.2d 842, 843 (Tenn. 1975). On appeal, the state is entitled

to the strongest legitimate view of the evidence and all reasonable or legitimate inferences which

may be drawn therefrom. State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 836 (Tenn. 1978).

Moreover, a verdict against the defendant removes the presumption of innocence and

raises a presumption of guilt on appeal. State v. Grace, 493 S.W. 2d 474, 476 (Tenn. 1973); Anglin

v. State, 553 S.W.2d 616, 620 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1977). The defendant has the burden of

overcoming this presumption. State v. Brown, 551 S.W.2d 329, 331 (Tenn. 1977).

Most significantly, when the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged, the relevant

question for an appellate court is whether, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable

to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime

beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2782 (1979); Tenn

R. App. P. 13; see also State v. Williams, 657 S.W.2d 405 (Tenn. 1983). This rule applies to

findings based on both direct and circumstantial evidence. State v. Thomas, 755 S.W.2d 838, 842

(Tenn. Crim. App. 1988). Circumstantial evidence alone may be sufficient to convict one of a crime.

State v. Boling, 840 S.W.2d 944, 947 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992).

The defendant argues in her brief that no witness testified that the defendant was

driving the LTD when it hit the Ford Ranger. We point out, however, that Mr. Tilson saw her in the

driver’s seat immediately following the collision and while the car was backing uphill. The police

officer turned within a second of hearing the collision sounds to see the defendant behind the wheel

of the LTD as it backed up. The state introduced testimony that the defendant asked to be “forgiven”

for the mishap. The evidence circumstantially established, by excluding every other reasonable

hypothesis, that the defendant drove the LTD on October 12, 2000. Moreover, the defendant’s

version of the collision was incredible, and the police officer directly contradicted Mr. Young’s

testimony that the car keys were not in the ignition. It was the jury’s prerogative and duty to

determine the credibility of witnesses. The verdict signifies that the jury accredited the testimony

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of the state’s witnesses over that offered by the defendant. Because the evidence in the light most

favorable to the state supports the jury’s verdict, we affirm the conviction.

We now turn to the defendant’s complaint about her eleven-month, 29-day

incarcerative sentence. The defendant argues in her brief that the sentence was “excessive” and that

the trial court placed too much emphasis on her prior record, which included three DUI and two

public intoxication convictions but no felonies. She also complains that the trial court erred in

failing to apply in mitigation that the defendant neither caused nor threatened serious bodily injury

and that the crime was committed under such unusual circumstances that it is unlikely that a

sustained intent to violate the law motivated the conduct. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-113(1), (11)

(1997). Also, she argues that the trial court improperly relied upon deterrence in denying probation.

We are unpersuaded that the trial court exceeded the “wide latitude of flexibility”

that our law affords trial courts in misdemeanor sentencing. See State v. Creasy, 885 S.W.2d 829,

832 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). At the threshold of our review of a misdemeanor sentence, the

defendant appears with three disadvantages. First, our de novo review in this case is accompanied

by the presumption that the trial court’s sentence is correct. State v. Lauren E. Leslie and Janie

Whitehead, No. 03C01-9804-CR-00125, slip op. at 4 (Tenn. Crim. App., Knoxville, Mar. 23, 1999).

Second, the statutory presumption of favorable candidacy for alternative sentencing set forth in

Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-102(6) does not apply in misdemeanors. State v. Bruce

Adams, No. E2000-00298-CCA-R3-CD, slip op. at 5 (Tenn. Crim. App., Knoxville, Dec. 8, 2000),

perm. app. denied (Tenn. 2001).1 Third, the misdemeanant, unlike the felon, is not entitled to the

presumption of a minimum sentence. Creasy, 885 S.W.2d at 832.

In misdemeanor sentencing, a separate sentencing hearing is not mandatory, but the

court is required to provide the defendant with a reasonable opportunity to be heard as to the length

and manner of the sentence. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-302(a) (1997). Misdemeanor sentences must

be specific and in accordance with the principles, purpose, and goals of the Criminal Sentencing

Reform Act of 1989. Id. §§ 40-35-104, -302 (1997) (Supp. 2001); State v. Palmer, 902 S.W.2d 391,

393 (Tenn. 1995). The length of all third or subsequent DUI sentences, however, is by statute

1

As pointed out in Bruce Adams, this court has previously split on the issue of whether the section 40-

35-102(6) presumption of favorable candidacy for alternative sentencing applies in misdemeanors. In State v. Williams,

914 S.W.2d 940 (T enn. Crim . App. 1 995), this c ourt held that the “pre sump tion does not app ly to an accused convicted

of a misdemeanor.” Williams, 914 S.W .2d at 949 . Subseq uently, the court said th at the “pres umptio n wou ld logically

apply to misdemeanors.” State v. Boyd, 925 S.W.2d 237, 245 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1 995); see also State v. Combs, 945

S.W.2d 440, 77 4 (Tenn . Crim. A pp. 199 6). We b elieve the m atter was laid to rest by o ur suprem e court in State v.

Troutman, 979 S.W.2d 271 (Tenn. 1998). Even though the Troutman court commented that Code section 40-35-102

contains considerations for determining the manner of service for both misdemeanor and felony sentences, the comment

imme diately followed the high court’s citing Williams for the proposition that the presumption of section 40-35-102(6)

does not app ly in misd emean ors. Troutman, 979 S.W.2d at 273. Certainly, even though the sentencing considerations

contained in section 40-35-102 apply in misdemeanors, the presumption of favorable candidacy for alternative

sentencing need not, and we take our cue from Troutman that, indeed, the presumption does not apply.

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established at eleven months and 29 days. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-403(c) (1998); State v.

Troutman, 979 S.W.2d 271, 273 (Tenn. 1998).

The authorized determinant sentence must be coupled with a percentage of that

sentence designated for eligibility for rehabilitative programs. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-302(d)

(Supp. 2001). In determining the percentage of the sentence, the court must consider enhancement

and mitigating factors as well as the legislative purposes and principles related to the sentencing.

Palmer, 902 S.W.2d at 393-94.

For misdemeanor sentencing, the trial court retains the authority to place the

defendant on probation either immediately or after a term of periodic or continuous confinement.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-302(e) (Supp. 2001). In determining whether to grant probation, the trial

court should consider the nature and circumstances of the offense, the defendant’s criminal record

and potential for rehabilitation, the defendant’s background and social history, present condition,

including physical and mental condition, the deterrent effect on other criminal activity, and the

likelihood that probation is in the best interests of both the public and the defendant. See, e.g., State

v. Hayes, 29 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2000); Stiller v. State, 526 S.W.2d 617, 620 (Tenn. 1974). The

sentencing law provides that the trial court has a wide latitude of flexibility in misdemeanor

sentencing. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-302(3) (Supp. 2001).

In the present case, the length of sentence was mandated by law. See Troutman, 979

S.W.2d at 273. The trial court granted no probation and established the portion of the sentence that

the defendant must serve before becoming eligible for release at 100 percent. See Tenn. Code Ann.

§ 40-35-302(d) (Supp. 2001); Palmer, 902 S.W.2d at 393-94 (court may require 100 percent of

service in DUI cases). In so doing, the trial court acknowledged and referred to the sentencing

principles and guidelines.

The trial court based its denial of probation and of a lower service percentage in part

upon the application of two “strong” enhancement factors — factor (1) that the defendant has a

history of criminal convictions, and factor (8), that she has a previous history of unwillingness to

comply with conditions of a non-incarcerative sentence. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114(1), (8)

(1997); Palmer, 902 S.W.2d at 393-94 (in determining the percentage of service, court considers the

enhancement and mitigating factors as well as the legislative purposes and principles of sentencing).

The trial court applied no mitigating factors. Also, the court relied upon the statutory bases for

sentences involving confinement. See id. § 40-35-103(1) (1997). It found a need to provide an

effective deterrence to others likely to commit similar offenses, see id. § 40-35-103(1)(B), and it also

concluded that there is “little or no chance of rehabilitating the defendant at this point.” See, e.g.,

id. § 40-35-103(5) (1997). Based upon the current offense being committed while the defendant was

on bond for the Sullivan County DUI, the court imposed the current sentence to run consecutively

to the Sullivan County DUI sentence.

We conclude that the trial court’s sentence is well supported by the record. First we

note that the trial court is afforded “considerable latitude in determining whether a need for

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deterrence exists and whether incarceration appropriately addresses that need.” State v. Hooper, 29

S.W.3d 1, 10 (Tenn. 2000). In fact,

[W]e will presume that a trial court’s decision to incarcerate a

defendant based on a need for deterrence is correct so long as any

reasonable person looking at the entire record could conclude that (1)

a need to deter similar crimes is present in the particular community,

jurisdiction, or in the state as a whole, and (2) incarceration of the

defendant may rationally serve as a deterrent to others similarly

situated and likely to commit similar crimes.

Id. In Hooper, our supreme court said that, in determining a need for deterrence and whether

incarceration is particularly suited to deterrence, a trial court should consider factors such as whether

(1) other incidents of the crime are increasing in the community, jurisdiction or state; (2) the

defendant’s crime was intentional, knowing or reckless; (3) the defendant’s crime and conviction

received unusual publicity; (4) the defendant acted as a member of a criminal enterprise; and (5) the

defendant has previously engaged in similar criminal conduct. Id. at 10-12.

In the present case, the trial judge placed in the record his finding that driving while

intoxicated is an increasing problem in the jurisdiction, a fact that is illustrated by increasing DUI

court dockets, and that requiring incarceration for the defendant, a third-time offender, is an apt

means of deterrence. We also note, as did the trial judge, that the defendant has previously engaged

in similar criminal conduct. We hold that the record before us supports the trial court’s reliance

upon deterrence to impose a sentence of confinement.

Next, we focus upon the trial court’s legitimate concern that the defendant is

practically incapable of rehabilitation. This finding, supported by the record of her DUI recidivism,

serves as a basis for denying probation. Also, a defendant’s lack of candor speaks to her amenability

to rehabilitation. State v. Bunch, 646 S.W.2d 158, 160 (Tenn. 1983). The trial court found that the

defendant blatantly testified falsely. This finding further suggests the improbability of rehabilitation,

thereby supporting the denial of probation.

The defendant also complains that the trial court did not consider in mitigation that

the defendant’s conduct did not cause or threaten serious bodily injury and that the crime occurred

under circumstances that indicate improbability of reoccurrence. Even though mitigating factors,

along with enhancement factors, are aptly considered when determining the percentage of service

of a misdemeanor sentence, we find the defendant’s argument unavailing. The record does not show

that the crime was committed in circumstances that indicate an improbability of reoccurrence.

Regarding the lack or threat of serious bodily injury, we conclude that, even had the trial court

considered this factor in mitigation, it would have been of insufficient weight to offset the more

weighty enhancement factors. In short, we discern no reversible error in the trial court’s rejection

of mitigating factors.

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Accordingly, we conclude that the record supports the trial court’s sentence.

The judgment below is affirmed.

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JAMES CURWOOD WITT, JR., JUDGE

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