The opinion
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
September 11, 2001 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. TAVARUS WILLIAMS
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County
No. 91-11920 Bernie Weinman, Judge
No. W2000-03114-CCA-R3-CD - Filed April 17, 2002
The Defendant was convicted in 1991 of first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
After his conviction was affirmed on direct appeal, the Defendant filed a post-conviction petition,
and the trial court denied relief. However, on post-conviction appeal, this Court determined that the
Defendant received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and therefore reversed the trial court’s
decision, vacated the Defendant’s conviction, and remanded the case for a new trial. The Defendant
was tried a second time in 2000 before a Shelby County jury, and on this occasion, the jury found
the Defendant guilty of second degree murder. The trial court sentenced him to twenty years
incarceration. The Defendant now appeals his conviction and sentence, arguing (1) that insufficient
evidence was presented at trial to support his conviction, and (2) that he was improperly sentenced.
We conclude that sufficient evidence supports the jury’s verdict and thus affirm the Defendant’s
conviction. However, we conclude that the trial court erred in sentencing the Defendant and
therefore we remand for re-sentencing in accordance with this opinion.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Affirmed in Part,
Reversed in Part and Remanded
ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which THOMAS T. WOODALL and
NORMA MCGEE OGLE, JJ., joined.
C. Anne Tipton, Memphis, Tennessee, for the Appellant, Tavarus Williams.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; John H. Bledsoe, Assistant Attorney General;
William L. Gibbons, District Attorney General; Jerry Kitchen, Assistant District Attorney General;
and Rosemary Andrews, Assistant District Attorney General, for the Appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
In September 1991, the Defendant shot and killed Raymond Brooks, the victim in this case,
outside of a club in Memphis. Although he was fifteen years old at the time of the crime, the
Defendant was tried as an adult and convicted of first degree murder, for which he received a
sentence of life imprisonment. This Court affirmed his conviction on direct appeal, see State v.
Tavarus U. Williams, No. 02C01-9307-CR-00137, 1994 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 393 (Tenn. Crim.
App., Jackson, June 29, 1994), and the Tennessee Supreme Court denied the Defendant’s application
for permission to appeal. The Defendant subsequently filed a petition for post-conviction relief.
After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied relief, and the Defendant appealed the trial court’s
decision. On appeal, this Court held that the Defendant received ineffective assistance of counsel
at trial. See Tavarus U. Williams v. State, No. 02C01-9711-CR-00423, 1998 Tenn. Crim. App.
LEXIS (Tenn. Crim. App., Jackson, Oct. 23, 1998). This Court therefore reversed the judgment of
the lower court, vacated the Defendant’s conviction, and remanded the case for a new trial. See id.
In August 2000, the Defendant was again tried for the murder of Raymond Brooks. At the
second trial, the jury found the Defendant guilty of second degree murder. Following a sentencing
hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant to twenty years incarceration. The Defendant now
appeals both his conviction and his sentence. Having reviewed the record, we affirm the
Defendant’s conviction, but reverse the judgment as to the sentence only, and remand to the trial
court for a new sentencing hearing.
The following evidence was presented at the Defendant’s second trial for the shooting death
of victim Raymond Brooks: Captain Frederick Sansom of the Memphis Police Department testified
that in 1991, he was called to the scene of a homicide that took place at J.T.’s Lounge, located at
1403 Elvis Presley Boulevard. Sansom stated that he arrived at the scene at 3:36 a.m., where he was
advised by other officers already present at the scene that “a male black had been shot dead on the
sidewalk in front of the lounge.” Officers found a pair of sunglasses near the victim’s body and “a
brown slip of paper,” on which a phone number and the name “Saundra” were written, in the
victim’s pocket. Officers found no weapons or money on or near the victim’s body. As part of his
duties, Sansom made a sketch of the scene, which was shown to the jury at trial.
Dr. O.C. Smith, medical examiner for Shelby County, testified that he had reviewed a report
containing the results of an autopsy performed on the victim, but stated that he did not actually
perform the autopsy. He explained that the previous medical examiner for Shelby County, who had
resigned in 1999, performed the autopsy. Smith testified that the victim was a twenty-year-old male
who died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest. He specified that the victim sustained
six or seven gunshot wounds. Smith testified that after being shot, the victim did not live long; he
stated that the victim “could have been rendered unconscious or incapacitated almost immediately.”
Dr. Smith reported that “powder burns” were found on the victim’s right arm. He explained,
“Powder burns are a layman’s term to describe wounds that are produced when the muzzle of the
weapon is close enough to the skin surface at the time it’s fired that it actually marks the skin.”
Smith stated that the type of “powder burns” found on the victim’s arm were in a “stipple pattern,”
indicating that the weapon used to shoot the victim was likely fired from a distance of twenty-four
inches or less from the victim’s skin. In addition, Smith reported that a “defensive wound” was
found on the back of the victim’s right arm which was “consistent with any scenario that you can
devise in which the back surface of the arm would be presented to the muzzle of the weapon.”
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Finally, Dr. Smith reported that at the time of death, the victim had a blood alcohol content
of .17 percent. Smith testified that a person with a blood alcohol level of .17 would exhibit
impairment in his judgment, his reaction time, his gross motor skills, and his vision. He also
testified that a person with such a blood alcohol level would experience “some emotion apathy where
the effect of alcohol . . . so affect[s] the brain that the person is not easily excited” or may be
“withdrawn.” Smith reported that the victim’s “drug screen was negative.”
Gloria Brooks testified that she was the victim’s mother. She stated that she went to J.T.’s
Lounge immediately after hearing of her son’s death and saw her son lying “right at the door” of the
lounge. She testified that at the time of her son’s death, he was five feet, six inches tall and weighed
165 pounds. Brooks also testified that her son was right-handed.
David Monger testified that he was at a birthday party at a lounge on Elvis Presley Boulevard
on the night of the victim’s death. He stated that he walked outside of the lounge in the early
morning hours to “get[] a breath of fresh air” and sat down to talk to another male. He testified,
“[A]ll of a sudden we heard a gunshot. . . . [W]e looked and turned and saw a fellow . . . shooting
the . . . victim down . . . just like he was an animal . . . . And when [the victim] fell, . . . a few more
shots were fired.” Monger testified that when the victim was shot, he immediately collapsed against
a wall with his head down. He recalled that after the victim fell, the shooter “walk[ed] around . .
. and kept looking at [the victim] . . . like he was picking a place and shooting him.” Monger stated
that he could hear the shooter talking and “mumbling” to the victim while he was shooting, saying
“I told you I was going to get you.” Monger recalled that he next heard “a gun click, . . . like if [the
shooter] had any more bullets he would waste them . . . . and then [the shooter] just stopped [,] . .
. didn’t try to hide the gun, . . . [and] walked across the street like nothing had happened . . . .”
Monger stated that he then saw the shooter get into a white car with someone else and leave the
scene.
Monger testified that he was sitting approximately fifty to sixty feet away from where the
shooting occurred. Monger stated that prior to hearing the gunshots, he did not hear or see anything
to indicate that the victim and the shooter were arguing. He testified that he knew neither the shooter
nor the victim and had never seen either of them before the night of the shooting. Monger further
testified that although other people were outside of the lounge, no one was “around [the victim] at
the time” he was shot. Finally, Monger stated that he did not see any type of weapon in the victim’s
possession.
On cross-examination, Monger testified that the lighting at the scene of the crime was not
good enough for him to clearly see the shooter. He admitted that he was shocked and frightened at
the time of the crime. Monger also testified that he did not witness what happened before hearing
the first gunshots or see the victim’s hands prior to hearing the first two shots. He testified that when
he turned towards the crime scene, the victim was “standing up against the wall . . . and he was just
facing [the shooter] . . . . Then after [the shooter] shot [the victim], that’s when [the victim] started
moving . . . .”
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Patrick Mason testified that he had gone to school with the victim. He reported that at
approximately 11:00 p.m. on the night of the crime, he went to J.T.’s Lounge, where he saw the
victim and later witnessed the shooting. Mason recalled that he was standing outside of the lounge,
approximately five to ten feet from the club, when he heard the first shot. He stated that when he
heard gunfire, he ran behind a car for protection and watched the crime take place. Mason reported
that the Defendant first fired “[a] close gunshot in the stomach” and immediately afterwards, fired
five more shots “to the [victim’s] head.” He testified that after the first shot, he saw the victim lying
down and the Defendant “standing over [the victim] with the gun.” Mason recalled that the victim
was still alive after the first gunshot and tried to cover his face with his hands to protect himself.
He recalled that the entire incident spanned approximately two minutes. Mason testified that he did
not hear the Defendant or the victim say anything during the shooting, but he reported that as the
Defendant left the scene, he said, “Look at you now.” He recalled that the Defendant then walked
across the street, got into a car, and drove away. Mason stated that he did not see anything in the
victim’s hands during the shooting, but he testified that he was able to see the Defendant’s gun,
which he reported was a .357 caliber handgun. Finally, Mason testified that although he had referred
to the shooter as the Defendant in court, he did not know the Defendant and could not recognize the
shooter in court or at the time of the crime.
On cross-examination, Mason testified that the Defendant shot the victim from a distance of
approximately two feet. He stated that prior to the first shot, the victim’s hands were “down” and
that after the first shot, the victim raised his hands over his head “like he was begging for his life.”
Mason also testified that no one was outside of the lounge when the shooting began, but that after
the first shot was fired, “everybody all came outside the club.” He estimated that “close to 100”
people exited the club after hearing the gunshots.
On redirect examination, Mason admitted that he told police immediately after the crime that
the Defendant shot the victim from a distance of four to five feet. He also admitted that immediately
after the crime, he told police that he “didn’t hear nothing,” despite his testimony on direct
examination that he heard the Defendant speak to the victim after the crime. Mason stated, however,
that his testimony as to the details of the crime was based on his best recollection, and he pointed
out that the trial took place nine years after the crime was committed.
Wilma Hayden testified that her father, Willie James Hayden, Sr., was a security guard at the
time of the crime. She stated that Mr. Hayden died in 1995 of bone cancer, and she reported that her
father was taking medication for his illness in 1991. Martha Jackson, a court reporter administrator
for the criminal courts of the State of Tennessee, testified next. She testified that at the request of
the State, she had retrieved a transcript of Mr. Hayden’s testimony on June 30, 1992. The State then
entered into evidence a cassette recording and a transcript of Mr. Hayden’s testimony containing the
following information: Mr. Hayden testified that he was working as a security guard at J.T.’s
Lounge on the night of the crime in this case. Hayden testified that he was standing four to five
yards or less from the spot where the shooting occurred. He stated that he heard the first shot and
turned to see the victim, who had nothing in his hands, collapsing against a wall while being shot.
Hayden testified that he then heard several more shots in rapid succession. He stated that he did not
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hear any statements during the shooting, but he recalled that after the shooting, he heard a male who
was with the shooter say to the shooter, “You done killed the son of a bitch. Let’s go.” Hayden
testified that the shooter, the male who spoke to the shooter, and a third male then left the scene. He
reported that the three men ran to a car, and two of them got into the car. Hayden testified, however,
that the shooter “passed the pistol” to the passenger in the car and “took off running.” Hayden
identified the shooter as the Defendant.
The Defendant called several witnesses in his defense. Marcus Jacocks testified that he was
the Defendant’s cousin. He stated that on the night of the crime, he, the Defendant, and a man
named Brian Adams drove to J.T.’s Lounge to perform in a “rap-show concert.” He recalled that
they arrived at between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. and that they went on stage at approximately 1:30 a.m.
Jacocks testified that after their performance, they “started to mix and mingle around the bar,” and
the Defendant began talking to a young woman. Jacocks recalled that after the Defendant and the
woman conversed for a few minutes, the victim approached them. According to Jacocks, the victim
“introduced himself with . . . bad language towards” the Defendant and stated that the woman with
whom the Defendant was conversing was “with [him].” The conversation quickly escalated into an
argument, with the victim and the Defendant “exchanging words” and using profanity, until Jacocks
and a man who was with the victim separated the victim and the Defendant. Jacocks testified that
after the argument, he and the Defendant left the area where they had been standing and walked to
the other side of the club.
However, according to Jacocks, the victim followed them and again confronted the
Defendant. Jacocks stated that the victim began to threaten the Defendant, saying, “I’m going to
blow your ass off, man.” Jacocks reported that he again separated the two men and told the
Defendant, “It’s time to go, man. He’s talking about killing you.” Jacocks testified that he and the
Defendant then left the club and began to look for Brian Adams, from whom they had become
separated. When they were unable to locate Adams, they waited outside the club.
Jacocks testified that while they waited, the victim and four or five other men approached
them “from around the corner of the building[,]” and the victim said, “There those mother f__ckers
go right there.” Jacocks stated that the victim then asked the Defendant, “What’s that sh_t you got
to say to me?” Jacocks reported that at this point, “everybody started to walk off because they knew
something was fixing to happen.” According to Jacocks, the victim began making “death threats”
towards the Defendant; Jacocks testified that the victim reached for a gun that was in his friend’s
possession and said, “Give me this thing so I can kill the bitch.” However, Jacocks stated that
although the victim “made a motion for a the gun,” he did not see the victim actually obtain the gun
because immediately after the victim made the statement, the Defendant “pulled his gun out” and
began firing. Jacocks recalled that when the Defendant began to fire the gun, everyone who was
standing outside “scattered.” Jacocks reported that he told the Defendant, “Don’t shoot him.” He
testified that the Defendant fired a total of six shots from his revolver, never saying a word, and he
recalled that the Defendant continued trying to fire the gun after all of the bullets were spent. He
described the Defendant as being “in a daze” and stated that the Defendant “had just lost it.” Jacocks
testified that the Defendant then “stepped back,” and they left the scene. He reported that he got into
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a car with a friend, but stated that the Defendant did not get into the car. Finally, Jacocks denied that
the Defendant ever gave him the gun used in the shooting.
On cross-examination, Jacocks admitted that he had been convicted of voluntary
manslaughter and of selling cocaine. He also testified that he did not speak to police for four days
after the crime. In addition, Jacocks admitted that his testimony had changed since the time of the
crime regarding how many men approached the Defendant with the victim immediately prior to the
shooting. He stated that although he had previously testified that the victim and two men had
approached the Defendant, he testified on direct examination that the victim and four or five men
approached the Defendant. However, he maintained that his most recent testimony was correct.
Tony Jefferson testified that he was working as a bouncer at J.T.’s Lounge on the night of
the crime. He testified that he did not know the Defendant prior to the night of the crime, but stated
that he was friends with the victim. He reported that he helped “break . . . up” the argument that took
place between the victim and the Defendant inside J.T.’s Lounge prior to the shooting. Jefferson
recalled that after the argument, the Defendant left the area where they had been standing. He
testified that he then heard the victim tell another male named Darryl that he was “going to go out
there and go slap [the Defendant] like he’s a whore.” Jefferson maintained that he told the victim
to “leave it alone,” and the victim promised that he would. However, he stated that the victim
ignored his advice and again approached the Defendant. According to Jefferson, Darryl told the
victim that Darryl had a gun, and “that’s what triggered it all.”
Jefferson recalled that the Defendant was standing outside of the club when the victim
approached him. He stated that the victim asked Darryl to “pass him” the gun, but “Darryl ran off.”
Jefferson was unsure whether Darryl left before or after the Defendant began shooting. Jefferson
stated that he heard only one shot before reentering the club for protection.
Jefferson admitted that he was incarcerated at the time of trial, serving a sentence for assault.
He further admitted on cross-examination that he had been convicted of aggravated burglary,
unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to sell, and unlawful possession of marijuana with intent
to sell. In addition, Jefferson testified that Marcus Jacocks had driven him to and from court on
previous occasions, but he denied that they had discussed the Defendant’s case. Jefferson also stated
that the Defendant’s family members had visited him in jail and asked him to testify. Finally,
Jefferson testified that he was legally blind.
The Defendant testified on his own behalf at trial. He stated that he was fifteen years old at
the time of the crime. He recalled that his mother had been placed in a mental institution prior to
the crime, and he stated that he was living with various relatives during the time surrounding the
crime. The Defendant testified that on the night of the crime, he, Marcus Jacocks, and two other
males arrived at J.T.’s Lounge at approximately 11:30 p.m., and he and Jacocks performed on stage
approximately an hour and a half after their arrival.
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The Defendant testified that after the performance, he began to casually converse with a
young woman who had complimented him on his performance. The Defendant testified that while
he was talking to the woman, the victim, whom he did not know, approached him and asked, “What
do you think you’re doing, I’m sitting there?” The Defendant stated that he responded, “I didn’t
know you were sitting there, man.” The Defendant testified that he soon got up, but he claimed that
when he did, the victim passed him and bumped his leg. According to the Defendant, he asked the
victim, “What’s up man?” and the victim responded, “What’s up with you, whore ass boy?” The
Defendant stated that at this point, he and the victim began to argue. He recalled that the victim’s
friends eventually stepped between them, although he claimed that after they were separated, the
victim was “still talking crazy and throwing mean threats.” The Defendant maintained that the
victim threatened to kill him, and he testified that he believed the victim was serious. He stated that
Marcus Jacocks then advised him to leave and began to “pull[]” him out of the club.
The Defendant testified that after they exited the club, Jacocks would not let him back inside
to find his friend, Brian Adams, so he waited outside the door. He stated that the victim, however,
again approached him outside of the club with two of his friends. According the Defendant, the
victim asked him, “What’s . . . that shit you got to say to me?” He stated that he responded, “Go on,
I don’t want no trouble.” The Defendant testified that the victim then said, “I told your mother-
f__king ass; what’s up now? I ain’t no sucker.” He testified that he interpreted this to be very
confrontational and threatening, and he stated that he was frightened. The Defendant reported that
the victim next said, “I’ll kill you. I’ll kill your mother-f__king ass” and reached towards his friend
for a pistol, saying, “Give me a tone so I can kill this bitch.” The Defendant testified that he saw the
friend “raise[] his shirt up,” and, believing that his life was in danger, the Defendant pulled his .38
caliber pistol and began to fire the gun. When asked what passed through his mind immediately
before he began to fire, the Defendant responded, “Living. . . . Surviving.”
The Defendant testified that he could not remember how many shots he fired. He stated that
after he killed the victim, “the first thing that came to [his] mind was God forgive [him].” After
shooting the victim, the Defendant looked for his cousin and saw him running across the street with
another male to a car. The Defendant testified that he asked them for “a ride,” but they refused to
let him into the car, fearing that they would be named accomplices in the homicide. The Defendant
testified that he therefore began running from the scene.
On cross-examination, the Defendant testified that he had obtained his gun about three
months prior to the murder. He stated that he did not carry it everyday, but only “where [he] knew
it [sic] would probably be hostility.” He testified that he placed the loaded gun into a pocket in his
briefs inside his pants prior to going to J.T.’s Lounge on the night of the crime. The Defendant
testified that as he ran from the scene, the gun fell out of his pants pocket, where he had placed it
after the shooting. The Defendant claimed that he “turned [himself] in” after the crime, but stated
that he spoke to an attorney before making a statement to police. Finally, the Defendant admitted
that he “passed words” with the victim during their argument prior to the shooting.
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Dr. Allen Overton Battle, a clinical psychologist, testified that he first evaluated the
Defendant in September 1991, when the Defendant was fifteen years old. He stated that his first
evaluation of the Defendant, performed at the Juvenile Court detention center immediately after the
crime, established that the Defendant had a mental age of eleven years old and an intelligence
quotient (I.Q.) of 77, placing him in the borderline range of mental retardation. He testified that a
person with the Defendant’s I.Q. would be more “suggestible” and “inclined to accept whatever they
are told just at face value and not question it.” Dr. Battle stated that he reevaluated the Defendant
in April 2000. He testified that his second evaluation revealed that the Defendant was within the
normal range of intelligence, with a verbal I.Q. between 89 and 99, a performance I.Q. between 79
and 93, and a full scale I.Q. between 86 and 94. Dr. Battle stated that the discrepancy in the
Defendant’s two scores could be attributed to fatigue or emotional stress at the time of the first test.
He also stated, “I found that [the Defendant] is an individual who one could say when emotion
occurs in him, it’s not so much that he has the emotion, but the emotion has him. . . . And that is one
of his greatest weaknesses as far as his personality operation is concerned, and it would adversely
affect his relationships with other people and ability to get along in general.”
On cross-examination, Dr. Battle clarified his findings. He stated that the Defendant was not
mentally ill and reported that the Defendant was no longer borderline mentally retarded. Dr. Battle
also agreed that psychological stressors could greatly affect one’s performance on an intelligence
test. Finally, he stated that a person with motive to exaggerate his or her condition could deceive
a test administrator.
I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
The Defendant contests the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. When an accused
challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court’s standard of review is whether, after
considering 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. Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e);
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 324 (1979); State v. Duncan, 698 S.W.2d 63, 67 (Tenn. 1985).
This rule applies to findings of guilt based upon direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a
combination of both direct and circumstantial evidence. State v. Pendergrass, 13 S.W.3d 389, 392-
93 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).
In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court should not re-weigh or re-evaluate
the evidence. State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). Nor may this
Court substitute its inferences for those drawn by the trier of fact from the evidence. State v. Buggs,
995 S.W.2d 102, 105 (Tenn. 1999); Liakas v. State, 286 S.W.2d 856, 859 (Tenn. 1956). Questions
concerning the credibility of the witnesses, the weight and value of the evidence, as well as all
factual issues raised by the evidence are resolved by the trier of fact. Liakas, 286 S.W.2d at 859.
This Court must afford the State of Tennessee the strongest legitimate view of the evidence
contained in the record, as well as all reasonable inferences which may be drawn from the evidence.
State v. Evans, 838 S.W.2d 185, 191 (Tenn. 1992). Because a verdict of guilt against a defendant
removes the presumption of innocence and raises a presumption of guilt, the convicted criminal
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defendant bears the burden of showing that the evidence was legally insufficient to sustain a guilty
verdict. Id.
The Defendant was convicted of second degree murder, which is defined as “[a] knowing
killing of another . . . .” Tenn. Code. Ann. § 39-13-210(a)(1). In a second degree murder case,
“‘knowing’ refers to a person who acts knowingly with respect to the result of the person’s conduct
(death to the victim) when the person is aware that the conduct is reasonably certain to cause the
result.” Id. § 39-11-302(b). Second degree murder is a “result of conduct” offense. See State v.
Ducker, 27 S.W.3d 889, 896. (Tenn. 2000).
We conclude that sufficient evidence was presented to support the Defendant’s conviction
for second degree murder. Because the Defendant admitted that he shot the victim, the primary
determination for the jury was the Defendant’s state of mind at the time of the crime. Three
witnesses to the crime testified that the shooter, identified by one of the witnesses as the Defendant,
shot the victim several times in rapid succession from close proximity. One witness testified that
during the shooting, the Defendant said to the victim, “I told you I was going to get you,” while
another witness testified that after the shooting, the Defendant said to the victim, “Look at you now.”
One of the witnesses testified that during the shooting, the Defendant was circling the victim as if
to find certain spots from which to fire his gun. Another witness stated that he saw the victim
attempt to cover his face for protection during the shooting. The medical examiner who reviewed
the victim’s autopsy report confirmed that the victim was shot from close proximity and died from
multiple gunshot wounds. He also testified that defensive wounds were found on the victim’s body.
This is clearly sufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding that the Defendant was aware that his
conduct was reasonably certain to cause the victim’s death. See id. Although the Defendant and
defense witnesses testified that the victim confronted and threatened the Defendant prior to the
shooting, the jury apparently did not believe that the Defendant acted in self-defense when he shot
and killed the victim. We may not re-evaluate the jury’s findings of fact. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d
at779. This issue is without merit.
II. SENTENCING
The Defendant next contends that he was improperly sentenced. The trial court sentenced
the Defendant as a Range I standard offender to twenty years incarceration. Because the Defendant
was convicted of a Class A felony, see Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-210(b), the appropriate sentencing
range in his case was between fifteen and twenty-five years. See id. § 40-35-112(a)(1).1
When a criminal defendant challenges the length, range, or manner of service of a sentence,
the reviewing court must conduct a de novo review of the sentence with a presumption that the
determinations made by the trial court are correct. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d). This
presumption, however, “is conditioned upon the affirmative showing in the record that the trial court
1
The app licable statute regard ing sentencing rang es has been in fo rce since 19 89. See Tenn. Code Ann. §
40-35-112.
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considered the sentencing principles and all relevant facts and circumstances.” State v. Ashby, 823
S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991). In the event that the record fails to show such consideration, the
review of the sentence is purely de novo. State v. Shelton, 854 S.W.2d 116, 123 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1992).
In making its sentencing determination, the trial court, at the conclusion of the sentencing
hearing, determines the range of sentence and then determines the specific sentence and the propriety
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
statements the defendant wishes to make in the defendant's behalf about sentencing, and (7) the
potential for rehabilitation or treatment. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-35-210(a), (b), -103(5); State v.
Williams, 920 S.W.2d 247, 258 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
When imposing a sentence, the trial court must make specific findings of fact on the record
supporting the sentence. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-209(c). The record should also include any
enhancement or mitigating factors applied by the trial court. Id. § 40-35-210(f). Thus, if the trial
court wishes to enhance a sentence, the court must state its reasons on the record. The purpose of
recording the court’s reasoning is to guarantee the preparation of a proper record for appellate
review. State v. Ervin, 939 S.W.2d 581, 584 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996).
If our review reflects that the trial court followed the statutory sentencing procedure, that the
court imposed a lawful sentence after having given due consideration and proper weight to the
factors and principles set out under the sentencing law, and that the trial court’s findings of fact are
adequately supported by the record, then we may not modify the sentence "even if we would have
preferred a different result." State v. Fletcher, 805 S.W.2d 785, 789 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). The
defendant bears the burden of showing the impropriety of the sentence imposed. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d
at 169.
A. PRESUMPTIVE SENTENCE
The Defendant first complains that the trial court sentenced him according to current
sentencing guidelines, rather than those in effect at the time that his crime was committed.
Specifically, he complains that the trial court began sentencing at the midpoint of the appropriate
sentencing range. Although the current presumptive sentence for a felony is the midpoint of the
range, see Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(c) (2001), the Defendant points out that his crime was
committed prior to 1995, when the current sentencing guidelines went into effect. He thus argues
that the trial court should have begun sentencing at the minimum sentence within the range.
To calculate the appropriate sentence for felony convictions committed before July 1, 1995,
a trial court should begin the sentence at the minimum sentence within the range when no
enhancement or mitigating factors are present. Id. § 40-35-210(c) (1989). If enhancement factors
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but no mitigating factors are present, the trial court may set the sentence above the minimum, as long
as the sentence is within the range. Id. § 40-35-210(d) (1989). However, if enhancement and
mitigating factors are present, the trial court should start at the minimum sentence within the range;
enhance the sentence within the range as appropriate for the enhancement factors; and then reduce
the sentence within the range as appropriate for the mitigating factors. Id. § 40-35-210(e) (1989).
The weight to be given a factor is within the trial court’s discretion, provided that the trial court
complies with the purposes and principles of the Sentencing Act and that its findings are adequately
supported by the record. State v. Santiago, 914 S.W.2d 116, 125 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
We agree that because the offense in this case was committed in 1991, the trial court erred
by sentencing the Defendant using current sentencing guidelines. Our review of the Defendant’s
sentence is thus de novo with no presumption of correctness. See Shelton, 854 S.W.2d at 123. We
conclude that one enhancement factor was improperly applied. In light of this and the fact that the
trial court erred by applying the incorrect presumptive sentence, a reversal of the sentence and
remand for a new sentencing hearing is appropriate.
B. ENHANCEMENT FACTORS
The trial court applied the following three enhancement factors in sentencing the Defendant:
(5) The defendant treated or allowed a victim to be treated with exceptional cruelty
during the commission of the offense;
...
(9) The defendant possessed or employed a firearm, explosive device or other deadly
weapon during the commission of the offense; [and]
(10) The defendant had no hesitation about committing a crime when the risk to
human life was high . . . .
Id. § 40-35-114(5), (9), (10).2 The Defendant concedes, and we agree, that enhancement factor (9)
was properly applied in his case. See id. § 40-35-114(9). However, the Defendant contends that the
trial court misapplied enhancement factors (5) and (10). See id. § 40-35-114(5), (10).
With regard to enhancement factor (5), the Defendant argues that no evidence was presented
indicating that he treated the victim with exceptional cruelty during the commission of the offense.
Id. § 40-35-114(5). Application of enhancement factor (5) requires “a finding of cruelty under the
statute ‘over and above’ what is required to sustain a conviction for an offense.” State v. Arnett, 49
S.W.3d 250, 258 (Tenn. 2001) (quoting State v. Embry, 915 S.W.2d 451, 456 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1995)). “[S]uch evidence must ‘denote[] the infliction of pain or suffering inflicted for its own sake
or from the gratification derived therefrom, and not merely pain or suffering inflicted as the means
of accomplishing the crime charged.’” Id. (quoting State v. Kelly Haynes, No. W1999-01485-CCA-
R3-CD, 2000 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 241, at *9 (Tenn. Crim. App., Jackson, Mar. 14, 2000)).
Application of this factor has been upheld based on extensive physical or psychological abuse or
2
We note that although Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-114 has been amended since the time of the crime
in this case, the subsections pertinent to our discussion have remained the same.
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torture. Id. No such circumstances were present in this case. The evidence at trial indicates that the
Defendant shot the victim multiple times in rapid succession. We note that one witness to the crime
testified that the Defendant said, “I told you I was going to get you” to the victim during the shooting
and that the Defendant walked around the victim during the shooting, as if to pick spots from which
to shoot. However, we conclude that even if the jury accepted this evidence as true, this evidence
does not constitute “exceptional cruelty” so as to warrant application of enhancement factor (5).
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114(5).
The Defendant also contends that the trial court misapplied enhancement factor (10). See
id. § 40-35-114(10). This Court has concluded that“[a]lthough factor (10) is inherent in every
homicide case relative to the victim, the trial court may consider this factor when the defendant
endangers the lives of people other than the victim.” State v. Kelly, 34 S.W.3d 471, 480 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 2000); see also State v. Hicks, 868 S.W.2d 729, 732 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993).
Testimony from trial indicates that several people were outside of J.T.’s Lounge at the time of the
crime. Because of the proximity of other individuals to the place where the shooting occurred, we
conclude that enhancement factor (10) was properly applied in this case. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-
35-114(10).
C. MITIGATING FACTORS
The trial court applied one mitigating factor in sentencing the Defendant: “The defendant,
because of youth or old age, lacked substantial judgment in committing the offense . . . .” Id. § 40-
35-113(6). The record supports application of this factor. However, the Defendant contends that
the trial court should have applied two other mitigating factors as well, that he “acted under strong
provocation,” id. § 40-35-113(2), and that “[s]ubstantial grounds exist tending to excuse or justify
the defendant’s criminal conduct, though failing to establish a defense . . . .” Id. § 40-35-113(3).
His argument supporting each of these proposed mitigating factors is the same: that the victim
confronted and threatened him prior to the shooting.
We conclude that the trial court properly declined to apply mitigating factors (2) and (3). See
id. § 40-35-113(2), (3). The fact that the victim may have initiated the confrontation with the
Defendant, may have verbally threatened the Defendant, and may have followed the Defendant
outside of the club following their initial argument does not constitute “strong provocation,” id. §
40-35-113(2), or excuse the Defendant’s conduct. See id. § 40-35-113(3); see also See State v.
Bryan Lamont Murray, No. M1998-00343-CCA-R3-CD, 1999 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 1201, at
*17-18 (Tenn. Crim. App., Nashville, Dec. 7, 1999). The Defendant escalated the conflict between
him and the victim by drawing a gun and firing it at the victim. See State v. Baxter, 938 S.W.2d 697,
706 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). Furthermore, although some testimony was presented at trial that the
victim reached for a gun immediately prior to the shooting, the jury apparently discredited this
testimony when it rejected the Defendant’s argument of self-defense. See State v. Maurice Garner,
No. 02C01-9508-CR-00223, 1997 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 426, at *21 (Tenn. Crim. App., Jackson,
May 19, 1997). We find no other grounds to justify the Defendant’s use of deadly force on the night
of the crime.
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III. CONCLUSION
Because we conclude that sufficient evidence was presented to support the jury’s verdict, we
AFFIRM the Defendant’s conviction. However, because the trial court erred in sentencing the
Defendant, we REVERSE the sentence and REMAND the case to the trial court solely for the
purpose of re-sentencing the Defendant in accordance with this opinion. The trial court shall
sentence the Defendant based upon the principles set forth in this opinion, and without the
presentation by the parties of additional evidence.
___________________________________
ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, JUDGE
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