State of Tennessee v. Ashley Wheeler

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT JACKSON

Assigned on Briefs November 4, 2014

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. ASHLEY WHEELER

Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County

No. 1200990 James M. Lammey, Judge

No. W2013-02765-CCA-R3-CD - Filed March 11, 2015

Defendant, Ashley Wheeler, was indicted by the Shelby County Grand Jury for two counts

of forgery valued at $1,000 or more, but less than $10,000, in Counts 1 and 2. In Count 3,

Defendant was indicted for attempted theft of property valued at $1,000 or more, but less

than $10,000. Following a jury trial, Defendant was convicted as charged. Following a

sentencing hearing, the trial court merged Count 1 with Count 2 and sentenced Defendant

to two years for her forgery conviction and one year for her attempted theft conviction. The

trial court ordered Defendant’s sentences to be served concurrently and suspended on

probation. In this appeal as of right, Defendant asserts that: 1) the prosecutor committed

prosecutorial misconduct by making improper comments during closing argument; 2) the

evidence was insufficient to support her convictions; and 3) the trial court abused its

discretion by denying her requests to be granted judicial diversion and to be sentenced as an

especially mitigated offender. Having carefully reviewed the record before us, we conclude

that the comments of the prosecutor during closing argument constitute prosecutorial

misconduct rising to the level of plain error. We therefore reverse the judgments of the trial

court and remand this case for a new trial.

Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right;

Judgment of the Criminal Court Reversed and Remanded for New Trial

T HOMAS T. W OODALL, P.J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which A LAN E. G LENN and

R OBERT L. H OLLOWAY, J R., JJ., joined.

Stephen Bush, District Public Defender; Jennifer Mitchell, and Phyllis Aluko, Assistant

Public Defenders, Memphis, Tennessee, for the appellant, Ashley Wheeler.

Herbert H. Slatery, III, Attorney General and Reporter; Tracy L. Alcock, Assistant Attorney

General; Amy P. Weirich, District Attorney General; and Bryce Phillips, Assistant District

Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

OPINION

Trial

On July 13, 2011, Memphis Police Officer Lenayan Holmes responded to a “forgery

theft call” at Speedy’s Check Cashing in Memphis. When Officer Holmes arrived, the owner

of the business, James Briggs, informed him that a person, whom Mr. Briggs later identified

as Defendant, had attempted to cash a stolen check. Defendant had already left when Officer

Holmes arrived.

James Briggs, the owner of Speedy’s Check Cashing, testified that on July 13, 2011,

Defendant presented a check in the amount of $2,800 to be cashed. Mr. Briggs looked at the

back of the check, and it was not endorsed. Defendant endorsed the check and presented her

driver’s license for identification. Mr. Briggs had never seen Defendant in the store before,

and he believed the amount of the check was a “red flag.” He called the purported maker of

the check, Endocrinology and Diabetes Association in Nashville, in order to verify the check.

Mr. Briggs spoke to the office manager and discovered that the check was forged. The office

manager contacted the police, and Mr. Briggs remained on the phone to “keep the rouse”

hoping that the police would arrive while Defendant was still there. Mr. Briggs testified that

he stood across from Defendant for 15 to 20 minutes. A bullet-proof glass window separated

Mr. Briggs from Defendant. He got a “good look” at Defendant and he was sure that the

photo on the driver’s license matched the person trying to cash the check. Mr. Briggs

subsequently identified Defendant in a photographic lineup and at trial. Defendant left

before police arrived, and she left the check and her driver’s license at Speedy’s Check

Cashing.

Myriam Bagwell testified that she was the Practice Administrator at Endocrinology

Diabetes Association in Nashville. Her duties included payroll, and she testified that she was

the only person with authority to prepare checks. She testified that Mr. Briggs called her to

ask about the subject check, and she recognized the check number as one in a sequence of

70 checks that had been stolen from the business over the July 4, 2011 weekend. Mr. Briggs

told her the name of the person to whom the check was made out, and she had “never heard

of that person.” Ms. Bagwell testified that she did not sign the check. She testified that the

font used on the check was “not our font that we use.” She also testified that when she issues

a check, the check number is printed in a different location on the check than the location

where it is printed by the bank printer, and this check did not have such printing.

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Sergeant Fred Farah, of the Memphis Police Department, compiled a six-person

photographic lineup for Mr. Briggs to view. Sergeant Farah testified that he included in the

photo lineup a different photograph of Defendant than the photograph on the driver’s license

that Defendant left at the scene. Sergeant Farah testified that Mr. Briggs positively identified

Defendant in the photo lineup. Sergeant Farah testified that he had been investigating

economic crimes for four years, and it was not uncommon for a suspect to use his or her own

identification when attempting to cash a forged or stolen check, nor was it uncommon for a

suspect to claim that his or her license had been stolen prior to the offense for which the

suspect was charged.

Defendant testified that she was 20 years old in July, 2011. In April, 2011, she and

her friend Shanice Shepard left the James Lounge Club and discovered that Ms. Shepard’s

car window had been “busted,” and Defendant’s purse, which contained her driver’s license,

social security card, and $20 cash, had been stolen from the trunk. Defendant testified that

she had been allowed entry into the club without her identification. She testified, “[t]hey

pretty much let anybody in there.” Defendant testified that she and Ms. Shepard did not

report the burglary to the police because they were intoxicated, but they reported it to

someone inside the club. Defendant testified that she “thought if [she] reported it to the

DMV and the Social Security Office that [she] was going to be okay.” She applied for a

replacement driver’s license and social security card. Defendant acknowledged that she had

applied for and received several replacement driver’s licenses since receiving her first

driver’s license in 2009 at the age of 18. She testified that she was “always misplacing [her]

I.D. and [her] Social Security card.” She testified that she received a replacement license in

January, 2010, after losing her original license. She misplaced this replacement license and

received another replacement license in June, 2010. Defendant could not remember the

circumstances under which she lost either of those two licenses. She testified that she was

“irresponsible” and that she “laid around information that [she] wasn’t supposed to lay

around.” Defendant received another replacement license in May, 2011, after her purse and

license were stolen from Ms. Shepard’s vehicle. She received another license in February,

2013, after her driving privileges were reinstated after having been suspended due to unpaid

citations.

Defendant testified that she was “shocked [and] distraught” when she was arrested at

her residence in August, 2011. Defendant testified that she had never before heard of

Speedy’s Check Cashing or Endocrinology Diabetes Association. She denied that she forged

a check from Endocrinology Diabetes Association and that she attempted to cash a check at

Speedy Cash. On cross-examination, Defendant also testified that she was at home with her

mother all day on July 13, 2011.

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Shanice Shepard testified that her keys and Defendant’s purse were stolen from her

vehicle while they were inside the James Lounge Club. Ms. Shepard left her identification

at home that night. She testified that it was a “no I.D. club” and that she purchased alcohol

without identification. She testified that she “wasn’t drunk at all” and that she did not see

Defendant consume any alcohol that night. She did not report the burglary because she

“wasn’t thinking about calling the police at the time.” She testified that she and Defendant

did not go back inside the club to tell anyone about the burglary.

Joann Tabor, Defendant’s mother, testified that she told Defendant to report to the

police the incident in which Defendant’s purse was stolen, but Defendant instead reported

it to the “driver license people.” Ms. Tabor had taken Defendant “several times to get a

replacement” driver’s license and said that Defendant was “very clumsy with a purse.”

Sentencing hearing

Defendant testified that she was 22 years old at the time of the hearing and was

employed at Volunteers of America, where she provided care for disabled people. Defendant

graduated from high school in May, 2010. Defendant testified that she had a three-year-old

daughter, and she and her daughter lived with Defendant’s mother and sister. Defendant

denied that she had any involvement in the checks having been stolen from Endocrinology

Diabetes Association in Nashville and denied that she attempted to cash a forged or stolen

check. Defendant acknowledged that she had a juvenile record and testified that she had

stolen “[l]ittle stuff,” including pajamas and underwear. Defendant testified,

I feel like I deserve [judicial] diversion because, you know, I am a good

person; and I did change my life. When I was young, I really made a

complete turn and changed my life; and I just think I really deserve that

because, you know, I didn’t do this; and I just feel like diversion would be

good for me; and then I can, you know, pursue all of my life and go to

college and be successful in life.

Considering the relevant statutory factors in Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-

35-313, the trial court denied Defendant’s request for judicial diversion. The trial court

found that Defendant was amenable to correction. Considering the circumstances of the

offense, the trial court found that the offense neither caused nor threatened serious bodily

injury, but that it was “a crime of dishonesty.” The trial court noted that it was Mr. Briggs’

job “to cash checks . . . and he knew that if he cashed a check that was bad that he would be

the one that was holding the bag; and he could be responsible for it, and basically he would

be the one that would suffer a loss.” The court found that “it only stands to reason that he

[would] be paying very close attention” to a person attempting to cash a check written for

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such a large amount. The court stated, “[s]o, I find it highly unlikely that he was mistaken

in his identity of her.” The court also commented on Defendant’s credibility, stating, “I just

don’t believe her testimony. I don’t believe she was not involved in [the crime].”

The trial court noted that there was nothing in the record to show “how pervasive or

unpervasive [sic] the crime of forgery is in our community.” The trial court also considered

Defendant’s criminal record and social history, finding that she had committed other crimes

of dishonesty as a juvenile, and the court noted that Defendant “like[d] to partake in

[marijuana], which is still illegal in this state,” and had tested positive for the drug on

multiple occasions. In the presentence report, Defendant reported that she started using

marijuana almost every day from age 19 until she was 21 years old in 2012. The court

observed that Defendant “wast[ed] resources that could be used in alternative ways, i.e.,

taking care of your child that you have rather than spending money on [marijuana] . . . .” The

trial court concluded that judicial diversion would not serve the interests of the public or

Defendant.

In sentencing Defendant, the trial court found no applicable enhancement factors. The

trial court found that “there was no need to give her any more than the minimum” sentence

of two years for her Class D felony forgery conviction and one year for her attempted theft

conviction. The court also found that Defendant was eligible for probation and sentenced

Defendant to a total effective sentence of two years, suspended on probation.

Analysis

Prosecutorial misconduct

Defendant contends that the State engaged in prosecutorial misconduct during its

closing arguments. Specifically, Defendant asserts that the prosecutor “vouched for the

credibility of its only eyewitness, argued facts outside of the record, argued misleading facts,

and asserted that the defense was engaged in an intentional strategy to confuse the jurors.”

The State contends that Defendant has waived this issue because she failed to make a

contemporaneous objection to the prosecutor’s closing arguments at trial, and Defendant

failed to raise this issue in her motion for new trial. See Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a) (“[n]othing

in this rule shall be construed as requiring relief be granted to a party responsible for an error

or who failed to take whatever action was reasonably available to prevent or nullify the

harmful effect of an error.”). Defendant asserts, however, that the issue is reviewable under

a plain error analysis. The State responds that Defendant has failed to establish that the

prosecutor’s comments amounted to plain error.

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Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 36(b) provides that “[w]hen necessary to do

substantial justice, [this] court may consider an error that has affected the substantial rights

of a party at any time, even though the error was not raised in the motion for a new trial or

assigned as error on appeal.” See also Tenn. R. Evid. 103(d). We may only consider an issue

as plain error when all five of the following factors are met:

a) the record must clearly establish what occurred in the trial court;

b) a clear and unequivocal rule of law must have been breached;

c) a substantial right of the accused must have been adversely affected;

d) the accused did not waive the issue for tactical reasons; and

e) consideration of the error is “necessary to do substantial justice.”

State v. Adkisson, 899 S.W.2d 626, 641-42 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994) (footnotes omitted); see

also State v. Smith, 24 S.W.3d 274, 283 (Tenn. 2000) (adopting the Adkisson test for

determining plain error). “[A]ll five factors must be established by the record before this

court will recognize the existence of plain error, and complete consideration of all the factors

is not necessary when it is clear from the record that at least one of the factors cannot be

established.” Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 283. Furthermore, the “plain error must be of such a great

magnitude that it probably changed the outcome of the trial.” Adkisson, 899 S.W.2d at 642

(internal quotations omitted).

Initially, we note that the record clearly establishes what occurred in the trial court.

The parties’ closing arguments are transcribed and included in the appellate record. The

State asserts that Defendant has failed to establish that a clear and unequivocal rule of law

was breached. It is well-established that closing argument is an important tool for both

parties during a trial; thus, counsel is generally given wide latitude during closing argument,

and the trial court is granted wide discretion in controlling closing arguments. See State v.

Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d 516, 577-78 (Tenn. 2000) (appendix). “Notwithstanding such,

arguments must be temperate, based upon the evidence introduced at trial, relevant to the

issues being tried, and not otherwise improper under the facts or law.” State v. Goltz, 111

S.W.3d 1, 5 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2003).

In Goltz, 111 S.W.3d at 6, this court outlined “five general areas of prosecutorial

misconduct” that can occur during closing argument:

(1) intentionally misleading or misstating the evidence;

(2) expressing a personal belief or opinion as to the truth or falsity

of the evidence or defendant’s guilt;

(3) making statements calculated to inflame the passions or

prejudices of the jury;

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(4) injecting broader issues than the guilt or innocence of the

accused; and

(5) intentionally referring to or arguing facts outside the record that are not

matters of common public knowledge.

“In determining whether statements made in closing argument constitute reversible

error, it is necessary to determine whether the statements were improper and, if so, whether

the impropriety affected the verdict.” State v. Pulliam, 950 S.W.2d 360, 367 (Tenn. Crim.

App. 1996). In connection with this issue, we must examine the following factors:

(1) the conduct complained of viewed in context and in light of

the facts and circumstances of the case[;]

(2) the curative measures undertaken by the court and the

prosecution[;]

(3) the intent of the prosecutor in making the statement[;]

(4) the cumulative effect of the improper conduct and any other

errors in the record[; and]

(5) the relative strength or weakness of the case.

Id. (quoting Judge v. State, 539 S.W.2d 340, 344 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1976)).

Defendant complains of the following instances of alleged prosecutorial misconduct.

During the State’s closing argument, the prosecutor remarked that Mr. Briggs “was a good

and truth-telling witness.” The prosecutor also commented on the veracity of Sergeant

Farah’s testimony when he stated, “I submit [Sergeant Farah’s testimony] was truthful

. . . .” The prosecutor also argued during the State’s rebuttal, “[t]hat’s first and foremost in

the state’s case, and that is the crux of our case – identification – it is a good identification.”

Defendant asserts that the prosecutor argued facts that were outside of the trial record

when he told the jury that Mr. Briggs “doesn’t get anything out of it; in fact, he had to pay

to park just like you guys.” Defendant asserts that the prosecutor again argued facts outside

of the record when he commented, “more than likely when [Defendant] cashed a check, she

would have gotten some percentage of that twenty-eight hundred dollars and shared it with

whoever drove her off or another party outside of that . . . .” Defendant contends that the

prosecutor acknowledged the impropriety of his comments when he told the jury, “[w]e can’t

go outside the record.” The prosecutor also told the jury, “[t]hose checks got passed all over

kingdom come. [Defendant] was one of many recipients. You didn’t hear all the proof of

that. You couldn’t have heard all the proof of that but that’s still an on-going investigation;

and, again, that’s not something you need to worry about – not for her guilt or innocence.”

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Defendant also asserts that the prosecutor misled the jury by commenting on defense

counsel’s failure to question Defendant’s mother about Defendant’s alibi. Defendant argues

that the prosecutor’s comments were misleading because defense counsel had already

explained to the trial court and the prosecutor that it did not intend to question Defendant’s

mother about an alibi. Defendant states that defense counsel’s decision not to assert an alibi

defense was a “tactical” decision made because defense counsel could not verify Defendant’s

alibi. Defendant testified on cross-examination by the State that she was home all day on the

date of the offense. Upon further questioning by the State, Defendant testified that her

mother could also testify that Defendant was home all day on the date of the offense. During

a bench conference following this testimony by Defendant, defense counsel informed the trial

court and the prosecutor that she did not intend to present evidence of an alibi. The

prosecutor expressed his surprise and frustration that Defendant had answered his direct

question, “Any other witnesses [in addition to her three-year-old child] can put you [at your

home on the date of the offense]” by saying, “Yes, my mother.” The prosecution

immediately asked for a bench conference to inform the trial court he had not received notice

of an alibi defense. During the bench conference, the prosecutor candidly stated, “I certainly

wouldn’t have asked the question if I had known that would be the answer.” The prosecutor

clearly objected to any testimony from Defendant’s mother which would provide an alibi for

Defendant due to the lack of notice of intent to use an alibi. Conversely, Defendant’s counsel

clearly stated during the bench conference that she had never intended to elicit alibi proof

during the testimony of Defendant’s mother. Thus, both parties made representations to the

trial court that it would be totally improper to elicit alibi testimony from Defendant’s mother.

Defendant’s mother testified after Defendant had testified, and no alibi testimony was

included.

Defendant argues that it was therefore improper for the State to suggest in closing

arguments that defense counsel’s failure to ask Ms. Tabor about the alibi was indicative of

Defendant’s lack of credibility. During the State’s rebuttal closing argument, the prosecutor

stated,

. . . . and then suddenly it dawned on her, “Hey, I need an alibi, so I’m going

to throw in my mama was there with me.” But you heard her mother testify;

she did not say a word about being home with her daughter that day? –

don’t you think that would have been more important than, “Hey, I saw

some broken-out glass?” You know why? – because her mother would not

lie for her.

In analyzing whether a clear and unequivocal rule of law was breached in this case,

we first determine that the prosecutor’s comments are examples of prosecutorial misconduct

as outlined in Goltz. In his closing arguments to the jury, the prosecutor expressed his

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personal belief as to the truth of two of the State’s witnesses. Also, the prosecutor’s

comments regarding defense counsel’s failure to question Defendant’s mother about

Defendant’s “alibi” was misleading to the jury in light of the facts and circumstances of this

case, when the issue had been the subject of an extensive bench conference. We conclude

that two of the five areas of prosecutorial misconduct during closing argument occurred in

this case: (1) intentionally misleading the jury about the lack of alibi testimony from

Defendant’s mother, especially when the State elicited testimony from Defendant which

caused the issue to arise, and (2) repeatedly expressing his opinion as to the truth of the

testimony of witnesses called by the State. See Goltz, 111 S.W.3d at 6.

It is worth quoting the specific examples of the prosecutor’s giving an opinion as to

the truth or falsity of a witness’s testimony or other evidence:

(a) “James Briggs, the owner/proprietor of Speedy’s Check Cashing. . . . You

heard from Mr. Briggs on the witness stand. He came in. I submit to you, he

was a very good witness. . . . He had to come to multiple hearings. He had to

come down first and identify the defendant [in] that six-person photo lineup.

So, I submit to you, he doesn’t have a motive to lie. . . . If you look at all the

other factors, some of which don’t apply one way or the other, but anywhere

James Briggs is concerned, I submit to you was a good and truth-telling

witness.”

(b) While reminding the jurors that during Mr. Briggs’ testimony, he (the

prosecutor) placed himself in the courtroom to demonstrate how close

Defendant was to Mr. Briggs, the prosecutor argued, “if you recall, as I walked

up to him, I got pretty close, he [Mr. Briggs] said, actually, ‘Back up a step.’

So, he was very truth-telling in that.”

(c) “Sergeant Farah also said, under cross-examination, the reason he didn’t go

further is because he didn’t have enough information. He testified, and I

submit it was truthful, he did not have probable cause to arrest any other

potential occupants at that time of any gray or silver Dodge Charger or

Challenger.”

(d) “[T]he defendant intended to defraud, what else would she be there for? She

was given a forged instrument to try to get money; so, certainly, I submit to

you the state met our burden there if you believe it was the defendant, as I say

it is.”

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(e) “Shanice Shepard said, ‘We parted ways. I didn’t buy her a drink. In fact,

Shanice Shepard was surprised the defendant would even say she had drinks

that night because, again, one or both of them is lying. They may both be

lying.”

(f) While discussing inconsistent testimony of Defendant and her witness Shanice

Shepard as to whether they notified security at the nightclub about the

burglarized vehicle, the prosecutor argued, “So, one or both of them was lying

here, and I submit to you it was the defendant.”

As to the Pulliam factors,

(1) Viewed in context and in light of the facts and circumstances of the case, we

note that the prosecutor clearly set forth that the only issue in the trial was the

identity of the perpetrator. There was no evidence of surveillance tapes to

identify Defendant. Defendant’s identification, a driver’s license, was left at

the scene and she explained it had previously been stolen from her. Defendant

testified that she did not commit the offense. Mr. Briggs testified that he

identified Defendant from what he saw during the commission of the offense

and his identification of her was done in a photo spread and during trial.

Critical to the jury’s decision in this case was witness credibility. The

prosecutor twice referred to Defendant as a liar. The prosecutor vouched for

the truthful testimony of two State’s witnesses multiple times. The prosecutor

told the jury the State had met its burden of proof if the jury believed the

perpetrator was Defendant, “as I say it is.” This factor weighs heavily against

the State.

(2) No curative measures were undertaken by the court. This weighs against the

State.

(3) Due to the multiple instances of prosecutorial misconduct that occurred during

a relatively short closing argument (approximately 21 pages of transcript), as

opposed to being only one or two instances of improper argument in a lengthy

argument, it tends to show that the prosecutor’s intent was to strongly

influence the jury’s decision making with the improper argument, and this

weighs against the State.

(4) We find no other errors in the record. Therefore, the cumulative effect with

other errors is lacking, and this weighs in favor of the State.

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(5) We have extensively summarized in detail the evidence at trial, and our

conclusion is that the State’s proof, while not “overwhelming,” was relatively

strong. This weighs in favor of the State.

After carefully considering all of these factors, we are compelled to conclude that we

must grant relief pursuant to “plain error” and that the prosecutorial misconduct, due to its

serious and blatant nature, is reversible error.

In support of this conclusion we examine the Adkisson factors. We have noted that

the record clearly establishes what occurred in the trial court. The repeated instances of

improper closing argument was a breach of the clear and unequivocal rule of law regarding

improper closing argument by a prosecutor. This violated the substantial right of Defendant

to a fair trial. Even after a diligent search in the record, we are unable to conclude that there

would be any logical, conceivable, or tactical reason to fail to object to all of the instances

of improper argument by the prosecutor. Finally, our consideration of these errors is

absolutely necessary to do substantial justice. The Goltz opinion, setting forth the “five

general areas of prosecutorial misconduct,” was filed and published over eleven years ago.

It is clearly time for recognition, acceptance, and honoring of these five areas of prohibited

argument.

For these reasons, the convictions must be reversed and the case remanded for a new

trial. We will address the remaining issues in the event of future appellate review or for

purposes of guidance to the trial court on remand.

Sufficiency of the evidence

Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain her convictions for

forgery and attempted theft of property. Specifically, Defendant contends that the evidence

was insufficient to establish her identity as the perpetrator of the offenses. We note that if

Defendant is entitled to relief on this issue, her convictions would have to be reversed and

dismissed rather than reversed and remanded for a new trial. Thus, it is not legally

inconsistent to reverse a conviction and remand for a new trial when a defendant is denied

a fair trial, and at the same time conclude that the evidence introduced at trial was legally

sufficient to support the convictions had the defendant received a fair trial.

We begin by recognizing that the State, on appeal, is entitled to the strongest

legitimate view of the evidence and all reasonable inferences which may be drawn from that

evidence. State v. Davis, 354 S.W.3d 718, 729 (Tenn. 2011) (citing State v. Majors, 318

S.W.3d 850, 857 (Tenn. 2010)). When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the

evidence, the standard of review applied by this court is “whether, after reviewing the

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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, 319 (1979). Similarly, Rule 13(e) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate

Procedure states, “[f]indings of guilt in criminal actions whether by the trial court or jury

shall be set aside if the evidence is insufficient to support the findings by the trier of fact of

guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Guilt may be found beyond a reasonable doubt where

there is direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a combination of the two. State v.

Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990) (citing State v. Brown, 551 S.W.2d

329, 331 (Tenn. 1977); Farmer v. State, 343 S.W.2d 895, 897 (Tenn. 1961)).

The standard of review for sufficiency of the evidence “‘is the same whether the

conviction is based upon direct or circumstantial evidence.’” State v. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d

370, 379 (Tenn. 2011) (quoting State v. Hanson, 279 S.W.3d 265, 275 (Tenn. 2009)). The

jury as the trier of fact must evaluate the credibility of the witnesses, determine the weight

given to witnesses’ testimony, and reconcile all conflicts in the evidence. State v. Campbell,

245 S.W.3d 331, 335 (Tenn. 2008) (citing Byrge v. State, 575 S.W.2d 292, 295 (Tenn. Crim.

App. 1978)). Moreover, the jury determines the weight to be given to circumstantial

evidence and the inferences to be drawn from this evidence, and the extent to which the

circumstances are consistent with guilt and inconsistent with innocence are questions

primarily for the jury. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d at 379 (citing State v. Rice, 184 S.W.3d 646,

662 (Tenn. 2006)). When considering the sufficiency of the evidence, this court shall not

reweigh the evidence or substitute its inferences for those drawn by the trier of fact. Id.

The identity of the accused as the person who committed the offense for which she

is on trial is a question of fact for the jury. State v. Williams, 623 S.W.2d 118, 120 (Tenn.

Crim. App. 1981). The identity of an accused may be established either by direct evidence,

circumstantial evidence, or a combination of the two. State v. Thompson, 519 S.W.2d 789,

793 (Tenn. 1975). “The credible testimony of one identification witness is sufficient to

support a conviction if the witness viewed the accused under such circumstances as would

permit a positive identification to be made.” State v. Radley, 29 S.W.3d 532, 537 (Tenn.

Crim. App. 1999).

A person commits forgery who “forges a writing with intent to defraud or harm

another.” T.C.A. § 39-14-114(a). “Forge” means to:

(b)(1)(A) Alter, make, complete, execute or authenticate any writing so that

it purports to:

(i) Be the act of another who did not authorize

that act;

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...

(C) . . . utter a writing that is forged within the meaning of

subdivision (b)(1)(A)[.]

T.C.A. § 39-14-114(b)(1). “A forged check is uttered or transferred by the action of

presenting it for payment.” State v. McDowell, 664 S.W.2d 310, 313 (Tenn. Crim. App.

1983) (citing Girdley v. State, 29 S.W.2d 255 (Tenn. 1930)).

A person commits theft of property who, with intent to deprive the owner of property,

knowingly obtains or exercises control over the property without the owner’s consent.

T.C.A. § 39-14-103(a). A person attempts to commit theft of property when she “[a]cts with

intent to complete a course of action or cause a result that would constitute the offense, under

the circumstances surrounding the conduct as [he] believes them to be, and the conduct

constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of the offense.” Id. § 39-12-101(a)(3).

We first observe that it was error for the trial court to merge the two offenses of

forgery in Counts 1 and 2. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court merged Counts 1 and

2, explaining that the offenses were two alternate theories of forgery. However, we conclude

that the offenses in Counts 1 and 2 are two separate and distinct offenses of forgery, with two

different victims, which are both supported by the evidence, as explained below. Count 1

of the indictment alleged that Defendant “did unlawfully, knowingly, and with the intent to

defraud Endocrinology Diabetes Association . . . forge and make a certain paper writing . .

. [copy of check made payable to Defendant] so that the said paper writing purported to bear

a signature not authorized as drawer, in violation of T.C.A. [§] 39-14-114. . . .” (Emphasis

added). Count 2 of the indictment alleged that Defendant “did unlawfully, unknowingly, and

with the intent to defraud Speedy’s [Check Cashing] . . . utter unto the said Speedy’s a

certain paper writing . . . [copy of check made payable to Defendant] so that the said paper

writing purported to bear a signature not authorized as drawer, in violation of T.C.A. [§] 39-

14-114. . . .” (Emphasis added).

Defendant argues that no evidence was presented that Defendant was the person who

signed the check as the purported drawer, “James Hayes,” as alleged in Count 1 of the

indictment. The State, in its brief, fails to respond to this issue. We conclude that

Defendant’s conviction in Count 1 is supported by the circumstantial evidence. Defendant

possessed a check that Ms. Bagwell testified was stolen and made without the authorization

of Endocrinology Diabetes Association. The check was made payable to Defendant, and

Defendant endorsed the check and presented it for payment. The check was dated July 8,

2011, four days after the check was stolen. The check was not authorized or signed by Ms.

Bagwell, the only person authorized to issue checks from Endocrinology Diabetes

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Association. The circumstantial evidence establishes that Defendant forged the check as

alleged in Count 1 of the indictment, either as the principal actor or as one criminally

responsible for the conduct of another. See T.C.A. § 39-11-402(2) (A person may be

criminally responsible for an offense committed by the conduct of another if, “[a]cting with

intent to promote or assist the commission of the offense, or to benefit in the proceeds or

results of the offense, the person solicits, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another person to

commit the offense[.]”).

Defendant also argues that the evidence was insufficient to establish her identity as

the person who entered the check cashing business and presented the check for payment.

Defendant contends that Mr. Brigg’s identification was not credible because Mr. Briggs’

attention was diverted while Defendant was inside the store, and Mr. Brigg’s photo

identification of Defendant was influenced by having viewed the driver’s license that was

left behind.

Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the evidence establishes that

Defendant entered the store and attempted to cash the check. Mr. Briggs testified that he was

able to get a good look at Defendant. He stood across from Defendant for 15 to 20 minutes

separated only by a clear glass window. He examined the driver’s license presented by

Defendant and determined that the photo matched the person attempting to cash the check.

Mr. Briggs testified that he identified Defendant in a photo lineup, and he testified that he

was “one-hundred percent sure” Defendant was the person who entered the store and

attempted to cash the check. The photo of Defendant used in the photo lineup was a different

photo than the photo on the driver’s license Defendant had presented to Mr. Briggs when she

attempted to cash the check. We also note that Defendant’s hairstyle in both photos is very

different. Defendant testified that she had received several replacement driver’s licenses.

She testified that her driver’s license was stolen outside of a club a few months prior to the

offenses in this case. Defendant testified that she did not report the incident to police

because she was intoxicated. There were conflicts in Defendant’s and Shanice Shepard’s

testimony. Ms. Shepard testified that she and Defendant were not intoxicated and that they

did not report the incident to police because they did not know they were supposed to do so.

Ms. Shepard testified that they did not inform anyone inside the club about the incident.

Defendant testified that they did report the incident to someone inside the club.

Based on the evidence presented at trial, a reasonable juror could have concluded that

Defendant committed the offenses in this case. Defendant is not entitled to relief on this

issue.

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Sentencing

Defendant contends that the trial court erred by denying her request for judicial

diversion. Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-313 outlines the requirements for

judicial diversion. After a qualified defendant is either found guilty or pleads guilty, a trial

court has the discretion to defer further proceedings and place that defendant on probation

without entering a judgment of guilt. T.C.A. § 40-35-313(a)(1)(A). A qualified defendant

is defined as a defendant who:

(a) [i]s found guilty of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to the offense for

which deferral of further proceedings is sought;

....

(d) [h]as not previously been convicted of a felony or a Class A

misdemeanor for which a sentence of confinement is served; and

(e) [h]as not previously been granted judicial diversion under this chapter

or pretrial diversion.

T.C.A. § 40-35-313(a)(1)(B)(i).

Eligibility for judicial diversion does not entitle the defendant to judicial diversion as

a matter of right. State v. Parker, 932 S.W.2d 945, 958 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). Rather,

the statute states that a trial court “may” grant judicial diversion in appropriate cases. See

T.C.A. § 40-35-313(a)(1)(A). When making a determination regarding judicial diversion,

the trial court must consider the following factors: (1) the defendant’s amenability to

correction, (2) the circumstances of the offense, (3) the defendant’s criminal record, (4) the

defendant’s social history, (5) the defendant’s mental and physical health, (6) the deterrent

effect of the sentencing decision to both the defendant and other similarly situated

defendants, and (7) whether judicial diversion will serve the interests of the public as well

as the defendant. State v. Electroplating, Inc., 990 S.W.2d 211, 229 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998)

(citing Parker, 932 S.W.2d at 958). The record must reflect that the trial court considered

and weighed all these factors in arriving at its decision. Electroplating, Inc., 990 S.W.2d at

229 (citing State v. Bonestel, 871 S.W.2d 163, 168 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993), overruled on

other grounds by State v. Hooper, 29 S.W.3d 1, 9-10 (Tenn. 2000)).

Our supreme court in State v. King, 432 S.W.3d 316, 324 (Tenn. 2014), has concluded

that the proper standard of review for judicial diversion decisions is that established in State

v. Bise, 380 S.W.3d 682 (Tenn. 2012). The King Court explained,

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[W]hen the trial court considers the Parker and Electroplating factors,

specifically identifies the relevant factors, and places on the record its

reasons for granting or denying judicial diversion, the appellate court must

apply a presumption of reasonableness and uphold the grant or denial so

long as there is any substantial evidence to support the trial court’s decision.

Although the trial court is not required to recite all of the Parker and

Electroplating factors in order to obtain the presumption of reasonableness,

the record should reflect that the trial court considered the Parker and

Electroplating factors in rendering its decision and that it identified the

specific factors applicable to the case before it. Thereafter, the trial court

may proceed to solely address the relevant factors.

If, however the trial court fails to consider and weigh the applicable

common law factors, the presumption of reasonableness does not apply and

the abuse of discretion standard, which merely looks for “any substantial

evidence” to support the trial court’s decision, is not appropriate. . . . In

those instances, appellate courts may either conduct a de novo review or, if

more appropriate under the circumstances, remand the issue for

reconsideration.

King, 432 S.W.3d at 328-29 (internal citations omitted) (footnote omitted).

It appears from the record that Defendant was eligible for judicial diversion. The

record also reflects that the trial court considered and weighed all of the required factors in

arriving at its decision. The trial court explained on the record why it denied Defendant’s

request for judicial diversion and explained why the circumstances of the offense outweighed

the other factors and concluded that judicial diversion would not serve the interests of the

public or Defendant. Accordingly, the trial court’s decision is entitled to a presumption of

reasonableness. Defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.

Defendant also contends that the trial court erred by not sentencing her as an

especially mitigated offender. Defendant argues that the trial court’s decision should not be

afforded a presumption of reasonableness because the trial court did not state on the record

its considerations in sentencing Defendant as a standard offender. The State argues that the

trial court’s detailed analysis regarding the judicial diversion factors also constitutes

consideration of the sentencing principles and relevant factors and that the trial court properly

exercised its discretion in sentencing Defendant.

We review “sentences imposed by the trial court within the appropriate statutory range

. . . under an abuse of discretion standard with a presumption of reasonableness.” Bise, 380

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S.W.3d at 709 (internal quotation marks omitted). A sentence will be upheld “so long as the

statutory purposes and principles [of the Sentencing Reform Act] . . . have been properly

addressed.” Id. at 706. On appeal, the burden is on the defendant to show that the sentence

is improper. T.C.A. § 40-35-401(d), Sentencing Comm’n Cmts. A trial court “may find” a

defendant is an “especially mitigated offender” if (1) the defendant has no prior felony

convictions; and (2) the court finds mitigating, but no enhancement factors. T.C.A. § 40-35-

109(a) (2014). Upon such a finding, the trial court shall reduce either an especially mitigated

offender’s minimum sentence by ten percent, his release eligibility date by twenty percent,

or both. T.C.A. § 40-35-109(b) (2014). Whether a defendant is an especially mitigated

offender rests within the discretion of the trial court. T.C.A. § 40-35-109(a); see State v.

Braden, 867 S.W.2d 750, 762 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993).

Again, we conclude that the trial court’s sentencing decision is entitled to a

presumption of reasonableness because the record shows that the trial court properly

considered the factors under T.C.A. § 40-35-210(b), including the trial and sentencing

hearing evidence; the presentence report; the nature and characteristics of the criminal

conduct involved; the evidence and information offered by the parties; the defendant’s

character and background; and the defendant’s own statements regarding sentencing. The

trial court did not find any applicable enhancement factors, stating, “I don’t think there is

anything to indicate that she should be enhanced.” In considering the relevant judicial

diversion factors, the trial court found that Defendant’s conduct neither caused nor threatened

serious bodily injury, which is also a mitigating factor. T.C.A. § 40-35-113(1). Although

Defendant qualified for sentencing as an especially mitigated offender, the record shows that

the trial court gave careful consideration to the circumstances of the offenses. The court

found that Defendant’s testimony was not credible. The trial court also found that Defendant

had a history of offenses involving dishonesty and that she had used illegal substances. We

conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by not classifying Defendant as an

especially mitigated offender. Defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.

For the reasons stated herein, we reverse the judgments of the trial court and remand

this case for a new trial.

_______________________________________

THOMAS T. WOODALL, PRESIDING JUDGE

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