State of Tennessee v. Lamar Mandell Cullom

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT NASHVILLE

Assigned on Briefs April 22, 2015

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. LAMAR MANDELL CULLOM

Appeal from the Criminal Court for White County

No. 2013-CR-5977 Leon C. Burns, Jr., Judge

No. M2014-00414-CCA-R3-CD – Filed June 25, 2015

Appellant, Lamar Mandell Cullom, was convicted in Count I of the indictment of casual

exchange of a controlled substance as a lesser-included offense of the indicted offense of

sale of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a drug-free zone.

He was convicted in Count II of delivery of 0.5 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II

controlled substance, within 1,000 feet of a drug-free zone. The trial court sentenced him

to consecutive terms of eleven months, twenty-nine days and fifteen years, respectively.

Appellant now challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and testimony of a

law enforcement officer that allegedly implied that appellant had a prior criminal history.

Following our review, we affirm appellant‟s convictions. However, we remand for entry

of a single judgment form indicating merger of the convictions. The judgment form

should reflect that appellant is a Range II, multiple offender and that the mandatory

minimum period of incarceration for appellant‟s range is twelve years. The judgment

form should also note that the “conviction offense name” is “violation – drug-free zone,”

not “violation – drug-free school zone.”

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

Remanded for Entry of Corrected Judgment

ROGER A. PAGE, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which JOHN EVERETT

WILLIAMS and ALAN E. GLENN, JJ., joined.

J. Patrick Hayes, Cookeville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Lamar Mandell Cullom.

Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Sophia S. Lee, Senior Counsel;

Bryant C. Dunaway, District Attorney General; and Philip Hatch, Assistant District

Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

OPINION

This case arises from a drug transaction between appellant and a confidential

informant who was working with the White County Sheriff‟s Department narcotics

division.

I. Facts

The State‟s first witness was Demetria Phillips, a confidential informant working

with the White County Sheriff‟s Department. In May 2012, Ms. Phillips contacted

appellant and asked if he had any narcotics available for purchase. Appellant instructed

her to meet him at his apartment thirty minutes later. Prior to driving to appellant‟s

apartment, Ms. Phillips met with Detectives Joey Williams and Craig Capps, at which

time they searched Ms. Phillips and her automobile. They wired Ms. Phillips with an

audio/video recording device and provided her with $200 to purchase the drugs. She then

drove to appellant‟s apartment.

Ms. Phillips testified that when she arrived, appellant was not at home but his

girlfriend, Sara Cressman, was present. Ms. Phillips and Ms. Cressman talked with each

other until appellant arrived approximately ten minutes later. Upon his arrival, appellant

told Ms. Phillips that he had the narcotics, and he pulled them out of his pocket and

handed her the drugs. She, in turn, gave appellant the money. Ms. Phillips asked if the

substance was “soft or hard” cocaine, and appellant replied that it was “soft” cocaine. He

told Ms. Phillips “that it was some really good stuff” and that he could get more if she

needed it. When the transaction was complete, Ms. Phillips entered her vehicle and

began to exit the parking lot. As she drove through the lot, she encountered a friend who

was arriving at the apartment complex in her vehicle. Ms. Phillips lowered her window

and spoke to her friend, but neither individual exited her vehicle. Ms. Phillips then drove

back to the “staging area,” where she gave the cocaine to the detectives and was searched

again. The State played the recording of the transaction for the jury.

On cross-examination, Ms. Phillips acknowledged that the detectives who

conducted the search of her person were male and that they did not search inside her

undergarments. She said that she was able to obtain trust from the individuals from

whom she purchased narcotics because her husband was friends with most of them. She

denied that she used drugs herself. Ms. Phillips admitted that she had pleaded guilty to

theft charges prior to appellant‟s trial. She also confirmed that she was paid $100 for her

participation in the drug transaction involving appellant and that if she attempted to set up

a transaction that did not transpire, she would not be paid.

The State then called Detective Joseph Williams, a narcotics detective with the

White County Sheriff‟s Department. He testified that it was common for the department

to utilize private citizens to conduct drug transactions because as an officer in the county,

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“a lot of times these people know [him].” He stated, “Just, in particular, in this case, I‟ve

had dealings with [appellant] before.” The trial court interrupted Detective Williams and

cautioned the jury “not to draw any inference from that. We don‟t know what he‟s

talking about, so you‟re not to infer other bad acts, crimes, or anything like that.”

Detective Williams continued and clarified that “some people in the community know

[them] as law enforcement agents, so [they] use confidential [informants] that are citizens

in the community to go out and purchase the drugs on our behalf.” He acknowledged

that the informants are paid for their services. He further explained the standard

operating procedure of searching the informant and their vehicle and providing a

recording device.

Detective Williams testified that on May 8, 2012, Ms. Phillips contacted him with

regard to a potential drug purchase from appellant. Following the standard operating

procedure, he met with Ms. Phillips at the “staging area” and provided her with $200 of

“controlled buy money.” When she left the area, Detective Williams conducted “roving

surveillance” to be sure that Ms. Phillips did not leave the area of appellant‟s apartment

without his knowledge. He followed Ms. Phillips back to the staging area when the

transaction was complete. He received the drugs from Ms. Phillips and placed them in an

evidence bag. He marked the bag with appellant‟s name and the agency‟s case number

and placed the drugs in an evidence locker that was maintained by the evidence

custodian.

Detective Williams explained that the recorder he provided to Ms. Phillips was

“extremely difficult” to use because it was a hand-held recorder and one “can‟t just hold

it up and point it at [the subject].” He also stated that the transaction occurred in the

vicinity of a public park, Pierson Park.

On cross-examination, Detective Williams conceded that Ms. Phillips could have

had “something” hidden on her person that he did not find but denied that she already had

cocaine on her person when she made the transaction based on his viewing of the

recording.

Lieutenant Janice Hale, an evidence custodian with the White County Sheriff‟s

Department, offered testimony pertinent to chain of custody of the evidence. Ella

Carpenter, a special agent/forensic scientist with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation,

testified that she analyzed the substance submitted and concluded that it was cocaine, a

Schedule II controlled substance, weighing 0.56 grams. Suzi Cash, the interim director

of the White County 9-1-1 office, testified that appellant‟s apartment, number 433 of

Knoll Crest Apartments, is located 418 feet from the entrance to Pierson Park, a city park.

The State rested its case, and appellant offered no proof.

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Upon this evidence, the jury found appellant guilty of casual exchange as a lesser-

included offense of sale of 0.5 grams or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public

park (Count I) and the indicted offense of delivery of 0.5 grams or more of cocaine

within 1,000 feet of a public park (Count II). The trial court sentenced him to eleven

months, twenty-nine days for casual exchange and to fifteen years as a Range II offender

for delivery of a controlled substance. The parties agreed that because of the drug-free

zone enhancement, the mandatory minimum for a Range II offender, twelve years, would

be served at 100% release eligibility and the remaining three years would be served at

thirty-five percent release eligibility. After an unsuccessful motion for new trial, this

appeal follows.

II. Analysis

Appellant raises two issues for our review: sufficiency of the convicting evidence

and the alleged improper testimony by Detective Williams wherein he mentioned having

prior interactions with appellant.

A. Sufficiency of the Evidence

The standard for appellate review of a claim challenging the sufficiency of the

State‟s evidence is “whether, after viewing 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, 319 (1979) (citing

Johnson v. Louisiana, 406 U.S. 356, 362 (1972)); see Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e); State v.

Davis, 354 S.W.3d 718, 729 (Tenn. 2011). To obtain relief on a claim of insufficient

evidence, appellant must demonstrate that no reasonable trier of fact could have found the

essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at

319. This standard of review is identical whether the conviction is predicated on direct or

circumstantial evidence, or a combination of both. State v. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d 370,

379 (Tenn. 2011); State v. Brown, 551 S.W.2d 329, 331 (Tenn. 1977).

On appellate review, “„we afford the prosecution the strongest legitimate view of

the evidence as well as all reasonable and legitimate inferences which may be drawn

therefrom.‟” Davis, 354 S.W.3d at 729 (quoting State v. Majors, 318 S.W.3d 850, 857

(Tenn. 2010)); State v. Williams, 657 S.W.2d 405, 410 (Tenn. 1983); State v. Cabbage,

571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn. 1978). In a jury trial, questions involving the credibility of

witnesses and the weight and value to be given the evidence, as well as all factual

disputes raised by the evidence, are resolved by the jury as trier of fact. State v. Bland,

958 S.W.2d 651, 659 (Tenn. 1997); State v. Pruett, 788 S.W.2d 559, 561 (Tenn. 1990).

This court presumes that the jury has afforded the State all reasonable inferences from the

evidence and resolved all conflicts in the testimony in favor of the State; as such, we will

not substitute our own inferences drawn from the evidence for those drawn by the jury,

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nor will we re-weigh or re-evaluate the evidence. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d at 379;

Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d at 835; see State v. Sheffield, 676 S.W.2d 542, 547 (Tenn. 1984).

Because a jury conviction removes the presumption of innocence that appellant enjoyed

at trial and replaces it with one of guilt at the appellate level, the burden of proof shifts

from the State to the convicted appellant, who must demonstrate to this court that the

evidence is insufficient to support the jury‟s findings. Davis, 354 S.W.3d at 729 (citing

State v. Sisk, 343 S.W.3d 60, 65 (Tenn. 2011)).

Appellant was found guilty of casual exchange as a lesser-included offense of sale

of a controlled substance. “A defendant commits this offense when he knowingly . . .

casually exchanges a controlled substance . . . .” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-418(a).

“Exchange” is defined as “to part with, give, or transfer a substance in consideration of

something received as an equivalent.” T.P.I.-Crim. § 31.05. “„Casual‟ means without

design.” Id. Furthermore, “[t]he term „casual exchange‟ does not exclude a transaction

in which money is involved.” Id. Appellant was also found guilty of Count II of the

indictment, which required proof that he knowingly delivered a controlled substance.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(b). The offense is a Class B felony if the substance

weighs 0.5 grams or more and contains cocaine. Id. § 39-17-417(c)(1).1

As grounds for challenging the sufficiency of the evidence underlying his two

convictions, appellant argues that: (1) the search of Ms. Phillips by the detectives was

insufficient and the State could not prove that she did not have drugs on her person at the

time of the transaction; (2) Ms. Phillips had an opportunity to receive drugs from Ms.

Cressman while awaiting appellant‟s arrival; (3) Ms. Phillips had been convicted of theft

and was being paid for her participation in the drug transactions; and (4) the video

recording did not capture the exchange of drugs or money. As such, he argues, all of the

evidence was circumstantial and cannot support his convictions.

All of the complaints voiced by appellant represent matters of credibility. Ms.

Phillips and Detective Williams both testified that he searched her prior to the

transaction, and both admitted that he did not search her undergarments. Appellant‟s

counsel thoroughly cross-examined both individuals with regard to the alleged

incomplete search. The video recording, while not clearly capturing the exchange of

drugs and/or money between Ms. Phillips and appellant, recorded appellant‟s telling Ms.

Phillips that the substance he was handing her was “soft cocaine,” that it was “really good

stuff,” and that he could procure more if desired. Moreover, the video did not capture

any interaction between Ms. Cressman and Ms. Phillips that could be construed as an

1

Because appellant was convicted of engaging in the drug transaction within 1,000 feet of a public park

(rather than a school zone), he is not subject to higher classification pursuant to Tennessee Code

Annotated section 39-17-432(b)(1), but his release eligibility is nonetheless governed by the drug-free

enhancement statute, id. § 39-17-432(c), (d).

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exchange of a controlled substance. The jury heard the testimony concerning Ms.

Phillips‟ prior conviction and her status as a paid informant but credited her testimony

nonetheless. Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the evidence was sufficient

to establish that appellant possessed or engaged in a casual exchange of a controlled

substance with Ms. Phillips and that he delivered the same to her within 1,000 of a public

park.2 Appellant is not entitled to relief on this claim.

B. Detective Williams‟ Testimony

Appellant argued at the hearing on his motion for a new trial that due to the

officer‟s testimony, the jury “knew he had a prior conviction,” which made it impossible

for him to receive a fair trial.

As noted above, Detective Williams testified that it was common for the

department to utilize private citizens to conduct drug transactions because as an officer in

the county, “a lot of times these people know [him].” He stated, “Just, in particular, in

this case, I‟ve had dealings with [appellant] before.” The trial court interrupted Detective

Williams and cautioned the jury “not to draw any inference from that. We don‟t know

what he‟s talking about, so you‟re not to infer other bad acts, crimes, or anything like

that.” While appellant failed to lodge a contemporaneous objection during trial, the State

likewise does not argue that waiver applies.

We note that the trial court immediately interceded, halted the officer‟s testimony,

and promptly instructed the jury that it should refrain from drawing any inferences from

the statement. Jurors are presumed to follow the instructions of the court. State v.

Robinson, 146 S.W.3d 469, 494 (Tenn. 2004) (citations omitted). Appellant has offered

no argument that would suggest that the jury failed to follow the court‟s instructions in

this regard. Based on that fact, in conjunction with the overwhelming evidence of

appellant‟s guilt, we cannot conclude that any error rises to the level of reversible error.

Appellant is without relief on this claim.

C. Merger and Corrected Judgment

The record reflects that after receiving the verdicts, the trial court properly noted

that appellant‟s misdemeanor conviction for the lesser-included offense of casual

2

We note that a finding of guilt on the lesser-included offense of casual exchange and the indicted

offense of delivery of a controlled substance within a drug-free zone may be characterized as inconsistent.

However, our supreme court has held that inconsistent verdicts are permitted as long as there is sufficient

evidence from which a rational fact finder could find a defendant‟s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on the

charges on which the defendant was convicted. Wiggins v. State, 498 S.W.2d 92, 93 (Tenn. 1973). The

verdicts are, therefore, not incongruous with one another.

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exchange of a controlled substance should merge into his felony conviction for delivery

of a controlled substance. However, the judgment form fails to reflect merger.

We also note that the corrected judgment forms lists as a special condition that the

case involved violation of a drug-free zone; the indicted offense and convicted offense on

the corrected judgment form incorrectly list it as a drug-free school zone. (emphasis

added). Therefore, we remand for correction of the judgment form to reflect merger of

the two convictions and removal of the word “school” under the headings “Indictment”

and “Conviction.”

Although not raised by either party, we note an additional clerical error in the

judgment form that requires correction. Generally, “[r]elease eligibility for each

defendant sentenced as a Range II multiple career offender shall occur after service of

thirty-five percent (35%) of the actual sentence imposed less sentence credits earned and

retained by the defendant.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-501(d). A violation of Tennessee

Code Annotated section 39-17-432, a controlled substance offense committed within a

drug-free zone, however, requires that

[n]otwithstanding any other law or the sentence imposed by the

court to the contrary, a defendant sentenced for a violation of subsection (b)

shall be required to serve at least the minimum sentence for the defendant‟s

appropriate range of sentence. Any sentence reduction credits the

defendant may be eligible for or earn shall not operate to permit or allow

the release of the defendant prior to full service of the minimum sentence.

Id. § 39-17-432(c).

As noted above, appellant was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender for

commission of a Class B felony. See id. § 39-17-417(c)(1). His sentencing range was

twelve to twenty years. Id. § 40-35-112(b)(2). The trial court sentenced appellant to

fifteen years. Reading the applicable Code sections together, we reach the conclusion

that appellant must serve one hundred percent of twelve years of his fifteen-year

sentence. The parties agreed during the sentencing hearing that the mandatory minimum

sentence is twelve years, but the judgment form does not reflect such. Consequently, we

must remand the case for the entry of a corrected judgment form that reflects in the

“Sentence Length” area of the judgment form that appellant must serve a minimum

mandatory sentence of twelve years. As a result of merger and the corrected judgment,

appellant will serve twelve years at one hundred percent release eligibility and three years

at thirty-five percent release eligibility.

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CONCLUSION

Based on the briefs of the parties, the record as a whole, and controlling legal

authority, we affirm appellant‟s convictions. However, we vacate the judgment for

Count I and remand this cause for entry of a single judgment form consistent with this

opinion reflecting merger and correcting the aforementioned clerical errors.

_________________________________

ROGER A. PAGE, JUDGE

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