State of Tennessee v. William Shannon Gresham

08/14/2018

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT NASHVILLE

February 14, 2018 Session

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. WILLIAM SHANNON GRESHAM

Appeal from the Criminal Court for Sumner County

No. 269-2013, 420-2015 Dee David Gay, Judge

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No. M2017-00672-CCA-R3-CD

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Defendant, William Shannon Gresham, was indicted by the Sumner County Grand Jury

for one count of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of rape

of a child, and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. The trial court dismissed one

count of rape of a child upon motion of the State at the close of the State’s proof, and the

trial court dismissed one count of aggravated sexual battery at the close of the defense’s

proof. The jury found Defendant not guilty of aggravated sexual battery, and Defendant

was convicted on one count each of the lesser-included offenses of sexual exploitation of

a minor and child abuse. The trial court sentenced Defendant to four years’ incarceration

for sexual exploitation of a minor and two years’ incarceration for child abuse, to be

served concurrently. Following a hearing on Defendant’s “Motion for Judgment of

Acquittal and/or New Trial,” the trial court granted a judgment of acquittal on

Defendant’s sexual exploitation of a minor conviction, concluding that the photographs

of the victim did not depict “lascivious exhibition” as defined in State v. Whited, 506

S.W.3d 416 (Tenn. 2016). In this appeal as of right, Defendant challenges the sufficiency

of the evidence to sustain his conviction for child abuse and the trial court’s denial of

probation. Following a careful review of the record and the briefs of the parties, we

affirm the judgment of the trial court.

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

THOMAS T. WOODALL, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which ROBERT W.

WEDEMEYER and ROBERT L. HOLLOWAY, JR., JJ., joined.

Mark C. Scruggs, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellant, William Shannon Gresham.

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

Lawrence Ray Whitley, District Attorney General; Tara Wyllie and Katherine Brown

Walker, Assistant District Attorneys General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

OPINION

Trial

The victim, who will be identified by her initials K.B., was 11 years old at the time

of trial. She testified that Defendant was her stepfather. She testified about an incident

that happened when she was eight years old. She was visiting Defendant at the home of

Defendant’s mother, whom she referred to as “Gamma Lissa.” K.B. testified that

Defendant took video of her doing tumbling and gymnastics in the living room.

Defendant instructed her to remove her clothing if she was hot. K.B. testified that she

was wearing only a t-shirt and underwear and she removed both. She testified, “I guess

he was still videoing me but I didn’t know that.” Later that night, while K.B. was in bed,

Defendant began to rub her “private area.” She ran out of the bedroom and “went to get

in bed with [her] sister” in a different bedroom. Defendant then carried her back to her

bedroom and began to rub her genitals again. K.B. was not wearing any clothes. She

testified that Defendant’s finger “went inside [her] body and it felt really weird.” She

testified that she “felt something, like, warm and wet on [her] leg.” K.B. demonstrated

with a doll how Defendant “was rubbing all over [her genitals] and he went inside.” K.B.

testified that she felt “weird and, like, it shouldn’t be happening, but [she] didn’t know

what to do.” She testified that Defendant’s actions did not hurt. She told her mother

about the incident when she returned home from school the following day.

K.B.’s sister, who was 13 years old at the time of trial, testified that she

remembered visiting Defendant at Gamma Lissa’s house. She did not remember K.B.

getting in her bed with her that night. She testified, “It’s hard to wake me up. I’m a

really heavy sleeper.”

K.B.’s mother testified that she was married to Defendant for approximately three

years. They were divorced in May, 2012. She testified that her daughters were very

young when she and Defendant began dating, and “[he] was their daddy.” She allowed

the children to continue to visit Defendant after their divorce, although there was no legal

custody arrangement. In November, 2012, she picked them up from school on a Monday

following a weekend they had spent with Defendant. Prompted by an incident at work

involving sexual abuse against a client’s daughter, she had a discussion with her

daughters about inappropriate touching that afternoon. She testified, “I remember [K.B.]

just went – she just went white as a sheet and she ran into me and she buried her head.”

K.B. told her mother that Defendant had touched her privates. K.B.’s mother asked her

to demonstrate, using a pillow, what Defendant did to her. K.B. “took her fingers and she

started running like this (demonstrating) on the pillow.” K.B.’s mother contacted the

Gallatin Police Department.

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K.B.’s mother noticed changes in K.B.’s behavior since the incident. She testified

that K.B. showed curiosity about sex, that she had looked up sexual terms and

pornography on the computer, and that she had masturbated. She sought counseling for

K.B. as a result of those behaviors.

Sue Ross, a pediatric nurse practitioner at Our Kids Center in Nashville, examined

K.B. on November 14, 2012. She testified that K.B.’s physical exam was normal. Ms.

Ross testified, “[i]t’s unusual to see injury no matter what the allegation. It’s even more

unusual if we’re talking solely about digital contact or penetration.”

Officer Jessica Jackson, of the Gallatin Police Department, was the lead

investigator in the case. Officer Jackson conducted a controlled call with K.B.’s mother

and Defendant on November 9, 2012. During the controlled call, Defendant denied that

he touched K.B. inappropriately. Following the controlled call, Defendant was

interviewed by Investigator James Kemp. Defendant gave consent to search his phone.

A search of Defendant’s phone revealed one nude photo and several partially nude photos

of K.B. Defendant denied touching K.B. inappropriately or carrying her back to her bed.

Defendant’s mother, Melissa Shannon Gresham, testified on his behalf. She

testified that she was away at a weekend retreat on the weekend that K.B. and her sister

stayed with Defendant at her home. Ms. Gresham returned home on Sunday. She did not

notice anything unusual about the girls’ behavior. The girls went to bed at approximately

9:00 p.m. K.B. slept in a bedroom by herself, and Defendant slept in the same bedroom

as K.B.’s sister.

Defendant testified that he married K.B.’s mother in 2007. He testified that he

loved K.B. and her sister as if they were his children. Defendant testified that he had

previously broken his right arm and shoulder and had recently undergone surgery.

Defendant testified that in early November, 2012, he had “very limited range” and was

unable to lift much weight with his right arm. Defendant denied that he had ever touched

K.B. inappropriately. He also denied that he picked up K.B. and carried her into her

bedroom because he “couldn’t pick up [his] iPad, let alone a 60-pound child” because of

the injury to his arm and shoulder.

Sentencing

At the sentencing hearing, the presentence report was admitted into evidence

without objection. The report included 28 letters written in support of Defendant’s

character.

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Dr. Stephen Montgomery, a forensic psychiatrist at Vanderbilt University, testified

as an expert for the defense. Dr. Montgomery performed a psychosexual evaluation on

Defendant on July 14, 2015. Dr. Montgomery’s evaluation consisted of two assessments:

an Abel assessment and a Static-99 assessment. Dr. Montgomery testified that the results

of Defendant’s Abel assessment were “limited” and not particularly useful because

Defendant “essentially den[ied] any kind of sexual interest.” On the Static-99 test,

Defendant scored in “the low-moderate” range for reoffending. Dr. Montgomery found

that Defendant was amenable to outpatient treatment.

Several witnesses testified as character witnesses on behalf of Defendant. Phillip

Boone, a childhood friend, described Defendant as an honest person and “excellent with

children.” Amanda Gresham, Defendant’s sister-in-law, testified that Defendant is “very

honest,” and that her nine-year-old daughter loved him. Daniel Young, another

childhood friend, testified that Defendant was “a protector . . . always looking out for

everyone around him.”

Defendant testified that he was willing to participate in treatment and comply with

all the conditions of release. About the offense for which he was convicted, Defendant

testified:

I’m very discouraged and I am extremely sorry that I allowed myself to

be in a position that things could be misconstrued and stories could be

changed and the scenario for this actually happening to be possible. I’m

sorry that I didn’t – if I wasn’t strict with the boundaries, that I was naive

to this whole world. Like, it never dawned on me that I would –

somebody could say something like this about me and I could be in this

position.

K.B.’s mother testified as to the impact the incident had on K.B. She began taking

K.B. to counseling shortly after K.B. reported the abuse. She testified that K.B. had

suffered from stress-related bed-wetting, and that K.B. had woken up screaming from

nightmares and slept most nights with her sister. K.B.’s mother testified about the

incident: “It’s changed her life. She is an abused little girl who has picked up the pieces

and gone forward the best that she can, . . . .” K.B.’s mother testified,

[T]his is the most horrific thing that we’ve ever been through; and that

the years of counseling that we will continue to go to are going to be a

very big part of our lives; and that even though this ends for most of the

people here today, it does not end for my child. It’s something that she

deals with every day and that she will for the rest of her life.

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K.B.’s statement was read aloud by the prosecutor:

You were the only dad I really knew. I loved you and trusted you.

I never even thought about any kind of abuse except when they would

talk about it at school. Sometimes we talked about sexual abuse in

guidance, but I didn’t understand what you were doing. I just knew it

was wrong. . . . I was afraid if I kept visiting you that you would keep

touching me and abusing me, but I was afraid if I told, you would hurt

me or my mom.

The day after I told my mom, you showed up at school to get me.

My mom came and you chased our car in the parking lot. I was so

scared that I passed out. I want everybody here to know that I think you

should go to jail for the full eight years.

[Defendant] sexually abused me more than just what I got to talk

about in the trial, but I couldn’t talk about those times because they

happened at a cabin in a different county.

You deserve to go to prison for the full eight years because what

you did was wrong and no child should have to go through that. I

wanted you to hear these things from me but I was too nervous to face

you and your family again.

At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the trial court stated that it had

considered the evidence presented at trial, the sentencing hearing, and the presentence

report. The trial court stated it had considered and “read through every one of” the letters

and exhibits filed with the court. The court also considered the nature and characteristics

of the criminal conduct involved; the evidence and information offered by the parties on

the mitigating and enhancement factors; the statements of Defendant; the victim’s

statement; and Defendant’s potential for rehabilitation and treatment.

The trial court classified Defendant as a Range I standard offender convicted of

one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class D felony, and one count of child

abuse and neglect, a Class E felony. The trial court found that enhancement factor (7),

the offense involved a victim and was committed to gratify Defendant’s desire for

pleasure or excitement, applied “only for the child abuse” conviction. The trial court also

applied enhancement factor (14), that Defendant abused a position of private trust. See

T.C.A. § 40-35-114. The court found that Defendant’s lack of a criminal history to be the

only mitigating factor.

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Considering the purposes and principles of the Sentencing Act, the trial court

found, “[i]n my opinion, it doesn’t get more serious.” The court also found, “as far as

I’m concerned the jury is still out on any rehabilitation in this particular case.” The trial

court sentenced Defendant to four years and two years, to be served concurrently.

Regarding the manner of service of Defendant’s sentence, the trial court found that

Defendant had “a great family[,]” “a good work ethic[,]” and “a good reputation among

[his] friends.” The trial court also found that Defendant had some college education, was

in good health, and had no prior criminal history. The trial court found, however, that

Defendant lacked credibility, noting that the psychosexual report shows that Defendant’s

responses were similar “to known child abusers who attempted to conceal their history of

abusing a child under the age of 17.”

The trial court found with regard to Defendant’s child abuse conviction, “the

abuse or neglect resulted from physical contact which, in my opinion, was a crime of

violence. Therefore, I find that the child abuse conviction sentence of two years is not

appropriate for Community Corrections.” The trial court also found that confinement

was necessary to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense. The court stated,

So I must consider the seriousness of the crime and the deterrent effect.

The seriousness of this crime involves the fact that [Defendant] was

involved in sexual contact with his stepdaughter, age eight, beginning at

a separate location and ending in the bedroom where he lived, and just

prior to the sexual contact he took pictures and videos of her for 30

minutes. It wasn’t accidental. It shows where his mind was.

....

The deterrent effect, I can’t – I can’t adequately tell you what a deterrent

effect is for a stepfather abusing a child when they’re alone on possibly

more than one occasion. We can’t have a society that abuses children.

The deterrent effect is outstanding.

Therefore, based on the fact that I find that confinement is necessary to

avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense or confinement is

particularly suited to provide an effective deterrence to others likely to

commit similar offenses, these sentences will be served in the state

penitentiary.

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Analysis

Sentencing

Defendant asserts that he should be sentenced to one year of probation for his

child abuse conviction. Defendant contends that his acquittal of the sexual exploitation

of a minor conviction after sentencing should be the basis for an alternative sentence on

the child abuse conviction because the trial court relied on the video recordings of the

partially clothed victim as evidence of Defendant’s “perverted sexual intent” to commit

child abuse.

In State v. Bise, the Tennessee Supreme Court reviewed changes in sentencing law

and the impact on appellate review of sentencing decisions. 380 S.W.3d 682 (Tenn.

2012). The Tennessee Supreme Court announced that “sentences imposed by the trial

court within the appropriate statutory range are to be reviewed under an abuse of

discretion standard with a ‘presumption of reasonableness.’” Id. A finding of abuse of

discretion “‘reflects that the trial court’s logic and reasoning was improper when viewed

in light of the factual circumstances and relevant legal principles involved in a particular

case.’” State v. Shaffer, 45 S.W.3d 553, 555 (Tenn. 2001) (quoting State v. Moore, 6

S.W.3d 235, 242 (Tenn. 1999)). To find an abuse of discretion, the record must be void

of any substantial evidence that would support the trial court’s decision. Id.; State v.

Grear, 568 S.W.2d 285, 286 (Tenn. 1978); State v. Delp, 614 S.W.2d 395, 398 (Tenn.

Crim. App. 1980). The reviewing court should uphold the sentence “so long as it is

within the appropriate range and the record demonstrates that the sentence is otherwise in

compliance with the purposes and principles listed by statute.” Bise, 380 S.W.3d at 709-

10. So long as the trial court sentences within the appropriate range and properly applies

the purposes and principles of the Sentencing Act, its decision will be granted a

presumption of reasonableness. Id. at 707. This standard of review also applies to

“questions related to probation or any other alternative sentence.” State v. Caudle, 388

S.W.3d 273, 278-79 (Tenn. 2012).

In determining the proper sentence, the trial court must consider: (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 mitigating and enhancement factors set out in Tennessee Code

Annotated sections 40-35-113 and -114; (6) any statistical information provided by the

administrative office of the courts as to sentencing practices for similar offenses in

Tennessee; and (7) any statement the defendant made in the defendant’s own behalf

about sentencing. See T.C.A. § 40-35-210 (2010); State v. Taylor, 63 S.W.3d 400, 411

(Tenn. Crim. App. 2001).

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A defendant shall be eligible for probation, subject to certain exceptions, if the

sentence imposed on the defendant is ten years or less. T.C.A. § 40-35-303(a). A

defendant is not, however, automatically entitled to probation as a matter of law. The

burden is upon the defendant to show that he is a suitable candidate for probation. Id. §

40-35-303(b); State v. Goode, 956 S.W.2d 521, 527 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997); State v.

Boggs, 932 S.W.2d 467, 477 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). In order to meet this burden, the

defendant “must demonstrate that probation will ‘subserve the ends of justice and the best

interest of both the public and the defendant.’” State v. Bingham, 910 S.W.2d 448, 456

(Tenn. Crim. App. 1995) (quoting State v. Dykes, 803 S.W.2d 250, 259 (Tenn. Crim.

App. 1990)).

There is no bright line rule for determining when a defendant should be granted

probation. Bingham, 910 S.W.2d at 456. Every sentencing decision necessarily requires

a case-by-case analysis. Id. Factors to be considered include the circumstances

surrounding the offense, the defendant’s criminal record, the defendant’s social history

and present condition, the need for deterrence, and the best interest of the defendant and

the public. Goode, 956 S.W.2d at 527. Also relevant is whether a sentence of probation

would unduly depreciate the seriousness of the offense. See State v. Davis, 940 S.W.2d

558, 559 (Tenn. 1997); Bingham, 910 S.W.2d at 456.

Defendant asserts that the trial court erroneously relied upon acquitted conduct in

determining the length and manner of service of his sentence. Defendant contends the

trial court should have reconsidered Defendant’s sentence after Defendant’s motion for

judgment of acquittal for the sexual exploitation of a minor conviction was granted.

Defendant further contends the court improperly “emphasized that the video snippets of

the victim practicing her gymnastics constituted pornography and were some type of

precursor to the alleged sexual contact that the Court felt happened later.”

The State responds the trial court made detailed findings unique to Defendant’s

child abuse conviction in determining the length and manner of his sentence for that

conviction. We agree with the State.

The evidence clearly supports the trial court’s finding that Defendant abused a

position of private trust. Defendant had been the victim’s step-father, the victim

identified Defendant as “Daddy,” and Defendant was the “only dad [she] really knew.”

The trial court also found that Defendant was motivated by his desire for sexual pleasure.

Defendant does not contest the trial court’s application of either enhancement factor. The

trial court found Defendant’s lack of a criminal history to be the only applicable

mitigating factor.

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The record shows that the trial court made specific findings to support the denial

of probation for Defendant’s child abuse conviction that are independent of its findings

regarding Defendant’s sexual exploitation of a minor conviction. The trial court

specifically found a need to deter family members who abuse children. Additionally, the

trial court found that Defendant lacked candor and attempted to minimize his conduct, as

evident in his psychosexual evaluation responses. See State v. Zeolia, 928 S.W.2d 457,

461 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996) (defendant’s lack of candor reflects poorly on his potential

for rehabilitation).

We conclude that Defendant’s sentence of two years’ incarceration for his child

abuse conviction is within the appropriate range, and the record shows that the sentence

imposed complies with the principles and purposes of the Sentencing Act. Therefore, we

will not disturb the judgment of the trial court. Defendant is not entitled to relief on this

issue.

Sufficiency of the evidence

Defendant also contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction

for child abuse because there is no evidence that there was an actual, deleterious effect

upon the victim’s health and welfare. Defendant argues that the abuse did not adversely

affect the victim’s health and welfare because his act of digitally penetrating the victim

did not cause the victim actual physical pain.

When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged, the relevant question for the

reviewing court 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); see also

Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e) (“Findings 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.”). All questions involving the credibility of

witnesses, the weight and value to be given the evidence, and all factual issues are

resolved by the trier of fact. See State v. Pappas, 754 S.W.2d 620, 623 (Tenn. Crim.

App. 1987). “A guilty verdict by the jury, approved by the trial judge, accredits the

testimony of the witnesses for the State and resolves all conflicts in favor of the theory of

the State.” State v. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Tenn. 1973). Our Supreme Court has

stated the rationale for this rule:

This well-settled rule rests on a sound foundation. The trial judge and

the jury see the witnesses face to face, hear their testimony and observe

their demeanor on the stand. Thus the trial judge and jury are the

primary instrumentality of justice to determine the weight and credibility

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to be given to the testimony of witnesses. In the trial forum alone is

there human atmosphere and the totality of the evidence cannot be

reproduced with a written record in this Court.

Bolin v. State, 405 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tenn. 1966) (citing Carroll v. State, 370 S.W.2d

523 (1963)). “A jury conviction removes the presumption of innocence with which a

defendant is initially cloaked and replaces it with one of guilt, so that on appeal a

convicted defendant has the burden of demonstrating that the evidence is insufficient.”

State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982).

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.’” Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d at 379 (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)). This court,

when considering the sufficiency of the evidence, shall not reweigh the evidence or

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

Defendant was convicted of child abuse, a lesser-included offense of rape of a

child. When a defendant is convicted of a lesser-included offense, the proof must be

sufficient to support each and every element of the convicted offense to sustain the

conviction. State v. Parker, 350 S.W.3d 883, 909 (Tenn. 2011). The statute for child

abuse prohibits the abuse of a child under the age of eighteen if the abuse adversely

affects the child’s health and welfare. T.C.A. § 39-15-401(b). When the child abused is

8 years of age or less, the offense is a Class D felony. Id. The State must show

something more than a risk of harm to a child’s health and welfare. State v. Mateyko, 53

S.W.3d 666, 670-71 (Tenn. 2001). Before a conviction can be sustained, the State must

show that the defendant’s abuse “produced an actual, deleterious effect or harm upon the

child’s health and welfare.” Id. at 671-72.

Taken in the light most favorable to the State, the proof at trial showed that

Defendant knowingly rubbed the victim’s “private area” and inserted his finger “inside”

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her “private area.” The victim ran away from Defendant, but Defendant carried her back

to her bedroom, and again rubbed the victim’s private area. Although the victim did not

suffer physical injury, the evidence shows that Defendant’s actions adversely affected the

child’s health and welfare and produced a deleterious effect on the victim. Defendant

was the only father K.B. knew, and she identified him as her “Daddy.” The victim

testified that Defendant’s touching felt “weird” and she “didn’t know what to do.” When

the victim revealed the abuse to her mother, she “went white as a sheet” and “buried her

head” into her mother. The victim’s mother sought counseling for her, and she testified

about behavior changes in the victim, including bed-wetting, nightmares, and curiosity

about sex.

We conclude that the evidence is sufficient to sustain Defendant’s conviction.

Defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.

CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

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THOMAS T. WOODALL, JUDGE

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