# State of Tennessee v. Rashunus B. Pearsons

> Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee · August 22, 2018

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/4306346

## Case

- **Court:** Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee
- **Decided:** August 22, 2018
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion
- **Judges:** Judge Timothy L. Easter
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

08/22/2018
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs June 20, 2018

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. RASHUNUS B. PEARSONS

Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
No. 2016-B-866 Mark J. Fishburn, Judge
___________________________________

No. M2017-01488-CCA-R3-CD
___________________________________

Defendant, Rashunus B. Pearsons,1 was indicted for two counts of aggravated assault and
two counts of harassment. Defendant was uncooperative with his appointed attorneys,
and the trial court allowed Defendant to represent himself at trial. After a jury trial,
Defendant was found guilty of all counts. On appeal, Defendant argues that his right to a
speedy trial was violated, that the trial court erred by granting the State’s motion in
limine to exclude mention of the victim’s immigration status, that the evidence was
insufficient to support his conviction for aggravated assault, and that the trial court
deprived him of his right to counsel. After a thorough review of the record, we conclude
that proper procedure was not followed to secure a waiver of the right to counsel from
Defendant and that Defendant did not forfeit his right to counsel. Therefore, we reverse
the judgments of the trial court and remand this case for a new trial.

Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Criminal Court Reversed
and Remanded

TIMOTHY L. EASTER, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which D. KELLY THOMAS,
JR., and ROBERT L. HOLLOWAY, JR., JJ., joined.

Joseph L. Morrissey, Jr. (on appeal), Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Rashunus B.
Pearsons.

Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Alexander C. Vey, Assistant
Attorney General; Glenn R. Funk, District Attorney General; and Mindy Morris,
Assistant District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

1
Defendant’s last name is spelled variously as “Pearsons” and “Pearson” throughout the technical
record. The policy of this Court is to use the spelling as set out in the indictment.
OPINION

Factual and Procedural Background

On August 15, 2014, a Davidson County Grand Jury indicted Defendant for one
count of aggravated assault by “intentionally or knowingly” causing bodily injury to
Christina Murdie, the victim, by strangulation and two counts of harassment. See T.C.A.
§§ 39-13-102; 39-17-308. At his arraignment on the indictment, the trial court found
Defendant to be indigent and appointed Defendant’s first attorney. A few months later,
Defendant’s first attorney filed a motion to withdraw as counsel. In his motion,
Defendant’s first attorney gave a laundry list of reasons for withdrawal including:
Defendant was “hostile” and “uncooperative”; Defendant refused to take his advice about
writing letters to the trial court and the district attorney’s office; Defendant made
“unreasonable and inappropriate demands” regarding the strategy of the defense;
Defendant refused to engage trial counsel during jail visits; Defendant indicated his
distaste and distrust of his attorney; Defendant threatened a lawsuit and a complaint with
the Board of Professional Responsibility against his attorney; and Defendant’s
relationship with his first attorney “deteriorated to the point where he no longer f[elt] he
c[ould] effectively represent” Defendant. After a hearing, the trial court relieved
Defendant’s first attorney and appointed Defendant’s second attorney. Subsequently, the
first trial judge recused himself and transferred the case to a second trial judge.

Over one year later, the trial court ordered a mental evaluation of Defendant to
determine his fitness to stand trial.2 However, the outpatient mental evaluation facility
notified the trial court that Defendant refused to be evaluated and insisted “that the judge
could not order the evaluation against his will.” So, after approximately three months,
the trial court ordered an inpatient mental evaluation at the Middle Tennessee Mental
Health Institute. In the month between the order for an inpatient mental evaluation and
the production of the report finding Defendant fit to stand trial, the State sought and
procured a superseding indictment. The superseding indictment charged the same three
counts as the original indictment and added a count alleging aggravated assault by
intentionally or knowingly causing the victim to “reasonably fear imminent bodily injury
and did attempt or intend to cause bodily injury” to the victim by strangulation. See
T.C.A. § 39-13-102.

Less than one month after Defendant was declared competent to stand trial,
Defendant appeared before the trial court for arraignment on the superseding indictment.
During that proceeding, the following exchange occurred:
2
A copy of this order does not appear in the record on appeal, but a letter from the Vanderbilt
University Forensic Evaluation Team indicates that they received a court order for the evaluation on
February 10, 2016.
-2-
[Defendant]: Sir, [trial court], I would like to know, I been incarcerated 27
months, I was indicted in 2014, and I been filing motions on my behalf to
help my case and I had been telling [second attorney] that I was already
charged with the wrong charge, and when I filed the motion and took the
time to go to the law library and see that 39-13-102 was the wrong TCA
Code to go with my charge, and I filed a motion on 39-11-106 to show that
this was the wrong charge that I was charged with. I haven’t seen [second
attorney] since March the 10th, and today he telling me I’m being re-
indicted for another charge after 27 months.

THE COURT: It’s the same case, it’s just that they’ve got a new
indictment against you, I guess correcting whatever you said the mistakes
were, I don’t know.

....

[Defendant]: So after 27 months, they can re-indict?

....

[Assistant District Attorney]: Your Honor, I’d point out, part of the 27-
month delay is because [Defendant] I think has going through three or four
prior appointed attorneys, [Defendant’s second attorney] might remember –
number four, this is a case originally in Division II.3 And another part is
that [the first trial judge] eventually had to recuse himself from this case,
but I know we’ve gone through at least four separate attorneys already.

[Defendant]: Excuse me, Your Honor, he was on – he got on my case
December 17th 2014 and he’s done nothing. I asked him for a trial date
back - -

THE COURT: You can represent yourself, you can hire your own lawyer
or you can keep [Defendant’s second attorney], which of the three do you
want to choose?

[Defendant]: I represent myself.

3
The appellate record reveals that only two attorneys had represented Defendant before the
arraignment on the superseding indictment.
-3-
THE COURT: All right.

Defendant was then arraigned and pleaded not guilty. The trial court’s minutes for the
arraignment states, “the defendant will procede [sic] pro se.” An August 18, 2016 minute
entry states “the defendant in person, being represented by counsel,” but inconsistently
says “pro se, attorney for defendant.” The only other item pertaining to Defendant’s
decision to proceed pro se contained in the appellate record is the trial court’s September
1, 2016 order notifying Defendant of his trial date, which says, “The above-listed
defendant has chosen to represent himself in this matter.” The transcript of the trial
indicates that Defendant made statements, questioned witnesses, and argued objections at
trial. Additionally, each judgment form indicates Defendant was pro se. However, it
appears from the record that elbow counsel was appointed to assist Defendant at trial.4

Prior to trial, the State filed a one sentence motion in limine moving the trial court
to instruct Defendant “not to mention, discuss or ask questions about the victim’s . . .
citizenship or immigration status.” No written order on this motion is contained in the
record, but the trial court minutes indicate that the motion was granted after a hearing.

Trial began September 19, 2016, and Defendant continued to represent himself.
Only the State presented witnesses, and the following narrative is derived from their
testimony.

Defendant and the victim were dating and living together. On one particular
evening when the victim picked up an extra shift at work, Defendant accused the victim
of cheating on him and told the victim that she needed “to be home when he is home.”
After a few attempts by Defendant to stop the victim from leaving, the victim was able to
exit the Stay Lodge hotel building and head toward work. As she was walking, the
victim noticed Defendant following her. At that point, Defendant told the victim that she
should walk closer so he could push her in the road for a car to hit her. In the parking lot
of a Wendy’s, Defendant grabbed the victim by the neck, pushed her against a wall, and
choked her. The victim “couldn’t breathe,” and Defendant’s chokehold left marks on the
victim’s neck. Defendant choked the victim for approximately thirty to forty seconds
before a car came through the drive-through. At that point, the victim broke free and ran
inside a Kentucky Fried Chicken. As soon as the victim entered the first set of doors,
Defendant grabbed the victim by her hair and “slammed” her on the ground. Defendant
kicked the victim and beat her with his fists. Deiya Allen, a Kentucky Fried Chicken
employee, witnessed the fighting. During the beating, Defendant told the victim, “I beat

4
Trial court minute entries from September 15, 2016, September 19, 2016, and September 20,
2016, list elbow counsel as the attorney for Defendant. Elbow counsel also signed Defendant’s waiver of
his right to have a fine in excess of $50 imposed by a jury and Defendant’s waiver of his right to testify at
trial. Likewise, elbow counsel filed an initial motion for new trial on Defendant’s behalf.
-4-
your a** and I’m going to kill you.” After Defendant ceased his attack, he fled. As a
result of Defendant’s attack, the victim suffered two black eyes, burst blood vessels in her
eyes, a broken nose, and wounds that required stitches around her mouth. Pictures of the
victim’s wounds were shown to the jury.

Two individuals at the scene called 9-1-1, and recordings of the calls were played
for the jury. Ms. Allen went to the entryway of the restaurant and found the victim lying
on the floor. Blood was “everywhere.” An ambulance and patrol officers came to the
scene. Officer Kyle Whitfield of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department spoke
with the victim, and she said that Defendant had attacked her. Officer Whitfield recalled
the victim having blood on her face, redness on her neck, and “bloodshot in one of her
eyes.” The ambulance took the victim to a hospital where she was questioned by
Detective John Timm. Once the victim was released from the hospital, she stayed at a
friend’s house. The next day, Detective Timm followed up with the victim, and she
played him voicemail messages from Defendant. In the first message, Defendant stated,
“You’re illegal in this State. I’m gonna call them immigration folks on your a**, b***h.
. . . So, I can get your a** deported.” Similar statements about calling “immigration,”
which contained the same language, were made in other voicemail messages that were
played for the jury. The voicemails also contained multiple threats to the victim’s life,
such as “I’m going to kill you.”

Defendant and the victim reconciled a few months after Defendant’s attack on the
victim. The reconciled relationship was brief, and the victim eventually left Defendant.
Unchanged, Defendant resumed his practice of leaving threatening voicemails laden with
expletives. In the month of March, Defendant called the victim between 120 and 130
times per day. These calls resulted in more voicemails and more threats to “kill” the
victim. Defendant’s excessive and incessant phone calls eventually led to the victim
moving to a different state. The victim revealed that she had constantly feared for her life
from March of 2014 to the day of trial.

During the testimony of the victim, Defendant objected to the references to the
victim’s immigration status that were in the voicemail recordings. The trial court noted
that those references should not have been played for the jury and asked if Defendant
wanted to ask questions about the victim’s immigration status. Defendant responded,
“Yes.” When the trial court pried for more information about the questions that
Defendant wanted to ask, Defendant began attempting to make some connection between
the victim’s immigration status and her aiding and abetting him in the crimes which were
the subject of the trial. Eventually, the trial court told Defendant that he could ask
questions about the subject but he could not use legal terms, such as “aid and abet.”
Defendant never inquired about the victim’s immigration status during cross-

-5-
examination. However, Defendant did ask Detective Timm if he knew that the victim
was an illegal immigrant.

After deliberation, the jury convicted Defendant of both counts of aggravated
assault and both counts of harassment. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court merged
the convictions for aggravated assault. The trial court imposed a sentence of eight years
for the merged aggravated assault conviction resulting from Counts One and Four and an
eleven month and twenty-nine day sentence for each of his two harassment convictions,
which were consecutive to one another and consecutive to sentence for the aggravated
assault conviction. Following a denial of his motion for new trial and the appointment of
appellate counsel, Defendant filed this timely appeal.

Analysis

I. Speedy Trial

Defendant argues that his right to a speedy trial was violated when the State
sought and procured a superseding indictment.5 The State responds that the superseding
indictment did not violate Defendant’s right to a speedy trial because he was a cause of
the delay, he failed to assert the right, and no prejudice resulted. We agree with the State.

“Both the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article [I],
Section 9 of the Tennessee Constitution guarantee an accused the right to a speedy trial.”
State v. Hudgins, 188 S.W.3d 663, 667 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2005). Defendants also have a
statutory right to a “speedy trial” under Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-14-101.
See id. Additional protection for a defendant’s right to a speedy trial is found in
Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 48(b), which allows a trial court to dismiss an
indictment if there is an “unnecessary delay” in bringing the defendant to trial. Hudgins,
188 S.W.3d at 667. “These guarantees were designed ‘to protect the accused against
oppressive pre-trial incarceration, the anxiety and concern due to unresolved criminal
charges, and the risk that evidence will be lost or memories diminished.’” Id. (quoting
State v. Utley, 956 S.W.2d 489, 492 (Tenn. 1997)).

5
Defendant’s brief contains a heading that states, “The Court erred in allowing the State to
supersede case number 2014-C-2147 after more than twenty-seven months of confinement thereby
violating the Defendant’s due process rights.” However, all of Defendant’s argument and citations to
authorities pertain to the right to a speedy trial. Thus, any claim that Defendant’s right to due process was
violated by the procurement of a superseding indictment is waived. See Tenn. R. Ct. Crim. App. 10(b)
(stating “Issues which are not supported by argument, citation to authorities, or appropriate reference to
the record will be treated as waived in this court.”).
-6-
The clock for the right to a speedy trial begins running upon the arrest of the
defendant or upon a formal accusation by the grand jury. Id. We apply the balancing test
found in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514 (1972) to determine if the right to a speedy trial
has been violated. State v. Wood, 924 S.W.2d 342, 346 (Tenn. 1996). The Barker
balancing test requires the following factors to be considered: (1) the length of the delay;
(2) the reasons for the delay; (3) the defendant’s assertion of the right to a speedy trial;
and (4) the prejudice resulting from the delay. Barker, 407 U.S. at 530-31. If a
defendant’s right to a speedy trial has been violated, then the conviction must be reversed
and the charges dismissed. State v. Bishop, 493 S.W.2d 81, 83 (Tenn. 1973). This Court
uses an abuse of discretion standard when reviewing the trial court’s determination of
whether the right to a speedy trial has been violated. Hudgins, 188 S.W.3d at 667.

When looking at the first Barker factor, we note that a one year delay or longer
triggers an inquiry into a speedy trial violation. Id. The State concedes that it took “over
two years” for the case against Defendant to go to trial. This factor weighs in favor of
violation.

The next Barker factor, reason for the delay, usually falls into one of these
categories: “(1) intentional delay to gain a tactical advantage over the defense or delay
designed to harass the defendant; (2) bureaucratic indifference or negligence; (3) delay
necessary to the fair and effective prosecution of the case; and (4) delay caused, or
acquiesced in, by the defense.” Wood, 924 S.W.2d at 346-47 (footnotes omitted).
Repeated requests for continuances or repeated instances of failure to cooperate with
one’s attorney fall within the fourth category. See id. at 347 n.12; State v. Anthony D.
Forster, No. M2002-0008-CCA-R3-CD, 2011 WL 1431980, at *7 (Tenn. Crim. App.
Apr. 12, 2011), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Aug. 14, 2011). A delay which falls within the
fourth category is weighed against the defendant. Wood, 924 S.W.2d at 347. We view
the multiple continuances necessitated by Defendant’s failure to cooperate with his
attorneys and with the court-ordered mental evaluation to be delays caused by Defendant.
Additionally, the first trial judge’s recusal and the court’s ordering a competency
evaluation of Defendant were delays necessary to the fair and effective prosecution of the
case. Defendant presents this issue as though the State’s superseding indictment is what
caused the delay in the trial, but from our review of the record, we conclude that
Defendant cannot escape the larger share of the blame for any delay. This factor weighs
against violation.

The third Barker factor weighs heavily against Defendant because he concedes
that he did not assert his right to a speedy trial. “Failure to assert the right [makes] it
difficult for a defendant to prove that he was denied a speedy trial.” Barker, 407 U.S. at
532. This factor weighs against violation.

-7-
The final Barker factor, prejudice to the defendant, is the most important.
Hudgins, 188 S.W.3d at 668. However, Defendant presents no argument pertaining to
undue and oppressive incarceration, anxiety or concern about the pending charges, or risk
that evidence would be lost or memories would fade. Instead, he argues that the
superseding indictment “did nothing more than apply more weight” to his charges.
However, the issuance of a superseding indictment does constitute prejudice to the
defendant for the purposes of this factor. See Anthony D. Forster, 2011 WL 1431980, at
*7; State v. Gary Lee Miller, No. M1998-00788-CCA-R3-CD, 2000 WL 246452, at *8
(Tenn. Crim. App. Mar. 6, 2000), no perm. app. filed. This factor weighs against
violation.

After considering all of the Barker factors, we conclude that Defendant’s right to a
speedy trial was not violated and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it
allowed this case to proceed to trial. Defendant is not entitled to relief.

II. The Victim’s Immigration Status

Defendant argues that he was denied a full and fair cross-examination of the
victim because the trial court granted the State’s motion in limine excluding any mention
of the victim’s immigration status. The State contends that the victim’s immigration
status was irrelevant and that the trial court acted within its discretion when it excluded
the evidence. We agree with the State.

“[C]ross-examination is a fundamental right.” State v. Dishman, 915 S.W.2d 458,
463 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). However, that right is subject to the trial court’s discretion
over the “propriety, scope, manner, and control of cross-examination.” State v. Echols,
382 S.W.3d 266, 285 (Tenn. 2012). The trial court only abuses its discretion when it
unreasonably restricts a defendant’s right to cross-examine a witness against him. Id.

Only relevant evidence is admissible. Tenn. R. Evid. 402. Evidence is relevant
when it has “any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the
determination of the action more probable or less probable that it would be without the
evidence.” Tenn. R. Evid. 401. Relevant evidence, however, may be excluded if “its
probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion
of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by consideration of undue delay, waste of time, or
needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” Tenn. R. Evid. 403. Even if it is
relevant, “[e]vidence of a person’s character or trait of character is not admissible for the
purpose of proving action and conformity therewith.” Tenn. R. Evid. 404(a). Some
exceptions to Rule 404(a) can be found in Rules 608 and 609. Tenn. R. Evid. 404(a)(3).
Rule 608(b) allows inquiry about specific instances of conduct that are probative of the
witness’s truthfulness or untruthfulness on cross-examination. Tenn. R. Evid. 608(b).
-8-
Rule 609 allows inquiry about and extrinsic evidence of a prior conviction to be offered
into evidence under certain conditions. Tenn. R. Evid. 609. We will not interfere with
the trial court’s exercise of discretion over the admissibility of evidence absent an abuse
of discretion. State v. Franklin, 308 S.W.3d 799, 809 (Tenn. 2010). “An abuse of
discretion occurs when the trial court applies an incorrect legal standard or reaches a
conclusion that is ‘illogical or unreasonable and causes an injustice to the party
complaining.” State v. Lewis, 235 S.W.3d 136, 141 (Tenn. 2007) (quoting State v. Ruiz,
204 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tenn. 2006)).

In this case, we are presented with minimal information about the trial court’s
ruling on the State’s one sentence motion in limine to exclude any mention of the
victim’s citizenship or immigration status. The record contains only the trial court
minutes that reveal a hearing was conducted and that the trial court granted the State’s
motion. With that information and the transcript of what transpired at trial, we conclude
that the trial court properly granted the State’s motion in limine. See State v. James Lynn
Hale, No. 86-109-III, 1987 WL 6731, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. Feb. 19, 1987), no perm.
app. filed. The victim’s immigration status is not relevant. It makes no “fact that is of
consequence” more or less probable, and it is not probative of the witness’s truthfulness
or untruthfulness. Whether the victim is here illegally or legally, her immigration status
has no bearing on whether Defendant attacked her and has no effect on her incentive to
tell the truth or lie about the attack. We are puzzled by Defendant’s alleged connection
between the victim’s immigration status and his theory that the victim aided and abetted
him in his brutal attack on her. Because the victim’s immigration status was not relevant,
the trial court did not unreasonably restrict Defendant’s right to cross-examination by
ruling that it was inadmissible and granting the State’s motion in limine.

Even though the trial court properly granted the State’s motion in limine, the State
played the voicemail recordings where Defendant mentions the victim’s immigration
status. During a bench conference, Defendant asserted that the State had opened the door
to inquiry about the victim’s immigration status on cross-examination. “Opening the
door” is an equitable principle that “permits a party to respond to an act of another party
by introducing otherwise inadmissible evidence.” Neil P. Cohen, Sarah Y. Sheppeard &
Donald F. Paine, Tennessee Law of Evidence, § 4.01[4][c] (6th ed. Supp. 2017). The
trial court told Defendant that he could ask questions about the situation without using
legal terms regarding his aiding and abetting theory. During his cross-examination,
Defendant never broached the subject. Defendant had the opportunity to cross-examine
the victim about her immigration status, even if it was inadmissible before the trial court
found that the State opened the door, and he failed to ask questions about it. We are not
required to grant relief 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.”
Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a). “It has long been settled in Tennessee that a party cannot take
-9-
advantage of errors which he himself committed or invited, or induced the trial court to
commit, or which were the natural consequence of his own neglect or misconduct.” State
v. Garland, 617 S.W. 2d 176, 186 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1981). Because Defendant failed to
ask questions on the subject during cross-examination when given the opportunity, it
cannot be said that the trial court improperly restricted his right to cross-examination.
Defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.

III. Sufficiency of the Evidence

The entirety of Defendant’s argument on the sufficiency of the evidence, outside
of his restatement of the law, is this one sentence: “The defendant submits, however, that
in the instant case, a rational juror could not have found him guilty of aggravated assault
by strangulation based upon the proof submitted at trial in both counts of aggravated
assault.”6 The State argues that a rational juror could have found Defendant guilty based
upon the testimony of the victim. We agree with the State.

Well-settled principles guide this Court’s review when a defendant challenges the
sufficiency of the evidence. A guilty verdict removes the presumption of innocence and
replaces it with a presumption of guilt. State v. Evans, 838 S.W.2d 185, 191 (Tenn.
1992). The burden is then shifted to the defendant on appeal to demonstrate why the
evidence is insufficient to support the conviction. State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914
(Tenn. 1982). The relevant question the reviewing court must answer is whether any
rational trier of fact could have found the accused guilty of every element of the offense
beyond a reasonable doubt. See Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e); Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S.
307, 319 (1979). On appeal, “the State is entitled to the strongest legitimate view of the
evidence and to all reasonable and legitimate inferences that may be drawn therefrom.”
State v. Elkins, 102 S.W.3d 578, 581 (Tenn. 2003). As such, this Court is precluded from
re-weighing or reconsidering the evidence when evaluating the convicting proof. State v.
Morgan, 929 S.W.2d 380, 383 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996); State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d
776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). Moreover, we may not substitute our own
“inferences for those drawn by the trier of fact from circumstantial evidence.” Matthews,
805 S.W.2d at 779. Further, questions concerning the credibility of the witnesses and the
weight and value to be given to evidence, as well as all factual issues raised by such
evidence, are resolved by the trier of fact and not the appellate courts. State v. Pruett,
788 S.W.2d 559, 561 (Tenn. 1990). “The standard of review ‘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)).

6
Defendant’s brief contains nothing with regard to the sufficiency of Defendant’s convictions for
harassment.
- 10 -
A person commits aggravated assault when he or she intentionally or knowingly
commits an assault and that assault involved strangulation or attempted strangulation.
T.C.A. § 39-13-102(a)(1)(A)(iv). As applicable to this case, an assault occurs when a
person intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to another or when a person
intentionally or knowingly causes another to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury.
T.C.A. § 39-13-101(a)(1)-(2).

Here, the evidence is more than sufficient to support Defendant’s conviction for
aggravated assault by strangulation. The victim testified that Defendant grabbed her by
the neck, pushed her against a wall, and choked her so that she could not breathe. The
victim’s account of the events was corroborated by the marks on the victim’s neck, which
were depicted in the pictures shown to the jury, and by Officer Whitfield’s recollection of
seeing red marks on the victim’s neck at the crime scene. A reasonable juror could find
that Defendant intentionally or knowingly strangled the victim causing bodily injury and
that Defendant intentionally or knowingly strangled the victim causing the victim to
reasonably fear imminent bodily injury. The evidence is sufficient to support both
theories of aggravated assault that the trial court merged into one conviction for
sentencing purposes. Defendant is not entitled to relief on this ground.

IV. Right to Counsel

Defendant argues that he was deprived of his constitutional right to counsel. The
State responds that Defendant implicitly waived his right to counsel. We agree with
Defendant.

The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 9 of
the Tennessee Constitution guarantee the accused a right to counsel. Lovin v. State, 286
S.W.3d 275, 284 (Tenn. 2009). The accused also has a right to self-representation. State
v. Northington, 667 S.W.2d 57, 60 (Tenn. 1984). The right to counsel and the right to
self-representation are two sides of the same coin, and because the rights are alternative
in nature, a defendant cannot assert both rights simultaneously. Lovin, 286 S.W.3d at
284. If a defendant is wrongfully deprived of the right to counsel, reversal is required.
State v. Holmes, 302 S.W.3d 831, 838 (Tenn. 2010). Whether a defendant has waived the
right to counsel or asserted the right to self-representation is a mixed question of law and
fact, which we review de novo with a presumption that the trial court’s findings of fact
are correct. State v. Hester, 324 S.W.3d 1, 29-30 (Tenn. 2010).

Initially, we observe that there are three ways the right to counsel may be
discharged: express waiver, implicit waiver, and forfeiture. The facts of this case
necessitate a review of each of the three.

- 11 -
A. Express Waiver

For a defendant to exercise his or her right to self-representation, “(1) the
defendant’s request to proceed pro se must be timely; (2) the assertion of the right of self-
representation must be clear and unequivocal; and (3) the assertion of the right of self-
representation must reflect a knowing and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel.”
State v. James Richardson Reece, No. M2011-01556-CCA-R3-CD, 2013 WL 1089097,
at *15 (Tenn. Crim. App. Mar. 14, 2013) (citing Hester, 324 S.W.3d at 30-31), perm.
app. denied (Tenn. June 17, 2013). Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 44 requires
trial courts to “advise the accused in open court of the right to the aid of counsel at every
stage of the proceedings” and “determine whether there has been a competent and
intelligent waiver of such right by inquiring into the background, experience, and conduct
of the accused, and other appropriate matters.” The rule further instructs trial courts that
the waiver of counsel “shall” be in writing and included in the record. Tenn. R. Crim.
App. 44(b)(2)-(3).

There were multiple parts of this procedure that were either overlooked by the trial
court or are not included in the limited record on appeal. First, the record on appeal does
not reflect that the trial court properly advised Defendant in open court that he was
entitled to the assistance of counsel at every stage of the proceedings. While it is possible
that either the first or second trial judge advised Defendant of his right to counsel at some
point, such is not included in any of the transcripts before this Court.

At the point that Defendant expressed his intention to proceed pro se, the trial
court merely stated, “You can represent yourself, you can hire your own lawyer[,] or you
can keep [Defendant’s second attorney], which of the three do you want to choose?”
Such a limited, inquisitive statement is not enough to meet the requirement that the trial
court advise a defendant about the right to counsel at each stage of the proceedings.
Therefore, the record does not establish that the trial court complied with this mandatory
requirement.

Second, we cannot hold that the trial court made a determination of whether
Defendant’s waiver was knowing and intelligent. Our supreme court gave trial courts the
following guidance to follow when determining if a defendant may proceed pro se:

[A] judge must investigate as long and as thoroughly as the circumstances
of the case before him demand. The fact that an accused may tell him that
he is informed of his right to counsel and desires to waive this right does
not automatically end the judge’s responsibility. To be valid such waiver
must be made with an apprehension of the nature of the charges, the
statutory offenses included within them, the range of allowable
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punishments thereunder, possible defenses to the charges and
circumstances in mitigation thereof, and all other facts essential to a broad
understanding of the whole matter. A judge can make certain that an
accused’s professed waiver of counsel is understandingly and wisely made
only from a penetrating and comprehensive examination of all the
circumstances under which such a plea is tendered.

Northington, 667 S.W.2d at 60 (quoting Von Moltke v. Gillies, 332 U.S. 708, 723-24
(1948)). Based upon the transcript of the July 6, 2016 arraignment and the transcript of
Defendant’s trial, we cannot conclude that any investigation was undertaken by the trial
court.

Third, the record does not contain a written waiver by Defendant as explicitly
required by Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 44(b)(2). Regardless of whether the
trial court believes a defendant would sign the written waiver, the trial court is obligated
to obtain a written waiver or discover the reasons for a defendant’s refusal to provide a
written waiver. See State v. Parsons, 437 S.W.3d 457, 481 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011). In
addition to the lack of a written waiver in the appellate record, there is no indication in
the record that Defendant was offered a written waiver to sign or refused to sign a written
waiver when offered. Again, the trial court failed to comply with this mandatory
requirement.

Even though Defendant stated in open court, “I represent myself,” we have no
choice but to hold that such a statement is not a valid express waiver of the right to
counsel when the trial court fails to comply with three separate mandatory requirements
of the procedural process for determining if a defendant may proceed pro se.

B. Implicit Waiver

Just because a defendant has not expressly waived the right to counsel, does not
mean that a defendant has not lost his or her right to counsel through implicit waiver or
forfeiture. James Richardson Reece, 2013 WL 1089097, at *18. “The right to counsel is
not a license to abuse the dignity of the court or to frustrate orderly proceedings. . . .
[T]he right to counsel can be implicitly waived or forfeited if a defendant manipulates,
abuses, or utilizes the right to delay or disrupt a trial.” State v. Carruthers, 35 S.W. 3d
516, 546-47 (Tenn. 2000). “[A]n implicit waiver is presumed from the defendant’s
conduct after he has been made aware that his continued misbehavior will result in the
dangers and disadvantages of proceeding pro se.” Holmes, 302 S.W.3d at 840. The
warning of the impending consequences and an opportunity to avoid the extreme sanction
of the loss of the right to counsel is essential to implicit waiver. James Richardson
Reece, 2013 WL 1089097, at *18. However, there is no need for “extensive and
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detailed” warnings as a prerequisite for implicit waiver; a general explanation of the risks
to proceeding pro se will suffice. Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d at 549.

If a trial court fails to warn a defendant about his or her misconduct and the
consequences of his or her misbehavior, then no implicit waiver will result from the
defendant’s conduct. See Holmes, 302 S.W.3d at 841; James Richardson Reece, 2013
WL 1089097, at *18. Again, the record before us contains no warning given to
Defendant by the trial court. The trial court also gave Defendant the option to keep his
appointed attorney or to hire a private attorney. Because Defendant was presented with
those options in addition to the option to act pro se, it is clear that the trial court was not
presenting Defendant with an ultimatum regarding Defendant’s behavior that would
result in the loss of the right to counsel. Likewise, there is no indication that Defendant
was aware that the continuation of his behavior would result in the trial court denying
him an attorney at trial, nor was Defendant made aware of the risks associated with
proceeding pro se. Without this essential element of implicit waiver, we cannot hold that
Defendant’s conduct resulted in an implicit waiver of counsel.

C. Forfeiture

The only remaining way that Defendant could have lost his right to counsel is
through forfeiture. “The distinction between forfeiture and implicit waiver is that an
implicit waiver is made when the defendant’s misconduct continues after a warning from
the court that such misconduct will result in the loss of the right to counsel, whereas
‘forfeiture results regardless of the defendant’s intent to relinquish the right and
irrespective of the defendant’s knowledge of the right.’” James Richardson Reece, 2013
WL 1089097, at *18 (quoting Carruthers, 35 S.W. 3d at 549). No previous warnings or
advisements are required before a trial court can find that a defendant forfeits the right to
counsel by engaging in “extremely serious misconduct.” Id. Using the right to counsel
to toy with trial courts by manipulating, delaying, or disrupting trial may result in
forfeiture of the right. Id. Generally, only after an evidentiary hearing, may a trial court
determine that conduct justifies a ruling of forfeiture.7 Holmes, 302 S.W.3d at 838-39.
Factors relevant to a trial court’s determination regarding forfeiture include “(1) whether
the defendant has had more than one appointed counsel; (2) the stage of the proceedings,
with forfeiture ‘rarely . . . applied to deny a defendant representation during trial’; (3)
violence or threats of violence against appointed counsel; and (4) measures short of
forfeiture have been or will be unavailing.” Id. at 839 (quoting Commonwealth v. Means,
907 N.E.2d 646, 659-61 (Mass. 2009)). “[A] criminal defendant’s constitutional right to
the assistance of counsel is so fundamental, particularly at trial, that only the most

7
The only exception to this rule is if the defendant’s conduct occurs in open court. See Holmes,
302 S.W.3d at 839, n.6.
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egregious misbehavior will support a forfeiture of that right . . . .” Id. at 846. “The State
bears the burden of establishing that the defendant committed such actions as to justify a
forfeiture.” Id. at 839.

Two of this Court’s cases are illustrative for the purposes of determining if a
forfeiture of the right to counsel has occurred. In State v. Parsons, this Court held that
the defendant had not expressly waived his right to counsel but had forfeited the right
because the record showed that the defendant engaged in “egregious behavior” and that
he “deliberately engaged” in conduct meant to delay, disrupt, or disorder the
administration of justice. Parsons, 437 S.W.3d at 482. The defendant in Parsons went
through two different attorneys. Id. at 465-66. Both times that the defendant filed a
motion for the removal of his attorney, the trial court held a hearing on the motion. Id. at
468. The trial court relieved the defendant’s first attorney, but denied the motion for
removal regarding the defendant’s second attorney. Id. The defendant continued to not
cooperate with his second attorney and jumped back and forth between asserting his right
to counsel and his right to self-representation. Id. at 465-77. The trial court ordered two
different mental evaluations of the defendant based upon his interactions with counsel.
Id. at 470-72. At one point, the defendant claimed that his second attorney attacked him
outside the courthouse, and he filed a complaint with the local police. Id. at 470. The
defendant filed complaints with the Board of Professional Responsibility with regard to
the representation that he received from both of his attorneys and filed a civil lawsuit
against both of his attorneys and the trial court. Id. at 470-76. At a hearing on multiple
motions, the defendant complained about his counsel, claimed that he was a “sovereign
citizen,” and asked for another continuance. Id. at 473. The trial court directly
questioned the defendant and asked about his legal knowledge, experience with legal
matters, and his knowledge of the charges that he faced. Id. at 474. After that, the trial
court allowed the defendant to proceed with his second attorney as elbow counsel. Id. at
475. The trial court filed a written order on the motions made at the hearing. Id. Even
on the day of trial, the defendant protested that he did not want to waive his right to self-
representation, maintained that he wanted different counsel, and sought a continuance.
Id. at 477. Ultimately, the trial proceeded with the defendant’s second attorney acting as
elbow counsel. Id. In its order on the defendant’s motion for new trial, the trial court
found that the defendant made unwarranted complaints, attacked counsel to manipulate
continuances, attempted to manipulate the judicial process, used delaying tactics to
postpone trial, and filed four civil suits against people involved in the case. Id. at 482,
n.15. Additionally, the trial court explicitly held that the defendant was “egregiously
manipulative and abusive of the judicial process.” Id.

In State v. James Richardson Reece, this Court held that the defendant did not
waive or forfeit his right to counsel because the trial court did not follow the proper
procedure for either express or implicit waiver and failed to make any findings regarding
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the defendant’s behavior to support forfeiture. James Richardson Reece, 2013 WL
1089097, at *20. The defendant went through four different attorneys. Id. at *1-4.
When they moved to withdraw, the defendant’s attorneys said that the defendant was
“uncooperative,” that the attorney-client relationship had “broken down,” that the
defendant insisted on pursuing “collateral” and “imprudent” actions, that the defendant
and counsel had “reached an impasse,” and that the defendant “does not acknowledge me
as his attorney.” Id. When the defendant’s fourth attorney moved to withdraw for a
second time, the trial court held a hearing. Id. at *3. At the hearing, the defendant
claimed that he was being held “hostage” and asserted to his right to self-representation.
Id. The trial court commented, “I think today is probably the most unequivocal statement
of wanting to proceed pro se that has yet been made by this gentleman,” and allowed the
defendant’s fourth attorney to withdraw. Id. at *4. On the day of trial, the defendant
claimed that he wanted to hire a private attorney, but the trial court found that the
defendant had said at the aforementioned hearing that he wanted to proceed pro se and
began the trial. Id. This Court found James Richardson Reece to be distinguishable from
Parsons because the trial court held no evidentiary hearing and, “[e]ven more
significantly,” made no finding that the defendant had intentionally manipulated the
justice system and forfeited his right to counsel due to his conduct. Id. at *19.

The factual scenario in this case is similar to both Parsons and James Richardson
Reece, but the shortcomings in this case’s record mirror the fatal shortcomings which
occurred in James Richardson Reece. Other than Defendant’s statement “I represent
myself,” the only indication that the trial court considered Defendant’s decision to
proceed pro se is an order that says, “The above-listed defendant has chosen to represent
himself in this matter.” The record before us contains no evidentiary hearing on the issue
of whether Defendant’s behavior was such that he forfeited the right to counsel.
Consequently, there is no consideration of the factors relevant to forfeiture in the record.
Also, the record contains no finding by the trial court on whether Defendant had
intentionally manipulated the justice system and forfeited his right to counsel due to his
conduct. Without showing that those things occurred, the State has failed to meet its
burden of proving that Defendant forfeited his right to counsel.

It is not news to this Court that criminal defendants can often be belligerent,
uncooperative, and frustratingly stubborn. Trial courts must protect the integrity of the
judicial process, as the trial court attempted to do here. However, in so doing, trial courts
must also safeguard the constitutional rights of defendants by complying with the
procedures set forth by the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure and the applicable
United States and Tennessee case law. Because the proper procedure was not followed to
secure a valid waiver of the right to counsel or to establish a forfeiture of the right to
counsel, we must conclude that Defendant’s right to counsel was violated.

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Conclusion

Although the evidence is sufficient to support the finding of guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt, we conclude that Defendant was denied his right to counsel, reverse the
judgment of the trial court, and remand for a new trial.

____________________________________
TIMOTHY L. EASTER, JUDGE

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/4306346. Public record. Not legal advice.