State v. Russell Overby

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee
• Decided: July 13, 1999
• Docket: 02C01-9810-CC-00321
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT JACKSON

MAY 1999 SESSION FILED July 13, 1999

Cecil Crowson, Jr. Appellate Court Clerk STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) ) C.C.A. NO. 02C01-9810-CC-00321 Appellee, ) ) HARDIN COUNTY VS. ) ) HON. C. CREED McGINLEY, RUSSELL LANE OVERBY, ) JUDGE ) Appellant. ) (Rape)

FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE:

GUY WILKINSON PAUL G. SUMMERS District Public Defender Attorney General & Reporter

RICHARD W. DeBERRY R. STEPHEN JOBE Asst. District Public Defender Asst. Attorney General 117 Forrest Ave., North Cordell Hull Bldg., 2nd Fl. Camden, TN 38320 425 Fifth Ave., North (On Appeal) Nashville, TN 37243-0493

JAMES BROCKMAN ROBERT RADFORD P.O. Box 25 District Attorney General Parsons, TN 38363 (At Trial) JOHN OVERTON Asst. District Attorney General P.O. Box 484 Savannah, TN 38372

OPINION FILED:

AFFIRMED

JOHN H. PEAY, Judge OPINION

The defendant was found guilty by a jury of rape and sentenced to a term

of twelve years to be served in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The

defendant’s subsequent motion for a new trial was denied by the trial court. The

defendant now appeals and presents the following issues for our review:

1. Whether the evidence is sufficient to support the defendant’s conviction for rape;

2. Whether the trial court properly applied enhancement factors in sentencing the defendant;

3. Whether the defendant “was denied the right to adequately defend himself, because trial counsel did not adequately question the defendant at trial”;

4. Whether the State prevented the defendant from completing his testimony at trial; and

5. Whether the trial court erred in admitting hearsay testimony from Jennifer Nelson, a witness for the State.

At trial, the victim, the defendant’s fourteen-year-old stepdaughter, testified

that the defendant had vaginally penetrated her with his penis. According to the victim,

this type of behavior had occurred on more than one occasion while her mother was

away from home. The victim described the circumstances surrounding the last incident

of this kind. The victim testified that she went to her bedroom and laid down on the bed.

The defendant entered the room, touched her breasts, and kissed her face. The

defendant then touched her with his “private parts.” According to the victim, the

defendant penetrated her vagina with his penis. After the defendant “was through,” the

victim took a bath to wash her “private part.” Approximately one week later, the Hardin

County Sheriff’s Department received a call from the victim’s school regarding the alleged

rape. The victim was subsequently taken to an emergency room where it was

2 determined that her hymen had been ruptured.

The defendant first contends that the evidence is not sufficient to sustain

his conviction. A defendant challenging the sufficiency of the proof has the burden of

illustrating to this Court why the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict returned by

the trier of fact in his or her case. This Court will not disturb a verdict of guilt for lack of

sufficient evidence unless the facts contained in the record and any inferences which

may be drawn from the facts are insufficient, as a matter of law, for a rational trier of fact

to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d

913, 914 (Tenn. 1982).

When an accused challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence, we

must review the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution in determining

whether “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). We do not

reweigh or re-evaluate the evidence and are required to afford the State the strongest

legitimate view of the proof contained in the record as well as all reasonable and

legitimate inferences which may be drawn therefrom. State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d

832, 835 (Tenn. 1978).

Questions concerning the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to

be given to the evidence, as well as factual issues raised by the evidence are resolved

by the trier of fact, not this Court. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835. A guilty verdict

rendered by the jury and approved by the trial judge accredits the testimony of the

witnesses for the State, and a presumption of guilt replaces the presumption of

innocence. State v. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Tenn. 1973).

3 The defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his

conviction based on the following: the victim’s brother testified that the victim told him the

defendant did not rape her; the victim’s brother testified that he did not remember giving

a statement to authorities that the victim told him the defendant was abusing her and she

needed his help; the defendant’s mother testified that she did not know of any time that

the defendant was alone with the victim; the defendant’s mother testified that the victim

did not seem upset; and the defendant’s mother further testified that she did not see the

defendant act in a questionable way. However, this testimony was heard by the jury.

The jury, as is within their province, obviously credited the testimony of the victim over

that of the defendant’s witnesses. As such, this issue is without merit.

The defendant next challenges the trial court’s application of enhancement

factor (4), that the victim was particularly vulnerable because of age or physical or mental

disability, and enhancement factor (7), that the crime was committed to gratify the

defendant’s desire for pleasure or excitement. T.C.A. § 40-35-114(4), (7). The

defendant does not challenge the trial court’s application of enhancement factor (15), that

the defendant abused a position of private trust. T.C.A. §40-35-114(15).

When a defendant complains of his or her sentence, we must conduct a de

novo review with a presumption of correctness. T.C.A. § 40-35-401(d). The burden of

showing that the sentence is improper is upon the appealing party. T.C.A. § 40-35-

401(d) Sentencing Commission Comments. This presumption, however, “is conditioned

upon the affirmative showing in the record that the trial court considered the sentencing

principles and all relevant facts and circumstances.” State v. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166,

169 (Tenn. 1991). We find that in this case the trial judge did consider the sentencing

4 principles and all relevant facts and circumstances.

The Sentencing Reform Act of 1989, codified at T.C.A. § 40-35-210,

provides that the minimum sentence within the range is the presumptive sentence. If

there are enhancing and mitigating factors, the court must start at the minimum sentence

in the range and enhance the sentence as appropriate for the enhancement factors and

then reduce the sentence within the range as appropriate for the mitigating factors. If

there are no mitigating factors, the court may set the sentence above the minimum in that

range but still within the range. The weight to be given to each factor is left to the

discretion of the trial judge. State v. Shelton, 854 S.W.2d 116, 123 (Tenn. Crim. App.

1992).

The defendant first challenges the trial court’s application of enhancement

factor (4), that the victim was particularly vulnerable because of age or physical or mental

disability. T.C.A. § 40-35-114(4). The defendant argues that there is nothing in the

record to support the application of this factor. However, the trial court specifically stated

that this factor was applicable not only because the victim was thirteen years old at the

time of the offense, but also because “it was established by the proof that the mental

status of the victim was not that of a regular 13 year old.” The victim was enrolled in

some type of special education course at the time of the offense and “her IQ was

considerably below average.” These facts support the trial court’s application of this

enhancement factor. See State v. John Claude Wells, III, No. 01C01-9505-CR-00146,

Davidson County (Tenn. Crim. App. filed June 6, 1997, at Nashville); State v. Clabo, 905

S.W.2d 197, 206 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). As such, this contention is without merit.

The defendant next challenges the trial court’s application of enhancement

5 factor (7), that the offense was committed to gratify a desire for pleasure or excitement.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114(7). The defendant again states that there is nothing in the

record to support the application of this factor. However, the record indicates that the

defendant not only vaginally penetrated the victim, he took off “most” of the victim’s

clothing, undressed himself, touched her breasts, and kissed her face. According to the

victim, the defendant “stopped [the rape] when he was through.” In light of the foregoing

facts, the trial court properly applied this enhancement factor. See State v. Antonio

Kendrick, No. 02C01-9604-CR-00121, Shelby County (Tenn. Crim. App. filed November

5, 1997, at Jackson) (holding enhancement factor (7) applicable where the appellant

kissed victim’s neck, pushed her onto the bed, removed her clothing, told her he wanted

to “play with her,” and penetrated her until he reached climax); see also Manning v. State,

883 S.W.2d 635, 639-40 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994) (holding enhancement factor (7)

applicable where the appellant fondled and kissed the victim’s breasts and made sexually

explicit remarks while raping her).1

The defendant next contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing

to adequately question the defendant at trial. Specifically, the defendant argues that his

trial counsel did not adequately question him regarding the defenses he wanted to bring

out at trial. This issue is waived since the defendant has failed to make appropriate

references to the record. Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Rule 10(b); State v.

Killebrew, 760 S.W.2d 228, 231 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988); see also T.R.A.P. 27(a)(7) and

(g). Absent waiver, this issue still lacks merit.

The findings of fact made by the trial court with regard to a claim of

1 The S tate conte nds tha t enhanc eme nt factor (1 ) was als o applica ble in the ca se at bar . T.C .A. § 4 0-35 -114 (1). A s the defe nda nt wa s se nten ced to the ma xim um sent enc e with in the applic able rang e and we fin d no e rror in the tria l cour t’s se nten ce, w e find no ne ed to addr ess the m erits o f this contention.

6 ineffective assistance of counsel are binding upon this Court unless the evidence in the

record preponderates against these findings. See State v. Anderson, 835 S.W.2d 600,

607 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992). Questions concerning the credibility of witnesses, the

weight and value to be given to their testimony, and factual issues raised by the evidence

are resolved by the trial court. Id. This Court must not re-weigh or re-evaluate the

evidence or substitute its inferences for those drawn by the trial court. Id. The defendant

bears the burden of illustrating that the evidence contained in the record preponderates

against the judgment of the trial court. Id.

When reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, this Court must

determine whether the advice given or services rendered by the attorney are within the

range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Baxter v. Rose, 523

S.W.2d 930, 936 (Tenn. 1975). To prevail on a claim of ineffective counsel, a petitioner

“must show that counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of

reasonableness” and that this performance prejudiced the defense. There must be a

reasonable probability that but for counsel’s error the result of the proceeding would have

been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88, 692, 694 (1984); Best

v. State, 708 S.W.2d 421, 422 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1985).

The defendant contends that his trial counsel failed to adequately question

him at trial “concerning the defenses he wanted to bring out.” These “defenses” consisted

of the defendant’s allegation that it was his brother-in-law, rather than himself, who raped

the victim. At trial, the defendant claimed he found his brother-in-law with the victim and

his brother-in-law’s hands were in a “very uncompromising position.” At the evidentiary

hearing conducted in conjunction with the defendant’s motion for a new trial, the

defendant went into detail about instances in which he caught his brother-in-law with the

7 victim, his brother-in-law admitted he was attracted to the victim, and his brother-in-law

confessed to raping the victim. The defendant claimed that at trial his attorney prevented

him from testifying about these incidents. James Brockman, the defendant’s attorney at

trial, also testified at the evidentiary hearing. Mr. Brockman stated that he found nothing

during his investigation to substantiate the defendant’s claim that his brother-in-law had

committed this crime. However, at trial Mr. Brockman did ask the defendant several

questions regarding his brother-in-law and the defendant’s allegations against him. In

fact, Mr. Brockman asked the defendant if “there [was] anything else” with regard to his

allegations against his brother-in-law. The defendant replied, “That’s pretty much it.”

In addressing this claim, the trial court found that Mr. Brockman was

“adequately prepared,” “engaged in an adequate investigation and full discovery” of the

facts, had a “legitimate trial strategy,” and “in no way” denied the defendant his right to

testify on his own behalf. The defendant has not proven that the evidence

preponderates against the trial court’s finding that Mr. Brockman did not deny the

defendant of the right to testify, nor has the defendant established that he was prejudiced

by any alleged error. As such, this issue is without merit.

The defendant next contends that the State did not allow him to adequately

testify at trial. This issue is waived for failure to present the facts relevant to the issue,

failure to set forth an argument as to the issue, and failure to make reference to the

record in support of the defendant’s argument. T.R.A.P. 27(a)(7); Tennessee Court of

Criminal Appeals Rule 10(b). Absent waiver, this issue still lacks merit because there are

no facts in the record to support the defendant’s contention. In fact, the trial transcript

indicates that on several occasions, it was the defendant who interrupted the State during

the State’s cross-examination. There is no indication in the record that the State ever

8 interrupted the defendant or kept him from “testifying fully at trial.”

The defendant’s final contention is that the trial court erred in admitting

hearsay testimony from Jennifer Nelson, a witness for the State. Specifically, the

defendant argues that no determination was made by the trial court regarding the

admissibility of this evidence. The testimony at issue refers to a statement made by the

victim to Ms. Nelson, the nurse who treated the victim at the emergency room. However,

the defendant failed to object to such testimony at trial. The failure of defense counsel

to make a contemporaneous objection waives consideration by this Court of the issue on

appeal. See Teague v. State, 772 S.W.2d 915, 926 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988) (overruled

on other grounds); Killebrew, 760 S.W.2d at 235; T.R.A.P. 36(a). In addition, the

testimony at issue is practically identical to the testimony of Dr. Gigi Davis, the victim’s

treating physician at the emergency room. The defendant has made no argument

against the admission of Dr. Davis’ testimony. As such, any alleged error in the

admission of Ms. Nelson’s testimony does not appear to have affirmatively affected the

result of the trial and therefore was harmless. Tenn. R. Crim. P. 52(a).

Accordingly, we find no merit to the defendant’s contentions and thus affirm

the judgment of the trial court.

______________________________ JOHN H. PEAY, Judge

CONCUR:

______________________________ JOE G. RILEY, Judge

9 ______________________________ THOMAS T. W OODALL, Judge