COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Corderro Mortez Lee
W2025-00670-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Clayburn Peeples

The Defendant, Corderro Mortez Lee, was convicted in the Gibson County Circuit Court of assault, a Class A misdemeanor, and received a sentence of eleven months, twenty-nine days to be served as four monthsin jail and the remainder on supervised probation. On appeal, he claims that the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction and that his four-month jail sentenceis excessive. Based upon our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Quaverre Rogers
W2025-01038-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge James Jones, Jr.

The Defendant, Quaverre Rogers, was convicted in the Shelby County Criminal Court of
voluntary manslaughter and possession of a prohibited weapon and received an effective
fourteen-year sentence. On appeal, he claims that (1) the evidence is insufficient to support
his conviction of voluntary manslaughter; (2) the trial court committed plain error by
allowing a medical examiner, who did not prepare the victim’s autopsy report, to testify
about the report and by admitting the report into evidence; and (3) his effective sentence is
excessive. Based upon our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Sheppard Washington
W2025-01115-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Kyle C. Atkins

In 2019, the Defendant, Sheppard Washington, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating
the sex offender registry statute. The trial court ordered him to serve six years, suspended
after serving eleven months and twenty-nine days in confinement. The remainder of the
five-year and one-day sentence was to be served on community corrections. In 2022, the
trial court ordered that the Defendant be transferred to probation under the supervision of
the Tennessee Department of Correction. In June 2024, the trial court revoked the
Defendant’s probation. In May 2025, the Defendant filed a Rule 36.1 motion to correct an
illegal sentence. He alleged that he did not receive credit for his time served on community
corrections. On May 23, 2025, the trial court found by order, first, that the Defendant did
not appeal the revocation order, so it was final. Next, it found that the Defendant’s time
was served on probation and not community corrections, so he was not entitled to jail
credits. The Defendant filed an untimely notice of appeal. We dismiss the appeal.

State of Tennessee v. Toni Lynn Petersen
M2026-00856-CCA-R8-CO
Dispositive Order
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter; Presiding Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer; Judge Jill Bartee Ayers

This matter is before the Court upon motion of the Defendant, Toni Lynn Petersen, for review of the trial court’s order granting the State’s motion to revoke her pretrial bond. See Tenn. R. App. P. 8; Tenn. Code. Ann. § 40-11-144. The State opposes. For the reasons stated below, the Defendant’s motion is denied.

State of Tennessee v. Eric Branch
M2025-00579-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge James A. Turner

Defendant, Eric Branch, appeals from his jury convictions for four counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of rape of a child, and one count of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony crime of violence, for which he is serving an effective sentence of eighty-two years. On appeal, he argues that (1) his right to a unanimous verdict was violated in Counts 1 and 2; (2) the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions in Counts 3 and 4; and (3) the trial court erred by imposing an excessive sentence. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm.

State of Tennessee v. Marcus Wade
M2025-01693-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jill Bartee Ayers
Trial Court Judge: Judge David D. Wolfe

Defendant, Marcus Wade, appeals the judgment of the Circuit Court for Dickson County revoking his probation and ordering execution of his original ten‑year sentence. He argues that the trial court erred by considering hearsay evidence obtained from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles website to find that he absconded from probation supervision. Following a review of the entire record, the briefs of the parties, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Spencer Baucom, Jr.
M2025-01881-CCA-R9-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Steven W. Sword
Trial Court Judge: Judge Barry R. Tidwell

The Defendant, Spencer Baucom, Jr., sought an interlocutory appeal under Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 9 and asked this court to review the trial court’s order denying him access to the audio recordings created by the court reporter during his rape trial. This court granted the Rule 9 application to address three questions. After a thorough review of the record, we reverse the trial court’s order in part and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

State of Tennessee v. Nathaniel R. White-Young
E2026-01009-CCA-R3-PC
Dispositive Order
Authoring Judge: Judges Greenholtz, Sword, Street

On July 2, 2026, the pro se Petitioner filed a Petition for Post-Conviction Relief in
this court, which the appellate court clerk entered as a notice of appeal. See Tenn. R. App.
P. 3(b) (providing an appeal as of right from a trial court’s final judgment adjudicating a
petition for post-conviction relief). The fifteen-page pleading alleges various instances of
ineffective assistance of counsel alleged to have rendered his guilty pleas involuntary. On
July 20, 2026, the Petitioner filed a Uniform Affidavit of Indigency seeking permission to
proceed as an indigent person on appeal. Tenn. R. App. P. 18(d).

Gary Sutton v. State of Tennessee
E2025-01849-CCA-R9-PD
Dispositive Order
Authoring Judge: Judge Greenholtz, Sword, Street

The capital Petitioner, Gary Sutton, has filed an application for interlocutory appeal, see
Tenn. R. App. P. 9, seeking review of the trial court’s August 14, 2025 order denying the
Petitioner’s motion to disqualify the Attorney General’s Office from representing the State at the
trial court level litigation of the Petitioner’s intellectual disability petition. The Petitioner argues
that interlocutory review of the trial court’s order is required to prevent irreparable injury, to
prevent needless and protracted litigation, and to develop a uniform body of law. Tenn. R. App. P.
9(a)(1), (2), and (3).

State of Tennessee v. Bernard Allen Wilson
E2025-00323-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steven W. Sword

In 2022, the Defendant, Bernard Allen Wilson, pleaded guilty to possession with the intent
to sell or deliver Fentanyl, a Class C felony and was placed on judicial diversion for five
years. In July 2024, a violation of probation warrant was filed based on a new arrest for
drug possession and weapon-related charges. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial
court found the Defendant in violation and revoked his judicial diversion. After a
sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered the Defendant to serve a six-year sentence in
confinement. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred when it imposed
a sentence of six years, which is longer than the five-years contemplated by his plea
agreement. He further contends that the trial court erred when it denied his request to
award him “street time” credit for the time he served on probation. After review, we affirm
the trial court’s judgment.

Webster Malone v. Stanley Lovett, Warden
M2026-00222-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge Jill Bartee Ayers
Trial Court Judge: Judge James A. Turner

Petitioner, Webster Malone, appeals the summary dismissal of his petition for habeas corpus relief. Pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals, we affirm.

State of Tennessee v. Terrence DeWayne Lewis, Jr.
E2025-00451-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jill Bartee Ayers
Trial Court Judge: Judge Barry A. Steelman

Defendant, Terrence Dewayne Lewis, Jr., was convicted of two counts of first degree felony murder, and one count each of especially aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and second degree murder. The trial court ordered all sentences to run concurrently for an effective life sentence. On appeal, Defendant argues: (1) the trial court erred by admitting expert testimony; (2) the trial court erred by admitting the DNA testing of the swab from Defendant’s shoe; (3) the State committed prosecutorial misconduct in its closing argument; (4) the State violated Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), by failing to timely disclose discovery materials; (5) the trial court erred by admitting the video recording of the high speed police pursuit and other evidence at trial; (6) the trial court erred by limiting the cross-examination of Detective James Goehring; and (7) that cumulative error entitles him to a new trial. Following a review of the entire record, the briefs of the parties, the arguments of counsel, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Charles Raymond Locke, Jr.
E2025-00507-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steven W. Sword

A Knox County jury convicted the Defendant, Charles Raymond Locke, Jr., of second
degree murder, and the trial court imposed a twenty-five-year sentence. The Defendant
appeals, asserting that the trial court erred when it denied his motion to suppress his
statement to the police and that the trial court abused its discretion when it sentenced him
to serve twenty-five years in prison. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the
trial court’s judgment.

State of Tennessee v. Roddarrius Eugene Jenkins
M2024-01446-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jennifer Smith

Roddarrius Eugene Jenkins, the Defendant, was convicted of first degree felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, a Class A felony, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, a Class B felony, by a Davidson County Criminal Court jury.  See T.C.A § 39-13-202 (2018) (subsequently amended) (first degree murder); § 39-13-403 (2025) (especially aggravated robbery); § 39-17-1307 (2018) (subsequently amended) (felon in possession of a firearm).  On appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred by (1) violating his Equal Protection rights by denying his motion to appoint a second attorney, (2) denying his motions to suppress his pretrial statements, (3) admitting the Defendant’s uncorroborated statements as evidence, (4) denying, at the close of the State’s proof, the Defendant’s request for a self-defense instruction, (5) restricting the scope of the codefendant’s cross-examination, and (6) finding enhancement factors applied to the Defendant’s sentence.  The Defendant also contends that the evidence is insufficient to support the Defendant’s convictions for felony murder and especially aggravated robbery.  We affirm the judgments of the trial court. 

Bryiant C. Overton v. State of Tennessee
M2025-01905-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge James A. Turner

Petitioner, Bryiant C. Overton, appeals the denial of his petition for writ of error coram nobis.  He contends that the circuit court abused its discretion by re-characterizing his petition as one for coram nobis relief, by dismissing the petition as time-barred, and by treating prior post-conviction proceedings as a procedural bar.  Upon review, we affirm.   

State of Tennessee v. John Skidmore, III
W2025-01231-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bruce Irwin Griffey

Defendant, John Skidmore, III, pleaded guilty to fourth offense driving under the influence (“DUI”) and was sentenced to two years suspended to probation after serving 150 days incarcerated. Following a hearing on a probation violation warrant, the trial court partially revoked Defendant’s probation, ordered him to serve one year and six months at 100 percent, and extended his probation for an additional year. Upon Defendant’s filing a motion to correct an illegal sentence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1, the trial court amended its prior revocation order and fully revoked Defendant’s probation. Defendant appeals and argues the trial court failed to place adequate findings on the record to justify its imposition of consequences for Defendant’s probation violation. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Michael Wayne Norton
E2025-00909-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steven W. Sword

A Knox County jury convicted the Defendant, Michael Wayne Norton, of aggravated
kidnapping, rape, aggravated assault, and domestic assault, and the trial court sentenced
him to twenty years. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient
to sustain his convictions. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.

Javarius Deshawn Baugh v. State of Tennessee
M2025-01279-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Matthew J. Wilson
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

A Davidson County jury convicted Petitioner, Javarius Deshawn Baugh, of first degree premeditated murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, for which he received an effective life sentence. Petitioner now appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

State of Tennessee v. Joseph Eugene Chestnut, Jr.
M2025-00747-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Steven W. Sword
Trial Court Judge: Judge Brody N. Kane

The Defendant, Joseph Eugene Chestnut, Jr., was convicted by a Macon County jury of one count of first degree premeditated murder and four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.  The trial court imposed an effective sentence of life imprisonment.  On appeal, the Defendant claims that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress the firearm seized during the warrantless search of his vehicle and that the evidence of premeditation is insufficient to support his conviction of first degree murder.  Following our review and pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36, we remand for entry of a corrected judgment in Count One to correct a clerical error.  Otherwise, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Brian Phillips
E2025-00994-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge G. Scott Green

This single appeal asks this Court to review the trial court’s sentencing and
consequence determinations at Defendant’s, Brian Phillips, combined violation of
probation and sentencing hearing in two separate matters. Defendant challenges the trial
court’s denial of alternative sentencing following his guilty pleas to two counts of
aggravated assault and one count of evading arrest in case number 130233 and violation of
probation in case number 120731. Because the trial court did not abuse its discretion, we
affirm.

State of Tennessee v. Travis Cohens
W2025-00601-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Carlyn L. Addison

The Defendant, Travis Cohens, was convicted by a Shelby County Criminal Court jury of first degree premeditated murder, attempted second degree murder, reckless endangerment, two counts of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and convicted felon in possession of a handgun. He raises four issues on appeal: (1) whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence of his prior bad acts; (2) whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain his first degree premeditated murder conviction; (3) whether the trial court erred by failing to give a complete and accurate jury instruction as to the knowing and intentional mens rea; and (4) whether the prosecutor engaged in prosecutorial misconduct by misstating the mens rea to the jury during closing argument. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Sarah Elaine Smith
W2025-01343-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Steven W. Sword
Trial Court Judge: Judge Kyle C. Atkins

The Defendant, Sarah Elaine Smith, pled guilty to two counts of attempted aggravated assault and one count each of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury or death, leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage in excess of $1,500, reckless driving, failure to exercise due care, and failure to maintain lane, for which the trial court imposed an effective sentence of one year of supervised probation. Following a restitution hearing, the trial court ordered the Defendant to pay $16,250 in restitution in installments of $200 per month. The Defendant appeals, arguing that the restitution award is unreasonable, that she will be unable to pay the full amount of the restitution award by the end of her probationary sentence under her current payment schedule, and that the trial court erred by failing to consider her financial resources and ability to pay the restitution award. Following our review, we reverse the trial court’s restitution order and remand for entry of a revised restitution order.

Annesha Jackson v. State of Tennessee
W2025-00940-CCA-R3-PC
Dispositive Order
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer, Judge John W. Campbell, Judge Matthew J. Wilson
Trial Court Judge: Judge Carlyn L. Addison

We conclude that the notice of appeal, filed pro se while represented by counsel,
was a nullity that failed to invoke this court’s jurisdiction. Likewise, counsel’s attempt to
correct this deficiency by filing a notice of appeal over ten months past the August 11,
2025 due date—unaccompanied by a motion seeking permission to waive the timely filing
of the notice of appeal—failed to invoke this court’s jurisdiction.
Upon full consideration, the State’s motion is well-taken and is, therefore,
GRANTED. We dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

State of Tennessee v. John Jay Starnes
M2025-00802-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ashleigh L. Travis

John Jay Starnes, Defendant, was convicted following a bench trial of two counts of unlawfully and negligently placing a child in imminent danger in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-15-401(d)(2022). Defendant argues that the trial court erred by denying diversion and by imposing a split-confinement sentence of eleven months and twenty-nine days, suspended to probation after service of thirty days in jail. Following a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Travarius Dewayne Houston
M2025-00826-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

After a bench trial, the trial court convicted the Defendant, Trevarius Dewayne Houston, of two counts of assault against a law enforcement officer, one count of retaliation for past action, one count of theft of merchandise, and one count of resisting arrest. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to serve a total effective sentence of two years, suspended to a year of probation. On appeal, the Defendant asserts that: (1) the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions; and (2) the State committed prosecutorial misconduct during closing argument. After review, we reverse the trial court’s judgments in Count 1 and Count 3 and affirm the remaining judgments.