State of Tennessee v. Timothy Garvin Odom

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
Assigned on Briefs October 7, 2008

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. TIMOTHY GARVIN ODOM

Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Hardeman County
No. 07-01-0494 J. Weber McCraw, Judge

No. W2008-00795-CCA-R3-CD - Filed September 21, 2009

Following a jury trial, Defendant, Timothy Garvin Odom, was found guilty of rape of a child, a Class
A felony. The trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range One, standard offender, to eighteen years.
On appeal, Defendant argues that (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction; (2) the
trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his statement; and (3) the trial court erred in its
sentencing determinations. After a thorough review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

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

THOMAS T. WOODALL, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which DAVID H. WELLES and J.C.
MCLIN , JJ., joined.

Mike Mosier, Jackson, Tennessee, for the appellant, Timothy Garvin Odom.

Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Mary W. Francois, Assistant Attorney
General; D. Michael Dunavant, District Attorney General; Joe Van Dyke, Assistant District Attorney
General, for the appellee, the State of Tennessee.

OPINION

I. Background

Investigator Mike Kennamore, with the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Department, testified that
he was contacted by the Department of Children’s Services on April 26, 2007, concerning a
complaint made by the victim, E.D., who was eleven years old. (The minor victim will be referred
to by her initials). E.D. was interviewed at the Carl Perkins Center, and Investigator Kennamore
watched the interview in a separate room via a closed circuit television. Investigator Kennamore
said that the victim ran “through a range of emotions” during the interview. Initially, E.D. was
“closed up,” looking down, and then she began to open up as the interviewer continued to talk.
Investigator Kennamore said that E.D. at that point became upset and was embarrassed. During the
interview, the victim eventually said that Defendant had penetrated her vaginally with his penis. A
warrant for Defendant’s arrest was issued, and it was discovered that Defendant had left Hardeman
County.

Investigator Kennamore received information that Defendant was residing in Forrest,
Mississippi. On June 20, 2007, Defendant was arrested in Mississippi and transported back to
Tennessee. Investigator Kennamore stated that he interviewed Defendant at the Hardeman County
Sheriff’s Department on June 21, 2007. Defendant was read his Miranda rights, indicated he
understood his right not to continue with the interview, and executed a written waiver of those rights.
Investigator Kennamore said that he and Defendant conversed for awhile, and then Defendant gave
a written statement concerning E.D.’s allegations. The statement was introduced as an exhibit at trial
and read to the jury. In his statement, Defendant acknowledged that he knew the victim and that he
had had sexual contact with her. In his statement, Defendant said that the victim had been flirting
with the boys in the neighborhood. Defendant explained:

I said I was going to tell on her to her mother, and she said, “No, don’t do that.” I
think I said yes because [the victim’s mother] needs to know how she had been
conducting herself with them boys and all. She kind of got whiney, saying “don’t
tell.” I was pretty well wasted that day. She shoved me down on the bed. If I
remember correctly, she was unbuttoning her pants. She pulled my shorts down –
when I say shorts, I mean boxers. She got on top of me and she started rubbing,
bumping, grinding or whatever you want to call it. I finally pushed her off of me.
I stood up and put my shorts on. I told myself, “I need to get out of this mess,” and
I left.

When asked whether his penis had penetrated the victim’s vagina, Defendant responded, “It
felt real warm but it never did go in.” Defendant said that he had drunk one and one-half forty-ounce
bottles of beer. Defendant stated that the incident occurred in his bedroom, and he said that the
victim was twelve years old.

On cross-examination, Investigator Kennamore acknowledged that Defendant cooperated
with the investigation. Investigator Kennamore stated that the victim did not give a specific date in
March as to when the incident occurred, and he acknowledge that the offense could have been
committed in late February. Investigator Kennamore acknowledged that E.D. was not examined by
a physician, but he believed that a medical examination would not have revealed any evidence
pertinent to the case.

E.D. testified that she lived in a three bedroom house with her mother, Geneva Denney, and
three brothers, Nathan, John-John, and Eric. E.D. said that Defendant also lived with the family at
the time of the offense. E.D. stated that Eric and John-John shared a bedroom, Nathan slept on the
couch, she shared a room with her mother, and Defendant slept in the third bedroom. On the night
of the offense, E.D., one of her brothers, and Defendant were watching a movie in Defendant’s
bedroom from Defendant’s bed. E.D. said she was dressed in jeans and a shirt, and Defendant was
wearing boxer shorts. At some point, E.D.’s brother left Defendant’s bedroom. E.D. stated that she

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fell asleep during the movie. E.D. said that Defendant then removed her clothes and penetrated her
in her “private part” with his “private part.” E.D. said that the incident lasted between ten and
twenty minutes. Defendant told E.D., “Don’t tell your mama or you’re not going to have nowhere
else to live.” E.D. acknowledged that Defendant paid some of the family’s bills.

E.D. said that she told her mother about the incident some time later. Ms. Denney confronted
Defendant and told him that she was going to call the sheriff’s department, and Defendant “ran out
the door.” E.D. stated that she was eleven years old at the time of the offense.

On cross-examination, E.D. said that her brothers asked her mother if Defendant could live
with them, and Ms. Denney agreed. E.D. stated that her mother felt sorry for Defendant because he
had cancer. E.D. said that the incident occurred at approximately 10:00 p.m. on a weekday night.
E.D.’s brother, Nathan, was supposed to stay with E.D. while her mother went to pick up her other
brothers from work, but Nathan went over to his uncle’s house and left E.D. alone with Defendant.

E.D. said that after the incident, Defendant’s son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Alisha
Odom, came to live with them. E.D. told Ms. Odom about the incident after Defendant complained
to Ms. Denney about E.D.’s failure to do her homework. Ms. Odom told Ms. Denney that E.D. had
something to tell her, and E.D. then told Ms. Denney.

Ms. Denney testified that she met Defendant while she was living with her mother in Byhalia,
Mississippi. Ms. Denney’s sons, John and Nathan, became friends with Defendant who lived two
doors down from the Denneys. Ms. Denney said that Defendant was divorced and had cancer at the
time. When Ms. Denney decided to move to Tennessee, her sons asked her if Defendant could come
with them. Ms. Denney said that she did not have a job at the time, and Defendant’s disability check
would cover the family’s bills, so she agreed. Ms. Denney said that she never had a romantic
relationship with Defendant.

Ms. Denney said that Kevin and Alisha Odom arrived at the house. Ms. Denney was in her
bedroom when they rushed in and told her to listen to what E.D. had to say. Ms. Denney
immediately confronted Defendant about the incident. Defendant responded, “Geneva, do you think
I would do something like that?” Ms. Denney told Defendant she was going to call 911 and the
sheriff’s department. Defendant ran out of the house, jumped into his truck, and left. Ms. Denney
said that Kevin Odom actually reported the incident to the sheriff’s department. Ms. Denney
explained that her oldest daughter “was done the same way by a former boyfriend’s friend.” Ms.
Denney stated:

I went all the way, and his daddy was the Sheriff. He ran. They never prosecuted or
nothing. They just let it go. It just went through the system, and I figured it would
do the same with [E.D.] so I didn’t push.

The State rested its case-in-chief, and Defendant put on his defense. Defendant testified that
he was fifty-two years old, that his cancer was in remission, and he suffered from depression.

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Defendant said that he had been receiving social security benefits for approximately five years
because he was unable to work. Defendant stated that he paid some of Ms. Denney’s bills in
exchange for room and board. Defendant considered Ms. Denney a close friend. Defendant
described his relationship with his son as “poor” because Kevin Odom had a drug problem.
Defendant stated that he tried to be like a grandfather to Ms. Denney’s children. Defendant said, “I
just love them to death, you know.” Defendant said that his heart was broken over E.D.’s
allegations, but he “still care[d] for them very deeply.”

Defendant said that in addition to Ms. Denney and her four children, Kevin and Alisha Odom
and their baby, and Defendant’s four grandchildren also lived in the house. Defendant stated the
incident occurred on a Sunday between approximately 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and that everybody
was at home. Defendant said that E.D. was mad at him that Sunday because he had admonished her
when E.D. “flashed” the young man across the street. Defendant said that E.D. pushed Defendant
down on his bed and began striking and kicking him. Defendant pushed E.D. off the bed on to the
floor. Defendant denied that there was any sexual contact between him and E.D. Defendant said
that he was weak from his chemotherapy, and E.D. was taller than Defendant and weighed more.

Defendant said that his son came into the bedroom and then Ms. Denney. Kevin Odom
threatened to beat up Defendant, and Defendant told them he would go to his sister’s house in
Mississippi until “everybody cools down.” Defendant said that he was scared of his son. Defendant
did not recollect Ms. Denney asking him if he had touched E.D. Defendant said that he exchanged
a few letters with Ms. Denney while he was in Mississippi, and Defendant’s sister talked to Ms.
Denney by telephone.

Defendant said that his statement to Investigator Kennamore concerning his sexual contact
with E.D. was untrue. Defendant stated that Investigator Kennamore “was pretty rough,” and “got
in [his] face real hard.” Defendant denied that he initiated any sexual contact with E.D.

On cross-examination, Defendant acknowledged that he did not say that E.D. slapped or
struck him in his statement to Investigator Kennamore. Defendant denied that E.D. pulled down his
boxers or that he had any type of sexual contact with her. Defendant acknowledged that he knew
he had been charged with rape of a child at the time that he gave his statement, but stated that he did
not know the length of his potential sentence until later. Defendant said that he last underwent
chemotherapy approximately one year before the incident.

The State called as a rebuttal witness Angela Anders, a correctional officer with the
Hardeman County Sheriff’s Department. On June 21, 2007, Investigator Kennamore asked Officer
Anders to step into the interview room and read Defendant’s statement to him because Defendant
did not have his glasses with him. Officer Anders read the statement to Defendant, and then she
signed the statement along with Defendant and the investigating officers.

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II. Sufficiency of the Evidence

On appeal, Defendant argues that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction.
Defendant points out that the incident was not reported for approximately two months, and the
incident could not have occurred as the victim described because of the number of people in the
house on the day of the incident. Defendant submits that there was a factual dispute as to whether
sexual penetration had occurred, and yet the victim was not medically examined after the incident.

When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence, we must review the
evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution in determining whether a rational trier of fact
could have found all the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789 (1979). Once a jury finds a defendant guilty, his
or her presumption of innocence is removed and replaced on appeal with a presumption of guilt.
State v. Black, 815 S.W.2d 166, 175 (Tenn. 1991). The defendant has the burden of overcoming this
presumption, and the State is entitled to the strongest legitimate view of the evidence along with all
reasonable inferences which may be drawn from that evidence. Id.; State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d
913, 914 (Tenn. 1982). The jury is presumed to have resolved all conflicts and drawn any reasonable
inferences in favor of the State. State v. Sheffield, 676 S.W.2d 542, 547 (Tenn. 1984). Questions
concerning the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given the evidence, and all factual
issues raised by the evidence are resolved by the trier of fact and not this court. State v. Bland, 958
S.W.2d 651, 659 (Tenn. 1997). These rules are applicable to findings of guilt predicated upon direct
evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a combination of both direct and circumstantial evidence.
State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990).

Defendant was convicted of rape of a child which requires the State to prove that (1)
Defendant unlawfully sexually penetrated the victim, (2) who was less than thirteen years old, and
that (3) Defendant acted intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly. T.C.A. § 39-13-522. “Sexual
penetration” is defined as “sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse, or any other
intrusion, however slight, of any part of a person’s body ... into the genital or anal openings of the
victim’s ... body, but emission of semen is not required.” T.C.A. § 39-13-501(7).

Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, the victim testified that she was
left alone with Defendant in Defendant’s bedroom as she watched a movie video. The victim said
that Defendant removed her clothes and penetrated her “private part” with his “private part,” and the
incident lasted between ten and twenty minutes. The victim testified that she was eleven years old
at the time of the offense.

The crux of Defendant’s argument on appeal challenges the credibility of both the victim and
his statement to the investigating officer acknowledging that he had engaged in sexual conduct with
the victim. The jury heard Defendant’s testimony at trial denying the truth of his statement. The jury
by its verdict obviously did not find Defendant’s trial testimony credible. The jury also by its verdict
credited the victim’s testimony concerning the offense and the circumstances surrounding the
offense, as was its prerogative. The victim’s and Ms. Denney’s explanations of why the offense was

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not immediately reported to the authorities was for the jury to weigh in assessing the credibility of
their testimony. It is well settled that “‘[t]he credibility of the witnesses, the weight to be given their
testimony, and the reconciliation of conflicts in the evidence are matters entrusted exclusively to the
jury as the triers of fact.’” State v. Smith, 42 S.W.3d 101, 106 -107 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000)
(quoting State v. Cribbs, 967 S.W.2d 773, 793 (Tenn.1998)). A conviction based on the victim’s
testimony alone is sufficient. State v. Williams, 623 S.W.2d 118, 120 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1981).
Moreover, corroboration of a victim’s testimony by physical evidence, such as a medical report, is
not required to support a jury’s conviction of rape. State v. Bonds, 189 S.W.3d 249, 256 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 2005).

Based on our review, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could find Defendant guilty of
the offense of rape of a child beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendant is not entitled to relief on this
issue.

III. Motion to Suppress

At the hearing on Defendant’s motion to suppress his statement, Investigator Kennamore
testified that he interviewed Defendant after Defendant was arrested on the charge of rape of a child.
Investigator Kennamore stated that he read the form containing the Miranda rights to Defendant.
Defendant, Investigator Kennamore, and Investigator Billy Davis, who was also present during the
interview, signed the form. Investigator Kennamore said that Defendant did not have any questions
about his Miranda rights and appeared to understand those rights. Defendant was interviewed for
a period of time and then Investigator Kennamore reduced his questions to writing and wrote down
Defendant’s responses to the written questions. At no point did Defendant indicate that he wished
to terminate the interview or that he wanted the assistance of counsel. Investigator Kennamore stated
that Defendant did not have his glasses with him. Officer Angela Anders read Defendant’s statement
to him and then signed the statement. Investigator Kennamore said that the interview commenced
at 8:30 a.m. and lasted approximately one hour and forty-five minutes.

On cross-examination, Investigator Kennamore said that he received word on the evening
of June 20, 2007, that Defendant had arrived at the Hardeman County Jail, and Defendant was
interviewed the following day. Investigator Kennamore said that Defendant “appeared to be fine.”
Investigator Kennamore stated that the interview process was comprised of two components.
Initially, Defendant was given the opportunity to talk and elaborate on his responses to the interview
questions. Investigator Kennamore said that he then told Defendant, “Now, we’re going to get your
statement on paper,” or words to that effect. Investigator Kennamore acknowledged that the
interview was not recorded and that Defendant was not read his Miranda rights again before his
responses were reduced to writing. Investigator Kennamore described Defendant as nervous “and
probably a little upset” during the interview but said that Defendant did not appear to be confused.

Investigator Davis testified that Defendant was read his Miranda rights, that he appeared to
understand his rights, and that he did not ask any questions about his rights or the interview process.
Investigator Davis said that Defendant at no point asked to terminate the interview or invoked his

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right to counsel. On cross-examination, Investigator Davis stated that he did not recollect asking
Defendant about his level of education and described defendant as “nervous” during the interview.

Defendant testified that he was fifty-two years old and suffered from a “bad hip joint,”
depression, and a heart condition. Defendant said that his colon cancer was in remission. At the
time of his arrest, Defendant was taking Loritab. Defendant stated that he “barely” remembered his
interview with Investigator Kennamore and said that the interview was “kind of blurred like.”
Defendant said that he had taken approximately 30 Loritab on June 20, 2007, and drunk two forty-
ounce bottles of beer. Defendant stated that he was nervous and “feeling shaky inside” the next
morning when the interview began. Defendant said that he did not remember anything about the
interview other than telling the investigating officers his name. Defendant stated that he did not
understand that he had the right to refuse to talk to the investigators. Defendant recollected that a
woman read something to him during the interview, but he did not understand what she was reading.

At the conclusion of the suppression hearing, the trial court denied Defendant’s motion. The
trial court credited the testimony of Investigators Kennamore and Davis, and found that Defendant’s
statement was knowingly and voluntarily given based on the totality of the circumstances.

On appeal, Defendant challenges the trial court’s denial of his motion to suppress. Defendant
submits that he was sick and nervous on the day of the interview and could not remember anything
about the process. Defendant also points to his trial testimony that one of the investigators was
“pretty much in his face,” was “rough” with him, and threatened to “put his DNA on [the victim].”
Defendant argues that these factors support a finding that his statement was not voluntarily made.

This Court will uphold a trial court’s findings of fact in a suppression hearing unless the
evidence preponderates otherwise. State v. Hayes, 188 S.W.3d 505, 510 (Tenn. 2006) (citing State
v. Odom, 928 S.W.2d 18, 23 (Tenn. 1996)). On appeal, “[t]he prevailing party in the trial court is
afforded the ‘strongest legitimate view of the evidence and all reasonable and legitimate inferences
that may be drawn from that evidence.’” State v. Carter, 16 S.W.3d 762, 765 (Tenn. 2000) (quoting
State v. Keith, 978 S.W.2d 861, 864 (Tenn. 1998)). “Questions of credibility of the witnesses, the
weight and value of the evidence, and resolution of conflicts in the evidence are matters entrusted
to the trial judge as the trier of fact.” Odom, 928 S.W.2d at 23. Our review of a trial court’s
application of law to the facts is de novo, with no presumption of correctness. State v. Walton, 41
S.W.3d 75, 81 (Tenn. 2001) (citing State v. Crutcher, 989 S.W.2d 295, 299 (Tenn. 1999); State v.
Yeargan, 958 S.W.2d 626, 629 (Tenn. 1997)).

“Inherent in the admissibility of the written statement is that the statement was voluntarily
given by a defendant knowledgeable of his constitutional rights and accompanied by a valid and
knowing waiver of those rights.” State v. Berry, 141 S.W.3d 549, 577 (Tenn. 2004) (citing Miranda
v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 467, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 1624 (1966); State v. Middlebrooks, 840 S.W.2d 317,
326 (Tenn. 1992)). In determining the voluntariness of a statement, the trial court must look at the
totality of the circumstances and decide if “the behavior of the state’s law enforcement officials was
such as to overbear petitioner’s will to resist and bring about confessions not freely self-determined.”

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State v. Kelly, 603 S.W.2d 726, 728 (Tenn. 1980) (quoting Rogers v. Richmond, 365 U.S. 534, 544,
81 S. Ct. 735, 741 (1961)).

Defendant contends that he did not understand his constitutional right to remain silent as a
result of his ill health on the day of the interview, caused by the ingestion of thirty Loritabs and beer
the day before. Investigator Kennamore testified that he was notified of Defendant’s arrival at the
Hardeman County Sheriff’s Department on the evening of June 20, 2007, and Defendant was housed
in the county jail until approximately 8:30 a.m. the following morning when the interview began.
Investigator Kennamore and Investigator Davis agreed that Defendant appeared nervous during the
interview, but both testified that Defendant understood his Miranda rights. Although Defendant
described the interview process as a “blur,” his statement is detailed and coherent as to the
circumstances surrounding the commission of the offense. Even though Defendant repeatedly denied
that he remembered anything that occurred during the interview, Defendant testified at trial
concerning the investigating officers’ demeanor which Defendant described as “rough” and
threatening. Defendant also testified at trial that he knew that he was charged with rape of a child
at the time of the interview.

The trial court found:

that the defendant’s testimony was somewhat contradictory to the arresting officers;
however, the Court does determine that, again the defendant did make a knowing and
voluntary and intelligent waiver of the rights. The Court does accredit the testimony
of the officers. The Court does not find the statement of the defendant that the matter
was a blur to be a credible statement. The Court finds more credible that he was
nervous and scared considering the charges against him and his situation. The Court
finds that to be a reasonable situation.

Based on our review, we conclude that Defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his
constitutional right against self-incrimination and voluntarily gave his statement concerning the
offense. Thus, the trial court did not err by denying Defendant’s motion to suppress his statement.
Defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.

IV. Sentencing

Defendant argues that the trial court erred in enhancing the length of his sentence based on
a finding that Defendant abused a position of private trust “in a manner that significantly facilitated
the commission or the fulfillment of the offense.” See T.C.A. § 40-35-114(14). Defendant contends
that there was no proof presented at trial that would support a finding of a special relationship
between the victim and Defendant, or that Defendant “was anything other than a renter” in Ms.
Denney’s home.

At the sentencing hearing, the State relied upon the presentence report which was introduced
as an exhibit without objection. Defendant offered no evidence at the hearing. According to the

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presentence report, Defendant completed the sixth grade before dropping out of school. Defendant
stated that he was separated from his wife, and he has three adult children. Defendant reported
working as a salesman for an automobile dealership in Mississippi from 1991 until 2001 when he
resigned due to health problems. Defendant stated in the report that he first used alcohol in 2004 and
consumed a twelve-pack of beer daily. Defendant reported that “he was sober for six hours at a time
and did not commit crimes when drunk.” Defendant does not have a prior history of criminal
convictions.

Defendant was convicted of rape of a child, a Class A felony. As a Range I, standard
offender, Defendant was subject to a sentence range of between fifteen and twenty-five years. See
T.C.A. § 40-35-112(a)(1). The trial court found the presence of one enhancement factor based on
Defendant’s violation of a private trust with the victim. The trial court sentenced Defendant as a
Range I, standard offender, to eighteen years for his rape of a child conviction.

On appeal, the party challenging the sentence imposed by the trial court has the burden of
establishing that the sentence is improper. See T.C.A. § 40-35-401, Sentencing Comm’n Comments;
see also State v. Arnett, 49 S.W.3d 250, 257 (Tenn. 2001). When a Defendant challenges the length,
range, or manner of service of a sentence, it is the duty of this Court to conduct a de novo review on
the record with a presumption that the determinations made by the court from which the appeal is
taken are correct. T.C.A. § 40-35-401(d). This presumption of correctness, 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. Carter, 254 S.W.3d 335, 344-45
(Tenn. 2008) (quoting State v. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166, 169 Tenn. 1991)). “If, however, the trial
court applies inappropriate mitigating and/or enhancement factors or otherwise fails to follow the
Sentencing Act, the presumption of correctness fails,” and our review is de novo. Carter, 254
S.W.3d at 345 (quoting State v. Shelton, 854 S.W.2d 116, 123 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992); State v.
Pierce, 138 S.W.3d 820, 827 (Tenn. 2004)).

A trial court is mandated by the Sentencing Act to “impose a sentence within the range of
punishment.” T.C.A. § 40-35-210(c). A trial court, however, “is no longer required to begin with
a presumptive sentence subject to increase and decrease on the basis of enhancement and mitigating
factors.” Carter, 254 S.W.3d at 346. Therefore, an appellate court is “bound by a trial court’s
decision as to the length of the sentence imposed so long as it is imposed in a manner consistent with
the purposes and principles set out in sections -102 and -103 of the Sentencing Act.” Id.

In conducting a de novo review of a sentence, this Court must consider (a) the evidence
adduced at the trial and the sentencing hearing; (b) the presentence report; (c) the principles of
sentencing and arguments as to sentencing alternatives; (d) the nature and characteristics of the
criminal conduct involved; (e) evidence and information offered by the parties on the enhancement
and mitigating factors set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated sections 40-35-113 and 40-35-114;
(f) any statistical information provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts as to Tennessee
sentencing practices for similar offenses; and (g) any statement the Defendant wishes to make in the

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the Defendant’s own behalf about sentencing. T.C.A. § 40-35-210(b); see also Carter, 254 S.W.3d
at 343; State v. Imfeld, 70 S.W.3d 698, 704 (Tenn. 2002).

A defendant’s abuse of a private trust “that significantly facilitated the commission or
fulfillment of the offense” may be considered as an enhancement factor. See T.C.A. § 40-35-
114(14). In State v. Kissenger, 922 S.W.2d 482, 488 (Tenn. 1996), our supreme court held that:

[a]pplication of [this] factor requires a finding, first, that the defendant occupied a
position of trust, either public or private. The position of parent, step-parent,
babysitter, teacher, coach are but a few obvious examples. The determination of the
existence of a position of trust does not depend on the length or formality of the
relationship, but upon the nature of the relationship. Thus, the court should look to
see whether the offender formally or informally stood in a relationship to the victim
that promoted confidence, reliability or faith.

Ms. Denney testified that she first met Defendant in Mississippi. Defendant lived two doors
down from Ms. Denney, and he befriended Ms. Denney’s sons. When Ms. Denney decided to move
to Tennessee, her sons asked Ms. Denney to let Defendant move in with them. Ms. Denney said that
Defendant told her that her children “were like angels to him.” Ms. Denney agreed to let Defendant
stay at her house in exchange for Defendant’s help in paying the family’s bills. At trial, Defendant
described his relationship with the Denney children as follows:

I’d say like a father/daughter/son, you know, like a grandfather or something. I tried
to be, you know – that’s how I treated them, you know. I’m crazy about the whole
family – I mean the whole family. I just love them to death you know.

“Where the adult perpetrator and minor victim are members of the same household, the adult
occupies a position of ‘presumptive private trust’ with respect to the minor.” State v. Gutierrez, 5
S.W.3d 641, 645 (Tenn. 1999). Based on our review, we conclude that the record supports the trial
court’s consideration of enhancement factor (14) in determining the length of Defendant’s sentence.
The record in this case adequately supports the trial court’s decision to impose a sentence of eighteen
years for Defendant’s conviction of rape of a child. Defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.

CONCLUSION

After a thorough review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

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THOMAS T. WOODALL, JUDGE

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