IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
March 24, 2009 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. ENRIQUE ALEJANDRO PEREZ
Appeal from the Criminal Court for Hamblen County
No. 07CR489 John Dugger, Judge
No. E2008-01391-CCA-R3-CD - Filed August 25, 2009
The Defendant, Enrique Alejandro Perez, appeals as of right from his jury conviction in the Hamblen
County Criminal Court for aggravated kidnapping, a Class B felony, for which he received a
sentence of ten years as a violent offender. On appeal, he argues that (1) the trial court erred in
denying his motion to suppress his statement, (2) the trial court erred in denying his motion to strike
the jury panel based upon his allegation of an under-representation of Latino persons, (3) the
aggravated kidnapping statute, as applied in this case, is unconstitutional because he was not
separately indicted for the underlying offense of rape, (4) there is insufficient evidence to support
his conviction for aggravated kidnapping, and (5) the trial court imposed an excessive sentence.
Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court is Affirmed.
D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which JOSEPH M. TIPTON , P.J., and
JAMES CURWOOD WITT, JR., J., joined.
Greg Eichelman, District Public Defender; and Ethel P. Rhodes, Assistant District Public Defender,
attorneys for appellant, Enrique Alejandro Perez.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Matthew Bryant Haskell, Assistant Attorney
General; C. Berkeley Bell, Jr., District Attorney General; and Victor J. Vaughn, Assistant District
Attorney General, attorneys for appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
The Defendant was convicted of the aggravated kidnapping of his ex-girlfriend, Jaquelin
Rincon Perez. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-304(a)(1). The proof at trial showed that the
Defendant abducted the victim from the parking lot of her workplace, drove her to his home, and
raped her. Detective Lieutenant Christian Newman testified that she was called to a report of a
kidnapping at Koch Foods in Morristown on June 14, 2007. Upon her arrival, she spoke to Vicky
Ivy, an employee of Koch Foods. She left the business when she learned that Kevin Gentry, then-
patrol officer with Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department, had located the victim. Before leaving,
Detective Newman requested a surveillance video of the parking lot from the security department
of Koch Foods.
Vicky Ivy, a supervisor at Koch Foods, testified that she knew both the Defendant and the
victim from work. She recalled that the Defendant no longer worked at Koch Foods on June 14,
2007, and that the Defendant and the victim had broken up some time before that date. Ms. Ivy was
in the parking lot waiting for her shift to begin on the morning of June 14 when she saw the
Defendant approach the victim and lead her by her arm to his car. She recalled that the victim
attempted to exit the moving vehicle but that the Defendant stopped her. Ms. Ivy testified that she
was concerned about the incident because she knew that they had broken up. She reported the
incident to a security guard. Ms. Ivy described the Defendant’s treatment of the victim while they
were dating as “very good to [the victim], very good. He loved her a lot, and probably still does.”
Detective Kevin Gentry of the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department testified that he was
dispatched to the Defendant’s home on June 14 to investigate a report of a kidnapping. He recalled
arriving at the residence to find the victim outside crying and “visibly shaken.” He stated that when
the Defendant came out of the house, the victim identified him as the man who had taken her from
the parking lot of Koch Foods.
Jaqueline Perez testified that her relationship with the Defendant had ended three months
prior to the incident on June 14, 2007. She recalled that as she walked into work, the Defendant
approached her in the parking lot, grabbed her arm, and told her that he wanted to speak with her.
The victim testified that he led her to his car and that although she attempted to get out, the
Defendant held her arm. The victim said that the Defendant told her that she could not date anyone
but him. She testified that she told the Defendant that taking her by force was a crime, but that the
Defendant told her that “it didn’t matter.” The Defendant drove the victim to his home and forced
her to his bedroom. The victim testified that once they were inside the room, the Defendant “told
me that he was going to kill me. He squished my neck with his two hands. I was very afraid. I tried
to get his hands loose, but I felt like I was suffocating.” The victim stated that the Defendant took
her clothes off and told her that he wanted to have sex with her. She told him repeatedly that she did
not want to have sex, but the Defendant had sex with her anyway. When he was done, the Defendant
told the victim she could leave. While the Defendant collected the victim’s clothes, she grabbed his
telephone and ran outside. The victim locked herself in the car until the police arrived. The
Defendant blocked the vehicle with another one to prevent her from leaving. Once she saw the
police approaching, the victim got out of the car. On cross-examination, the victim admitted that
she had had sex with the Defendant since their break-up but contended that she did not voluntarily
go with him or engage in sex during this incident.
Pam Taylor testified that she was a Detective Sergeant with the Hamblen County Sheriff’s
Department at the time of the incident. She was called to the Defendant’s home to investigate a
report of a kidnapping and rape. She was responsible for processing the crime scene. After finishing
with the crime scene, Ms. Taylor went to the hospital to speak to the victim. She recalled that the
victim did not speak English very well so she had to use an interpreter to take the victim’s statement.
After taking the victim’s statement, Ms. Taylor went to the jail to speak with the Defendant. She
testified that the Defendant had no difficulty communicating with her in English and that she advised
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him of his Miranda rights, which he waived, prior to taking his statement. In his statement, the
Defendant admitted to grabbing the victim and walking her to his car. He also stated that the victim
tried to get out of the car but he grabbed her and “wouldn’t let her out.” The Defendant admitted that
he pushed the victim down on his bed and began to hug and kiss her. He told Ms. Taylor that the
victim “wouldn’t let me kiss her” so he put a “hickey” on her neck to make her new boyfriend
jealous. He told Ms. Taylor that the victim was crying during his assault. He also admitted to
forcing her to have sex. He told Ms. Taylor that the victim grabbed the phone and ran outside so he
unplugged the phone to prevent her from calling anyone. He also stated that he blocked the car to
prevent her from leaving. The Defendant expressed remorse for what he had done, stating to Ms.
Taylor, “I know I screwed up, and I regret what happened. . . . I thought if I had sex with her, she
would realize she wanted to be with me, but it didn’t happen.” On cross-examination, Ms. Taylor
insisted that an interpreter was not necessary to take the Defendant’s statement because the
Defendant “spoke fluently” with her.
Angela Star Cannon, a friend of the Defendant, testified that the Defendant had lived at
her house for about three years and that, during that time, the victim lived with them for about six
to nine months. She stated that they all went to the beach together, traveled to Gatlinburg, and
generally socialized together. She described her relationship with both the Defendant and the victim
as “really good friends.” When asked about her reaction to the charge against the Defendant, Ms.
Cannon said that she “couldn’t believe it and I don’t believe it.” She described the victim’s
treatment of the Defendant during their relationship and said that the victim “would get really mad
easily . . . . [and] she went with other men; [the Defendant] would take her back.” She admitted that
she considered herself a closer friend of the Defendant and that she had no personal knowledge of
the events of June 14.
David King, the Defendant’s landlord, testified that he rented a house to the Defendant and
the victim and that the Defendant sometimes worked for him. Mr. King was at the residence on June
14 while the police were investigating the offense. He recalled seeing the victim and stated that
“[s]he wasn’t crying. Her hair wasn’t messed up. . . . I didn’t see no bruises or nothing of that
nature.” Mr. King recalled seeing the victim at the residence even after the couple had broken up.
He also stated that the Defendant “was a lot thinner” when the two dated and that the victim “would
get an advantage over him” even when horse-playing in the backyard. Mr. King testified that
sometimes when the victim became angry at the Defendant, he would see the Defendant run and hide
until the victim “calmed down.” Mr. King stated that he never saw the Defendant get mad or raise
his voice. He also testified that he tried to tell Ms. Taylor his impression of the relationship but that
he “was brushed off.”
Based upon this evidence, the jury convicted the Defendant of aggravated kidnapping, as
charged in the indictment, and fixed a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars. The trial court imposed
a sentence of ten years as a violent offender. Following a timely motion for new trial that was
denied by the trial court, the Defendant filed a notice of appeal. This appeal is now properly before
this court.
ANALYSIS
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Motion to Suppress
The Defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his
statement that, he claims, authorities elicited without a voluntary, knowing, and understanding
waiver of his Miranda rights. He claims that because English is not his native language, he did not
understand all of the concepts when waiving his Miranda rights. The State contends that the record
supports the trial court’s denial of the Defendant’s motion to suppress. Following our review, we
agree with the State.
Morristown Police Department Detective Alfonso Herrera testified that he arrived at the
Defendant’s residence to investigate the kidnapping report. He recalled speaking to two individuals,
the Defendant and Antonio Mondragon, who both executed a consent to search. Detective Herrera
stated that Spanish is his first language; therefore, because the Defendant and Mr. Mondragon were
both Latino, he spoke to both men in Spanish and gave them consent to search forms that were also
written in Spanish. He recalled that each man signed the consents to search voluntarily and prior to
any arrest being made for the kidnapping.
Detective Sergeant Pam Taylor of the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department testified that
she was also present at the Defendant’s residence on the day of the incident. She stated that both city
and county officers initially investigated the kidnapping allegation until it was determined which
agency would handle the investigation and prosecution of the case. She assisted in processing the
Defendant’s residence for evidence. Later, she spoke to the Defendant at the jail after his arrest. She
recalled that the Defendant spoke both English and Spanish fluently. She testified that the Defendant
told her that he had graduated from Morristown East High School and had attended some college.
After explaining the Miranda waiver to the Defendant in English, the Defendant voluntarily signed
the waiver and gave Detective Taylor a statement recounting the events of the day. Detective Taylor
recalled that she wrote the statement as the Defendant spoke, and she allowed the Defendant to read
the statement to make any necessary corrections. The statement was admitted at the evidentiary
hearing and indicates several corrections made by the Defendant. When asked why she did not
utilize an interpreter for the statement, Detective Taylor stated that the Defendant spoke English
fluently and that there was no need to obtain an interpreter.
“[A] trial court’s findings of fact in a suppression hearing will be upheld unless the evidence
preponderates otherwise.” State v. Odom, 928 S.W.2d 18, 23 (Tenn. 1996). Questions about the
“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.” Id. Both proof presented at the
suppression hearing and proof presented at trial may be considered by an appellate court in deciding
the propriety of the trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress. State v. Henning, 975 S.W.2d 290,
299 (Tenn. 1998); State v. Perry, 13 S.W.3d 724, 737 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). However, the
prevailing party “is entitled to the strongest legitimate view of the evidence adduced at the
suppression hearing as well as all reasonable and legitimate inferences that may be drawn from that
evidence.” Odom, 928 S.W.2d at 23. Furthermore, an appellate court’s review of the trial court’s
application of law to the facts is conducted under a de novo standard of review. State v. Walton, 41
S.W.3d 75, 81 (Tenn. 2001) (citations omitted).
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Based upon the evidence presented at the evidentiary hearing, the trial court found that the
Defendant was fluent in both English and Spanish. The trial court accredited the testimony of both
witnesses that the Defendant voluntarily executed both the consent to search and the Miranda waiver.
The trial court also found that the corrections made to the statement further indicated the Defendant’s
understanding of the process of the statement. Of note, the Defendant did not present any testimony
regarding his inability to speak English. The trial court denied the motion to suppress, finding that
the totality of these circumstances supported a finding that the Defendant voluntarily, knowingly and
understandingly waived his Miranda rights. We conclude that the evidence does not preponderate
against these findings. Accordingly, the trial court’s denial of the motion to suppress is affirmed.
Motion to Strike Jury Panel
The Defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to strike the jury
panel based upon his allegation that there is an under-representation of Latino persons on the venire
because it is drawn from a roll of licensed drivers. The State argues that this issue is waived for
failure to include any record containing a disposition of this issue in the trial court.
Our review of the record reveals no disposition of the Defendant’s motion to strike the jury
panel. The Defendant filed his motion to strike the jury panel on March 25, 2008, the day before
trial. There is no evidence in the record that counsel argued the motion or that the trial court ruled
upon the motion. In his reply brief, the Defendant contends that “[n]o response was made [to the
motion] by the Attorney General because the motion stated the truth.” The Defendant further argues
that the trial court’s decision to proceed to trial with the jury panel “was made in chambers. By not
striking the panels and choosing jurors from other sources, the Court tacitly overruled the
[D]efendant’s motion.” For these reasons, the Defendant contends that this issue is properly before
this court.
Despite the Defendant’s arguments to the contrary, there is absolutely no proof in this record
that the motion to strike the jury panel was ever argued or ruled upon by the trial court. Similarly,
the record contains no proof relative to the Defendant’s allegation of under-representation of Latinos
on the jury panel. Furthermore, although we note that the Defendant preserved the issue in his
motion for new trial, the transcript of the motion for new trial hearing, a source from which this court
might glean some understanding of what transpired relative to this motion, is also notably absent
from this record. “Where the record is incomplete and does not contain a transcript of the
proceedings relevant to an issue presented for review, or portions of the record upon which the party
relies, an appellate court is precluded from considering the issue.” State v. Ballard, 855 S.W.2d 557,
560-61 (Tenn. 1993) (citing State v. Roberts, 755 S.W.2d 833, 836 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998)); see
also Tenn. R. App. P. 24(b) (appellant has duty to prepare a record “as is necessary to convey a fair,
accurate and complete account of what transpired with respect to those issues that are the bases of
appeal”). Under these circumstances, we conclude that the issue is waived.
Constitutionality of Aggravated Kidnapping Statute
The Defendant argues that the aggravating kidnapping statute, as indicted in this case, is
unconstitutional because it requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt of an underlying felony (in this
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case rape) that was not separately charged and tried. He contends that he was called to defend
against a charge that he was not separately indicted for in violation of his due process rights. The
State counters that this issue has been waived due to the Defendant’s failure to include it in his
motion for new trial.
The record reflects that the Defendant filed a pretrial motion asking the trial court “to direct
the Attorney General to refrain from the use of the word Rape” at trial. Included in the written
motion was the Defendant’s argument that the indictment alleging an aggravated kidnapping in the
perpetration of a rape without a separate indictment alleging rape constitutes a due process violation.
At the hearing, the Defendant argued that he should not be forced to defend an offense that had not
been alleged in a separate count of the indictment. The trial court overruled the motion finding that
rape was “an element [of aggravated kidnapping] the state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.”
We acknowledge that the Defendant did not allege any issue regarding the indictment in his
motion for new trial. However, although perhaps not artfully worded, the Defendant’s pretrial
motion and related argument at the hearing attacks the constitutionality of the offense as indicted in
this case. Such an allegation, if meritorious, would result in a dismissal of the prosecution.
Therefore, we conclude that the Defendant’s failure to include this issue in his motion for new trial
does not result in a waiver of the issue on appeal. See Tenn. R. App. P. 3(e); State v. Williams, 675
S.W.2d 499, 501 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1984); State v. Givhan, 616 S.W.2d 612, 613 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1980) (waiver provision regarding the inclusion of issues in a motion for new trial does not apply
to issues that would result in a dismissal of the indictment).
However, although double jeopardy considerations do not preclude dual convictions for both
an aggravated kidnapping offense pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-304(a)(1),
and the underlying felony used to enhance it to an aggravated offense, see State v. Davis, 741
S.W.2d 120, 124 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987), due process concerns may prevent dual convictions when
the kidnapping is deemed incidental to another offense. See State v. Anthony, 817 S.W.2d 299
(Tenn. 1991). However, we can discern no constitutional requirement that a defendant be separately
charged and convicted of an underlying felony in order to hold sufficient the evidence supporting
the primary felony. See State v. Torres, 82 S.W.3d 236, 245 (Tenn. 2002) (no requirement that the
State seek dual convictions for felony murder and underlying felony). For these reasons, we
conclude that the indictment in this case was not based upon an unconstitutional statute.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
The Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to convict him of aggravated
kidnapping because there is insufficient proof of a rape based upon inconsistencies in the victim’s
testimony and what the Defendant characterizes as problems with her credibility as a witness related
to her citizenship status. The State contends that “[t]he evidence is sufficient for a reasonable trier
of fact to find that the Defendant knowingly removed [the victim] from her workplace against her
will and raped her in his home.” Following our review, we agree.
An appellate court’s standard of review when the defendant questions the sufficiency of the
evidence on appeal is “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
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prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond
a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). The appellate court does not
reweigh the evidence; rather, it presumes that the jury has resolved all conflicts in the testimony and
drawn all reasonable inferences from the evidence in favor of the State. See State v. Sheffield, 676
S.W.2d 542, 547 (Tenn. 1984); State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn. 1978). Questions
regarding witness credibility, conflicts in testimony, and the weight and value to be given to evidence
were resolved by the jury. See State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 659 (Tenn. 1997). A guilty verdict
removes the presumption of innocence and replaces it with a presumption of guilt, and on appeal the
defendant has the burden of illustrating why the evidence is insufficient to support the jury’s verdict.
Id.; State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982). This standard applies to findings of guilt
based upon direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a combination of both direct and
circumstantial evidence. State v. Pendergrass, 13 S.W.3d 389, 392-93 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).
A conviction of aggravated kidnapping, as indicted in this case, requires proof beyond a
reasonable doubt that the defendant “knowingly remove[d] or confine[d] another unlawfully so as
to interfere substantially with the other’s liberty” in order “[t]o facilitate the commission of any
felony. . .” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-304(a)(1). The victim testified that the Defendant approached
her in the parking lot of her workplace and grabbed her arm to force her to his car. When she tried
to exit from the passenger-side door of the moving vehicle, the Defendant grabbed her to prevent her
escape. The victim further testified that the Defendant pushed her down on his bed and forced her
to have sex. She stated that throughout the incident, she told the Defendant that she did not want to
be with him and that she did not want to have sex with him. Any questions regarding her credibility
that may have been raised by cross-examination were resolved by the jury, as was their province to
do. Furthermore, the Defendant admitted to the acts in his statement to the police. We conclude that
the evidence is sufficient to support the Defendant’s conviction of aggravated kidnapping.
Sentencing
In his final issue, the Defendant contends that the trial court imposed an excessive ten-year
sentence for his aggravated kidnapping conviction. He argues that the trial court’s application of two
enhancement factors are not supported by the record: that the crime was committed to gratify the
defendant’s desire for pleasure or excitement, Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114(7), and that the
defendant had no hesitation about committing a crime in which the risk to human life was high,
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114(11). The Defendant asks this court to reduce his sentence to the
minimum eight years applicable for a Range I offender convicted of a Class B felony. The State
contends that the trial court correctly applied the enhancement factors in arriving at the ten-year
sentence.
An appellate court’s review of sentencing is de novo on the record with a presumption that
the trial court’s determinations are correct. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d). As the Sentencing
Commission Comments to this section note, on appeal the burden is on the defendant to show that
the sentence is improper. This means that if the trial court followed the statutory sentencing
procedure, made findings of fact that are adequately supported in the record, and gave due
consideration and proper weight to the factors and principles that are relevant to sentencing under
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the 1989 Sentencing Act, the court may not disturb the sentence even if a different result were
preferred. State v. Fletcher, 805 S.W.2d 785, 789 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991).
However, “the presumption of correctness which accompanies the trial court’s action 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). In this respect, for the purpose of meaningful appellate review,
[T]he trial court must place on the record its reasons for arriving at the final
sentencing decision, identify the mitigating and enhancement factors found, state the
specific facts supporting each enhancement factor found, and articulate how the
mitigating and enhancement factors have been evaluated and balanced in determining
the sentence.
State v. Jones, 883 S.W.2d 597, 599 (Tenn. 1994) (citation omitted); see Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
210(e).
Tennessee’s Sentencing Act provides:
(c) The court shall impose a sentence within the range of punishment, determined by
whether the defendant is a mitigated, standard, persistent, career, or repeat violent
offender. In imposing a specific sentence within the range of punishment, the court
shall consider, but is not bound by, the following advisory sentencing guidelines:
(1) The minimum sentence within the range of punishment is the
sentence that should be imposed, because the general assembly set the
minimum length of sentence for each felony class to reflect the
relative seriousness of each criminal offense in the felony
classifications; and
(2) The sentence length within the range should be adjusted, as
appropriate, by the presence or absence of mitigating and
enhancement factors set out in §§ 40-35-113 and 40-35-114.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(c)(1)-(2).
The weight to be afforded an enhancement or mitigating factor is left to the trial court’s
discretion so long as its use complies with the purposes and principles of the 1989 Sentencing Act
and the court’s findings are adequately supported by the record. Id. § (d)-(f); State v. Carter, 254
S.W.3d 335, 342-43 (Tenn. 2008). “An appellate court is therefore 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 . . . the Sentencing Act.” Carter, 254 S.W.3d at 346. Accordingly,
on appeal we may only review whether the enhancement and mitigating factors were supported by
the record and their application was not otherwise barred by statute. See id.
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In imposing a sentence, the trial court may only consider enhancement factors that are
“appropriate for the offense” and “not already . . . essential element[s] of the offense.” Tenn. Code
Ann. § 40-35-114. These limitations exclude enhancement factors “based on facts which are used
to prove the offense” or “[f]acts which establish the elements of the offense charged.” Jones, 883
S.W.2d at 601. Our supreme court has stated that “[t]he purpose of the limitations is to avoid
enhancing the length of sentences based on factors the legislature took into consideration when
establishing the range of punishment for the offense.” State v. Poole, 945 S.W.2d 93, 98 (Tenn.
1997); Jones, 883 S.W.2d at 601.
In conducting its de novo review, the appellate court must consider (1) the evidence, if any,
received at the trial and sentencing hearing, (2) the presentence report, (3) the principles of
sentencing and arguments as to sentencing alternatives, (4) the nature and characteristics of the
criminal conduct, (5) any mitigating or statutory enhancement factors, (6) any statement that the
defendant made on his own behalf, (7) the defendant’s potential for rehabilitation or treatment, and
(8) any statistical information provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts as to sentencing
practices for similar offenses in Tennessee. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-35-102, -103, -210; see also
Ashby, 823 S.W.2d at 168; State v. Moss, 727 S.W.2d 229, 236-37 (Tenn. 1986).
The record reflects that the trial court followed the applicable sentencing principles and
appropriately found the existence of applicable enhancement factors and mitigating factors. Under
the revised Sentencing Act, this court may not review the weight afforded the sentencing and
mitigating factors provided the trial court followed the principles of sentencing. Given that the
enhancement factors were supported by the record and the trial court considered the mitigating
factors as required, we conclude that the trial court followed the appropriate sentencing principles
in this case. We therefore affirm the Defendant’s ten-year sentence for his aggravated kidnapping
conviction.
CONCLUSION
Upon consideration of the foregoing and the record as a whole, the judgment of the trial court
is affirmed.
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D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., JUDGE
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