IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
May 22, 2001 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. DARLENE RENEE BLACKHURST
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Sullivan County
No. S42,421 R. Jerry Beck, Judge
No. E2000-01864-CCA-R3-CD
August 30, 2001
The defendant, Darlene Renee Blackhurst, pled guilty to second offense driving under the influence
of an intoxicant (“DUI”), leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, and three counts of
reckless aggravated assault. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed an effective
sentence of three years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days, to be served on intensive probation
following a mandatory period of 45 days in confinement for the DUI second offense. In this appeal,
the State contends that the trial court erred when it placed Defendant on full probation because the
trial court failed to properly consider the victim’s testimony during the sentencing hearing. Our de
novo review reveals that the trial court did err in its application of the law concerning victims’
statements and in granting probation for the full time remaining in Defendant’s sentence following
confinement. However, our conclusion regarding the impropriety of probation is based on
sentencing considerations other than the testimony of the victim. Accordingly, we reverse the trial
court’s judgment regarding the manner of service of Defendant’s sentence and remand this matter
to the trial court to determine whether Defendant should be incarcerated for the full term of her
sentence or, in the alternative, serve the balance of her sentence in split confinement.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Reversed.
THOMAS T. WOODALL , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which GARY R. WADE , P.J., and
ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER , J., joined.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Peter M. Coughlan, Assistant Attorney General;
H. Greeley Wells, Jr., District Attorney General; and James Goodwin, Assistant District Attorney
General, for the appellant, State of Tennessee.
Richard A. Spivey, Kingsport, Tennessee, for the appellee, Darlene Renee Blackhurst.
OPINION
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
At 11:50 p.m. on December 5, 1998, Defendant was traveling in her car down the exit ramp
of Interstate 181 toward Lynn Garden Drive when she struck a Honda Passport that was stopped at
the traffic light. The Honda contained the driver, Brenda Gardner; her ten-year-old son, Blake
Ericson; and her son’s twelve-year-old friend, Brooke Shaffer. All three victims suffered “severe
bodily injury” as a result of the impact. After colliding with the victims’ car, Defendant immediately
left the scene. She was subsequently discovered by Kingsport Police Department Officer Samples
after she struck a guard rail and mailbox on Hawkins Avenue in Sullivan County later that evening.
When Officer Samples arrived at the scene of the second collision, Defendant had a strong odor of
alcohol about her person, was unable to stand without support, and did not cooperate with Samples
when he attempted to conduct field sobriety tests. Later, Defendant’s blood alcohol was determined
to be 0.23.
Defendant pled guilty to second offense driving under the influence of an intoxicant (“DUI”),
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-401, a Class A misdemeanor; leaving the scene of an accident involving
injury, Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-103, a Class A misdemeanor; and three counts of reckless
aggravated assault, Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-102, a Class D felony. Pursuant to the negotiated plea
agreement, the trial court imposed concurrent sentences of three years for each of her felony
convictions, and concurrent terms of eleven months and twenty-nine days for her two misdemeanor
convictions. The felony sentences were then ordered to be served consecutively to the misdemeanor
sentences for an effective sentence of three years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days, with a
minimum of forty-five days mandatory confinement on the DUI, second offense.
On April 10, 2000, a sentencing hearing was held to determine the manner of service for
Defendant’s sentence, less the forty-five days for mandatory confinement which Defendant had
already served at the time of sentencing. The trial court heard oral testimony from Brenda Gardner,
the victim who was driving the Honda Passport struck by Defendant. Regarding the collision,
Gardner testified that she was stopped at the traffic light when she noticed the headlights of a vehicle
rapidly approaching from behind her. Gardner’s ten-year-old son and his twelve-year-old friend
were riding in the back seat at the time. When the vehicle reached the victims, it swerved and hit
them, knocking the Honda fifteen to twenty feet into the intersection and oncoming traffic. The
children started screaming. Gardner called 911 and got out to check on the driver, later identified
as Defendant. As she approached, Defendant put her vehicle in reverse, backed out from under
Gardner’s rear bumper, looked at the screaming children, and then drove off. A man who had
stopped to help volunteered to follow Defendant and report her whereabouts with his cell phone until
the police could locate and arrest her.
Gardner further testified that her injuries included a concussion, bruises, and torn ligaments
and tendons. In addition, she was attending therapy sessions. Psychological therapy had initially
been prescribed for her following her father’s death in an accident involving a drunk driver eighteen
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months prior to her testimony. She had completed those sessions before Defendant struck her car,
but had been forced to resume therapy treatment after the accident. Injuries to her son included
bruises and recurring nightmares; her son’s friend suffered cuts and bruises on her face. Gardner
claimed she was amazed when Defendant drove away without checking to see if anyone had been
hurt or killed in the collision.
Gardner also testified that Defendant telephoned her the Monday following the accident to
apologize. Defendant told Gardner that “this is not like her” and “she doesn’t do this kind of thing.”
However, Gardner subsequently learned from the police that this incident gave rise to Defendant’s
third DUI conviction and her second conviction for leaving the scene of an accident. Gardner felt
that incarcerating Defendant for the next three years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days would
certainly enhance public safety.
The presentence report revealed that at the time of the sentencing hearing, Defendant was a
forty-year-old woman who had graduated from high school and also earned an associate of arts
degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology from West Virginia State College. Defendant was
employed and reported herself to be in excellent health, with no problems or limitations except for
occasional bouts of depression. Defendant’s criminal record contains a prior conviction for leaving
the scene of an accident in 1986 and two prior convictions for DUI: one occurred in Moore County,
North Carolina, in September 1990, and the other occurred in Sullivan County, Tennessee, in
February 1993.
At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered Defendant to serve the
remainder of her sentence on intensive probation, in house-arrest circumstances, subject to the
following conditions: (1) payment of full restitution to the victims, (2) counseling, if necessary, after
evaluation for substance and alcohol abuse, (3) adherence to a curfew, (4) zero use of alcohol or any
illegal substance, (5) performance of 200 hours of community service at a rate of ten hours per
month, and (6) written letters of apology to the victims. The record reveals that the trial court based
its decision on the following facts: Defendant was employed, reasonably healthy, a home owner, and
had expressed some remorse for the accident. The trial court stated that, in determining whether
probation was proper, it was required by law to consider treatment in lieu of incarceration when
appropriate and that the nature/circumstance of an offense is not sufficient, by itself, to deny
probation unless the offense was “especially horrifying, shocking, reprehensible, offensive or
otherwise of an excessive or exaggerated degree,” citing State v. Bingham, 910 S.W.2d 448 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1995). The trial court also issued a thirty-three-page order articulating the specific
findings of fact and law which served as a basis for its sentencing determination, including an
extensive analysis of the problems and implications of Article I, section 35 of the Tennessee
Constitution. (This section, ratified in November 1998, provides the victims of crimes eight “basic
rights” as enumerated in the amendment. See also Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-38-301.)
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ANALYSIS
The State contends that the trial court erred in granting probation to Defendant because the
trial court misapplied the applicable law governing the testimony of a victim at Defendant’s
sentencing hearing. Specifically, the State asserts that the trial court erred when it determined that
the victim’s oral testimony was governed by the Victim Impact Statement Act, see Tenn. Code Ann.
§§ 40-38-201 to -208, and when it concluded that the Act limits a victim’s oral testimony to a mere
reiteration of those statements previously given in the written victim impact statement where one is
included in the presentence report. The State contends that the trial court also erred when it ruled
that victim impact evidence is only relevant in determining applicability of statutory enhancement
and mitigating factors. The State argues that, in light of the trial court’s abuse of discretion and
failure to consider relevant evidence, Defendant’s probation must be reversed and the case remanded
for proper consideration of the victim’s testimony as contemplated by Tennessee Code Annotated
section 40-35-209.
After a de novo review of the record and applicable law, we agree with the State that the trial
court erred in applying the law concerning a victim’s testimony for purposes of sentencing.
Although we also conclude that granting intensive probation for the full period of time following
Defendant’s forty-five days of mandatory confinement was improper, we base this conclusion on
considerations unrelated to the victim’s statement. For the reasons which follow, we reverse the trial
court’s judgment granting Defendant full probation and remand this matter to the trial court for
further findings, namely, to determine whether Defendant should serve her sentence in split
confinement or whether incarceration for the full sentence term would be more appropriate under
the circumstances.
I. The Victim’s Testimony
In its argument that the trial court misapplied the law concerning a victim’s testimony for
purposes of sentencing, the State relies, in part, upon the recent case of State v. Robert D. Ring, No.
E1999-02088-CCA-R3-CD, 2001 WL 201819, Sullivan County (Tenn. Crim. App., Knoxville,
March 1, 2001) no perm. to app. filed. After reviewing the facts of both cases, we agree that the
analysis of Ring is applicable in the case sub judice.
The question in Ring was whether the trial court’s failure to consider the victim’s impact
testimony at the sentencing hearing and its subsequent grant of probation were erroneous. We found
that the trial court erred in characterizing the victim’s testimony as a “victim impact statement”
which should be analyzed under the Victim Impact Statement Act, Tennessee Code Annotated
sections 40-38-201 to -208. Id. at *4. We also concluded that the trial court erred when it limited
its consideration of the victim’s testimony to statutory enhancing and mitigating factors only, finding
that “whenever victim impact information contains relevant and reliable evidence relating to
enhancing or mitigating factors and/or any other sentencing consideration, the trial court should
consider it and determine what weight, if any, should be given to that evidence.” Id. Further, we
found the victim’s testimony showing the financial, emotional, psychological, and/or physical effects
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of the victim’s death on the victim’s immediate family could be considered evidence regarding the
nature and circumstances of the crime when determining appropriate punishment. Id. at *5; see
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(b)(4). Notwithstanding the trial court’s error regarding the law
concerning victim impact testimony, we affirmed the trial court’s judgment on other grounds.
As observed in Ring, Tennessee law provides three legal avenues by which a victim may
participate in the sentencing process: the “Victims’ Bill of Rights,” codified in Tennessee Code
Annotated sections 40-38-101 to -108; the “Victim Impact Statement Act,” codified in Tennessee
Code Annotated sections 40-38-201 to -208; and Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-209(b)
(which affords the victim of the offense an opportunity to be heard and present evidence relevant to
a defendant’s sentencing). Our discussion of the issues concerning victim testimony will be limited
to those sections directly related to the specific error in issue.
We first address the State’s contention that the trial court erred when it determined that the
Victim Impact Statement Act (“Act”) governed the victim’s testimony at the sentencing hearing.
Our review of the record suggests that the trial court relied heavily on the Act in its conclusions of
law regarding the proper consideration and weight due a victim’s testimony for purposes of
sentencing. However, the language of the Act indicates that it applies to written victim impact
statements prepared by the Department of Correction as part of the presentence report on a
defendant, and not live testimony. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-38-205. In fact, none of the statute
sections contained in the Act make any reference to oral testimony, express or implied. Rather, as
we observed in Ring, the live testimony of this particular victim should have been considered under
the provisions in Tennessee Code Annotated sections 40-35-209(b) and 40-38-103(a)(2). Because
the victim’s testimony was not governed by the Act, to the extent the trial court made decisions
based on this determination, they are erroneous.
We also agree with the State’s contention that the trial court erred by concluding that the Act
limits a victim’s oral testimony to a mere reiteration of those statements previously given in the
written victim impact statement, if one is included in the presentence report, and that any information
which exceeds the facts therein may not be considered by the trial court for purposes of sentencing.
According to the record, the trial court apparently relied on either the ten-day notice provision in
Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-38-206 or on section 40-35-209(b). However, reliance on the
former is misplaced because section 40-38-206 is contained in the Act which, as previously
observed, does not apply to a victim’s oral testimony. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-38-206. Section
40-35-209(b) also fails to support the trial court’s determination. This section provides that reliable
hearsay may be admitted at the sentencing hearing so long as the opposing party is accorded a fair
opportunity to rebut such evidence. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-209(b). A written copy of the
substance of Gardner’s testimony was submitted with the State’s “Motion to Allow Victim
Testimony at Sentencing Hearing,” and filed ten days prior to that hearing. Since Defendant had
access to the substance of Gardner’s testimony ten days prior to sentencing, and Gardner was also
available for cross-examination at that time, Defendant had sufficient notice and a fair opportunity
to rebut any evidence that she found objectionable.
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The State also asserts that the trial court erred when it determined that, according to
Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-38-207, the victim’s statement may be considered only in
determining the applicability of the enhancement and mitigating factors in Tennessee Code
Annotated sections 40-35-113 and -114. Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-38-207 states that
“[a]ny victim impact statement submitted to the court under section 40-38-205 shall be considered
as evidence in determining whether the factors in §§ 40-35-113 and 40-35-114 apply.” The trial
court found that this section “specifically and narrowly limits the purposes for which a trial court
may consider victim impact evidence” to determining whether statutory enhancement and mitigating
factors apply. We disagree. As noted above, the Act does not apply to a victim’s oral testimony and
section 40-38-207 is contained therein. Moreover, the plain language of the statute merely directs
the trial court to consider the evidence presented in the victim’s statement when determining issues
where statutory enhancement and/or mitigating factors apply in sentencing procedures. The statute
contains no limiting or restrictive language that would support the trial court’s interpretation as
stated supra. As we determined in Ring, victim impact information which contains relevant and
reliable evidence relating to enhancement or mitigating factors, the nature and circumstances
surrounding the offense, sentencing principles or arguments as to sentencing alternatives, and/or any
other sentencing consideration, should be considered by the trial court and then given appropriate
weight, if any. See Ring, 2001 WL 201819 at *4-6.
In summation, we find that the trial court erred in at least three respects: (1) characterizing
the victim’s oral testimony as a statement governed by the Victim Impact Statement Act; (2)
concluding that a victim’s oral testimony must be limited to information contained in the written
victim impact statement; and (3) concluding that Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-38-207 directed a trial court
to consider the victim’s statement only when determining applicability of statutory enhancement and
mitigating factors. Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-209(b) and section 40-38-
103(a)(2), the victim, Gardner, had a right to testify and provide impact information for
consideration at the sentencing hearing. Afterward, the trial court should have determined whether
the victim’s impact testimony contained any relevant and reliable evidence relating to enhancing or
mitigating factors and/or any other sentencing consideration, and then decided what weight, if any,
should be given to that evidence in fashioning an appropriate sentence. See Ring, 2001 WL 201819
at *4.
Although the trial court erred in applying the law concerning a victim’s testimony for
purposes of sentencing, we note that the State failed to point to any relevant or reliable evidence in
the statement that pertains to any enhancing or mitigating factors and/or tends to prove any other
sentencing consideration. After carefully reviewing this victim’s testimony, however, we conclude
that it offers a glimpse into the emotional, psychological, or physical effects of the accident on the
victim’s life and that of her son. The trial court should have considered this evidence of the nature
and circumstances of this crime, see id., in addition to any other evidence presented in the victim’s
testimony which it deemed relevant when determining the appropriate punishment.
We further note that our conclusions regarding the above issues are, as a practical matter,
unchallenged by Defendant. In her brief, Defendant contends that the limitations on victim impact
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statements apply to Gardner’s testimony, and, even if the trial court were to consider the testimony,
the victim impact evidence is not relevant to any legitimate sentencing issue. Defendant does not
specify which limitations she is referring to, however. Nor does she explain why the impact on
Gardner is not relevant to any sentencing consideration.
B. Sentencing
The State contends that the trial court erred in granting Defendant intensive probation for the
time that remained in her sentence following mandatory confinement. In response, Defendant
contends that the evidence supports the trial court’s conclusion that the State failed to rebut the
statutory presumption favoring probation in her case. After a careful review of the record and
applicable law, we agree with the State that granting intensive probation for the full period of time
following Defendant’s forty-five days of mandatory confinement was improper. However, our
conclusion is based on sentencing considerations other than the victim’s statement and testimony.
When either a defendant or the State challenges the length, range, or manner of service of a
sentence, this Court conducts a de novo review of the record with a presumption that the
determinations made by the sentencing court are correct. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-35-401(d), 40-
35-402(d) (1997). If our review “reflects that the trial court followed the statutory sentencing
procedure, imposed a lawful sentence after having given due consideration and proper weight to the
factors and principles set out under the sentencing law, and that the trial court’s findings are
adequately supported by the record, then we may not modify the sentence even if we would have
preferred a different result.” State v. Pike, 978 S.W.2d 904, 926-27 (Tenn. 1998); State v. Fletcher,
805 S.W.2d 785, 789 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). On the other hand, if the trial court failed to comply
with the statutory guidelines, our review is de novo without a presumption of correctness. State v.
Poole, 945 S.W.2d 93, 96 (Tenn. 1997). Having concluded that the trial court failed to properly
consider the victim’s impact testimony in fashioning an appropriate sentencing alternative, our
review of Defendant’s sentencing determination in this case is de novo without a presumption of
correctness.
The appellant, in this case, the State, has the burden of establishing that the sentence is
improper. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d), Sentencing Commission Comments. In
determining whether the appellant has carried this burden, this Court must consider: (a) the evidence
adduced at trial and the sentencing hearing; (b) the presentence report; (c) the principles of
sentencing; (d) the arguments of counsel; (e) the nature and characteristics of the offense; and (f) the
appellant’s potential or lack of potential for rehabilitation or treatment. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-35-
103(5), -210(b) (1997).
Because Defendant is a standard Range I offender convicted of two misdemeanors and three
Class D felonies, she is entitled to the statutory presumption that she is a favorable candidate for
alternative sentencing. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-106(6) (1997). However, “the determination
of whether the [Defendant] is entitled to an alternative sentence and whether the [Defendant] is
entitled to full probation are different inquiries.” State v. Boggs, 932 S.W.2d 467, 477 (Tenn. Crim.
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App. 1996). Where a defendant is entitled to the statutory presumption favoring alternative
sentencing, the State has the burden of overcoming the presumption with evidence to the contrary.
State v. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991); State v. Bingham, 910 S.W.2d 448, 455 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1995), overruled on other grounds, State v. Hooper, 29 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2000); see Tenn.
Code Ann. § 40-35-102(6) (1997). “Conversely, the defendant has the burden of establishing
suitability for total probation, even if the [defendant] is entitled to the statutory presumption of
alternative sentencing.” Bingham, 910 S.W.2d at 455; see Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-303(b) (1997).
Thus, Defendant’s argument that “the State failed to rebut the [statutory] presumption in favor of
granting probation” has no merit, for, no such “presumption” favoring probation exists.
To meet the burden of establishing suitability for full probation, the defendant must
demonstrate that probation will “subserve the ends of justice and the best interest of both the public
and the defendant.” Bingham, 910 S.W.2d at 456 (quoting State v. Dykes, 803 S.W.2d 250, 259
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1990)). The following criteria, while not controlling the discretion of the
sentencing court, shall be accorded weight when deciding the defendant’s suitability for probation:
(1) the nature and [circumstances] of the criminal conduct involved, Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
210(b)(4); (2) the defendant’s potential or lack of potential for rehabilitation, including the risk that
during the period of probation the defendant will commit another crime, Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
103(5); (3) whether a sentence of full probation would unduly depreciate the seriousness of the
offense, Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-103(1)(B); and (4) whether a sentence other than full probation
would provide an effective deterrent to others likely to commit similar crimes, Tenn. Code Ann. §
40-35-103(1)(B). Id. Denial of full probation may be based solely upon the circumstances of the
offense when they are of such a nature as to outweigh all other factors favoring probation. See State
v. Fletcher, 805 S.W.2d 785, 789 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991).
In determining whether to grant or deny full probation, additional considerations include the
defendant’s criminal record; social history and present condition of the defendant, including his or
her mental and physical conditions where appropriate; defendant's amenability to correction and
general attitude, including behavior since arrest, home environment, current drug usage, emotional
stability, past employment, general reputation, marital stability, family responsibility, and the best
interests of both the defendant and the public. See State v. Washington, 866 S.W.2d 950, 951 (Tenn.
1993); see also State v. Boyd, 925 S.W.2d 237, 244 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995) (citing State v.
Gennoe, 851 S.W.2d 833, 837 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992)).
A defendant is eligible for full probation where the sentence received by the defendant is
eight years or less, subject to some statutory exclusions not applicable here. See Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 40-35-303(a). Although full probation must be automatically considered by the trial court as a
sentencing alternative whenever the defendant is eligible, “the defendant is not automatically entitled
to probation as a matter of law.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-303(b), Sentencing Commission
Comments; State v. Hartley, 818 S.W.2d 370, 373 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). On appeal, a defendant
seeking full probation usually bears the burden of showing that the sentence imposed is improper
and that probation will be in the best interest of the defendant and the public. State v. Baker, 966
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S.W.2d 429, 434 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). Here, the State, as the appellant, bears the burden of
showing the opposite.
Upon de novo review, we find the facts and circumstances in this case indicate that full
probation is inappropriate for Defendant. Generally, this court will not set aside findings of fact
made by the trial court after an evidentiary hearing unless the evidence contained in the record
preponderates against the trial court’s findings. State v. Dick, 872 S.W.2d 938, 943 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1993); State v. Young, 866 S.W.2d 194, 197 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992). This deference applies
to a trial court’s findings of fact in the context of sentencing hearings. State v. Raines, 882 S.W.2d
376, 383 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994).
However, in this case we do not agree with the trial court’s conclusion that because
Defendant is employed, has accepted responsibility for the accident, and appears remorseful, she has
sufficiently established suitability for full probation in light of the other factors in the record. For
instance, the record reveals that Defendant has a history of problems with alcohol abuse as
demonstrated by her prior convictions for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Yet we find
no indication of an attempt by Defendant to initiate treatment through Alcoholics Anonymous or any
other organization designed to provide counseling or assistance with problems of this nature.
Defendant also exhibited a lack of candor when she declined to report her prior DUI conviction in
North Carolina during her interview with the officer who prepared the presentence report. Lack of
candor and credibility reflect negatively on a defendant’s potential for rehabilitation. State v. Bunch,
646 S.W.2d 158, 160 (Tenn. 1983); State v. Nunley, 22 S.W.3d 282, 289 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).
In addition, Defendant’s record shows two prior convictions for DUI and one conviction for leaving
the scene. However, she was required to spend a total of only forty-eight hours in confinement for
all three offenses. Apparently, measures less restrictive than confinement have been unsuccessful
in altering Defendant’s pattern of criminal behavior.
In addition, in this case a sentence involving at least some confinement would be proper to
avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-103(1)(B) (1997).
In order to deny any alternative sentence based upon the seriousness of the offense, the
circumstances of the offense as committed must be especially horrifying, shocking, reprehensible,
offensive or otherwise of an excessive or exaggerated degree, and the nature of the offense must
outweigh all other factors favoring a sentence other than confinement. Bingham, 910 S.W.2d at 454
(quoting State v. Hartley, 818 S.W.2d 370, 374-75 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991)). We believe the record
contains ample evidence that Defendant’s actions were sufficiently reprehensible and offensive to
deny full probation. Defendant left the accident scene with the knowledge that children were present
in the vehicle she hit but without any regard for the fact that she may have injured them seriously.
Fortunately, it appears that no one in the vehicle was physically damaged permanently. However,
Defendant could not be sure of this because she did not pause to check, but proceeded down the road
and caused yet another accident. Defendant’s actions showed terrible and unforgivable judgment
in driving while intoxicated and in deserting the victims. She further evinced a complete disregard
for the gravity of her wrongful conduct when she repeated her mistake. Consequently, a sentence
of full probation would certainly depreciate the seriousness of her offenses.
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In sum, we cannot find that full probation is in the best interest of the defendant or the public.
Whether the factors favoring a sentence involving split confinement generally outweigh the factors
favoring continuous confinement in this case have not been fully analyzed. Accordingly, we remand
this matter to the trial court to order either split confinement for the balance of the sentence or total
incarceration. The trial court should make this determination in light of our conclusions above, all
of the testimony previously heard at the sentencing hearing, and the sentencing considerations in
Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-103. The trial court’s decision should be based upon the
current record. No further evidentiary hearings are necessary.
III. Conclusion
We reaffirm our holding in Ring that a trial court must allow a victim to provide the court
with victim impact testimony pursuant to the law provided for such evidence as discussed in this
opinion. We further hold that victim impact testimony must be considered in determining the length
and manner of service of a defendant’s sentence where such testimony contains relevant and reliable
evidence establishing enhancing or mitigating factors and/or any other sentencing considerations.
After our de novo review without a presumption of correctness, we are unable to conclude that
Defendant met her burden of establishing suitability for full probation. Accordingly, we reverse the
trial court’s judgment regarding manner of service of Defendant’s sentence and remand this matter
to the trial court to make appropriate findings and order either split confinement for the balance of
the sentence or total incarceration.
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THOMAS T. WOODALL, JUDGE
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