D. KELLY THOMAS, Jr., JUDGE.
The Defendant, Jeremy Michael Holmes, pled guilty as a career offender
The Defendant was initially indicted for second degree murder, a Class A felony. Following a mistrial, the Defendant agreed to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. At the guilty plea submission hearing, the State submitted that had the Defendant's case gone to trial a second time, the State would have proven that on May 16, 2008, the Defendant knowingly killed the victim, Adam Jared Dillegas. The victim was sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot of a bar at approximately 3:00 a.m when the Defendant, who was a security officer, approached the victim. The Defendant told the victim to leave the parking lot, but the victim refused to leave. The Defendant then told the victim to get out of his vehicle, but the victim again refused, this time using profanity. When the victim attempted to back out of the parking space, the Defendant stood behind the vehicle. The victim proceeded to back out of the parking space, ignoring the Defendant and tapping the Defendant with his vehicle. The Defendant was not harmed but was struck several times with the vehicle as the victim attempted to leave. The Defendant and the victim continued to argue through the driver's side window. After the victim cleared the parking space and was driving out of the parking lot, the Defendant fired his weapon, striking the victim in the neck. The victim lost control of the vehicle and ran into a telephone pole. The victim died as a result of the gunshot wound.
On March 5, 2010, the trial court held a sentencing hearing at which the victim's family and close friends testified about the victim and the effect that his death had on their lives. The Defendant's family and close friends testified about the effect that the victim's death had on the Defendant. The Defendant also exercised his right of allocution and expressed remorse for his actions.
Gayna Hughes and Carolyn Meeks testified concerning their encounters with the Defendant as a security officer. Ms. Hughes testified that in July 2007, she was cutting a hydrangea bush in front of her condominium complex when the Defendant confronted her. The Defendant told her to put the flowers down. Ms. Hughes complied, and the Defendant asked her for her driver's license. The Defendant refused to give her the license back after approximately five minutes and told her that he was considering whether he should arrest her for vandalism. The Defendant handcuffed her and patted her down before calling the police. When the police arrived, Ms. Hughes was released and given a citation.
Ms. Meeks testified that the Defendant confronted her husband, Mr. Meeks, on July 4, 2007. She stated that Mr. Meeks parked their vehicle on a street because they were going to watch the fireworks that night at a nearby location. The Defendant told Mr. Meeks that he was parked on private property and that he needed to move his vehicle. Mr. Meeks refused to move the vehicle, and the Defendant forcefully handcuffed him, hurting his arm. Ms. Meeks and bystanders called 9-1-1, and the Defendant eventually released Mr. Meeks before police arrived. The Defendant walked away, and Mr. Meeks pursued the Defendant, who pushed Mr. Meeks. As a result of the Defendant's actions, Mr. Meeks sought medical and psychological treatment and continued to struggle with depression.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant to serve 6 years at 60 percent in the Corrections Corporation of America facility. The trial court "put the six year sentence into effect" and told the Defendant that he could petition the court in two years for probation and that if he did not have any problems, he would be given probation. The trial court admitted that it had considered a sentence of split confinement but ultimately rejected such a sentence because the Defendant would only have to serve one year in confinement before he would be released.
In denying an alternative sentence, the trial court found that such a sentence would depreciate the seriousness of the offense and that a sentence of confinement would provide an effective deterrent "to other people in a similar position to commit a similar crime." In its written order, the trial court found that the circumstances of the offense were particularly shocking, reprehensible, offensive, and excessive, considering the Defendant's position as a security officer. Relative to the deterrent effect of the sentence, the court stated,
The Defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying all forms of alternative sentencing when he was presumed to be a favorable candidate for alternative sentencing. The Defendant urges this court to compare his case with the case of
The Defendant cited to the record and applicable authority in his brief in accordance with Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 27(a)(7). Indeed, the Defendant cited to the record more than 30 times. Therefore, we decline to treat this issue as waived for failing to cite to the record and will consider the substance of the Defendant's sentencing issue.
The Defendant committed this offense on May 16, 2008; therefore, he was sentenced under the 2005 revisions to the Criminal Sentencing Act. The Defendant was eligible for probation because the "sentence actually imposed upon [him was] ten (10) years or less." Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-303(a), (b). Thus, the trial court was required to automatically consider probation as a sentencing option. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-303(a). However, the Defendant must have established his suitability for probation. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-303(b). A defendant seeking full probation bears the burden of showing that probation will "subserve the ends of justice and the best interests of both the public and the defendant."
Contrary to the Defendant's assertion, he was not presumed to be a favorable candidate for alternative sentencing under the revisions to the Sentencing Act. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-102(6). Because he was convicted of a Class C felony, he would only have been "considered as a favorable candidate for alternative sentencing options in the absence of evidence to the contrary." Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-102(6). However, this consideration was dependent upon the Defendant's status as an especially mitigated or standard offender. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-102(6). Here, the Defendant pled guilty as a career offender.
In determining any defendant's suitability for alternative sentencing, the trial court should consider whether
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-103(1)(A)-(C). The trial court shall also consider the mitigating and enhancing factors as set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated sections 40-35-113 and -114. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(b)(5);
The Defendant's case is materially different from
In consideration of the foregoing and the record as a whole, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.