Find Laws Find Lawyers Free Legal Forms USA State Laws
Laws-info.com » Cases » Tennessee » Court of Criminal Appeals » 2001 » State of Tennessee v. Robert G. Bean
State of Tennessee v. Robert G. Bean
State: Tennessee
Court: Court of Appeals
Docket No: M2000-02797-CCA-R3-CD
Case Date: 09/18/2001
Plaintiff: State of Tennessee
Defendant: Robert G. Bean
Preview:IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs April 25, 2001 STATE OF TENNESSEE v. ROBERT G. BEAN
Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Williamson County No. II-76-400 Timothy L. Easter, Judge

No. M2000-02797-CCA-R3-CD - Filed September 18, 2001

The appellant, Robert G. Bean, challenges his conviction in the Williamson County Circuit Court of one count of driving under the influence of an intoxicant (DUI), third offense. He presents the following issues for our determination: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying the appellant's challenge for cause of prospective juror Thelma Woodard; (2) whether the trial court erred in denying the appellant's motion to suppress the State's use at trial of the videotape of the traffic stop of the appellant's vehicle; (3) whether the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on adult driving while impaired as a lesser-included offense of driving under the influence; and (4) whether the trial court erred in using the appellant's 1996 conviction of DUI to enhance the appellant's sentence. Following a thorough review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court is Affirmed. NORMA MCGEE OGLE, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which DAVID H. WELLES and ALAN E. GLENN, JJ., joined. Lee Ofman, Franklin, Tennessee, for the appellant, Robert G. Bean. Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Elizabeth B. Marney, Assistant Attorney General; Ronald L. Davis, District Attorney General; and Lee Dryer and Derek Smith, Assistant District Attorneys General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee. OPINION I. Factual Background In the early morning hours of January 14, 2000, Trooper Richard Cash of the Tennessee State Highway Patrol was seated in his patrol car on the shoulder of Interstate Highway 65 in Williamson County and observed the appellant drive past in an erratic manner. In particular, Cash noted that, although the appellant was driving his vehicle below the posted speed limit, he crossed two lanes of traffic and veered into the emergency lane before returning to a center lane.

Cash proceeded to follow the appellant for several minutes, activating video recording equipment in his patrol car. The appellant continued to swerve over the lines demarcating his lane. Accordingly, Cash activated his emergency lights. The appellant did not respond, however, forcing Cash to employ his siren. At this point, the appellant stopped his vehicle on the shoulder of the highway. When Cash approached the appellant's vehicle on foot, he noticed a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the vehicle. The trooper requested the appellant's driver's license, and the appellant fumbled for his wallet for some time, prompting the trooper to ask the appellant to get out of his vehicle. Despite the trooper's request, the appellant continued his efforts to retrieve his wallet. Accordingly, Cash himself opened the driver's door. When the appellant emerged from his vehicle, Cash noted that the appellant's movements were slow and deliberate, and the appellant appeared to have difficulty maintaining his balance. Additionally, Cash observed that the appellant's eyes were bloodshot, and his speech was slurred. Cash administered the "walk and turn" and "one-legged stand" field sobriety tests, both of which tests the appellant performed "very, very" poorly. Following his administration of the field sobriety tests, Cash placed the appellant under arrest. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.
Download beanrg.pdf

Tennessee Law

Tennessee State Laws
Tennessee Tax
Tennessee Labor Laws

Comments

Tips