ÿWPCØ …# VU:a %› 04¡w@Õ4 ) 0x8 0D° ô 0Jü 0TF 0^š 0hø 0r` 0|Ò 0†N 0Ô 1ud 0dÙ B=U *ZB)„DC­ AMðß=¾ D3Ú x* 0@¢v~âvÓ` AO3Æ‚ 0DH D/Œ B»˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLHÎ,†r‰AZ‹"Arial RegularX( ƒ•$¡¡Ñ  Ñ ½ D¾ ¿ DÀ Á D à DÄ DÅ UÆ Ó€Ô¡¨ 3|xÏ (((3ÑÖ$¤¤Ý ƒƒ•!ÝÑ  ÑÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d%%%%7Border 1dd€-&Cþÿ << Gÿÿ ÕÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÔ€$ÔÑ  ÑÝ  ÝÔ€$ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€$XÔÌÌMay€16,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó ´Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÑ  ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€$ôÔ€€Effective€July€1,€1995,€this€statute€was€amended€to€provide€that€except€for€capital€cases,€jury€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ïsequestration€was€to€occur€only€upon€motion€of€the€trial€court€or€either€party.€€òòSeeóó€1995€Tenn.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÏPub.€Acts,€ch.€43.Ì'ÿÿdxd Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÑ  ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€$ôÔ€€The€stateððs€brief€contains€no€argument€as€to€how€the€disposal€of€the€flowerpots€is€relevant.Ì nÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÑ  ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€$ôÔ€€For€Class€A€felonies€committed€on€or€after€July€1,€1995,€the€presumptive€sentence€is€the€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ïmidpoint€of€the€range.€€òòSeeóó€T.C.A.€ðð€40„35„210(c)€(Supp.€1996).Ì("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  ÒPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€$ÔÑ  ÑÝ  Ý›Ò  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ , ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ќـ€ÙÑ\R AØ'\ÑßR€'(&A1-j|` ç `€€@ÿRß›Þ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌà@ àJUNE€1994€SESSIONÌÌÌÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à àà àà à)à àÌ€à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àAppellee,€à àà àà àà à)€€No.€01C01„9401„CC„00025Ìà à€€€€€à àà à€€à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€Perry€CountyÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€€€€€à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€Honorable€Donald€P.€Harris,€JudgeÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌKEITH€LEEGAN,à à€€€à àà àà à)€€€(Second€Degree€Murder€and€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€Theft€Under€$500)€€€€Ìà àAppellant.à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àÌÌòòFor€the€Appellantóó:à àà àà àà àòòFor€the€Appelleeóó:ÌÌLyman€Ingram€€€€€€€€€à àà àà àCharles€W.€BursonÌP.O.€Box€959à àà àà àà àAttorney€General€of€TennesseeÌDyersburg,€TN€38025„0959à àà àà àandà àà àà àà àÌ€€€€€and€€€€à àà àà àà àà àChristina€S.€ShevalierÌJohn€H.€Hendersonà àà àà àà àAssistant€Attorney€General€of€TennesseeÏDistrict€Public€Defenderà àà àà à450€James€Robertson€Parkwayà àà àÌ407„C€Main€Street,€P.O.€Box€68à àà àNashville,€TN€37243„0493ÌFranklin,€TN€37065„0068Ì(AT€TRIAL)à àà àà àà àà àJoseph€D.€Baugh,€Jr.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àDistrict€Attorney€GeneralÌJohn€H.€Hendersonà àà àà àà àà àandÌDistrict€Public€Defenderà àà àà àDon€SchwendimannÌ€€€€€andà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€District€Attorney€GeneralÌC.€Diane€Crosierà àà àà àà àWilliamson€County€CourthouseÌLarry€D.€Drolsumà àà àà àà àP.O.€Box€937ÌAssistant€Public€Defendersà àà àFranklin,€TN€37065„0937Ì407„C€Main€Street,€P.O.€Box€68ÌFranklin,€TN€37065„0068Ì(ON€APPEAL)ÌÌÌœÌÌÌOPINION›€FILED:____________________ÌÌÌAFFIRMEDÌÌPER€CURIAMÌÓÓÓ` °‚,` ˜XÓà@ àò òòòÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÑ7€ç˜XXdæXXdæ7ÑÌà@ àO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÌÌÑ  ÑÑ Ü Ñà àThe€defendant,€Keith€Leegan,€was€convicted€in€a€jury€trial€in€the€PerryÏCounty€Circuit€Court€of€second€degree€murder,€a€Class€A€felony,€and€theft€of€propertyÏvalued€under€$500.00,€a€Class€A€misdemeanor.€€As€a€Range€œI,›€standard€offender,€heÏreceived€a€twenty„year€sentence€for€the€second€degree€murder€conviction€and€aÏconcurrent€eleven€months€and€twenty„nine€days€sentence€for€the€theft€conviction.€€InÏthis€appeal€as€of€right,€the€defendant€asserts€the€following:ÌÓÓÓ  Óà8 à1.€€The€evidence€was€insufficient€to€convict€him€of€secondÏdegree€murder€and€theft€under€$500.€ÌÌà8 à2.€€The€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€sequester€the€jury€and€inÏfailing€to€grant€a€new€trial€on€the€basis€of€contact€betweenÍjury€members,€state€witnesses,€and€a€brother€of€a€stateÏwitness.ÌÌà à3.€€The€trial€court€erred€in€permitting€into€evidence€details€of€a€prior€Ìà àconviction€of€the€defendant.ÌÌà à4.€€The€trial€court€erred€in€imposing€an€excessive€sentence€upon€the€Ìà àdefendant.ÌÌÓÓÌÓ  Óà àThe€stateððs€first€witness,€Ms.€Elizabeth€Marshall,€the€live„in€girlfriend€ofÏthe€victim,€testified€that€she€had€last€spoken€with€the€victim€on€September€7,€1991,€atÏ8:00€a.m.€as€she€left€for€work.€€According€to€Ms.€Marshall,€upon€returning€home€thatÏafternoon€€she€found€a€note€left€by€the€victim€which€stated€that€he€had€gone€to€WaverlyÏwith€Keith€(the€defendant)€and€would€be€home€about€5:00€p.m.€€When€the€victim€failedÏto€return€home,€Ms.€Marshall€left€her€home€in€search€of€him€and€met€two€of€his€friendsÏat€a€local€gas€station.€€The€friends€told€Ms.€Marshall€that€the€victim€had€been€by€theÏstation€earlier€that€afternoon.€€ÌÌà àThe€victim€did€not€return€home,€and€Ms.€Marshall€went€to€the€defendantððsÏhome€at€approximately€11:00€a.m.€the€following€morning.€€The€defendant€admitted€toÏMs.€Marshall€that€he€had€been€with€the€victim€the€day€before€but€stated€that€he€did€notÏknow€where€the€victim€was€at€that€time.€€He€stated€that€he€had€left€the€victim€at€Jabboððs,Ïa€local€tavern,€at€approximately€6:00€p.m.€the€prior€evening.€€Ms.€Marshall€noted€thatÏthe€defendant€would€not€look€at€her€directly.Ìà àÌà àJimmy€King,€a€friend€of€both€the€victim€and€the€defendant,€testified€that€heÏhad€seen€the€victim€and€the€defendant€together€in€the€defendantððs€blue€Ford€truck€onÏSeptember€7,€1991,€at€Billððs€Dollar€Store€and€had€joined€them.€€He€stated€that€he€hadÏtaken€his€purchases€home€and€had€met€the€couple€at€the€bridge€over€Short€CreekÏwhere€he,€his€brother„in„law,€the€victim,€and€the€defendant€had€smoked€a€ð ðjoint.ðð€€HeÏtestified€that€he€had€left€with€the€victim€and€the€defendant€at€approximately€11:30€a.m.Ïand€traveled€to€a€nearby€store€to€purchase€gas€and€beer.€€He€stated€that€he€had€seenÏa€Harrison€and€Richardson€twenty„gauge,€single„shot€shotgun€with€the€stock€on€theÏfloor€of€the€truck€with€the€barrel€pointing€toward€the€window.€€According€to€King,€theÏgroup€went€to€a€local€bar€at€approximately€1:00€p.m.€and€left€approximately€three€(3)Ïhours€later.€€He€stated€that€the€victim€had€been€driving€the€defendantððs€truck,€and€theÏdefendant€had€been€shooting€at€signs€from€the€truck.€€The€three€men€then€arguedÏabout€shooting€and€got€out€of€the€truck€to€take€turns€shooting.€€They€again€stopped€at€aÏstore€to€buy€beer,€and€the€defendant€moved€into€the€driverððs€seat.€€Mr.€King€said€that€heÏhad€gone€home€at€approximately€5:00€p.m.€but€that€the€other€two€men€had€said€thatÏthey€were€going€to€Jabboððs.ÌÌà àOn€cross„examination€Mr.€King€testified€that€he€had€purchased€andÏhelped€consume€a€six€pack€of€beer,€bottle€of€tequila,€and€two€half„pints€of€whiskey€onÏthe€day€in€question€and€that€the€group€had€smoked€two€joints.€€He€also€stated€thatÍwhen€he€had€heard€about€the€murder€the€following€day€he€had€returned€to€one€of€theÏlocations€where€the€gun€had€been€shot€and€had€retrieved€a€shell€and€had€given€it€toÏSheriff€Ward.€€On€redirect€examination,€Mr.€King€testified€that€the€victim€had€shown€himÏa€wad€of€money€on€the€day€of€the€incident.€€Ìà àÌà àRobert€Howell,€another€friend€of€the€victim€and€the€defendant€testified€thatÏhe€has€seen€the€two€men€at€a€gas€station€at€approximately€3:30€p.m.€on€September€7Ïand€that€he€had€talked€to€the€defendant€briefly.€€He€stated€that€the€defendant€was€in€theÏpassenger€seat€of€a€blue€pickup€truck€and€that€he€had€noticed€a€shotgun€in€the€truck.€€Ìà àÌà àRicky€Harris€testified€that€he€had€been€cooking€at€Jabboððs€on€the€day€inÏquestion,€arriving€at€approximately€10:30€a.m.€and€leaving€at€about€10:00€p.m.€thatÏevening.€€He€said€that€T.B.I.€officers€had€questioned€him€the€day€after€the€murder€andÏhad€shown€him€a€photograph€of€the€victim.€€He€told€the€officers€that€the€victim€hadÏarrived€in€a€blue€Ford€flatbed€truck€and€had€been€ð ðcutting€up€with€everybody.ðð€€HeÏstated€that€he€had€seen€the€truck€leave€and€return,€but€the€last€time€he€had€seen€theÏdefendant€and€the€victim€was€approximately€5:00€p.m.,€with€the€two€men€only€stayingÏabout€fifteen€(15)€to€thirty€(30)€minutes.ÌÌà àLarry€Conder€testified€that€he€had€also€been€at€Jabboððs€cooking€fish€onÏSeptember€7.€€He€stated€that€he€had€seen€the€victim€and€the€defendant€about€5:00Íp.m.€that€afternoon.€€He€said€the€men€had€circled€the€building€and€had€then€stoppedÏand€come€in.€€When€the€men€left,€Mr.€Conder€stated€that€the€defendant€had€gotten€inÏthe€truck€and€told€the€victim€to€ð ðcome€on.ððÌÌà àThomas€Ward,€the€sheriff€of€Perry€County,€testified€that€on€September€8,Ïthe€following€morning,€Mr.€Melvin€Barker€had€reported€that€he€had€found€a€body€onÏTree€Farm€Road.€€He€went€to€the€scene€and€at€approximately€11:45€a.m.,€he€found€theÏbody€of€the€victim.€€He€testified€that€the€body€was€ð ðcold€and€stiffðð€and€that€it€hadÏappeared€that€somebody€had€pulled€the€defendantððs€pockets€out€in€an€effort€to€getÏwhatever€was€in€them.€€He€also€testified€that€it€had€appeared€that€someone€had€placedÏthe€body€on€a€piece€of€plywood€and€attempted€to€pull€the€body€up€a€hill.€€He€found€aÏbullet€wound€in€the€victimððs€neck€and€on€the€top€of€his€head.ÌÌà àSheriff€Ward€testified€that€when€he€had€questioned€the€defendant€about€aÏshotgun,€the€defendant€had€denied€even€owning€a€shotgun.€€Ultimately,€however,€theÏdefendant€and€his€mother€produced€a€shotgun,€but€it€was€not€a€Harrison€andÏRichardson€model.€€Pursuing€the€investigation,€Sheriff€Ward€had€hired€a€diver€to€checkÏunder€several€local€bridges€for€any€evidence,€and€about€a€half€of€a€mile€from€theÏdefendantððs€house,€the€diver€had€found€a€twenty„gauge€shotgun€shell.€€The€sheriff€alsoÏstated€that€he€had€examined€the€defendantððs€truck€the€evening€after€the€victim€wasÏfound€and€that€it€had€appeared€that€the€truck€had€been€cleaned.ÌÌà àRichard€Alley,€a€special€agent€with€the€T.B.I.,€testified€that€he€had€foundÏno€shotgun€shells€or€latent€fingerprints€from€the€bottles€or€debris€taken€from€the€scene.€ÏHe€testified€that€Mr.€King€had€brought€him€and€Sheriff€Ward€a€shotgun€shell€KingÏclaimed€to€have€come€from€Blue€Hill€Road€and€that€a€second€shell€had€beenÏrecovered€under€Beardstown€Bridge.€€Both€shells€were€sent€to€the€Tennessee€CrimeÏLaboratory€and€it€was€determined€that€both€shells€had€been€fired€from€the€same€gun.€ÏHe€stated€that€Dr.€Charles€Harlan,€the€medical€examiner,€had€provided€portions€of€aÏcartridge€removed€from€the€body€of€the€victim€and€the€pellets€were€determined€to€beÏeight„shot€size€from€a€Remington€shell€fired€from€a€twenty„gauge€shotgun.ÌÌà àAgent€Alley€stated€that€he€had€questioned€the€defendant€on€threeÏoccasions€but€that€the€defendant€had€never€admitted€having€a€shotgun.€€Some€two€orÏthree€months€later,€the€Leegan€family€turned€over€a€shotgun,€but€it€was€determined€thatÏthe€shells€in€evidence€had€not€come€from€that€gun.€€Agent€Alley€also€stated€that€theÏdefendant€had€told€him€that€he,€the€victim,€and€Jimmy€King€had€been€drinking€all€dayÏon€the€day€of€the€murder€and€that€he€and€the€victim€had€visited€Jabboððs€but€that€he€hadÏonly€stayed€twenty€(20)€to€thirty€(30)€minutes.€€The€defendant€told€Agent€Alley€that€heÏhad€left€Jabboððs€by€himself€and€that€he€had€gotten€home€between€6:00€p.m.€and€7:30Ïp.m.€that€evening.ÌÌà àCharles€Harlan,€the€Chief€Medical€Examiner€for€the€State€of€TennesseeÏtestified€that€the€autopsy€of€the€victim€revealed€that€he€had€been€shot€with€a€shotgunÏonce€in€the€neck€and€once€in€the€forehead.€€He€stated€that€both€shots€had€passed€fromÏfront€to€back€with€no€vertical€elevation€or€depression.€€It€appeared€that€the€wound€to€theÏneck€had€come€from€a€shot€fired€from€a€distance€of€six€to€nine€feet€and€the€foreheadÏwound€had€come€from€a€shot€fired€from€a€distance€of€three€feet€or€less.€€In€summary,ÏDr.€Harlan€testified€that€the€victim€had€been€alive€at€the€time€both€wounds€wereÏinflicted€and€that€he€had€died€as€a€result€of€the€wounds.€€On€cross„examination€heÏtestified€that€the€victimððs€blood/alcohol€level€six€hours€after€death€had€been€0.24Ïpercent,€his€urine/alcohol€level€had€been€0.28€percent,€and€drug€tests€had€proven€toÏbe€negative.ÌÌà àAnthony€Dotson,€employer€of€the€victim,€then€testified€that€the€victim€hadÏbeen€paid€the€day€before€he€was€killed.€€He€stated€that€when€he€had€heard€of€theÏvictimððs€death,€he€had€called€Ms.€Marshall€to€tell€her€that€he€had€passed€theÏdefendantððs€truck€on€Tree€Farm€Road€the€evening€of€the€murder€and€that€what€he€hadÏremembered€about€the€time€was€that€it€had€not€been€dark€enough€for€headlights.€€Ìà àÌà àThe€bartender€for€Jabboððs€testified€that€she€had€remembered€that€theÏvictim€and€the€defendant€had€come€into€the€bar€at€approximately€5:30€p.m.€on€theÏevening€of€the€incident€and€that€the€victim€had€displayed€a€handful€of€money.€€SheÍstated€that€the€men€had€stayed€only€fifteen€(15)€minutes€and€that€it€was€her€opinion€thatÏthey€had€been€intoxicated.€€The€state€then€rested€its€case.Ìà àÌà àChris€Carpenter,€a€special€agent€with€the€T.B.I.,€testified€that€he€had€beenÏcalled€to€Perry€County€on€September€8€to€assist€Agent€€Alley€in€the€investigation€of€theÏhomicide€of€the€victim.€€He€stated€that€he,€the€sheriff,€and€Agent€Alley€had€gone€to€theÏresidence€of€the€defendant€at€approximately€1:30€a.m.€on€the€morning€of€September€9Ïafter€obtaining€the€defendantððs€consent€to€search€and€that€they€had€found€no€bloodyÏclothing€nor€the€purported€weapon.€€He€testified€that€the€defendantððs€father€had€arrivedÏat€the€residence€and€had€shown€the€officers€his€personal€guns€but€that€nothing€hadÏbeen€seized€as€evidence.€€On€cross„examination,€Agent€Carpenter€testified€that€heÏhad€observed€that€the€defendantððs€truck€had€been€extremely€clean.ÌÌà àMelissa€Leegan,€wife€of€the€defendant,€testified€that€on€September€7€theÏvictim€had€called€her€husband€at€approximately€9:00€a.m.€and€that€her€husband€hadÏleft€the€house€sometime€around€lunch.€€She€stated€that€he€had€arrived€home€beforeÏdark€and€had€acted€normal.€€On€cross„examination€she€testified€that€her€husband€hadÏnot€maintained€regular€employment€at€the€time€of€the€incident.ÌÌà àMary€Leegan,€mother€of€the€defendant,€testified,€substantiallyÏcorroborating€the€testimony€of€the€defendantððs€wife.€€The€defendantððs€brother€andÍsister„in„law€also€corroborated€Ms.€Leeganððs€testimony,€stating€that€they€had€been€atÏthe€Leegan€home€when€the€defendant€had€come€in€on€September€8€and€that€the€timeÏhad€been€approximately€6:30€p.m.€€When€questioned€concerning€the€movies€theyÏstated€they€had€watched€when€the€defendant€had€come€in,€one€witness€said€theÏmovies€were€comedies,€one€said€they€were€westerns,€and€another€said€they€wereÏadventure„type€movies.€ÌÌà àThe€defendantððs€father,€Earl€Leegan,€testified€that€T.B.I.€agents€had€comeÏto€his€home€early€on€the€morning€of€September€9,€and€that€he€had€just€come€in€from€aÏwrecker€run.€€The€officers€had€asked€permission€to€search€Mr.€Leeganððs€trailer,€and€heÏstated€that€he€had€consented.€€He€testified€that€when€they€had€questioned€him€aboutÏguns€he€had€shown€them€his€collection€of€approximately€fifteen€guns.€€He€stated€thatÏhe€had€shown€them€the€only€twenty€gauge€he€owned€and€that€they€had€told€him€that€itÏwas€not€the€gun€they€were€looking€for€because€it€had€dust€and€spider€webs€on€it.ÌÌà àThe€defendant€then€testified€concerning€the€events€of€the€weekend€ofÏSeptember€8.€€He€testified€that€the€victim€had€called€him€at€approximately€9:30€orÏ10:00€a.m.€on€the€morning€of€September€8€and€had€wanted€him€to€pick€him€up€to€goÏdrinking.€€He€stated€that€he€had€taken€his€1971€blue€Ford€pickup€truck€and€that€he€hadÏnot€had€any€type€of€shotgun€in€the€truck€on€that€day.€€He€stated€that€he€and€the€victimÏhad€met€Jimmy€King€and€that€Mr.€King€had€joined€them€at€Short€Creek€Bridge€to€goÍriding€around.€€He€stated€that€the€group€had€purchased€beer,€gas,€tequila,€and€whiskeyÏand€that€when€they€had€left€the€liquor€store,€the€victim€had€been€driving.€€They€stoppedÏat€a€bar€where€they€drank€and€played€pool€for€approximately€thee€and€one€half€hoursÏand€they€took€Mr.€King€home.€€He€testified€that€the€victim€had€wanted€to€go€to€JabboððsÏand€that€they€had€stayed€at€Jabboððs€for€about€thirty€(30)€minutes.€€According€to€theÏdefendant,€the€victim€went€outside€and€when€he€returned€the€defendant€told€him€thatÏhe€would€like€to€leave.€€He€stated€that€he€and€the€victim€had€walked€to€the€truckÏtogether€but€that€the€victim€had€refused€to€leave€with€him.€€He€testified€that€he€had€notÏlearned€of€the€victimððs€death€until€about€3:30€p.m.€the€following€day€when€he€wasÏquestioned€by€the€T.B.I.€agents.€€He€adamantly€denied€having€a€gun€in€the€truck€on€theÏday€of€the€murder€and€said€that€he€had€not€killed€the€victim.€Ìà àÌà àRobert€Curtis,€Jr.,€testified€that€he€had€been€to€Mousetail€Landing€Park€onÏSeptember€8€and€that€he€had€seen€the€defendant€on€Highway€100€and€had€watchedÏhim€turn€into€his€fatherððs€driveway€at€approximately€6:30€p.m.€€He€stated€that€theÏdefendant€had€not€turned€out€Tree€Ridge€Road.€€He€also€stated€that€he€had€notÏvolunteered€this€information€until€he€had€realized€that€time€was€significant€to€theÏdefendantððs€defense.€€He€acknowledged€that€he€worked€for€the€defendantððs€uncle€andÏconsidered€the€defendant€a€good€friend.€€Ricky€Travis€and€Herbert€Curtis,€two€otherÏfriends€of€the€defendant,€testified€that€they€had€also€seen€the€defendant€on€HighwayÍ100€at€approximatley€6:30€p.m.€on€September€8€and€that€they€had€also€followed€himÏuntil€he€turned€into€hs€fatherððs€driveway.€Ìà àÌà àIn€rebuttal,€J.W.€Garretson,€a€dispatcher€and€jailer€for€the€Perry€CountyÏSheriffððs€Department,€testified€that€he€had€come€to€work€at€approximately€8:00€a.m.€onÏSeptember€8€and€that€he€had€looked€out€his€window€at€about€9:00€a.m.€and€had€seenÏthe€defendantððs€pickup€truck€coming€out€of€the€parking€lot€of€a€gas€station€down€theÏstreet.€€Agent€Alley€was€recalled€to€read€from€the€defendantððs€transcribed€statementÏwhich€revealed€some€time€inconsistencies€in€the€defendantððs€statement€madeÏSeptember€8€and€his€testimony€at€trial.€€The€defendant€was€convicted€of€secondÏdegree€murder€and€theft€upon€the€foregoing€evidence.€ÌÌò òÓ  ÓI€ó óÌÓ  Óà àThe€defendant€asserts€that€the€evidence€is€insufficient€to€convict€him€ofÏsecond€degree€murder€and€theft.€€He€contends€that€the€evidence€was€entirelyÏcircumstantial€in€that€no€evidence€was€presented€which€would€place€the€defendantÏwith€the€victim€at€the€time€of€the€murder.ÌÌà àWhen€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€is€questioned€on€appeal,€theÏstandard€of€review€is€ð ðwhether,€after€viewing€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€toÏthe€prosecution,€any€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€the€essential€elements€of€theÍcrime€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,Ï2789€(1979).€€This€means€that€the€state€is€entitled€to€the€strongest€legitimate€view€ofÏthe€evidence€and€all€reasonable€inferences€which€may€be€drawn€from€it.€€òòState€v.ÏCabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€832,€835€(Tenn.€1978).€€Likewise,€the€determination€of€theÏweight€and€credibility€of€the€testimony€of€witnesses€and€reconciliation€of€conflicts€in€theÏtestimony€are€entrusted€exclusively€to€the€trier€of€fact,€in€this€case€the€jury.€€òòState€v.ÏSheffieldóó,€676€S.W.2d€542,€547€(Tenn.€1984);€òòByrge€v.€Stateóó,€575€S.W.2d€292,€295Ï(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1978).€€Further,€the€standard€for€review€is€the€same€whether€theÏconviction€is€based€upon€direct€or€circumstantial€evidence.€€òòState€v.€Johnsonóó,€634ÏS.W.2d€670,€672€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1982).Ìà àÌà àIn€this€case,€the€defendant€was€seen€with€the€victim€at€approximately€5:00Ïp.m.€on€September€7€by€three€Jabboððs€employees.€€The€two€men€were€also€seenÏleaving€the€bar€together,€and€this€was€the€last€time€the€victim€was€seen€alive.€€TwoÏwitnesses€testified€that€a€shotgun€had€been€in€the€defendantððs€truck€on€the€day€of€theÏmurder,€and€one€of€the€witnesses€testified€that€the€truck€had€been€extremely€messy.€ÏWhen€investigators€searched€the€truck€the€following€day,€it€had€been€cleaned,€andÏalthough€the€defendant€testified€that€he€never€left€his€home€on€the€morning€ofÏSeptember€8,€the€local€jailer€testified€that€he€had€seen€the€defendantððs€truck€atÏapproximately€9:00€a.m.€that€morning.€€Another€witness€testified€that€he€had€seen€theÏdefendantððs€truck€on€Tree€Farm€Road€at€approximately€6:00€p.m.€the€night€of€theÍmurder.€€We€conclude€that€sufficient€proof€existed€to€allow€a€rational€trier€of€fact€to€findÏbeyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€the€defendant€unlawfully€and€knowingly€killed€theÏvictim.€€òòSeeóó€T.C.A.€ðððð€39„13„201€and€„210(a)(1).Ìà àÌà àThe€defendant€also€asserts€that€the€proof€was€insufficient€to€convict€himÏof€theft€under€$500.€€However,€the€state€presented€proof€that€the€victim€had€been€paidÏby€his€employer€the€day€before€the€murder.€€Witnesses€testified€that€he€had€beenÏcarrying€a€ð ðwadðð€of€money.€€When€the€victimððs€body€was€discovered,€both€of€hisÏpockets€had€been€pulled€out€and€no€money€was€found€in€them.€€Again,€we€concludeÏthat€the€evidence€was€sufficient€to€support€this€conviction.€€òòSeeóó€T.C.A.€ðð€39„14„103.Ìò òÓ  ÓÌIIó óÌÓ  Óà àIn€his€second€issue,€the€defendant€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€inÏfailing€to€sequester€the€jury€and€in€failing€to€grant€a€new€trial€when€jury€membersÏallegedly€had€contact€with€a€state€witness€and€the€brother€of€a€state€witness.€ÏSpecifically,€he€asserts€that€he€did€not€consent€to€the€jury€being€allowed€to€separateÏand€that€after€the€jury€was€released€on€the€first€day€of€trial,€Jimmy€King€was€seenÏtalking€with€two€of€the€jurors€and€his€brother€was€seen€taking€one€of€the€jurors€into€aÏroom€at€the€courthouse.€€Upon€a€review€of€the€record,€we€conclude€that€these€claimsÏare€without€merit.ÌÌà@ àò òA.ó óÌà àRelative€to€sequestration€of€the€jury,€T.C.A.€ðð€40„18„116€provided€theÏfollowing€at€the€time€of€the€trial€in€this€case:× ƒ) ××  ×ÌÓÓÓ  Óà8 àIn€all€criminal€prosecutions€except€those€in€which€a€deathÏsentence€may€be€rendered,€the€judge€of€the€criminal€courtÏmay,€in€his€discretion,€with€the€consent€of€the€defendant,Ïand€with€the€consent€of€the€district€attorney€general,€permitÏthe€jurors€to€separate€at€times€when€they€are€not€engagedÏupon€the€actual€trial€or€deliberation€of€the€case.ÌÌÓÓIn€Perry€County,€the€Local€Court€Rules,€in€pertinent€part,€provide€the€following:ÌÓÓà8 àRule€5.€€REQUEST€FOR€SEQUESTRATION€OF€JURY.€ÏExcept€in€capital€cases,€both€the€defendant€and€the€stateÏshall€be€deemed€to€have€waived€any€right€they€may€have€toÏa€sequestered€jury€unless€a€written€request€therefor€hasÏbeen€filed€with€the€Clerk€of€the€Court€at€least€48€hours€priorÏto€the€time€the€case€is€set.ÌÌÓÓÓ  ÓAccording€to€the€trial€court,€the€rule€was€established€because€of€a€lack€ofÏaccommodations€in€certain€rural€areas€and€the€need€for€prior€arrangements.€€In€fact,€itÏstated€that€Perry€County€had€no€motel€accommodations€for€a€sequestered€jury.ÌÌà àAlthough€the€local€rule€places€a€burden€upon€the€defendant€that€can€beÏviewed€as€not€required€or€contemplated€in€the€above€statute,€we€do€not€believe€thatÏthe€defendant€is€entitled€to€relief€in€this€case.€€Whether€appropriate€or€not,€the€local€ruleÍplaced€defense€counsel€on€notice€that€a€request€would€have€to€be€made.€€Even€ifÏdefense€counsel€could€be€excused€from€knowing€the€local€rule,€the€record€on€appealÏreflects€that€the€defendant€made€no€mention€„„€by€request,€objection,€or€comment€ofÏany€kind€„„€of€sequestration€during€any€part€of€the€trial€process.€€We€also€note€that€thereÏis€no€transcript€of€the€jury€selection€procedures,€a€time€when€sequestration€withÏovernight€stays€for€a€three„day€trial€would€be€discussed€with€prospective€and€selectedÏjurors.€€ÌÌà àThe€first€mention€of€the€issue€is€in€the€defendantððs€motion€for€new€trial.€ÏObviously,€the€defendantððs€failure€to€bring€the€issue€to€the€trial€courtððs€attention€whenÏthe€jury€was€first€let€go€until€the€next€morning€lends€itself€to€an€inference€that€heÏconsented€to€it€as€required€by€the€statute.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòState€v.€Mounceóó,€859€S.W.2d€319,Ï323€(Tenn.€1993)€(when€defendant€chooses€not€to€object€to€mistrial€so€as€to€give€trialÏcourt€opportunity€to€correct€error,€consent€to€the€mistrial€may€be€inferred€for€doubleÏjeopardy€purposes).€€In€any€event,€in€the€context€of€the€sequestration€requirement,€theÏdefendant€is€not€entitled€ð ðto€stand€silently€by€while€the€trial€court€commits€an€error€inÏprocedure,€and€then€later€rely€on€that€error€when€it€is€to€his€advantage€to€do€so.ðð€€òòId.óó€ÏThus,€the€defendantððs€failure€to€take€action€during€the€trial€so€as€to€give€the€trial€courtÏan€opportunity€to€address€his€concerns€bars€him€from€obtaining€relief.€ÌÌà@ àò òB.ó óÌà àThe€defendant€also€complains€that€there€was€improper€communicationÏbetween€third€parties€and€the€jury.€€At€the€motion€for€a€new€trial€hearing,€severalÏrelatives€of€the€defendant€testified€that€on€the€first€day€of€trial,€they€had€seen€witnessÏJimmy€King€talking€to€one€of€the€jurors€in€the€hall€and€on€the€second€day€they€hadÏseen€Mr.€Kingððs€brother,€David€King,€taking€another€juror€into€a€courtroom€office.€ÏHowever,€none€of€the€relatives€could€testify€as€to€what€was€said€in€the€contacts.€ÏMoreover,€no€one€immediately€reported€these€allegations€to€the€court€or€theÏauthorities.€€We€note,€also,€that€although€the€state€had€juror€affidavits€ready€to€beÏtendered€to€the€court,€the€trial€court€denied€the€defendantððs€motion€and€the€affidavitsÏwere€not€submitted€as€evidence.ÌÌà àWhen€there€is€an€unexplained€communication€between€a€third€party€andÏa€sequestered€juror,€there€is€a€presumption€of€improper€contact€and€prejudice.€€In€suchÏevent,€the€state€has€an€affirmative€burden€to€show€that€no€prejudice€actually€occurred.€ÏOtherwise,€a€new€trial€will€be€granted.€€òòGonzales€v.€Stateóó,€593€S.W.2d€288,€293€(Tenn.Ï1980).€€However,€for€a€nonsequestered€juror,€our€supreme€court€has€noted€thatÏð ðsomething€more€than€a€mere€showing€of€a€mingling€with€the€general€public€isÏrequiredðð€to€shift€the€burden€to€the€state€in€that€it€must€also€be€shown€that€as€a€result€ofÏjuror€contact€with€a€third€person€ð ðsome€extraneous€prejudicial€information,€fact€orÏopinion,€was€imported€to€one€or€more€jurors€or€some€outside€improper€influence€wasÍbrought€to€bear€on€one€or€more€jurors.ðð€€òòState€v.€Blackwellóó,€664€S.W.2d€686,€689Ï(Tenn.€1984).ÌÌà àThe€record€before€us€does€not€reflect€any€indication€of€the€nature€of€theÏremarks,€if€any,€made€by€or€to€the€jurors€during€the€contacts€mentioned€by€theÏdefendantððs€witnesses.€€Therefore,€the€defendant€has€not€provided€sufficient€evidenceÏfrom€which€we€may€presume€prejudice.€€The€defendant€is€not€entitled€to€a€new€trialÏupon€this€claim.€€ÌÌà@ àò òIIIó óÌà àNext,€the€defendant€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€allowing€intoÏevidence€the€underlying€facts€of€his€prior€conviction.€€The€defendant€had€previouslyÏbeen€convicted€of€misdemeanor€theft€of€property,€the€offense€occurring€several€monthsÏbefore€the€killing€in€this€case.€€The€state€proved€that€the€theft€was€of€flowerpots€and€thatÏthe€defendant€and€Jimmy€King€had€thrown€them€into€the€Buffalo€River€under€a€bridge,Ïthe€same€river€from€which€the€matching€shotgun€shell€hull€had€been€retrieved.€€ÌÌà àThe€defendant€acknowledges€that€the€theft€conviction€was€admissible€toÏimpeach€his€credibility.€€However,€he€claims€that€the€evidence€of€him€throwingÏflowerpots€off€the€bridge€was€ð ðimproper€and€prejudicialðð€in€that€it€was€used€to€show€thatÏhe€acted€in€the€same€manner€by€throwing€the€shell€hull€into€the€river.€€He€claims€thatÍthe€probative€value€of€this€evidence€does€not€substantially€outweigh€its€prejudicialÏeffect,€citing€Rule€608(b),€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€€ÌÌà àThe€standard€in€Rule€608€for€weighing€probative€value€against€the€risk€ofÏprejudice€does€not€apply€to€this€issue.€€The€trial€court€admitted€the€evidence€underÏRule€404(b),€Tenn.€R.€Evid.,€upon€the€stateððs€claim€that€it€wanted€to€show€that€theÏdefendant€had€previously€disposed€of€evidence€in€the€river€and,€therefore,€would€haveÏdone€so€in€the€present€case.× ƒ+ ××  ×€€The€trial€court€saw€little€probative€value€to€be€gained€inÏthe€direction€taken€by€the€state,€but€it€saw€no€danger€of€unfair€prejudice€to€theÏdefendant€because€the€theft€conviction€was€already€admissible.€€ÌÌà àRule€404(b)€allows€evidence€of€other€crimes€and€bad€acts€only€if€it€isÏrelevant€to€a€litigated€issue€and€its€probative€value€is€not€outweighed€by€the€danger€ofÏunfair€prejudice.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Hayesóó,€899€S.W.2d€175,€183€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.),€òòappóó.Ïòòdeniedóó€(Tenn.€May€8,€1995).€€ð ðððRelevant€evidenceðð€means€evidence€having€anyÏtendency€to€make€the€existence€of€any€fact€that€is€of€consequence€to€the€determinationÏof€the€action€more€probable€or€less€probable€than€it€would€be€without€the€evidence.ðð€ÏTenn.€R.€Evid.€401.€€If€the€state€sought€to€prove€the€defendantððs€connection€with€theÏmatching€shell€hull€or€even€the€unrecovered€shotgun€a€witness€saw€in€his€vehicle,€weÏagree€with€the€trial€court€that€a€slim€degree€of€relevance€exists.€€More€importantly,€weÍagree€with€its€assessment€that€no€danger€of€unfair€prejudice€existed.€There€is€no€meritÏto€this€issue.Ìà àÌò òÓ  ÓIV€ó óÌÓ  Óà àThe€defendant€next€contends€that€his€murder€sentence€is€excessive€dueÏto€the€fact€that€the€trial€court€took€into€account€a€nonstatutory€enhancement€factor€andÏplaced€undue€weight€on€the€defendantððs€prior€criminal€record.€€Specifically,€theÏdefendant€contests€the€trial€courtððs€use€of€the€defendantððs€employment€history€inÏsentencing€the€defendant€to€twenty€(20)€years€when€the€statutory€minimum€sentenceÏfor€second€degree€murder€is€fifteen€(15)€years.ÌÌà àWhen€a€defendant€complains€of€his€or€her€sentence,€we€must€conduct€aÏòòdeóó€òònovoóó€review€with€a€presumption€of€correctness.€€T.C.A.€ðð€40„35„402(d).€€The€burdenÏof€showing€that€the€sentence€is€improper€is€upon€the€appealing€party.€€T.C.A.€ðð€40„35„401(d),€Sentencing€Commission€Comments.€€This€presumption,€however,€isÏconditioned€upon€an€affirmative€showing€in€the€record€that€the€trial€court€consideredÏthe€sentencing€principles€and€all€relevant€facts€and€circumstances.€€òòState€v.€Ashbyóó,Ï823€S.W.2d€166,€169€(Tenn.€1991).Ìà àÌà àThe€Sentencing€Reform€Act€of€1989€provides€certain€guidelines€to€beÏfollowed€in€sentencing.€€Pursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€40„35„210(b),€the€trial€court€mustÏconsider€€the€following:ÌÓÓÓ  Óà8 à(1)€The€evidence,€if€any,€received€at€the€trial€and€sentencingÏhearing;ÌÌà8 à(2)€The€presentence€report;ÌÌà8 à(3)€The€principles€of€sentencing€and€arguments€as€toÏsentencing€alternatives;ÌÌà8 à(4)€The€nature€and€characteristics€of€the€criminal€conductÏinvolved;ÌÌà8 à(5)€Evidence€and€information€offered€by€the€parties€on€theÏenhancement€and€mitigating€factors€in€ðððð€40„35„113€andÏ40„35„114;€andÌÌà8 à(6)€Any€statement€the€defendant€wishes€to€make€in€his€ownÏbehalf€about€sentencing.ÌÓÓà0 àÓ  ÓIn€addition,€for€the€time€of€the€offenses€in€this€case,€this€section€providedÏthat€the€minimum€sentence€within€the€range€is€the€presumptiveÏsentence.× ƒ, ××  ×€€If€there€are€enhancing€and€mitigating€factors,€the€court€mustÏstart€at€the€minimum€sentence€in€the€range€and€enhance€the€sentence€asÏappropriate€for€the€enhancement€factors€and€then€reduce€the€sentenceÏwithin€the€range€as€appropriate€for€the€mitigating€factors.€€If€there€are€noÍmitigating€factors,€the€court€may€set€the€sentence€above€the€minimum€inÏthat€range€but€still€within€the€range.€€òòSeeóó€T.C.A.€ðð€40„35„210(c)„(e).ÌÌà àIn€this€case,€in€determining€the€length€of€the€sentence,€the€trial€courtÏstated€the€following:ÌÓÓÓ  Óà8 àIn€any€event,€because€of€his€prior€employment€record€andÏthe€fact€that€he€has€been€convicted€of€three€previous€theftÏoffenses,€I€will€sentence€Mr.€Leegan€to€twenty€years€in€theÏDepartment€of€corrections€as€a€standard€Range€I€OffenderÏon€the€second€degree€murder€and€to€eleven€months€andÏtwenty„nine€days€on€the€theft€offense.€€Let€the€two€runÏconcurrently,€one€with€another.ÌÌÓÓÓ  ÓThe€state€agrees€with€the€defendantððs€claim€that€consideration€of€the€defendantððsÏemployment€history€is€not€proper€in€determining€the€length€of€the€defendantððsÏsentence,€€òòseeóó€òòState€v.€Dykesóó,€803€S.W.2d€250,€258€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990)€œ(T.C.A.›€ððÏ40„35„114€œcontains›€the€exclusive€factors€œthat›€may€œbe€used€to€increase€the€length€of€aÏsentence€within€the€range),›€but€it€contends€that€the€sentence€imposed€remains€justifiedÏby€the€defendantððs€past€criminal€history.€€òòSeeóó€€T.C.A.€ðð€40„35„114(1).€€The€defendantððsÏpresentence€report€reflects€that€he€has€a€history€of€three€theft€convictions,€one€assaultÏand€battery€conviction,€and€three€traffic€offenses.ÌÌà àHowever,€we€are€not€limited€to€the€defendantððs€past€criminal€history.€€TheÏcircumstances€of€the€murder€are€relevant€in€that€the€defendant€committed€it€with€aÏfirearm.€€òòSeeóó€T.C.A.€ðð€40„35„114(9).€€In€light€of€the€record€before€us,€including€theÍdefendantððs€personal€history€and€background,€we€believe€that€both€factors,€together,Ïjustify€a€twenty„year€œsentence.̛̜›à àIn€consideration€of€the€foregoing€and€the€record€as€a€whole,€theÏjudgments€of€conviction€are€affirmed.Ìà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà à(Tipton€and€Welles,€JJ.;Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€Bevil,€Sp.€J.,€not€participating)ÌÌÌà àà à€ÌÌÌÌà àà àÌÌÌÌ€€€€à8 àà8 àÌà àà à€Ìà àà à€€Ìà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà àÌà àà à€€€€€€€€Ìà àà à€€€