ÿWPCP ‚6ä¹/Üpj ’«eˆ-öÞ–I ÑÇ*µÜÎïÁOU©Øµñ!r2 Lø0B¿eÕ}Фæ[T+7&•ðÌE×Bh£W—^Ö`ÅÓÕ§Û±SÿêûÁpè£N`ûy~È6@8€gÚ „”¡ÃˆGõy(Zc3…êp¾;H†˜ñ… Ç4à)»¸)œns‹ØœXÖk7„CÖè"p¢üG_ÊåAzfˆ— à| B}ˆR)RÝ™“£ZiýGÛPÇthîî1÷ƹ¡¤ËƒÊ}ï;€Ò*WÑ¡)ö-‹§Ë°àNšniÏð Tš£Ë˜ú„d ùÄh°©ÐäçÖ*>òçö³“á!% Ðthe€team€members€escorted€her€back€to€the€trailer.€When€she€opened€the€front€doorÐ º' #' Ðto€go€in,€the€medical€personnel€detected€a€very€pungent€odor€emanating€from€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðinterior.€€The€odor€suggested€a€mixture€of€urine,€feces,€and€garbage€that€was€badÐ R+¢&+ Ðenough€to€ð ðtake€your€breath€away.ðð€€Although€the€medical€personnel€remainedÐ -n(- Ðoutside€the€trailer,€€they€looked€through€the€open€door€into€the€living€room€andÐ ê.:*/ Ðkitchen€area€and€saw€deplorable€conditions€of€filth€and€squalor.€€Amidst€garbageÐ ¶0,1 Ðand€trash€in€the€floor,€they€saw€an€infant€who,€at€first,€did€not€appear€to€be€moving;Ð ‚2Ò-3 Ðhowever,€before€leaving,€one€of€the€team€members€saw€the€infant€move.€€ThereÐ N4ž/5 Ðwere€two€other€young€children€who€appeared€to€be€ð ðstackedðð€on€a€couch€in€theÐ 6j17 Ðliving€room.€€The€team€membersðð€testimony€at€trial€concerning€the€filth,€clutter€andÐ æ7639 Ðodor€was€graphic;€however,€the€medical€team€felt€they€had€no€right€to€enter€theÐ ²95; ÐÑ<‘Ñâ âÑ8€ Ë` XXdæ XXdæ8Ñâ âÑ  Ñprivate€dwelling,€€even€though€they€believed€that€the€health€and€welfare€of€theÐ ° Ðchildren€was€in€danger.€€Instead,€they€returned€to€their€base€and€notified€the€policeÐ |Ì Ðof€the€situation.Ð H˜ ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àOfficers€immediately€went€to€the€defendantððs€trailer€and€knocked€onÐ à 0 Ðthe€door.€€When€the€defendant€opened€the€door,€an€officer€informed€him€that€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðofficers€had€come€to€look€into€the€welfare€of€the€children.€€Although€the€officer€wasÐ xÈ  Ðuncertain€about€whether€the€defendant€said€ð ðokayðð€or€ð ðcome€in,ð ð€he€testified€at€aÐ D”  Ðsuppression€hearing€that€the€defendant€gave€his€consent€to€the€officersðð€entering€theÐ ` Ðdwelling€and€then€backed€away€to€allow€the€officers€to€enter.€€At€trial,€the€officersÐ Ü, Ðand€the€responding€Department€of€Childrenððs€Services€(DCS)€worker€testified€aboutÐ ¨ø Ðthe€disturbing,€deplorable€environment€in€the€trailer.€They€found€a€puddle€of€vomitÐ tÄ Ðin€the€floor€near€the€front€door€and€within€two€feet€of€where€the€infant€was€laying.€Ð @ ÐThe€child€lay€amidst€dirty€clothes,€trash,€€remnants€of€fast€food€meals,€and€bugs€thatÐ  \ Ðcrawled€about.€€The€entire€floor€space€was€covered€with€dirty€clothes€and€refuse.€Ð Ø( ÐThe€adjoining€kitchen€was€cluttered€with€open€cans,€rotting€food,€grease,€andÐ ¤ô Ðmounds€of€dishes€and€pans€which€contained€mold„covered€food.€€In€other€areas€ofÐ p!À  Ðthe€trailer,€they€found€human€feces€in€the€floor.€€The€smell€of€urine,€feces,€andÐ <#Œ" Ðgarbage€was€overwhelming,€so€ð ðintense€it€was€unrealðð€and€caused€the€nostrils€toÐ %X $ Ðburn.€The€trailer€was€infested€with€ð ðroach€bugs,ðð€and€the€officers€testified€to€havingÐ Ô&$"& Ðto€exit€the€trailer€periodically€in€order€to€breathe€fresh€air€and€to€shake€the€roachesÐ  (ð#( Ðoff€their€shoes€and€trousers.€€An€officer€found€the€two€older€children€asleep€in€aÐ l*¼%* Ðback€bedroom.€€They€were€nude,€under€a€blanket,€and€when€the€officer€found€them,Ð 8,ˆ', Ðhe€discovered€several€roaches€crawling€upon€the€blanket.€Ð .T). ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àBased€upon€the€discovery€of€the€conditions€at€the€trailer,€the€DCSÐ œ1ì,2 Ðremoved€the€children€from€the€home.€€However,€none€of€the€investigating€personnel,Ð h3¸.4 Ðincluding€the€DCS€worker€who€removed€the€children,€noticed€any€signs€that€theÐ 45„06 Ðchildren€were€injured€or€ill.€€A€subsequent€medical€examination€revealed€that€theÐ 7P28 Ðchildren€were€healthy,€except€that€the€infant€appeared€to€have€a€cold.€In€short,Ð Ì84: Ðexcept€for€the€infantððs€cold,€there€was€no€proof€that€the€children€suffered€from€beingÐ ° Ðsick,€injured€or€emotionally€distraught.€Ð |Ì ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àThe€trial€court€instructed€the€jury€that€it€should€consider€the€chargedÐ  d Ðoffense€and€that,€should€the€jury€acquit€the€defendant€of€the€charged€offense,€itÐ à 0 Ðshould€then€consider€as€a€lesser€included€offense€the€charge€of€attempted€childÐ ¬ ü  Ðabuse€and€neglect.€€The€jury€convicted€the€defendant€on€all€three€counts€of€theÐ xÈ  Ðcharged€offense€of€child€abuse€and€neglect.Ð D”  ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àIn€his€first€issue,€the€defendant€asserts€that€the€police€officersððÐ Ü, Ðwarrantless€entry€into€his€home€was€unreasonable€and,€therefore,€unlawful.€€€òòSeeóóÐ ¨ø ÐU.S.€Const.,€amend.€IV;€Tenn.€Const.,€art.€I,€ðð€7;€òòState€v.€Clarkóó,€844€S.W.2d€597,Ð tÄ Ð599€(Tenn.€1992).€The€trial€court€conducted€a€pretrial€suppression€hearing€andÐ @ Ðconcluded€that€the€warrantless€entry€was€supported€by€alternative€theories€whichÐ  \ Ðare€based€upon€recognized€exceptions€to€the€warrant€requirement€„„€that€the€entryÐ Ø( Ðwas€reasonable€because€of€the€presence€of€exigent€circumstances€and€that€theÐ ¤ô Ðentry€was€accommodated€by€the€defendantððs€consent.€€The€trial€court€denied€theÐ p!À  Ðmotion€to€suppress.€€As€a€result,€at€trial€the€court€admitted€the€officersðð€testimony,Ð <#Œ" Ðas€well€as€photographs€the€officers€took€while€they€were€on€the€scene.Ð %X $ ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àThe€trial€courtððs€findings€at€a€suppression€hearing€are€entitled€to€theÐ  (ð#( Ðweight€of€a€jury€verdict,€and€we€will€not€disturb€the€trial€courtððs€ruling€unless€theÐ l*¼%* Ðevidence€preponderates€against€it.€€òòState€v.€Odomóó,€928,€S.W.2d€18,€23€(Tenn.Ð 8,ˆ', Ð1996).Ð .T). ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àGenerally,€the€state€and€federal€constitutions€require€that€policeÐ œ1ì,2 Ðofficers€obtain€a€warrant€before€they€enter€a€citizenððs€home.€€òòClarkóó,€844€S.W.2d€atÐ h3¸.4 Ð599.€However,€the€courts€recognize€exceptions€to€the€warrant€requirement.€€òòSeeóóÐ 45„06 ÐòòState€v.€Bartramóó,€925€S.W.2d€227,€229„30€(Tenn.€1996).€€For€instance,€theÐ 7P28 Ðexistence€of€exigent€circumstances€may€justify€a€warrantless€entry,€òòRippy€v.€Stateóó,Ð Ì84: Ð550€S.W.2d€636,€641€(Tenn.€1977),€and€the€citizenððs€consent€to€the€entry€mayÐ ° Ðexcuse€the€absence€of€a€warrant.€òòBartramóó,€925€S.W.2d€at€230.€Ð |Ì ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àWe€hold€that€the€record€supports€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€theÐ  d Ðdefendant€consented€to€the€officersðð€entry€into€the€trailer.€€The€trial€court€accreditedÐ à 0 Ðthe€officerððs€testimony€that€the€defendant€assented€to€the€entry€by€a€combination€ofÐ ¬ ü  Ðwords€and€actions.€€The€trailer€door€opened€outwardly.€The€defendantððs€words€ofÐ xÈ  Ðassent€and€€his€backing€away€from€the€open€door€and€sitting€on€the€couch,€while€theÐ D”  Ðofficers€stood€at€the€threshold€and€the€infant€was€on€the€floor€in€plain€view,€supportÐ ` Ða€conclusion€that€consent€was€given.€€We€conclude€that€the€present€case€isÐ Ü, Ðdistinguishable€from€òòClarkóó,€in€which€our€supreme€court€said€that€Clark€ð ðsteppedÐ ¨ø Ðback€òòas€he€opened€the€dooróóðð€and€the€detectives€ð ðmerely€identified€themselves€andÐ tÄ Ðentered€the€apartment.ðð€€òòClarkóó,€844€S.W.2d€at€598,€599€(emphasis€added).€€BasedÐ @ Ðupon€the€defendantððs€consent,€the€entry€into€the€trailer€was€reasonable,€and€theÐ  \ Ðresulting€discoveries€were€admissible.€Ð Ø( ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àÔ‡XË`XXXË`ÔIn€his€second€issue,€the€defendant€asserts€that€the€evidence€isÐ p!À  Ðinsufficient€to€support€this€convictions.€€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àIt€is€well€established€that€a€jury€verdict,€approved€by€the€trial€judge,Ð Ô&$"& Ðaccredits€the€testimony€of€the€witnesses€for€the€state€and€resolves€all€conflicts€inÐ  (ð#( Ðfavor€of€the€theory€of€the€state.€€òòState€v.€Hatchettóó,€560€S.W.2d€627,€630€(Tenn.Ð l*¼%* Ð1978);€òòState€v.€Townsendóó,€525€S.W.2d€842,€843€(Tenn.€1975).€€On€appeal,€the€stateÐ 8,ˆ', Ðis€entitled€to€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€the€evidence€and€all€reasonable€orÐ .T). Ðlegitimate€inferences€which€may€be€drawn€therefrom.€€òòState€v.€Cabbageóó,€571Ð Ð/ +0 ÐS.W.2d€832,€836€(Tenn.€1978).Ð œ1ì,2 ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àMoreover,€a€verdict€against€the€defendant€removes€the€presumptionÐ 45„06 Ðof€innocence€and€raises€a€presumption€of€guilt€on€appeal,€òòState€v.€Graceóó,€493€S.W.Ð 7P28 Ð2d€474,€476€(Tenn.€1973);€òòAnglin€v.€Stateóó,€553€S.W.2d€616,€620€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Ð Ì84: Ð1977),€which€the€defendant€has€the€burden€of€overcoming.€€òòState€v.€Brownóó,€551Ð ° ÐS.W.2d€329,€331€(Tenn.€1977).Ð |Ì ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àMost€significantly,€where€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€is€challenged,Ð  d Ðthe€relevant€question€for€an€appellate€court€is€whether,€after€reviewing€the€evidenceÐ à 0 Ðin€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€prosecution,€any€rational€trier€of€fact€could€haveÐ ¬ ü  Ðfound€the€essential€elements€of€the€crime€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€òòJackson€v.Ð xÈ  ÐVirginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,€99€S.Ct.€2781,€2782€(1979);€Tenn€R.€App.€P.€13.€€See€also,Ð D”  ÐòòState€v.€Williamsóó,€657€S.W.2d€405€(Tenn.€1983).€€This€rule€applies€to€findings€basedÐ ` Ðon€both€direct€and€circumstantial€evidence.€€òòState€v.€Thomasóó,€755€S.W.2d€838,€842Ð Ü, Ð(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1988).€€Circumstantial€evidence€alone€may€be€sufficient€to€convictÐ ¨ø Ðone€of€a€crime.€€òòState€v.€Bolingóó,€840€S.W.2d€944,€947€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1992).Ð tÄ ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àThe€applicable€statute€in€this€case€is€Tennessee€Code€AnnotatedÐ  \ Ðsection€39„15„401(a),€which€provides€in€pertinent€part:€Ð Ø( ÐÒ` ÒÒ°ÒÓÓAny€person€who€knowingly€other€than€by€accidental€means,€treats€aÐ ¤ô Ðchild€under€eighteen€(18)€years€of€age€in€such€a€manner€as€to€inflictÐ Š Ú Ðinjury€or€neglects€such€a€child€so€as€to€adversely€affect€the€childððsÐ p!À  Ðhealth€and€welfare€commits€a€Class€A€misdemeanor;€provided,€thatÐ V"¦! Ðif€the€abused€child€is€six€(6)€years€of€age€or€less,€the€penalty€is€aÐ <#Œ" ÐClass€D€felony.€€Ð "$r# ÐÌÒ` ÒÒ°ÒÓÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„15„401(a)€(1997).Ð î%>!% ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àAs€a€preliminary€matter,€we€must€first€determine€which€òòmens€reaóóÐ †)Ö$) Ðelement€applies€where€the€means€of€committing€the€crime€is€alleged€to€be€childÐ R+¢&+ Ðneglect.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„11„301,€„302€(1997).€€Upon€review€of€CodeÐ -n(- Ðsection€39„15„401(a),€it€is€not€immediately€apparent€whether€the€"knowingly"€òòmensóóÐ ê.:*/ Ðòòreaóó€applies€only€to€the€child€abuse€clause€and€not€the€child€neglect€clause,€orÐ ¶0,1 Ðalternatively,€to€both€the€child€abuse€and€child€neglect€clauses.€€In€previousÐ ‚2Ò-3 Ðdecisions,€this€court€has€applied€the€knowing€òòmens€reaóó€to€the€offense€of€childÐ N4ž/5 Ðneglect.€€òòState€v.€John€Adams€and€Rita€Adamsóó,€No.€02C01„9707„CR„00246,€slip€op.Ð 6j17 Ðat€7„8€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Jackson,€Jul.€14,€1998),€òòpermóó.€òòappóó.€òògrantedóó€(Tenn.,€Feb.Ð æ7639 Ð8,€1999);€€òòState€v.€Robersonóó,€988€S.W.2d€690,€694€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1998)Ð ²95; Ð(aggravated€child€abuse€and€neglect),€òòpermóó.€òòappóó.€òòdeniedóó€(Tenn.€1999).€Ð ° ÐFurthermore,€section€39„15„401(a)€treats€child€neglect€on€a€parity€with€knowing€childÐ |Ì Ðabuse€that€results€in€injury,€and€we€believe€it€is€unlikely€that€the€legislature€wouldÐ H˜ Ðequate€knowing€child€abuse€to€mere€neglect€that€is€less€than€knowing.€€Accordingly,Ð  d Ðwe€conclude€that€section€39„15„401(a)€proscribes€the€òòknowingóó€neglect€of€a€childÐ à 0 Ðwhich€adversely€affects€the€child's€health€and€welfare.Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àÔ#†XË`XXXË`g8#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`ÔA€second€preliminary€issue€we€must€resolve€is€whether€theÐ D”  Ðrequirement€that€the€neglect€"adversely€affect€the€child's€health€and€welfare"Ð ` Ðmandates€discernible€detriment.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð39„15„401(a)€(1997).€€TheÐ Ü, Ðdefendant€argues€that€the€statute€requires€proof€that€the€child€victim€suffered€someÐ ¨ø Ðobjective€harm.€€The€state,€on€the€other€hand,€contends€that€objective€harm€is€notÐ tÄ Ðrequired.Ð @ ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àIn€support€of€his€argument,€the€defendant€relies€upon€òòState€v.€KevinÐ Ø( ÐR.€Mosleyóó,€No.€01C01„9108„CC„00235€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Nashville,€Apr.€29,€1992).€Ð ¤ô ÐIn€òòKevin€R.€Mosleyóó,€the€defendant€burglarized€a€home€while€a€female€resident€andÐ p!À  Ðher€five„week„old€infant€were€present.€€òòKevin€R.€Mosleyóó,€slip€op.€at€4.€€He€bound€theÐ <#Œ" Ðmother,€and€the€child€ð ðwas€left€in€her€crib€unattended€and€undisturbedðð€while€theÐ %X $ Ðdefendant€and€his€accomplice€gathered€the€items€they€wanted€to€take.€€òòIdóó.€€MosleyÐ Ô&$"& Ðasked€for€a€telephone€number€which€he€could€use€to€call€the€victimððs€neighbor€toÐ  (ð#( Ðreport€that€she€needed€help.€€òòIdóó.€at€4„5.€€The€woman€furnished€the€number,€and€theÐ l*¼%* Ðdefendant€left.€€òòIdóó.€at€5.€€A€short€while€later€he€called€the€number€to€report€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðmotherððs€status.€€òòIdóó.€€The€defendant€was€convicted€of€an€number€of€offenses,Ð .T). Ðincluding€child€abuse€and€neglect.€€òòIdóó.€at€2.€This€court€reversed€this€latter€convictionÐ Ð/ +0 Ðbecause,€òòinter€aliaóó,€it€found€that€the€record€contained€no€evidence€that€ð ðany€harmÐ œ1ì,2 Ðwas€inflicted€upon€the€child€.€.€.€[or]€that€the€defendantððs€conduct€adversely€affectedÐ h3¸.4 Ðthe€welfare€of€the€child.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€9.€€€Ð 45„06 ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àOn€the€other€hand,€the€state€relies€upon€òòState€v.€Jeffrey€LloydÐ Ì84: ÐWindersóó,€No.€88„1142„III€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Nashville,€Sept.€14,€1989)€(Reid,€J.,Ð ° Ðdissenting).€€At€5:20€am,€Winders€and€his€female€companion€left€her€two€youngÐ |Ì Ðchildren€outside€a€closed€gas€station€while€the€adults€left€to€engage€in€sexualÐ H˜ Ðrelations.€€òòJeffrey€Lloyd€Windersóó,€slip€op.€at€2.€€Approximately€20€minutes€later,€theÐ  d Ðchildren€were€found€in€a€distressed€and€upset€condition€by€the€station€attendant.€Ð à 0 ÐòòIdóó.€€Winders€was€convicted€of€child€neglect,€and€on€appeal,€he€argued€that€ð ðsomeÐ ¬ ü  Ðadverse€effect€must€have€resulted€from€the€neglect.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€4.€€In€a€split€opinion,€theÐ xÈ  Ðmajority€of€the€panel€of€this€court€affirmed€the€conviction€and€said,€ð ðThe€term€ððso€asÐ D”  Ðto€adversely€affect€its€health€and€welfareðð€does€not€require€that€some€ððinjuryðð€beÐ ` Ðinflicted€on€the€child.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€5.Ð Ü, ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àIn€determining€which€interpretation€of€the€child€neglect€statuteÐ tÄ Ðrepresents€the€better„reasoned€approach,€we€are€guided€by€the€general€statutoryÐ @ Ðscheme€as€it€applies€to€offenses€relative€to€child€safety.€€The€crime€of€which€theÐ  \ Ðdefendant€was€convicted,€child€neglect,€is€a€Class€A€misdemeanor€unless€the€victimÐ Ø( Ðis€six€years€of€age€or€less,€in€which€case€the€crime€is€a€Class€D€felony.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.Ð ¤ô ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€39„15„401(a)€(1997).€€Contributing€to€the€neglect€of€a€child€is€a€ClassÐ p!À  ÐA€misdemeanor,€and€this€crime€contains€no€requirement€ofÔ#†XË`XXXË`tK#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`Ô€detriment€to€the€child.€Ð <#Œ" ÐòòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„157€(1996).€€Likewise,€€reckless€endangerment,€whichÐ %X $ Ðis€either€a€Class€A€misdemeanor€or€a€Class€E€felony,€depending€on€whether€aÐ Ô&$"& Ðdeadly€weapon€is€employed,€does€not€require€that€the€victim׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€suffer€detriment.€€òòSeeóóÐ  (ð#( ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„103€(1997).€€In€addition,€the€attempt€statute€provides€theÐ l*¼%* Ðpossibility€of€prosecuting€any€inchoate€crime€which€requires€a€knowing€or€intentionalÐ 8,ˆ', Ðòòmens€reaóó€as€the€next„lesser€class€offense€as€the€principal€crime.€€òòSeeóóTenn.€CodeÐ .T). ÐAnn.€ðððð€39„12„101,€„107(a)(1997)€(attempt€and€classification);€òòState€v.€Dale€Nolanóó,Ð Ð/ +0 ÐNo.€01C01„9511„CC„00387,€slip€op.€at€18„19,€n.€9€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Nashville,Ð œ1ì,2 ÐJan.€26,€1997)€(inchoate€crimes€requiring€knowing€mental€state€are€subject€toÐ h3¸.4 Ðprosecution€for€attempt),€òòpermóó.€òòappóó.€òòdeniedóó€(Tenn.€1998).Ô#†XË`XXXË`óZ#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`ÔÐ 45„06 ЇÔ#†XË`XXXË`Ð_#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`Ôà ` àà ¸ àAdditionally,€we€find€guidance€in€the€definitions€of€the€words€used€inÐ ° Ðthe€statute€itself.Ô#†XË`XXXË`(`#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`Ô€€ð ðAffectðð€means€ð ð[to]€act€upon€or€have€an€effect€upon.ðð€€Funk€&Ð |Ì ÐWagnallððs€Standard€College€Dictionary€24€(Text€ed.€1963).€€ð ðAdverseðð€meansÐ H˜ Ðð ðantagonisticðð€and€ð ðdetrimental.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€21.€€ð ðHealthðð€refers€to€the€ð ð[g]eneral€conditionÐ  d Ðof€body€or€mind.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€617.€Ô#†XË`XXXË`ð`#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`ÔÐ à 0 ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àUpon€consideration,€we€are€persuaded€that€the€better„reasonedÐ xÈ  Ðinterpretation€is€that€advanced€by€òòKevin€R.€Mosleyóó.€€Ô#†XË`XXXË`­b#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`ÔThus,€ð ðto€adversely€affect€theÐ D”  Ðhealth€and€welfareðð€as€contemplated€by€the€child€neglect€statute€means€that€theÐ ` Ðoffending€action€must€have€an€actual,€deleterious€effect.€€This€interpretation€isÐ Ü, Ðharmonious€with€the€statutory€scheme;€Ô#†XË`XXXË`ªc#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`Ôchild€abuse€and€neglect,€at€least€as€toÐ ¨ø Ðvictims€who€are€six€or€fewer€years€of€age,€is€classified€as€a€more€serious€offenseÐ tÄ Ðthan€the€offenses€of€contributing€to€the€neglect€of€a€child€or€reckless€endangerment.€Ð @ ÐIt€is€logical€to€classify€as€more€serious€a€crime€involving€actual€harm.€€Moreover,Ð  \ Ðneglect€which€has€occurred€knowingly€but€without€an€adverse€affect€to€the€child'sÐ Ø( Ðhealth€and€welfare€is€punishable€as€an€attempt.€€Furthermore,€this€interpretation€isÐ ¤ô Ðharmonious€with€the€plain€meaning€of€the€words€chosen€by€the€legislature€to€defineÐ p!À  Ðthe€proscribed€conduct€in€section€39„15„401.Ð <#Œ" ÐÌÔ#†XË`XXXË`+e#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`Ôà ` àà ¸ àÔ#†XË`XXXË`[h#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`ÔWith€the€elements€of€the€crime€at€hand,€we€proceed€with€analysis€ofÐ Ô&$"& Ðthe€sufficiency€of€the€evidence.€€As€noted€above,€elements€of€criminal€offenses€mayÐ  (ð#( ÐÌbe€established€exclusively€by€circumstantial€evidence.€€òòDuchac€v.€Stateóó,€505€S.W.2dÐ 8,ˆ', Ð237€(Tenn.€1973);€òòState€v.€Jonesóó,€901€S.W.2d€393,€396€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1995).€Ð .T). ÐWhen€circumstantial€evidence€excludes€all€other€hypotheses€except€that€a€child€wasÐ Ð/ +0 Ðharmed€as€a€result€of€knowing€neglect,€a€conviction€of€child€neglect€is€supportable.€Ð œ1ì,2 ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àIn€the€present€case,€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€theÐ 45„06 Ðstate€demonstrates€that€the€Mateyko€children€were€discovered€in€an€environmentÐ 7P28 Ðwhere€the€air€was€so€malodorous€and€pungent€that€the€investigatorððs€nostrilsÐ Ì84: Ðburned,€food€prepared€there€would€be€unfit€for€human€consumption,€and€nudeÐ ° Ðchildren€slept€under€a€blanket€teeming€with€roaches.€€Nonetheless,€medicalÐ |Ì Ðexaminations€of€the€Mateyko€children€were€unremarkable€other€than€that€theÐ H˜ Ðyoungest€child€had€a€cold.€€It€is€certainly€possible€that€adverse€effects€to€theÐ  d Ðchildren's€health€and€welfare€could€result€from€theseÔ#†XË`XXXË`µh#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`Ô€offensive€and€extremeÐ à 0 Ðconditions.€€However,€that€is€not€the€only€conclusion€which€could€be€drawn€from€thisÐ ¬ ü  Ðevidence,€particularly€where€the€record€is€devoid€of€any€proof€of€a€medical€orÐ xÈ  Ðscientific€nature€that€these€conditions€in€and€of€themselves€equated€to€harm.€€HadÐ D”  Ðmedical€or€scientific€proof€been€offered€to€show€the€harm€òòper€seóó€from€the€livingÐ ` Ðconditions,€the€conviction€for€child€neglect€might€well€be€supported€despite€the€lackÐ Ü, Ðof€evidence€of€injury€or€illness.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô#†XË`XXXË`gn#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`Ô€€In€the€absence€of€such€proof€of€record,€there€is€noÐ ¨ø Ðbasis€for€a€jury€concluding€that€the€Mateyko€children's€health€and€welfare€wasÐ tÄ Ðadversely€affected,€as€that€phrase€is€contemplated€by€the€child€neglect€statute.€€ForÐ @ Ðthis€reason,€the€convictions€of€child€neglect€must€be€vacated.Ð  \ ÐÔ#†XË`XXXË`Pq#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`ÔÌà ` àà ¸ àHowever,€the€record€provides€a€sound€basis€for€determining€that€theÐ ¤ô Ðdefendant€is€guilty€of€the€lesser€offense€of€attempted€child€neglect.€€Thereby,€actingÐ p!À  Ðknowingly€and€with€the€ð ðintent€to€complete€a€course€of€action€.€.€.€that€wouldÐ <#Œ" Ðconstitute€the€offense€[of€child€neglect],€under€the€circumstances€surrounding€theÐ %X $ Ðconduct€as€the€[defendant]€believe[d]€them€to€be,ðð€the€defendant€engaged€inÐ Ô&$"& Ðconduct€that€ð ðconstitutes€a€substantial€step€toward€the€commission€of€the€offense.ðð€Ð  (ð#( ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„12„101(a)(3)€(1997)€(proscribing€and€defining€criminalÐ l*¼%* Ðattempt).€€The€record€reflects€that€the€trial€court€instructed€the€jury€as€to€the€lesserÐ 8,ˆ', Ðoffense€of€an€attempted€child€neglect.€€òòSeeóóTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„12„107(a)€(1997)Ð .T). Ð(ð ðCriminal€attempt€is€an€offense€one€(1)€classification€lower€than€the€most€seriousÐ Ð/ +0 Ðcrime€attempted€.€.€.€.€ð ð).€€Under€the€circumstances€of€this€case,€we€conclude€thatÐ ° Ðthe€juryððs€verdict€is€necessarily€a€finding€on€each€count€that€the€defendantÐ |Ì Ðcommitted€acts€which€constitute€an€attempt€to€commit€child€neglect.€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àWe€therefore€impose€in€each€of€three€counts€a€conviction€of€the€Class€Ð à 0 ÐE€felony€offense€of€attempted€neglect€of€a€child€who€is€six€years€of€age€or€less.€€WeÐ ¬ ü  Ðremand€the€case€to€the€trial€court€for€sentencing€the€defendant.€€Ð xÈ  Ðà ` àÔ#†XË`XXXË`ür#ÔÔ‡XË`XXXË`ÔÌÔ#†XË`XXXË`Íy#ÔÌÓÓà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à________________________________Ð Ü, Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJAMES€CURWOOD€WITT,€JR.,€JUDGEÐ Â ÐÌÌÌÌCONCUR:Ð @ ÐÌÌÌ______________________________Ð Ø( ÐJOSEPH€M.€TIPTON,€JUDGEÐ ¾ ÐÌÌÌ______________________________Ð V"¦! ÐJOHN€EVERETT€WILLIAMS,€JUDGE