ÿWPC( ª÷²t)=ÆÎj*NɾèÚØCx2ÍšÝÏÅ> £®¡ý0fŒè9õ:­’r#wL4NXëkԲɴšO¦9]­Uð*˜ÃßS…àãÓ¼O ´4·‹1 KG4CÖ|²TQRÐ#V‡u[D÷q‘œHA´ÌéD£ì»^·óž ëŽç=×®E—ã[[Èe8h Çy ËI£?!Ú¢kÞqãõqn⊀ªâ†õð»Œ(¨øG~ª±Ë«À¢ªô܉g^&ó^MÖøzàí´‚à>´Ç ©•KSE³%/9ì*ŸeZ…Y fG»ŽRåÕp:H'îû·þ!êQnzo!úhàÄtl5F;‘¼¡øé¹BQ²Ø$+Œá¼@fôé¶ôG#†N|ŠÈ¤¹ÐúLÆš8è 3r€Qj>TÓ£’ðÚûü#¯Ì¸½Ò-ˆ‰•®õ/Fi·…¥Å À,G…bÁhÎã@ÂÅ®=hÒT_©¿Ž”)R´u¹-þsˆ!🈱JPî­6ô¡ÐA@)UM—¸U¬ðâÕ÷ëMl?xç½ 2V±—DñôÆk‚ÉÃÁüÅÔɲÛÃ3¼”ßj]{Eq_ç‘ßÿÒÅòº6Í]¥b#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz 1‡‘ Æ ÆÞ Ƥ Æj0NOU@Q 1u‘E 72o:: 0D©©aí,NNNNz 1‡‚‚ 1‡   1‡ 0Š|¡¡¡b 0ë%%%% B 0¤- D3Ñ D- 0K11 AS|ÆÏ 0¤• 0D9 A«}˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 6ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0»\~)L (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular¬sp'linP¦ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ05µCEKQW]cioAutoList11.A;1.1.1.1.1.1.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 Ý ƒRYÓ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô2Üò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€piece€of€cocaine€purchased€from€the€defendant€on€December€22,€1997,€was€introduced€through€theÐ ° Ðtestimony€of€Sergeant€Hill.€€The€parties€stipulated€to€the€contents€of€the€laboratory€report€signed€by€TBI€Special€AgentÐ n¾ ÐForensic€Scientist€Sandra€Romanek€which€revealed€the€rock€to€contain€.1€gram€cocaine€base,€a€Schedule€II€controlledÐ ,| Ðsubstance.€(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman 3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i) eÝ ƒRYÓ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô2Üò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔFrom€our€review€of€the€record€and€the€Agentððs€Activity€Log€for€Confidential€Funds,€which€tracks€money€paidÐ ° Ðto€informants,€this€apparently€means€a€rock€of€cocaine€with€a€market€value€of€about€twenty€dollars.€€(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó WÝ ƒRYÓ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô2Üò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThis€rock€of€cocaine€was€introduced€into€evidence€through€Sergeant€Hill,€and€the€parties€again€stipulated€toÐ ° Ðthe€TBI€laboratory€analysis€that€revealed€.1€gram€cocaine€base,€a€Schedule€II€substance. "Ý ƒRYÓ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô2Üò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAs€a€result€of€the€raid,€Sergeant€Hill€stated€that€five€or€six€people€were€charged.€€All€either€pled€guilty€or€wereÐ ° Ðfound€guilty€by€a€jury.€€€€€ (ª½CEKQW]cioAutoList3A:A:A:A:A:A:A:A:(ðCEKQW]cioAutoList4A;A;A;A;A;A;A;A;0Ù=CEKQY_ekqAutoList5A:A:(a)A:A:A:A:A:(b·¤$¶¶à0  àà0` (#(#àÔ2#ÔÚ  ÚÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0¸ ` (#` (#à rÝ ƒRYÓ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô2Üò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔLeslie€Thomas€was€the€black€female€who€Smothers€referred€to€on€direct€examination.€€This€individual€wasÐ ° Ðpresent€at€the€defendantððs€house€when€Smothers€arrived€on€December€22,€1997,€and€testified€at€trial€for€the€defense.€- ù-(|G2YÓ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E¨»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô2Üò»»Ô d(|3V†$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E¨»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3V†$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E¨»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E¨»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼E¨»»»ÔÑ8€>DXXdæ»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡îm+E¨ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼E¨»îîm+#ԈРР ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àJanuary€2000€SessionÐ ð@ ÐÔ‡X>DX»¼E¨ÔÌò òÔ#†¼E¨»XX>D #ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€v.€KELLY€ANNE€Ô_ÔNEWMONÔ_ÔÔ‡X>DX»¼E¨Ôó óÐ ä4 ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Carroll€CountyÐ Ø ( Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98CR„1304€€€€€€Lee€Moore,€JudgeÐ ¾  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<o` AßÐ pÀ  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W1999„01497„CCA„R3„CD€„€Decided€August€4,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ eµ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<0` AßÐ 1  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€appeal€arises€from€a€guilty€verdict€returned€by€a€Carroll€County€jury€against€the€defendant€forÐ &v  Ðtwo€counts€of€delivering€less€than€0.5€grams€of€cocaine.€€On€appeal,€the€defendant€challenges€herÐ  \ Ðconvictions€on€the€basis€that€the€introduction€of€evidence€bolstering€the€informant's€testimony€wasÐ òB Ðplain€error,€and€the€evidence€was€not€sufficient€to€support€the€verdict.€€After€a€careful€review€of€theÐ Ø( Ðrecord,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€Ð ¾ ÐÌÔ#†¼E¨»XX>D­#ÔÔ‡X>DX»¼E¨ÔÓÉÓò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmedó óÐ ŠÚ ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼E¨»àX>D%#ÔÔ‡X>DX.¼E¨ÔAlan€E.€Glenn,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòJoe€G.€Riley,€J.,óó€joined.€€òòDavid€G.Ð V¦ ÐHayes,€J.óó,€not€participating.Ð <Œ ÐÌGuy€T.€Wilkinson,€District€Public€Defender,€Camden,€Tennessee€(on€appeal)€and€Ô_ÔRamsdaleÔ_ÔÐ X ÐÔ_ÔOððDeNealÔ_Ô,€Jackson,€Tennessee€(at€trial)€for€the€appellant,€Kelly€Anne€Ô_ÔNewmonÔ_Ô.Ð î> ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Clinton€J.€Morgan,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Ð º  Ðand€John€C.€Zimmermann,€District€Attorney€General€Pro€Tem,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð  ð ÐÌÓÀÓà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼E¨»XX>Dï#ÔÔ‡X>DX»¼E¨ÔÐ l!¼! ÐÌÔ#†¼E¨»XX>D4 #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X>DX»¼E¨Ôà  àAs€a€result€of€two€controlled€buys€by€a€police€informant,€the€defendant€was€indicted€onÐ 8#ˆ# ÐSeptember€8,€1998,€by€a€Carroll€County€grand€jury€on€two€counts€of€delivering€less€than€0.5€gramsÐ $n$ Ðof€a€Schedule€II€controlled€substance,€cocaine.€€After€a€one€day€trial,€the€jury€returned€a€guiltyÐ %T % Ðverdict€on€both€counts.€€The€defendant€appealed€the€jury€verdict,€raising€the€following€two€issues:Ð ê%:!& ÐÓ*°,XƒXŒ –X°œX*ÓÓ€ (5µ03ÓÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI.€à8Œ ` x` xàIt€was€plain€error€to€bolster€the€credibility€of€the€informant€byÐ ¶'#( Ðallowing€the€State€to€introduce€evidence€that€other€defendantsÐ œ(ì#) Ðshe€bought€from€pled€guilty€and€arguing€that€another€juryÐ ‚)Ò$* Ðlooked€at€her€testimony€favorably.Ðh*¸%+Œ LŒ L ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àII.€à8Œ ` x` xàThe€evidence€was€insufficient€to€justify€a€rational€trier€of€factÐ 4,„'- Ðfrom€finding€guilt€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.Ð#-j(.Œ LŒ Lý¦ #ÐÔ_Ô‡After€a€careful€review€of€the€record,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ð ° ÐÌò òÓ  ÓFACTSÐ |Ì ÐÓÓÌó óà  àThe€defendant€was€tried€on€February€11,€1999.€€The€police€informant,€Debbie€Ann€Smothers,Ð H˜ Ðwas€the€first€witness€called€by€the€State.€€Smothers€testified€that€she€was€a€twenty„seven„year„oldÐ . ~ Ðformer€drug€user,€who€first€met€the€defendant€in€high€school.€€The€two€women€became€friends€asÐ  d Ðadults,€and€Smothers€stated€that€she€went€to€the€defendantððs€home€to€purchase€drugs€in€1995€or€1996.€Ð ú J ÐThe€defendant€sold€rock€cocaine€to€Smothers,€which€she€smoked,€and€also€helped€the€witness€sellÐ à 0 ÐValium.€€In€October€1997,€Smothers€approached€Sergeant€Johnny€Hill€of€the€Huntingdon€PoliceÐ Æ   ÐDepartment€to€volunteer€to€work€as€an€informant.€€At€that€time,€she€was€trying€to€stop€using€drugsÐ ¬ ü  Ðand€ð ðwanted€it€off€the€streets,ðð€because€she€did€not€want€her€children€to€smoke€cocaine.€€The€witnessÐ ’â  Ðexplained€that€cocaine€made€her€want€to€kill€herself,€because€she€was€doing€anything€to€get€it,Ð xÈ  Ðincluding€selling€her€body.€€She€stated€that€she€stopped€using€drugs€sometime€around€November€Ð ^®  Ð1997,€and€takes€daily€medication.€€€€Ð D”  ÐÌà  àAccording€to€Smothers,€Sergeant€Hill€already€knew€the€identities€of€several€people€who€wereÐ ` Ðselling€drugs€when€she€approached€him,€and€she€agreed€to€buy€drugs€from€these€individuals.€Ð öF ÐSubsequently,€she€was€involved€in€drug€buys€that€resulted€in€three€or€four€convictions.€€SmothersÐ Ü, Ðbought€drugs€from€the€defendant€on€two€occasions€under€the€supervision€of€Sergeant€Hill.€€OnÐ Â ÐDecember€22,€1997,€Smothers€and€her€ex„husband€met€Sergeant€Hill€at€the€high€school,€where€theÐ ¨ø Ðofficer€gave€her€twenty€dollars€to€buy€drugs€and€conducted€a€search€of€her€pockets.€€She€stated€thatÐ ŽÞ Ðshe€was€only€wearing€a€flannel€shirt€and€blue€jeans€and€was€not€wearing€a€coat.€€Smothers€contactedÐ tÄ Ðthe€defendant€using€a€cellular€phone€that€was€equipped€with€a€tape€recorder€and€also€allowed€theÐ Zª Ðpolice€to€hear€the€conversation.€€The€defendant€told€Smothers€that€she€had€the€cocaine,€and€SmothersÐ @ Ðproceeded€to€the€defendantððs€home.€€After€being€dropped€off€at€the€house€by€her€ex„husband,Ð &v ÐSmothers€found€out€that€the€defendant€did€not€have€the€drugs€at€her€house.€€The€witness€rememberedÐ  \ Ða€black€adult€female€she€knew€from€school€being€at€the€house€with€the€defendant,€along€with€theÐ òB Ðdefendantððs€children.€€The€defendant€left€the€house€for€approximately€ten€minutes€and€returned€withÐ Ø( Ðthe€drugs,€for€which€Smothers€paid€the€defendant€twenty€dollars.€€After€the€sale€was€completed,Ð ¾ ÐSmothersððs€ex„husband€picked€her€up,€and€she€took€the€rock€cocaine€to€Sergeant€Hill.€€She€was€thenÐ ¤ô Ðpaid€forty€dollars€for€her€participation€in€the€purchase.€€Ð Š Ú ÐÌà  àThe€second€drug€transaction€occurred€on€January€23,€1998.€€Smothers€and€a€friend€metÐ V"¦! ÐSergeant€Hill€at€the€high€school€rendezvous€point,€where€Hill€searched€Smothersððs€pockets€and€wiredÐ <#Œ" Ðher€with€a€transmitter.€€Smothers€drove€to€the€defendantððs€house€and€went€inside,€while€her€friendÐ "$r# Ðwaited€in€the€car.€€Sergeant€Hill€was€hidden€nearby.€€This€time,€the€defendant€had€the€rock€cocaineÐ %X $ Ðat€her€house,€and€Smothers€paid€her€forty€dollars€for€it.€€Smothers€testified€that€the€amount€of€cocaineÐ î%>!% Ðshe€received€from€the€defendant€was€not€worth€what€she€paid.€€Back€at€her€car,€Smothers€put€theÐ Ô&$"& Ðcocaine€in€cellophane€and€started€to€back€out€of€the€defendantððs€driveway€when€her€car€died.€€SheÐ º' #' Ðmade€it€known€to€Sergeant€Hill€and€Officer€Tony€Lane,€via€the€transmitter,€that€she€was€having€carÐ  (ð#( Ðtrouble.€Pretending€that€a€neighbor€had€called€them,€the€two€officers€pulled€up€and€began€checkingÐ †)Ö$) Ðthe€car.€€Smothers€was€able€to€slip€the€transmitter€and€the€cocaine€to€the€officers.€€She€wasÐ l*¼%* Ðsubsequently€paid€forty€dollars€for€this€buy.€€She€admitted€making€another€unsupervised€cocaineÐ R+¢&+ Ðpurchase€from€the€defendant€for€her€boyfriendððs€brother€after€this€incident.€€She€did€so€to€earn€twentyÐ 8,ˆ', Ðdollars€for€cigarettes€and€other€items.€€Smothers€also€received€phone€calls€from€the€defendant€on€aÐ ° Ðnumber€of€occasions€trying€to€get€Smothers€to€buy€drugs.€€€€€€€Ð –æ ÐÌà  àOn€cross„examination,€Smothers€testified€that€none€of€her€four€children€live€with€her.€€SheÐ b² Ðadmitted€that,€at€the€time€she€volunteered€to€be€an€informant€in€October€1997,€she€was€still€usingÐ H˜ Ðdrugs,€was€not€working,€and€was€receiving€disability€benefits.€€According€to€Smothers,€she€neededÐ . ~ Ðthe€money€she€received€from€the€police€drug€buys,€but€she€would€have€cooperated€with€the€policeÐ  d Ðeven€if€she€had€not€been€paid.€€She€explained,€ð ðI€donððt€want€my€kids€growing€up€on€drugs.€€I€do€notÐ ú J Ðwant€my€kids€buying€drugs.ðð€€She€admitted€that€Sergeant€Hill€knew€that€she€was€still€on€drugs€whenÐ à 0 Ðshe€first€approached€him€in€October€1997;€however,€she€had€stopped€using€drugs€by€December€1997.€Ð Æ   ÐShe€stated€that€she€had€participated€in€three€or€four€other€drug€ð ðbustsðð€before€participating€in€the€firstÐ ¬ ü  Ðbuy€with€the€defendant€on€December€22,€1997.€€Ð ’â  ÐÌà  àWhen€questioned€about€the€search€conducted€on€her€person€by€Sergeant€Hill€before€she€wentÐ ^®  Ðto€the€defendantððs€house,€Smothers€testified€that€she€was€wearing€shoes€and€a€big€T„shirt€to€coverÐ D”  Ðup€the€transmitter.€€Sergeant€Hill€made€her€turn€all€of€her€pockets€inside€out€but€did€not€make€herÐ *z  Ðtake€off€her€shoes€during€the€search.€€She€did€not€have€a€bra€on€at€the€time.€€Neither€her€ex„husband,Ð ` Ðwho€drove€Smothers€to€and€from€the€defendantððs€house€for€the€December€drug€buy,€nor€his€car,€wasÐ öF Ðsearched€by€the€officers.€€She€remembered€Sergeant€Hill€following€her€ex„husbandððs€car€until€theyÐ Ü, Ðturned€onto€the€defendantððs€street€and€then€positioning€himself€close€enough€to€see€the€defendantððsÐ Â Ðhouse.€€When€she€found€out€that€the€defendant€had€to€go€somewhere€else€to€get€the€drugs,€SmothersÐ ¨ø Ðtold€her€ex„husband€to€leave€for€fifteen€or€twenty€minutes.€€Smothers€stated€that€Leslie€Thomas׃+×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€wasÐ ŽÞ Ðsitting€in€the€dining€room€and€should€have€heard€the€defendant€asking€Smothers€how€much€[cocaine]Ð tÄ Ðshe€wanted€and€Smothers€answering€ð ð[a]€twenty.ðð׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€defendant€then€told€Smothers€that€she€hadÐ Zª Ðto€go€get€it.€€€€€€€€€Ð @ ÐÌà  àSmothers€testified€on€further€cross„examination€that€she€currently€takes€Dilantin€for€seizures,Ð  \ ÐTheodrine€for€lung€problems€related€to€her€crack€use,€and€Valium€for€grande€mal€seizures.€€SheÐ òB Ðadmitted€that€being€an€informant€involves€deceiving€and€lying€to€people€and€that€she€became€goodÐ Ø( Ðat€it.€€She€denied€any€arrests€for€selling€drugs.€€After€a€jury„out€hearing,€the€trial€court€only€allowedÐ ¾ Ðdefense€counsel€to€question€the€witness€about€prior€bad€acts€involving€a€citation€she€received€forÐ ¤ô Ðwriting€bad€checks€in€1994€or€1995.€€The€witness€stated€that€her€addiction€to€drugs€caused€her€to€doÐ Š Ú Ðthis,€and€she€had€paid€most€of€the€checks.€€She€denied€making€any€phone€calls€to€the€defendantððsÐ p!À  Ðfather,€Paul€Newmon.€€€€Ð V"¦! ÐÌà  àSergeant€Johnny€Ray€Hill€of€the€Huntingdon€Police€Department€was€the€next€witness€calledÐ "$r# Ðby€the€State.€€In€the€summer€and€fall€of€1997,€Hill€was€put€in€charge€of€investigating€drug€activityÐ %X $ Ðin€Huntingdon.€€He€testified€that€he€already€had€information€about€individuals€involved€in€drugÐ î%>!% Ðtrafficking€but€needed€to€find€someone€who€was€trusted€by€the€dealers€to€make€the€actual€drug€buysÐ Ô&$"& Ðfor€the€police.€€Sergeant€Hill€recalled€that€Smothers€came€to€see€him€and€volunteered€to€work€withÐ ° Ðthe€police€to€buy€drugs€from€some€of€the€dealers€she€knew.€€Smothers€told€Sergeant€Hill€at€that€timeÐ –æ Ðthat€she€was€still€on€drugs.€€The€officer€explained€that€Smothers€bought€drugs€from€suspects€whileÐ |Ì Ðthe€police€recorded€the€transaction€on€tape€and€observed€the€house.€€The€police€corroborated€theÐ b² Ðinformation€Smothers€provided€them€on€dealers€with€information€received€from€other€informants.€Ð H˜ ÐSergeant€Hillððs€investigation€targeted€eight€different€people.€€He€explained€that€Smothers€was€paidÐ . ~ Ða€sum,€usually€forty€dollars€for€each€completed€undercover€buy.€€The€money€came€from€a€specialÐ  d Ðdrug€fund,€and€all€transactions€were€accounted€for.€€Prior€to€making€her€first€buy,€the€officersÐ ú J Ðexplained€to€Smothers€how€to€enter,€get€the€drugs,€and€take€them€to€the€police,€as€well€as€how€toÐ à 0 Ðwear€the€radio€transmitter.€€This€device€transmitted€sound€to€Sergeant€Hillððs€car,€which€was€parkedÐ Æ   Ðnearby€so€that€he€could€observe€the€transaction.€€The€conversations€were€taped,€but€Sergeant€HillÐ ¬ ü  Ðstated€that€the€quality€of€some€of€the€tapes€was€very€poor.€€This€procedure€was€followed€each€timeÐ ’â  Ða€drug€buy€was€made.Ð xÈ  ÐÌà  àSergeant€Hill€testified€that€he€had€spoken€to€the€defendant€before€the€police€made€their€firstÐ D”  Ðundercover€drug€buy€from€her€in€December€1997.€€On€October€16,€1997,€the€police€raided€a€houseÐ *z  Ðlocated€three€or€four€miles€outside€of€Huntingdon€on€Highway€22€South€that€was€being€used€as€aÐ ` Ðdistribution€point€for€drugs.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€During€the€raid,€the€officers€found€a€large€amount€of€cocaine,€twenty„Ð öF Ðsix€grams,€which€was€being€cut€up€for€sale.€€While€the€police€were€still€there,€the€defendant€calledÐ Ü, Ðthe€house€twice.€€Sergeant€Hill€had€spoken€to€the€defendant€previously€and€recognized€her€voiceÐ Â Ðwhen€he€answered€the€first€call.€€Someone€else€answered€the€second€call€but€also€recognized€theÐ ¨ø Ðdefendantððs€voice.€€Sergeant€Hill€had€received€additional€information€from€Sergeant€Ricky€Sawyers,Ð ŽÞ Ðwho€lived€next„door€to€the€defendant,€that€there€was€abnormal€traffic€at€the€defendantððs€homeÐ tÄ Ðconsistent€with€illegal€drug€activity.€€People€would€come€to€the€defendantððs€residence€all€hours€ofÐ Zª Ðthe€day€and€night€and€stay€only€a€few€minutes€before€leaving.€€Sergeant€Hill€observed€this€activityÐ @ Ðas€well.€€Ð &v ÐÌà  àThe€police€decided€to€make€the€first€drug€buy€from€the€defendant€on€December€22,€1997.€Ð òB ÐSergeant€Hill€testified€that€the€officers€searched€Smothersððs€pockets€before€they€sent€her€to€theÐ Ø( Ðdefendantððs€house,€but€she€was€not€searched€thoroughly.€€Smothers€had€already€made€several€drugÐ ¾ Ðpurchases€for€the€police,€and€none€of€the€suspects€ever€denied€selling€to€her.€€Additionally,€HillÐ ¤ô Ðtestified€that€Smothers€was€a€very€small€person€at€the€time€and€always€dressed€in€jeans€and€a€shirt.€Ð Š Ú ÐShe€did€not€wear€a€coat,€even€in€cold€weather.€€After€giving€Smothers€the€transmitter€and€the€moneyÐ p!À  Ðto€buy€drugs,€Sergeant€Hill€and€Chief€Deputy€Tony€Moon€went€to€the€fire€station€one€street€over€andÐ V"¦! Ðdirectly€in€front€of€the€defendantððs€residence€to€observe€the€transaction.€€Hill€and€Moon€watched€andÐ <#Œ" Ðlistened€as€Smothers€was€dropped€off€in€front€of€the€defendantððs€house,€went€inside€and€talked€to€theÐ "$r# Ðdefendant,€and€then€saw€the€defendant€leave€the€residence€a€short€time€later.€€She€was€goneÐ %X $ Ðapproximately€four€or€five€€minutes.€€Shortly€after€the€defendant€returned€to€the€house,€Smothers€leftÐ î%>!% Ðâ âthe€defendantððs€residence€and€went€back€to€the€school,€where€she€gave€the€officers€the€crackÐ Ô&$"& Ðcocaine.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Sergeant€Hill€explained€that€there€is€a€crack€house,€referred€to€by€locals€as€ð ðThe€Bottom,ððÐ ° Ðâ âclose€to€the€defendantððs€home,€and€she€could€have€driven€there€and€back€within€the€time€period€sheÐ –æ Ðwas€gone€during€the€December€transaction.€€According€to€Hill,€the€taped€conversation€betweenÐ |Ì ÐSmothers€and€the€defendant€that€day€contained€only€normal€conversation€between€friends.€€Ð b² ÐÌà  àThe€second€drug€purchase€involving€the€defendant€took€place€on€January€23,€1998,€atÐ . ~ Ðapproximately€7:00€p.m.€€The€officers€met€and€prepared€Smothers€just€as€before.€€Smothers€calledÐ  d Ðthe€defendant€on€a€cellular€phone,€and€Sergeant€Hill€testified€that€he€heard€Smothers€ask€theÐ ú J Ðdefendant€if€she€had€the€ð ðstuffðð€there,€and€the€defendant€answered€that€she€did.€€She€told€Smothers€Ð à 0 Ðthat€she€could€come€by€and€get€it.€€The€officers€did€not€record€this€conversation.€€This€time,€theÐ Æ   Ðofficers€parked€at€the€school€to€observe€the€transaction,€which€was€a€little€farther€away€than€whereÐ ¬ ü  Ðthey€parked€in€December.€€After€pulling€into€the€defendantððs€driveway,€Smothers€entered€the€houseÐ ’â  Ðand€came€out€after€a€short€time,€telling€the€officers€via€the€transmitter€that€she€thought€she€had€beenÐ xÈ  Ðð ðripped€off.ðð€€The€amount€of€drugs€she€received€was€not€enough€for€the€money€she€paid.€€SergeantÐ ^®  ÐHill€described€essentially€the€same€event€related€by€Smothers€in€her€testimony,€in€which€SmothersððsÐ D”  Ðcar€broke€down€in€the€defendantððs€driveway,€and€the€officers€rescued€her€and€retrieved€the€cocaine.׃ˆ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р*z  ÐSmothers€was€paid€forty€dollars€for€this€transaction.€€Ledger€records€showing€the€drug€transactionsÐ ` Ðfor€December€and€January€were€introduced€into€evidence€through€Sergeant€Hill.€€The€defendant€wasÐ öF Ðnot€arrested€immediately€but€was€arrested€in€June€of€1998.€€Ð Ü, ÐÌà  àHill€testified€that€Smothers€never€falsified€anything,€tampered€with€evidence,€or€lied€to€himÐ ¨ø Ðduring€his€dealings€with€her€as€an€informant.€€He€stated€that€the€defendant,€who€is€the€daughter€ofÐ ŽÞ Ðthe€Carroll€County€Circuit€Court€Clerk,€was€not€targeted€or€selected€because€her€father€is€a€publicÐ tÄ Ðofficial.€€Ð Zª ÐÌà  àOn€cross„examination,€Sergeant€Hill€stated€that€he€has€not€had€any€specialized€trainingÐ &v Ðrelating€to€drug€busts€or€informants;€however,€in€the€four€years€preceding€the€trial,€he€had€beenÐ  \ Ðinvolved€in€thirty€to€forty€drug€transactions€involving€an€informant.€€He€denied€that€Smothers€toldÐ òB Ðhim€she€was€still€using€drugs€when€she€volunteered€to€work€with€the€police€in€October€1997.€Ð Ø( ÐSergeant€Hill€stated€that€he€checked€out€Smothers€as€best€he€could€to€make€sure€her€informationÐ ¾ Ðabout€the€defendant€was€reliable.€€Smothers€was€recommended€to€Hill€by€another€officer€who€hadÐ ¤ô Ðutilized€her€in€the€past.€€He€admitted€that€a€background€check€on€Smothers€was€not€done€but€that€heÐ Š Ú Ðchecked€her€out€through€other€officers.€€He€admitted€that€the€sheriffððs€department€has€a€femaleÐ p!À  Ðofficer,€and€he€could€have€made€arrangements€for€her€to€search€Smothers€thoroughly€before€the€drugÐ V"¦! Ðbuys.€€Hill€also€admitted€that€Smothers€could€have€hidden€something€the€size€of€a€twenty€dollarÐ <#Œ" Ðcocaine€rock€in€her€shoe.€€Smothersððs€ex„husband,€who€drove€her€to€the€first€buy,€was€not€searched,Ð "$r# Ðnor€was€his€car.€€Smothersððs€car€was€not€searched€before€the€second€buy€in€January€but€was€searchedÐ %X $ Ðwhen€the€officers€pretended€to€be€responding€to€a€call€to€help€Smothers€with€her€broken€down€car.€Ð ° ÐA€friend€named€Robin€was€in€the€car€with€Smothers€during€the€second€buy.€€In€the€tapedÐ –æ Ðconversation€of€the€second€buy,€there€was€no€mention€of€anything€relating€to€drugs€between€theÐ |Ì Ðdefendant€and€Smothers€once€Smothers€got€to€the€house.€€Chief€Deputy€Moon€stated€that€he€saw€aÐ b² Ðblack€male€at€the€defendantððs€house€during€this€transaction.€€He€stated€that€Smothers€denied€makingÐ H˜ Ðany€phone€calls€to€the€defendantððs€father€when€he€questioned€her€after€Mr.€Newmon€accused€her€ofÐ . ~ Ðdoing€so.€€On€redirect,€Sergeant€Hill€testified€that€the€prosecutor€and€the€district€attorney€approachedÐ  d ÐMr.€Newmon€after€he€made€the€accusation€to€get€more€information,€but€Mr.€Newmon€refused€to€giveÐ ú J Ðthem€further€information.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð à 0 ÐÌà  àThe€next€witness€called€to€testify€for€the€State€was€Chief€Deputy€Tony€Moon.€€Moon€€wasÐ ¬ ü  Ðpart€of€the€joint€drug€task€force€formed€between€the€Carroll€County€Sheriffððs€Department€and€theÐ ’â  ÐHuntingdon€Police€Department€to€investigate€drug€activity€in€the€county€during€1997.€€On€DecemberÐ xÈ  Ð22,€1997,€Moon€accompanied€Hill€on€the€undercover€drug€buy€from€the€defendant.€€This€transactionÐ ^®  Ðwas€part€of€an€investigation€involving€several€different€people.€€From€their€investigation,€the€policeÐ D”  Ðand€sheriff€obtained€the€names€of€some€of€the€drug€dealers€before€they€made€the€undercover€buys.€Ð *z  ÐThe€defendant€was€one€of€the€suspects.€€Moonððs€description€of€the€events€surrounding€the€DecemberÐ ` Ðundercover€drug€buy€were€essentially€the€same€as€that€testified€to€by€Hill.€€He€also€stated€that€theÐ öF Ðdefendant€was€not€targeted€because€her€father€was€a€public€official.€€He€explained€that€Mr.€NewmonÐ Ü, Ðwas€a€friend€of€his,€and,€if€anything,€the€fact€that€the€defendant€was€Newmonððs€daughter€would€haveÐ Â Ðmade€him€not€want€to€target€her.€€Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àOn€cross„examination,€Moon€admitted€that€no€one€saw€the€defendant€go€to€ð ðThe€BottomððÐ tÄ Ðto€purchase€drugs€on€December€22,€1997,€when€she€left€the€house.€€The€officers€had€alreadyÐ Zª Ðestablished€that€drugs€were€being€sold€at€ð ðThe€Bottomðð€from€a€previous€stakeout.€€He€did€not€recallÐ @ Ðany€statements€in€the€taped€conversation€between€the€informant€and€the€defendant€on€that€day€whichÐ &v Ðrelated€to€a€drug€transaction,€such€as€ð ðI€want€to€buy€drugs,ðð€ð ðSell€me€a€forty,ðð€or€the€like.€€MoonÐ  \ Ðremembered€Smothersððs€ex„husband€being€with€her,€dropping€her€off,€and€driving€around€beforeÐ òB Ðpicking€her€up€again.€€He€admitted€the€ex„husband€could€have€gone€to€ð ðThe€Bottomðð€to€buy€theÐ Ø( Ðcocaine.€€He€also€did€not€remember€if€Hill€searched€Smothers€before€the€buy€and€explained€thatÐ ¾ Ðwhether€an€informant€was€searched€depended€on€the€situation.€€Moon€was€there€only€as€an€observerÐ ¤ô Ðto€assist€Hill,€and€this€was€Hillððs€undercover€buy.€€He€remembered€Hill€telling€him€that€SmothersÐ Š Ú Ðsaid€that€the€defendant€would€not€let€her€pull€up€in€the€yard,€so€her€ex„husband€had€to€drop€her€off.€Ð p!À  ÐMoon€did€not€remember€what€Smothers€was€wearing€that€day€and€did€not€take€any€notes.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð V"¦! Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð <#Œ" Ðà  àThe€Stateððs€next€witness€was€Officer€Tony€Lynn€Lane,€who€assisted€Hill€after€the€JanuaryÐ "$r# Ð23,€1998,€undercover€drug€buy€from€the€defendant€when€Smothersððs€car€broke€down.€€He€explainedÐ %X $ Ðthat€Sergeant€Hill€called€him€to€ask€him€to€help€his€informant€with€her€car€trouble.€€Lane€drove€toÐ î%>!% Ðthe€defendantððs€house€and€found€Smothersððs€car€parked€in€the€street€with€a€broken€carburetor.€Ð Ô&$"& ÐSmothers€gave€Sergeant€Hill€the€cocaine€wrapped€in€the€foil€from€a€cigarette€package.€€Hill€placedÐ º' #' Ðthe€contraband€in€his€pocket.€€Because€the€car€could€not€be€fixed,€Officer€Lane€drove€Smothers€backÐ  (ð#( Ðhome.€€He€stated€that€Smothers€did€not€lock€the€disabled€car€before€it€was€left€at€the€school€or€actÐ †)Ö$) Ðas€if€anything€valuable€was€in€the€car.€€€€€€Ð l*¼%* Ðâ  €€€€€Ð R+¢&+ Ðà  àOn€cross„examination,€Officer€Lane€stated€that€he€did€not€know€where€Smothers€got€theÐ ° Ðâ âdrugs€that€she€handed€to€Hill€and€that€she€did€not€hand€the€drugs€to€Hill€until€the€officers€arrived€toÐ –æ Ðhelp€her€with€her€car.Ð |Ì ÐÌà  àThe€last€witness€called€by€the€State€was€Sergeant€Richard€Sawyers,€a€narcotics€investigatorÐ H˜ Ðfor€the€Huntingdon€Police€Department.€€Sergeant€Sawyers€lived€next„door€to€the€defendant€forÐ . ~ Ðseveral€years,€including€1997€and€early€1998.€€He€testified€that€he€noticed€unusual€activities€at€theÐ  d Ðdefendantððs€residence€beginning€shortly€after€she€moved€there€in€1995.€€Sergeant€Sawyers€noticedÐ ú J Ðseveral€visitors€to€the€defendantððs€residence€who€would€stay€from€thirty€minutes€to€a€couple€of€hours.€Ð à 0 ÐOther€individuals€would€stay€only€fifteen€or€twenty€minutes.€€The€traffic€seemed€to€slow€down€whenÐ Æ   Ðthe€task€force€began€making€arrests€based€on€undercover€buys€of€crack€cocaine.€€Sawyers€alsoÐ ¬ ü  Ðnoticed€the€defendant€leaving€her€house€often€and€returning€shortly€thereafter.€€He€suspected€theÐ ’â  Ðdefendant€or€someone€else€was€dealing€drugs€out€of€her€house.€€Because€he€felt€it€would€beÐ xÈ  Ðinappropriate€for€him€to€conduct€an€investigation€of€his€next„door€neighbor,€Sergeant€SawyersÐ ^®  Ðreported€the€defendantððs€conduct€to€the€police.€€Following€this€testimony,€the€State€rested€its€case.Ð D”  ÐÌà  àThe€defense€called€Patsy€Newmon,€the€defendantððs€mother,€as€its€first€witness.€€Mrs.Ð ` ÐNewmon€recalled€getting€two€unusual€phone€calls,€the€first€of€which€occurred€on€election€night.€€SheÐ öF Ðstated€that€she€answered€the€phone,€and€a€young€lady€asked€to€speak€to€ð ðPaul€Newmon€from€theÐ Ü, Ðcourthouse.ðð€€When€Mrs.€Newmon€told€the€caller€that€her€husband€was€not€there,€the€caller€told€Mrs.Ð Â ÐNewmon€that€she,€the€caller,€had€a€problem€with€her€daughter.€€The€call€struck€Mrs.€Newmon€asÐ ¨ø Ðunusual,€because€they€normally€do€not€get€calls€like€that,€and€most€people€that€call€the€couple€knowÐ ŽÞ Ðthat€Mr.€Newmon€works€at€the€courthouse.€€The€next€night,€Mrs.€Newmon€answered€another€phoneÐ tÄ Ðcall€and€recognized€that€voice€as€being€the€caller€from€the€night€before.€€Mrs.€Newmon€was€on€theÐ Zª Ðline€when€her€husband€took€the€call.€€The€young€lady€told€him,€ð ðI€know€your€daughter€is€in€troubleÐ @ Ðand€I€can€help€you€out.€.€.€.€€I€can€plead€the€Fifth€and€get€her€out€of€trouble.ðð€€Mr.€Newmon€said,Ð &v Ðð ðDebbie,€we€know€who€you€are.ðð€€According€to€Mrs.€Newmon,€the€young€lady€implied€that€sheÐ  \ Ðwanted€money€from€the€couple,€to€which€Mr.€Newmon€refused.€€Mrs.€Newmon€interrupted€andÐ òB Ðasked€the€caller€to€give€them€time€to€think€about€it.€€The€Newmons€did€not€have€caller€ID€on€theirÐ Ø( Ðphone€at€the€time,€and€it€was€Mrs.€Newmonððs€intention€to€have€equipment€installed€to€enable€themÐ ¾ Ðto€identify€the€caller.€€Following€the€call,€Mr.€Newmon€contacted€Chief€Deputy€Moon,€who€wasÐ ¤ô Ðinvolved€in€the€case.€€Sergeant€Johnny€Hill€and€another€officer€met€with€Mr.€Newmon.€€Mrs.Ð Š Ú ÐNewmon€was€not€present€during€the€meeting€and€did€not€know€if€Smothers€knew€her€daughter.€€Ð p!À  ÐÌà  àThe€next€witness€called€by€the€defense€was€Paul€Reed€Newmon,€the€defendantððs€father.€€HeÐ <#Œ" Ðtestified€that€he€is€the€Circuit€Court€Clerk,€a€position€that€he€has€held€for€nine€years.€€Mr.€NewmonÐ "$r# Ðrecalled€receiving€a€telephone€call€one€night€around€the€time€of€the€election.€€His€wife€called€him€toÐ %X $ Ðthe€phone€and€told€him€the€caller€was€the€same€person€who€had€phoned€the€night€before.€€TheÐ î%>!% Ðwoman€caller€told€Mr.€Newmon€that€she€would€ð ðplead€the€Fifthðð€if€he€would€pay€her.€€He€ð ðplayedÐ Ô&$"& Ðalongðð€with€the€caller€for€a€few€minutes€and€then€told€her€he€would€not€agree.€€The€caller€kept€askingÐ º' #' ÐMr.€Newmon€to€talk€louder,€and€he€got€the€impression€that€she€was€taping€the€conversation.€€TheÐ  (ð#( Ðcaller€finally€told€Mr.€Newmon,€ð ðWell,€if€you€donððt€want€to€go€along€with€me,€by€God,€let€yourÐ †)Ö$) Ðdaughter€spend€10€or€12€years€in€prison.ðð€€Mr.€Newmon€responded,€ð ðDebbie,€I€know€who€you€areÐ l*¼%* Ðand€where€you€live,€and€you€know€there€are€other€ways€to€keep€you€from€testifying€if€I€didnððt€wantÐ R+¢&+ Ðyou€to€testify.€€Thereððs€no€reason€to€pay€you€anything.ðð€€He€stated€that€he€heard€Smothers€testify€atÐ 8,ˆ', Ðthe€preliminary€hearing€and€identified€the€voice€on€the€phone€as€hers.€€Mr.€Newmon€contacted€ChiefÐ ° ÐDeputy€Moon,€who€relayed€the€information€to€Sergeant€Hill.€€Sergeant€Hill€and€Sergeant€SawyersÐ –æ Ðmet€with€Mr.€Newmon€about€the€call.€€Mr.€Newmon€testified€that€he€could€not€get€the€callerððsÐ |Ì Ðnumber€from€the€phone€company€or€another€police€agency€he€was€trying€to€get€the€number€from€andÐ b² Ðwas€unable€to€retrieve€the€number.€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àOn€cross„examination,€Mr.€Newmon€admitted€getting€a€visit€from€District€Attorney€GeneralÐ  d ÐGus€Radford€related€to€his€claims€about€the€call.€€General€Radford€told€Mr.€Newmon€that€the€TBIÐ ú J Ðcould€get€the€phone€records€if€he€would€give€them€an€official€statement.€€The€witness€admitted€thatÐ à 0 Ðhe€never€gave€an€official€statement€to€the€TBI.€€He€denied€telling€General€Radford€that€he€wouldÐ Æ   Ðthink€about€it€and€then€told€him€to€forget€it.€€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌà  àThe€defense€next€called€Leslie€Thomas,€who€was€present€at€the€defendantððs€residence€onÐ xÈ  ÐDecember€22,€1997.€€She€stated€that€Smothers€came€to€the€house€to€get€a€pair€of€tennis€shoes€for€herÐ ^®  Ðdaughter€from€the€defendant.€€Ms.€Thomas€recalled€that€the€defendant€had€a€conversation€withÐ D”  ÐSmothers€in€the€kitchen,€but€she€did€not€hear€what€was€said.€€She€did€not€see€or€hear€anything€relatedÐ *z  Ðto€a€drug€transaction.€€Smothers€stayed€less€than€half€an€hour€and€left€with€the€tennis€shoes.€€Ms.Ð ` ÐThomas€testified€that€she€is€a€frequent€visitor€to€the€defendantððs€residence€and€has€never€seen€theÐ öF Ðdefendant€use€or€sell€drugs.€Ð Ü, ÐÌà  àOn€cross„examination,€Ms.€Thomas€stated€that€the€defendant€left€the€house€for€ten€or€fifteenÐ ¨ø Ðminutes€to€go€to€the€store€for€Cokes€and€cigarettes€after€Smothers€arrived.€€Ms.€Thomas€stated€thatÐ ŽÞ Ðthe€defendant€was€already€planning€to€go€to€the€store€when€Smothers€showed€up.€€Shortly€after€theÐ tÄ Ðdefendant€returned,€Smothers€left€the€house.€€Ms.€Thomas€admitted€that€she€knew€Smothers€was€aÐ Zª Ðcrack€addict.Ð @ ÐÌà  àThe€defense€recalled€Sergeant€Johnny€Hill€to€the€stand.€€He€explained€how€Smothers€wasÐ  \ Ðpaid€by€the€police€to€make€undercover€buys.€€She€received€twenty€dollars€to€buy€the€drugs€and€wasÐ òB Ðpaid€forty€dollars€after€she€brought€the€drugs€to€the€police.€€After€the€rock€of€cocaine€from€theÐ Ø( ÐDecember€buy€was€shown€to€the€court€and€jury,€Sergeant€Hill€stated€that€the€amount€of€cocaine,€0.1Ð ¾ Ðgram,€that€Smothers€received€from€the€defendant€during€that€first€buy€was€the€appropriate€size€rockÐ ¤ô Ðto€have€a€ð ðstreet€valueðð€of€twenty€dollars.€€When€shown€the€second€rock€from€the€January€buy,€whichÐ Š Ú Ðalso€contained€0.1€gram€of€cocaine,€Sergeant€Hill€stated€that€it€could€easily€have€a€ð ðstreet€valueðð€ofÐ p!À  Ðforty€dollars.€€He€explained€that€the€price€depended€on€who€was€selling€the€drug.€€He€agreed€withÐ V"¦! Ðthe€defense€attorney€that€the€twenty€dollar€December€rock€looked€bigger€than€the€forty€dollar€JanuaryÐ <#Œ" Ðrock,€although€the€lab€report€showed€that€both€had€the€same€weight.Ð "$r# ÐÌà  àAdditionally,€Sergeant€Hill€testified€that€he€was€present€in€June€1998,€when€the€defendantÐ î%>!% Ðwas€booked€after€her€arrest.€€The€defendantððs€father,€Paul€Newmon,€was€also€present.€€The€officerÐ Ô&$"& Ðtestified€that€Mr.€Newmon€threatened€that€the€informant€would€never€testify.€€This€threat€was€madeÐ º' #' Ðin€the€presence€of€other€officers.€€Sergeant€Hill€was€aware€of€the€allegations€made€in€November€1998Ð  (ð#( Ðthat€Smothers€had€called€his€house.€€He€reported€Mr.€Newmonððs€claims€to€General€Radford€and€thenÐ †)Ö$) Ðmade€an€offer€to€Newmon€to€get€the€TBI€involved.€€The€police€offered€to€install€equipment€on€theÐ l*¼%* ÐNewmonsðð€phone€so€calls€could€be€recorded,€but€Mr.€Newmon€never€contacted€Sergeant€Hill€to€getÐ R+¢&+ Ðany€such€equipment.€€As€far€as€he€knew,€no€equipment€was€ever€installed.Ð 8,ˆ', Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð ° Ðà  àPaul€Newmon€was€recalled€as€the€last€witness€for€the€defense.€€He€remembered€the€districtÐ –æ Ðattorney€offering€to€put€equipment€on€his€phone€but€did€not€remember€the€officers€doing€so.€€HeÐ |Ì Ðstated€that€a€recorder€was€installed€on€his€phone€shortly€thereafter€by€the€drug€task€force.€€€Ð b² ÐÌò òòòóóÓ  ÓANALYSISó óÐ . ~ ÐÌò ò€I.€€€Plain€ErrorÐ ú J ÐÓéŒÓÌó óà  àThe€defendant€argues€that€the€Stateððs€introduction€of€evidence€that€Smothers€was€involvedÐ Æ   Ðin€drug€buys€from€other€individuals€which€resulted€in€guilty€pleas€or€guilty€verdicts€amounted€toÐ ¬ ü  Ðplain€error€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Rule€of€Criminal€Procedure€52(b).€€The€defendant€contends€thatÐ ’â  Ðthis€was€inadmissible€evidence€that€bolstered€the€informantððs€credibility.€€The€State€argues€that€theÐ xÈ  Ðdefendant€waived€any€error€by€her€failure€to€object€at€trial€and€by€raising€the€same€issue€on€her€cross„Ð ^®  Ðexamination€of€Sergeant€Hill.€€Even€if€error€exists,€the€State€contends€that€it€was€harmless€in€lightÐ D”  Ðof€the€other€evidence€presented€at€trial.€€We€agree€with€the€State€and€conclude€that€any€errorÐ *z  Ðcommitted€was€harmless.Ð ` ÐÌà  àThe€testimony€complained€of€occurred€during€the€direct€examination€of€Sergeant€Hill€by€theÐ Ü, ÐState.€€The€district€attorney€was€exploring€the€relationship€that€Smothers€had€with€the€police€as€anÐ Â Ðinformant€and€their€experience€with€her€as€far€as€truthfulness€and€reliability.€€A€part€of€that€testimonyÐ ¨ø Ðfollows:Ð ŽÞ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.€à8Œ ` x` xàNow€of€the€people€that€Ms.€Smothers€made€buys€from,Ð tÄ Ðcontrolled€buys€under€your€control,€have€those€cases€all€beenÐ Zª Ðdisposed€of€in€court?Ð@Œ LŒ L ÐÌÓ€ "(ª½80 Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.€à8Œ ` x` xàYes,€they€have.Ð \Œ LŒ L ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à Œ àWhat€was€the€result€in€those€cases?ÐØ(` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à Œ àIn€each€and€every€case,€we€had€a€guilty€plea.Фô` x` x ÐÌOn€cross„examination,€defense€counsel€elicited€testimony€from€Sergeant€Hill€to€explain€why€a€moreÐ p!À  Ðthorough€search€of€Ms.€Smothers€was€not€done€before€she€made€each€of€the€buys€from€the€defendant:Ð V"¦! ÐÌØ! !ØÓ€ $(ð88"Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.€à8Œ ` x` xà€The€procedure€is,€is€it€not,€to€search€her€(Smothers)€and€makeÐ "$r# Ðsure€she€doesnððt€have€any€type€of€drug€or€contraband;€right?Ð%X $Œ LŒ L ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à Œ àYes.ÐÔ&$"&` x` x ÐÌØ! !ØÓ€ &(Ù=08$Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.€à8Œ ` x` xàAnd€why€is€that?€€Why€do€you€want€to€search€her€to€makeÐ  (ð#( Ðsure?І)Ö$)Œ LŒ L ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.€à8Œ ` x` xàJust€to€make€sure€that€that€person€is€not€carrying€anything.€.Ð R+¢&+ Ð.€.€€In€Ms.€Smothersðð€case,€we€had€dealt€with€her€several€timesÐ 8,ˆ', Ðbefore€and€all€of€her€information€had€turned€out€to€be€true.€Ð ° ÐAs€I€had€stated,€we€had€all€the€other€convictions€and€guiltyÐ –æ Ðpleas.€€So€we€had€dealt€with€her€on€several€occasions€in€thisÐ |Ì Ðsame€type€of€thing.Ðb²Œ LŒ L ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.€à8Œ ` x` xàWith€respect€to€[Ms.]€Smothers€in€these€other€cases,€everyoneÐ . ~ Ðpled€out;€didnððt€they?€.€.€.€Nobody€said:€I€didnððt€do€it€and€IÐ  d Ðwant€a€jury€trial.Ðú JŒ LŒ L Ðà  àà ` àà Œ àà  àà h à€€€€€€€€€Ð à 0 Ðà  àà ` à.€.€.€.Ð Æ   ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.€à8Œ ` x` xàThere€was€one€gentleman€that€went€to€trial.€€He€went€toÐ ’â  ÐCircuit€Court€and€was€tried€in€front€of€a€jury€and€was€foundÐ xÈ  Ðguilty.Ð^® Œ LŒ L ÐÌà  àIn€his€closing€statement,€the€prosecutor€referred€to€this€evidence€in€arguing€the€credibility€ofÐ *z  Ðthe€informant:Ð ` ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àWas€she€[Smothers]€testifying€from€the€heart,€the€truth,€or€was€sheÐ Ü, Ðputting€on€a€show€for€each€one€of€you?€€What€does€she€have€to€gainÐ Â Ðnow?€€The€case€is€over.€€Sheððs€gotten€paid.€€Of€all€the€people€that€theyÐ ¨ø Ðinvestigated,€every€one€but€two€pleaded€guilty.€€Another€jury€lookedÐ ŽÞ Ðat€her€testimony.€ÐtÄ` x` x ÐÌHowever,€both€the€prosecutor€and€the€trial€judge€reminded€the€jury€that€the€statements€of€the€lawyersÐ @ Ðwere€not€evidence:Ð &v ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àState:€€[Y]ouððre€going€to€have€[to]€evaluate€the€credibility€of€theÐ òB Ðwitnesses€and€whether€or€not€the€evidence€backs€them€up€„„€theÐ Ø( Ðevidence,€not€what€you€think€with€your€heart,€not€what€you€suspicion,Ð ¾ Ðand€not€what€one€lawyer€or€another€tells€you€what€they€think,€butÐ ¤ô Ðwhat€you€hear€on€the€evidence.Њ Ú` x` x ÐÌà  àà ` à.€.€.€.Ð V"¦! ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àJury€Charge€by€the€Court:€[Y]ou€should€understand€that€theÐ "$r# Ðstatements€made€to€you€by€the€attorneys€are€not€evidence.€€Therefore,Ð %X $ Ðyou€should€disregard€any€argument€made€by€the€attorneys€which€youÐ î%>!% Ðfind€is€not€supported€by€the€evidence.€ÐÔ&$"&` x` x ÐÌà  àThe€defendant€did€not€object€to€this€testimony€of€Sergeant€Hill€or€to€the€prosecutorððsÐ  (ð#( Ðstatements€at€trial;€nor€was€this€issue€raised€in€the€defendantððs€motion€for€a€new€trial.€€She€raises€itÐ †)Ö$) Ðfor€the€first€time€on€appeal.€€Although€the€defendantððs€inaction€amounts€to€a€waiver€of€any€error,€weÐ l*¼%* Ðchoose€to€address€the€issue€òòsuaóó€òòsponteóó.€€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÐ 8,ˆ', Ðà  àThis€court€may€review€issues€not€properly€preserved€for€appeal€to€(1)€prevent€needlessÐ ° Ðlitigation;€(2)€prevent€injury€to€the€public€interest;€and€(3)€prevent€prejudice€to€the€judicial€process.€Ð –æ ÐTenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(b);€òòState€v.€Adkissonóó,€899€S.W.2d€626,€638„39€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1994).€Ð |Ì ÐPursuant€to€Tennessee€Rule€of€Criminal€Procedure€52(b),€ð ðplain€errorðð€that€affects€a€ð ðsubstantialÐ b² Ðrightðð€of€the€accused€may€be€addressed€by€this€court€in€its€discretion.€€However,€this€type€of€errorÐ H˜ Ðmust€be€ð ðan€especially€egregious€errorðð€that€seriously€compromises€the€fairness€and€integrity€of€theÐ . ~ Ðjudicial€system.€€òòAdkissonóó,€899€S.W.2d€at€639.€€The€plain€error€rule€is€to€be€used€sparingly€by€thisÐ  d Ðcourt€and€invoked€only€in€exceptional€circumstances€in€which€an€error€has€had€ð ðan€unfair€prejudicialÐ ú J Ðeffect€which€undermined€the€fundamental€fairness€of€the€trial.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€639,€641„42.€€Ð à 0 ÐÌà  àIn€determining€whether€ð ðplain€errorðð€has€occurred,€we€look€to€the€following€factors:€(1)Ð ¬ ü  Ðwhether€the€record€clearly€establishes€what€happened€in€the€trial€court;€(2)€whether€a€clear€andÐ ’â  Ðunequivocal€rule€of€law€was€violated;€(3)€whether€a€substantial€right€of€the€accused€was€adverselyÐ xÈ  Ðaffected;€(4)€whether€the€accused€waived€the€issue€for€tactical€reasons;€and€(5)€whether€ourÐ ^®  Ðconsideration€of€the€error€is€necessary€for€substantial€justice€to€be€served.€€òòId.óó€at€641„42.€€In€the€eventÐ D”  Ðthat€an€error€is€found€to€be€reviewable€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Rule€of€Appellate€Procedure€13(b)€orÐ *z  ÐTennessee€Rule€of€Criminal€Procedure€52(b),€reversal€of€the€conviction€is€not€warranted€if€the€errorÐ ` Ðis€found€to€be€harmless.€€òòAdkissonóó,€899€S.W.2d€at€642.€€In€other€words,€an€error€that€does€notÐ öF Ðaffirmatively€affect€the€outcome€of€the€trial€is€not€reversible€error.€€òòSeeóó€òòRuff€v.€Stateóó,€978€S.W.2dÐ Ü, Ð95,€98€(Tenn.€1998).€€Ð  ÐÌà  àWe€conclude€that€the€admission€of€the€testimony€about€police€convictions€of€other€defendantsÐ ŽÞ Ðinvolved€in€undercover€buys€with€Smothers€was,€at€most,€harmless€error.€€Pursuant€to€TennesseeÐ tÄ ÐRule€of€Evidence€608(a),€evidence€of€a€witnessððs€truthful€character€in€the€form€of€opinion€andÐ Zª Ðreputation€is€only€admissible€after€the€witnessððs€truthfulness€has€been€attacked.€€Specific€acts€thatÐ @ Ðsupport€the€witnessððs€credibility€may€only€be€inquired€into€upon€cross„examination€of€a€characterÐ &v Ðwitness€under€the€conditions€stated€in€the€rule.€€The€record€shows€that€defense€counsel€attackedÐ  \ ÐSmothersððs€truthfulness€during€cross„examination€by€implying€that€she€was€not€properly€searchedÐ òB Ðbefore€the€buy€and€could€have€had€the€cocaine€on€her€person€when€she€went€to€the€defendantððs€houseÐ Ø( Ðto€make€the€buy.€€Defense€counsel€also€questioned€her€about€using€lies€and€deceit€to€makeÐ ¾ Ðundercover€buys.€€€During€the€questioning€of€Sergeant€Hill,€the€State€elicited€testimony€about€otherÐ ¤ô Ðdefendants€who€had€successfully€been€convicted€or€pled€guilty€based€on€undercover€buys€byÐ Š Ú ÐSmothers.€€It€appears€from€the€record€that€the€purpose€of€this€line€of€questioning€was€to€show€thatÐ p!À  ÐSmothers€was€a€reliable€informant€and€had€not€tampered€with€or€planted€the€evidence€used€againstÐ V"¦! Ðthe€defendant.€€Defense€counsel€followed€up€with€questions€on€the€same€subject€related€to€why€suchÐ <#Œ" Ða€cursory€search€of€the€informant€was€conducted€before€the€buys€from€the€defendant€took€place.€Ð "$r# ÐThere€was€also€an€inference€by€the€defense€that€the€defendant€was€targeted€by€the€informant€becauseÐ %X $ Ðshe€was€the€daughter€of€a€public€official€who€could€be€blackmailed.€€This€evidence€about€theÐ î%>!% Ðinformantððs€reliability€was€related€to€other€issues€in€the€case,€such€as€the€specific€procedures€usedÐ Ô&$"& Ðby€the€police€in€preparing€Smothers€to€make€the€undercover€buys,€some€of€which€were€raised€by€theÐ º' #' Ðdefense.Ð  (ð#( ÐÌà  àEven€if€we€assume€that€this€evidence€was€improperly€admitted,€we€fail€to€see€how€thisÐ l*¼%* Ðconstitutes€reversible€error.€€The€defendant€did€not€object€to€any€of€this€testimony€and,€in€fact,Ð R+¢&+ Ðexplored€those€same€facts€on€cross„examination.€€The€prosecutorððs€closing€remarks€about€anotherÐ 8,ˆ', Ðjury€believing€the€informant,€if€improper,€were€cured€with€his€statements€to€the€jury€that€they€wereÐ ° Ðto€look€at€the€evidence€and€not€at€the€opinions€of€the€lawyers.€€The€judge€also€instructed€the€jury€toÐ –æ Ðdisregard€the€statements€of€the€lawyers€which€did€not€match€the€evidence.€€In€light€of€the€strengthÐ |Ì Ðof€the€Stateððs€case€founded€on€the€physical€evidence,€the€informantððs€testimony,€and€that€of€theÐ b² Ðpolice€officers,€one€of€whom€was€the€defendantððs€next„door€neighbor,€we€cannot€conclude€that€theÐ H˜ Ðadmission€of€the€bolstering€evidence€more€probably€than€not€affected€the€judgment€or€would€haveÐ . ~ Ðresulted€in€prejudice€to€the€judicial€process€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€ProcedureÐ  d Ð13(b)€and€36(b).€€òòRuffóó,€978€S.W.2d€at€98.€€For€the€same€reason,€we€cannot€conclude€that€this€errorÐ ú J Ðaffected€the€outcome€of€the€trial€on€the€merits€pursuant€to€the€plain€error€doctrine€of€Tennessee€RuleÐ à 0 Ðof€Criminal€Procedure€52(a).€€òòRuffóó,€978€S.W.2d€at€98.€€This€issue€is€without€merit.€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð Æ   ÐÌò òó óÓ  Óà0 @ àà0@` (#(#àà0@¸ ` (#` (#àà0@¸ (#¸ (#àà0@h(#(#àà0@Àh(#h(#àò òII.ó ó€€ò òSufficiency€of€the€Evidenceó óÐ ’â  ÐÓ¾Óà  àÌÔ‡X>DXXX>DÔ€€€€€€€€€€The€defendant€argues€that€the€evidence€was€insufficient€to€convict€her,€because:€(1)€theÐ ^®  Ðinformantððs€credibility€was€bolstered€by€the€outcome€of€other€cases€she€was€involved€in;€(2)€theÐ D”  Ðinformant€was€not€properly€searched€before€making€the€buys€from€the€defendant;€and€(3)€theÐ *z  Ðinformant€attempted€to€extort€money€from€the€defendantððs€father€in€exchange€for€not€testifying.€€TheÐ ` ÐState€argues€that€the€evidence€against€the€defendant€was€strong€and€sufficient.€€Smothers€testifiedÐ öF Ðthat€she€participated€in€two€undercover€buys€from€the€defendant,€and€the€defense€did€not€offer€anyÐ Ü, Ðevidence€to€the€contrary.€€After€reviewing€the€record,€we€conclude€that€there€was€sufficient€evidenceÐ Â Ðto€convict€the€defendant.Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àThe€defendantððs€initial€presumption€of€innocence€is€lost€following€a€jury€conviction€andÐ tÄ Ðreplaced€with€a€presumption€of€guilt;€thus,€on€appeal,€the€burden€is€now€shifted€to€the€defendant€toÐ Zª Ðprove€the€insufficiency€of€the€evidence.€€òòState€v.€Tuggleóó,€639€S.W.2d€913,€914€(Tenn.€1982).€€ThisÐ @ Ðcourt€must€affirm€the€convictions€unless€the€evidence€presented€at€trial€was€so€deficient€that€noÐ &v Ðrational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€all€of€the€essential€elements€of€the€offense€beyond€a€reasonableÐ  \ Ðdoubt.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(e);€òòState€v.€Cazesóó,€875€S.W.2d€253,€259€(Tenn.€1994).€€This€rule€hasÐ òB Ðbeen€found€by€our€courts€to€be€applicable€to€a€conviction€based€on€direct€or€circumstantial€evidenceÐ Ø( Ðor€a€combination€of€both.€€òòState€v.€Matthewsóó,€805€S.W.2d€776,€779€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.),€òòpermòòóó.òòóó€òòóóappòòóó.Ð ¾ Ðòòóódeniedóó€(Tenn.€1990).€€Ð ¤ô ÐÌà  àIn€determining€whether€the€evidence€was€sufficient€to€support€a€conviction,€we€do€notÐ p!À  Ðreweigh€the€evidence€or€substitute€our€own€inferences€for€those€of€the€trial€court.€€Tenn.€R.€Crim.Ð V"¦! ÐP.€33(f);€òòState€v.€Blantonóó,€926€S.W.2d€953,€958€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1996);€òòState€v.€Burlisonóó,€868Ð <#Œ" ÐS.W.2d€713,€719€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1993).€€Furthermore,€the€State€is€entitled€to€the€strongestÐ "$r# Ðlegitimate€view€of€the€evidence€presented€and€all€reasonable€inferences€drawn€therefrom.€€òòState€v.Ð %X $ ÐHarrisóó,€839€S.W.2d€54,€75€(Tenn.€1992),€òòcertòòóó.€òòóódeniedóó,€507€U.S.€954,€113€S.€Ct.€1368€(1993).€€A€juryÐ î%>!% Ðverdict€accredits€the€testimony€of€the€Stateððs€witnesses€and€resolves€all€conflicts€in€favor€of€theÐ Ô&$"& ÐStateððs€theory.€€òòState€v.€Williamsóó,€657€S.W.2d€405,€410€(Tenn.€1983).€Ð º' #' ÐÌà  àThe€defendant€was€convicted€of€two€counts€of€delivering€less€than€0.5€grams€of€cocaine,€aÐ †)Ö$) ÐClass€C€felony,€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€39„17„417:Ð l*¼%* ÐÌÝ"‚(·¤"ÝÝ  ÝÝ‚(·¤,ËÝà0  àà0` (#(#àÔ2Ù=Ô(Ú  ÚaÚ  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0Œ ` (#` (#àÝ  ÝIt€is€an€offense€for€a€defendant€to€knowingly:݃(·¤,ËYËÝŒÐ8,ˆ',Œ (#Œ (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌà  àà ` à€€à Œ à.€.€.€.à  à€€€€€Ð –æ ÐÌà  àà ` àà Œ à(2)€€Deliver€a€controlled€substance[.]Ð b² ÐÌà  àà ` à.€.€.€.à  à€€€€€Ð . ~ ÐÌà  àà ` à(c)€€A€violation€of€subsection€(a)€with€respect€to:Ð ú J ÐÌà  àà ` àà Œ à.€.€.€.à  àÐ Æ   ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8Œ ` x` xà(2)€Any€other€Schedule€II€controlled€substance,€includingÐ ’â  Ðcocaine€in€an€amount€of€less€than€point€five€(.5)€grams,€is€aÐ xÈ  ÐClass€C€felony.€.€.€.€€€€€Ð^® Œ LŒ L ÐÌÌà  àBecause€the€State€gets€the€benefit€of€all€credibility€determinations€on€appeal,€any€doubt€aboutÐ ` Ðthe€informantððs€credibility€is€resolved€in€the€Stateððs€favor.€€Viewing€the€evidence€in€the€light€mostÐ öF Ðfavorable€to€the€State,€we€find€that€there€was€more€than€enough€evidence€presented€at€trial€for€aÐ Ü, Ðrational€jury€to€find€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€the€defendant€delivered€less€than€0.5€grams€ofÐ Â Ðcocaine€to€the€informant€on€two€occasions.€€Apparently,€the€jury€either€did€not€believe€Mr.Ð ¨ø ÐNewmonððs€story€about€the€extortion€phone€call€or€did€not€give€it€much€weight€in€determining€theÐ ŽÞ Ðguilt€or€innocence€of€his€daughter.€€There€was€a€substantial€amount€of€other€evidence€fromÐ tÄ Ðindependent€witnesses,€such€as€law€enforcement€officers,€who€connected€the€defendant€with€drugÐ Zª Ðsales,€as€well€as€physical€evidence€gathered€by€Sergeant€Hill€in€the€controlled€buys€from€theÐ @ Ðdefendant.€€This€evidence€was€essentially€undisputed€by€the€defense,€other€than€the€testimony€ofÐ &v ÐLeslie€Thomas,€which€did€not€prove€that€the€defendant€did€not€sell€drugs€to€the€informant.€€As€aÐ  \ Ðresult,€we€cannot€conclude€that€a€rational€trier€of€fact€could€not€have€found€all€of€the€essentialÐ òB Ðelements€of€the€crime€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€This€issue€is€also€without€merit.€€€€€€Ð Ø( ÐÌà  àà ` àà Œ àà  àò òà h à€€€CONCLUSIONó óÐ ¤ô ÐÌà  àUpon€our€òòdeóó€òònovoóó€review,€we€find€that€any€error€committed€by€admission€of€testimonyÐ p!À  Ðbolstering€the€informantððs€credibility€was€harmless€and€does€not€require€reversal.€€Furthermore,€theÐ V"¦! Ðevidence€was€sufficient€for€a€rational€jury€to€find€every€element€of€the€offense€upon€which€theÐ <#Œ" Ðdefendant€was€convicted€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€We,€therefore,€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trialÐ "$r# Ðcourt.€€Ô#†X>DXXX>Dܾ#ÔÐ %X $ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà Œ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð  (ð#( Ðà  àà ` àà Œ àà  àà h àà À àà  àALAN€E.€GLENN,€JUDGE