WPC% FW΁EToi SR8xvһ[#p)<R @E$uX[! 0VҒjM_e\Ix|}7z y ώ s{8ǷSlzŝt,7Z +%َ8ksзT@!շQDΝ_~ɱV@[RHZLؓs3rq 3Sёı/zJXCs / ]&"t1=2Dm_ Yխ?4m`4*U~HmouSc6 񔯁T8Fl-;ҙpxtdUѿϸHg#xM!$TKPw-p-HzJ;r ׎a%^r3PF,,k|1˳O˘^, "$la|o߁w-DdO[|\E %F U:L 0( UN w@ 4< P V_ 0l ! 0D) m `R U: B D3    0D<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< AO 0D D/ BX,  AZ"Arial Regular($(hH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular PEUPDEPPPӀuM%3|x L     `   1    TheInvestigationReportindicatesthatthedefendantdroppedoutofhighschool  afterthe11thgrade.Thisdiscrepancywasnotconsideredbytheprosecutorandwillbedeemedimmaterialforpurposesofthisappeal.((3$ !      0  (#$  0   X/XXXXX/   Ad FILEDX/X  July23,1999CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdAM  V   `   2    Theapplicationforpretrialdiversionindicatedthedefendantwas5'11"and  weighed205pounds.Theprosecutoratthecertiorarihearingstatedthevictimwas   probablyabout5'6"andweighed130pounds.,cAZ"Arial Regular d""""'dxd(3$ !  -C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd !  X/XXX  TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'Tr *<,(j 8` `@E` 8ttxP  rߛ@  INTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @FF'ATNASHVILLE@77%JUNE1999SESSION̜STATEOFTENNESSEE,   ) $ t @-) p NO.01C019810CR00413   `  ` Appellee,@-)  L  @-) p PUTNAMCOUNTY   2   VS. @-)   @-) p HON.LEONBURNS,JR.,   М  `     h   ) p JUDGE    М JACKR.ROBERTS, @-)   М `     h   )̛ ` Appellant.@-) p (PretrialDiversion) d (  @(#(#( FORTHEAPPELLANT: L DONALDG.DICKERSON 310DEastBroadStreet  Cookeville,TN385013304   FORTHEAPPELLEE: L PAULG.SUMMERS  $ AttorneyGeneralandReporter KIMR.HELPER   AssistantAttorneyGeneralCordellHullBuilding,2ndFloor425FifthAvenueNorthNashville,TN372430493 WILLIAMEDWARDGIBSON   F# DistrictAttorneyGeneral BENJAMINW.FANN  #& AssistantDistrictAttorneyGeneral145S.JeffersonAvenueCookeville,TN385013424 L'"* (  @( OPINIONFILED:򀀀 |.)0 AFFIRMEDJOEG.RILEY,JUDGE  629  7XdXXd7@' OPINION    ` Thedefendant,JackR.Roberts,pursuanttoaTenn.R.App.P.9Ϝinterlocutoryappeal,challengesthedenialofpretrialdiversionbytheDistrictAttorneyGeneralandsubsequentdenialofreliefbythetrialcourt.DefendantwasindictedfortheClassCfelonyofaggravatedassaultandcontendstheprosecutorabusedhisdiscretionindenyingpretrialdiversion.Afterourreviewoftherecord,we AFFIRM thejudgmentofthetrialcourt. d  @??( BACKGROUND  X  ` DefendantwasindictedfortheoffenseofaggravatedassaultasaresultofhisaltercationwithJohnFranciscoatalocalbar.Asaresultofthealtercation,Franciscosufferedabrokenjawandbrokenribsandincurredexpensesinexcessof$17,000.Defendantwasuninjured.̛ ` Defendantsubmittedapretrialdiversionapplicationtotheprosecutor.TheprosecutoralsoconsideredanInvestigationReportpreparedbytheDepartmentofCorrection.Thesedocumentsindicatedthatthedefendantwas42yearsold,hadrecentlyremarried,hadtwoadultchildrenbyapreviousmarriage,hadnopriorcriminalrecordandhadastableemploymenthistory.Hisapplicationindicatedthathewasahighschoolgraduate.  #  1      כAlsoattachedtotheapplicationwerestatements )$) fromsixindividualsvouchingfordefendantscharacter.TheInvestigationReportϜindicatedthatthedefendantenlistedintheAirForcein1975,butwasnotallowedtoenterbootcampsincehefailedtheinitialdrugtest.Thereportfurtherindicatedthatdefendantstatedthat [s]omebodyslippedsomethingintomybeer.̛̜ l4/5 Л ` Defendantsversionoftheoffenseinhisapplicationindicatedthatthevictimhadbeen baitingmeintoaconfrontationforsomeperiodoftimepriortotheincident.Defendantindicatedthathethoughtthevictimwasabouttohithim,andϜhereactedinselfdefense.̛ ` ThedefendantsversionoftheoffenseintheInvestigationReportaddedotherinformation.Defendantadmittedthathereferredtothevictimasa midget.   %  2       x  Thevictimaskedthedefendantifhecalledhima midget,andthedefendantagreedthathedid.Thedefendantstatedthevictimcameuptohiminathreateningwaysodefendantknockedhimtofloor,gotontopofhimandhithimacouplemoretimes.Defendantfurtherstatedthathewas thinkingtomyselfthismanisknowntocarryagunstrappedtohisankle;therefore,hekickedhimacoupleoftimesinthechest.̛ ` TheAssistantDistrictAttorneyGeneraldeniedtherequestfordiversionbyletterdatedOctober30,1997.Theletterindicatedthattheprosecutorhadconsideredtheapplication,theattachedcharacterwitnesslettersandtheInvestigationReportpreparedbytheDepartmentofCorrection.Basedupontheinformationprovided,theprosecutorconcludedthatthedefendantshouldnotbegranteddiversion.Indoingsotheprosecutornotedthefollowingnegativefactors:8 ` 1. Defendanthadexhibitednoremorse.(#(` `  М8 ` 2. Defendanthadtakennoresponsibilityfortheoffenseandhad l*%*  blamedothers. ` `  ̜8 ` 3. Defendantwasunabletogetintothemilitaryduetoapositive -n(-  drugtest,yetblamedanotherforthisoccurrence. ` `  М ` 4. Therewere fartoomanyincidentsofthistype,andpretrialdiversion / +0 М `  wouldprovidenodeterrence.̜ ` 5. Thiswasaviolent,unprovokedattackuponavictimmuchsmallerthan 2-3 М `  thedefendant.̜ 4506 8 ` 6. Theincidentwasinstigatedbythedefendantcallingthevictim   a midget. ` `   `  ` 7. Thevictimwasattemptingtoleavetheestablishmentwhen x attacked b М `  bythedefendant.̛̜8 `  ` 8. Defendantadministeredaseverebeatingtothevictim, x including  d М `  kickingthevictimwhilethevictimlayhelpless.̜ ` ̜8 ` 9. Theseverebeatingledtoaweekshospitalizationandmedical     billsandlostwagestotallingover$17,000. ` `  ̜8 ` 10. Defendantsstatementinhisapplicationmadenoreferenceto x   abeliefthatthevictimcarriedagun,whereasthestatementin theInvestigationReportindicatedtothecontrary. ` `   ` DefendantfiledhispetitionforwritofcertioraritothetrialcourtonNovember F 21,1997.SeveralmonthslateronMarch13,1998,hefiledamotionwiththetrialcourttobeallowedtoamendhisapplicationforpretrialdiversiontoincludethreeaffidavitsexecutedonMarch9,1998.Theaffidavitsindicatedthatthevictimwasknowntocarryapistol. ` AtthecertiorarihearingonMarch24,1998,theprosecutorindicatedthathe  hadnotconsideredtherecentaffidavits,thattheywerenotpresentedtohimatthetimeofhisoriginaldenial,andthatthepetitionforwritofcertiorarimadenomention ^"! ofthisissue.Thetrialcourtindicatedtheaffidavits maybefiled,andiftheyareconsideredbythestate,andtheycanbe.Iftheyrenot,theyrepartoftherecord.ThetrialcourtenteredawrittenorderonJune23,1998,indicatingtheaffidavits wereinresponsetothedenial,theaffidavitsweretimelypresentedandshouldbeconsideredaspartofthepretrialdiversionapplication....   ^+&+  ` Inspiteofthecontroversyconcerningthethreeaffidavits,thetrialcourtcarefullyconsideredthevariousfactorsoutlinedbytheprosecutorinthedenialofdiversionandconcludedtherewasnoabuseofdiscretioninthedenial.Accordingly,thepetitionwasdenied.̜ 95; Л@$ STANDARDOFREVIEW    `  ThePretrialDiversionActprovidesameansofavoidingtheconsequencesofapublicprosecutionforthosewhohavethepotentialtoberehabilitatedandavoidfuturecriminalcharges.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.4015105.  < Pretrialdiversionisextraordinaryreliefforwhichthedefendantbearstheburdenofproof.Statev.Baxter,868S.W.2d679,681(Tenn.Crim.App.1993);Statev.   Poplar,612S.W.2d498,501(Tenn.Crim.App.1980). T  М̛ ` Thedecisiontograntordenyanapplicationforpretrialdiversioniswithinthediscretionofthedistrictattorneygeneral.Tenn.CodeAnn.4015105(b)(3);see  alsoStatev.Pinkham,955S.W.2d956,959(Tenn.1997);Statev.Houston,900  S.W.2d712,714(Tenn.Crim.App.1995);Statev.Carr,861S.W.2d850,855 X (Tenn.Crim.App.1993).Inmakingthedetermination,thedistrictattorneygeneralmustconsider8 ` thedefendant'samenabilitytocorrection.Anyfactorswhichtendtoaccuratelyreflectwhetheraparticulardefendantwillorwillnotbecomearepeatoffendershouldbeconsidered....Amongthefactorstobeconsideredinadditiontothecircumstancesoftheoffensearethedefendant'scriminalrecord,socialhistory,thephysicalandmentalconditionofadefendantwhereappropriate,andthelikelihoodthatpretrialdiversionwillservetheendsofjusticeandthebestinterestofboththepublicandthedefendant. ` `  Statev.Hammersley,650S.W.2d352,355(Tenn.1983);seealsoStatev. '"#' Washington,866S.W.2d950,951(Tenn.1993);Statev.Parker,932S.W.2d945, )$) 958(Tenn.Crim.App.1996).̛̜ ` Aprosecutor'sdecisiontodenydiversionispresumptivelycorrect,andthetrialcourtshouldonlyreversethatdecisionwhentheappellantestablishesanabuseofdiscretion.Statev.Curry,988S.W.2d153,158(Tenn.1999);Houston, 2-3 900S.W.2dat714.Therecordmustbelackinginanysubstantialevidencetosupportthedistrictattorneygeneralsdecisionbeforeanabuseofdiscretioncanbefound.Pinkham,955S.W.2dat960;Carr,861S.W.2dat856.Thehearingcourt 8R39 mustconsideronlytheevidencemadeavailabletoandconsideredbythe 95; prosecutor.Curry,988S.W.2dat157.Thetrialcourtmaynotsubstituteits  judgmentforthatofthedistrictattorneygeneralwhenthedecisionofthedistrictattorneygeneralissupportedbytheevidence.Statev.Watkins,607S.W.2d486, H 488(Tenn.Crim.App.1980).̛̜ ` Ourreviewfocusesonwhetherthetrialcourtsdecisionissupportedbyapreponderanceoftheevidence.Curry,988S.W.2dat158.Theunderlyingissue x  fordeterminationonappealiswhetherornot,asamatteroflaw,theprosecutorabusedhisorherdiscretionindenyingpretrialdiversion.Statev.Brooks,943 ` S.W.2d411,413(Tenn.Crim.App.1997).̛@gg( DETERRENCE t   ` Defendantcontendstheprosecutorimproperlyreliedupongeneral $t deterrence.Althoughgeneraldeterrenceisaproperconsiderationinpretrialdiversioncases,seeHammersley,650S.W.2dat354,therecordshouldsupport   theneedforgeneraldeterrence.Statev.Kirk,868S.W.2d739,743(Tenn.Crim. !  App.1993).Althoughtheprosecutorstatedtherewere fartoomanyincidentsofthistype,itisunclearwhetherhemeantaggravatedassaultsgenerallyoraggravatedassaultsinlocalbars.AlthoughtheDistrictAttorneyGeneraliscertainlyinapositiontobeinformedaboutcriminalactivityinthedistrict,seeStatev. ( $( Holland,661S.W.2d91,93(Tenn.Crim.App.1983),therecordbeforethisCourt *%* isinsufficienttojustifyrelianceupongeneraldeterrence.@ FAILURETOINTERVIEWDEFENDANTANDCHARACTERWITNESSES  /@+0  ` Defendantcontendstheprosecutorunjustifiablyrefusedtointerviewthedefendantandhischaracterwitnessesinspiteofdefensecounselsrequesttodoso.Wehavebeencitednoauthority,norareweawareofanyauthority,whichrequirestheprosecutortoconductaninterviewofthedefendantand/orother 8H4: characterwitnessessuggestedbydefensecounsel.Theprosecutordidnotabusehisdiscretioninfailingtodoso.̛@% RECENTAFFIDAVITS   d  ` Defendantarguestheprosecutorabusedhisdiscretioninrefusingtoconsidertheaffidavitsfiledwiththetrialcourtseveraldayspriortothecertiorari   hearing.Inacertiorarihearingthetrialcourtshouldconsideronlytheevidence T  consideredbytheprosecutor.Curry,988S.W.2dat157;Statev.Winsett,882 $t S.W.2d806,810(Tenn.Crim.App.1993).Defendantcontendstheinstantcaseisdistinguishablesincethisinformationwassubmittedtotheprosecutorpriortothehearing.Thereasonforitssubmissionwastheprosecutorsstatementsinhisdenialletterrelatingtothevictimsallegedreputationforcarryingagun. ` Regardless,itisapparenttheprosecutorwouldhavedenieddiversioninspiteofthesethreeaffidavits.Theaffidavitsarearguablyrelevanttothedefendantsstateofmindatthetimeoftheincidentandwouldrelatetoselfdefense.Itisfurtherapparentthisfactualissuewouldnotberesolvedtotheprosecutorssatisfactionbythethreeaffidavits.Further,thisdisputedfactualissueϜrelatingtoselfdefensewouldnotberesolvedbythetrialcourtinacertiorari &8"& hearing.Thus,thefailureoftheprosecutortoconsidertheseaffidavitsdoesnotmeritrelief.̛̜@xx( CONCLUSION  .l).  ` Althoughwehaveconcludedtheprosecutorimproperlyreliedupongeneraldeterrence,thisdoesnotforecloseadeterminationthatsubstantialevidencestillremainstosupportthedenial.Carr,861S.W.2dat857.Theprosecutor X506 consideredthefavorableinformationcontainedintheapplicationforpretrialdiversionandtheInvestigationReport;however,theprosecutorfoundotherfactors 8@4: outweighedthisfavorableinformation.Inadditiontootherfactors,theprosecutorreliedprimarilyuponthenatureandcircumstancesoftheoffense.Fromtheprosecutorsperspective,theoffensewasviolent,instigatedbythedefendantandinvolvedavictimmuchsmallerthanthedefendant.Mostsignificantly,thebeatingwassevereandincludedkickingthevictimwhilehelayonthefloorhelpless.Thebeatingresultedinseriousinjuries,hospitalizationforaweek,andexpensesinexcessof$17,000.̛ ` Theonlyissueiswhethertheprosecutorabusedhisdiscretionindenyingpretrialdiversion.NeitherthetrialcourtnorthisCourtmaysubstituteitsjudgmentforthatoftheprosecutorifhisdecisionissupportedbytheevidence.Weconcludetherewasnoabuseofdiscretionbytheprosecutorinthedenialofpretrialdiversion. ` Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtis AFFIRMED .  \  `     h      p ____________________________ `     h      p JOEG.RILEY,JUDGE     CONCUR: &P!%  ____________________________  ($( JOSEPHM.TIPTON,JUDGE ____________________________  Z-(- ALANE.GLENN,JUDGE  @.). ̛