ÿWPCÀ jj×[4Yr*ÔµŠ%+—™ïöLUB$︮ö%X®aŠP´í÷(mŒhšØa“Z)”•×ȼÁÌ,ˆRÀvw\ñ’¾ äçÈùäqÅúMÈ‚uLÉp&­ ¶¢Æ7{(<¶@{{9¾–Ý0²‚´ñB¸üfÃÛK+ê×eœn°æÍNœd£Ü„}@5JÆŠ'Œl X·-Ñ/óuè õ˜ÃQ#á¾ ­D#AuFÚÜ·t° ¡Ï&Í¢&Û¶–³<Zr’½þä;B 5ìûúVí;ñzN}siäqW¢g½#ºÓŽ³°`àÍ´ßq«&R¾®Ôœ8!»ÄK«YñÄF嘦ۛs’û ˆ)œ_ZÕqSƒ9ícqû‘±cX¤¬Û8K1K!¢t`…#Âô3,ýD.ªŒ³ˆXCÓüëžU6çKäÑxu7Š$ÿˆüuœ*¸©í½t)~ÑÎ09º¶¹'$µ–8.iÍóö#9øC™.'Iípað8s «äÖE+öº¼±”ǹÓõïù'¦\Aoj¤N^l"(ëzG^Ã+•b#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ U N· w 4 z Ò— i x mz ‘ Æ™ Æ_ Æ% Æë ë N±±±E³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³bµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµ 0ë½½½½ B¨¨ 0¤Å D3i D-œ 0KÉÉ ASÆg 0¤- 0DÑ A«˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 6ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0»=§) (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularÖJ~'è  œ„w¡ ˜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|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5- ù-(|G2¯ˆ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€TP»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X5|X»»Ô d(|3$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€TP»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€TP»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€TP»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼TP»»»ÔÑ8€5|XXdæ»»d8Ñà@HHìàIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@§§$ìàAT€NASHVILLEˆÐ ¾ Ðà@ÝÝ"ìàMAY€2000€SESSIONˆÐ Ì ÐÔ‡X5|X»¼TPÔÌò òÔ#†¼TP»XX5|£#ÔÓ  ÓSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€v.€CURTIS€R.€SPARKSó óÐ À ÐÓéÓÌÔ€X5|X»¼TPÔà@³ ³ ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Perry€CountyˆÐ Ü , Ðà@ìàNo.€536€€€Cornelia€Clark,€Judge€ˆÐ   ÐÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E< ` A߈Ð Ž Þ  ÐÌà@å å ìàNo.€M1999„01330„CCA„R3„CD€„€Filed€August€2,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_Ô€ˆÐ ƒÓ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<N` AßÐ OŸ  Ðó óÌThe€defendant,€Curtis€R.€Sparks,€was€convicted€of€sale€of€cocaine€over€.5€grams.€€The€jury€assessedÐ D”  Ða€fine€of€$2,000.€€The€trial€court€imposed€a€Range€I€sentence€of€nine€years.€€In€this€appeal€of€right,Ð *z  Ðthe€defendant€contends€that€the€sentence€is€excessive€and€that€the€trial€court€should€have€granted€anÐ ` Ðalternate,€community„based€sentence.€€Because€the€defendant€was€clearly€untruthful€in€much€of€hisÐ öF Ðtestimony€and€demonstrated€little€indication€of€rehabilitation,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€isÐ Ü, Ðaffirmed.€€Ð  ÐÌò òà@! ! ìàTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€Affirmed.ó óˆÐ ŽÞ ÐÌòòGary€R.€Wade,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,óó€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòJoe€G.€Rileyóó€and€òòNorma€McGeeÐ Zª ÐOgle,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð @ ÐÌCynthia€M.€Fort€(on€appeal),€Nashville,€Tennessee,€and€Ô_ÔCarthelÔ_Ô€L.€Smith,€Jr.,€(at€trial),€Lexington,Ð  \ ÐTennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Curtis€R.€Sparks.€€Ð òB ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€&€Reporter,€Jennifer€L.€Ô_ÔBledsoeÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Attorney€General,Ð ¾ Ðand€Jeffrey€L.€Long,€Assistant€District€Attorney€General,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.€€Ð ¤ô ÐÌÌÌà@55'ìàò òOPINIONó óˆÐ <#Œ# ÐÌà  àOn€November€21,€1996,€Twenty„First€Judicial€District€Drug€Task€Force€Agents€Joey€Ô_ÔKimbleÔ_ÔÐ %X % Ðand€Bill€Ô_ÔTrusdaleÔ_Ô€worked€in€conjunction€with€their€informant,€Chris€Smith,€to€purchase€.6€grams€ofÐ î%>!& Ðcocaine€from€the€defendant.€€In€preparation€for€the€controlled€buy,€the€agents€provided€Smith€withÐ Ô&$"' Ðfive€marked€$20€bills.€€Smith,€who€wore€a€recording€device€with€a€transmitter€so€that€the€agentsÐ º' #( Ðcould€monitor€the€transaction,€purchased€a€rock€of€crack€cocaine€at€the€defendant's€residence.€€SmithÐ  (ð#) Ðtestified€that€he€had€known€the€defendant€for€years€because€the€defendant€worked€at€a€businessÐ †)Ö$* ÐSmith's€family€owned.€€Smith€stated€that€when€he€saw€Grip€Ô_ÔVaughnÔ_Ô€at€the€front€door€of€the€residenceÐ l*¼%+ Ðowned€by€the€defendant's€mother€and€father,€he€asked€Ô_ÔVaughnÔ_Ô€to€summon€the€defendant€onto€the€Ð R+¢&, Ðoutside€porch.€€Smith€testified€that€the€defendant€instructed€him€"to€go€down€the€road€and€meet€him."€Ð 8,ˆ'- ÐSmith€traveled€a€short€distance€to€a€place€near€the€defendant's€residence,€where€the€transaction€wasÐ -n(.ýx ÐÔ_Ôcompleted.€€Afterward,€Smith€returned€to€the€supervising€agents€and€provided€them€with€the€illegalÐ ° Ðdrug.€€Later,€the€cocaine€was€determined€to€weigh€.6€grams.€€At€trial,€the€state€played€the€audiotapeÐ –æ Ðof€the€transaction€for€the€jury.€Officers€Kimble€and€Trusdale€and€informant€Smith€each€testified.€Ð |Ì ÐSpecial€Agent€Glenn€Everett,€a€forensic€scientist€with€the€Tennessee€Bureau€of€Investigation€CrimeÐ b² ÐLaboratory€in€Nashville,€identified€the€cocaine€and€determined€its€weight.€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àThe€defendant€testified€in€his€own€behalf.€€While€he€acknowledged€that€he€had€engaged€inÐ  d Ða€conversation€with€informant€Smith€on€November€21,€1996,€he€claimed€that€the€meeting€was€atÐ ú J ÐAndy€"Grip"€Vaughn's€package€store€and€that€he€directed€Smith€"to€go€somewhere€else"€to€buy€theÐ à 0 Ðcocaine.€€The€defendant€described€Smith€as€"jittering€and€jumping"€as€if€on€drugs.€€He€contendedÐ Æ   Ðthat€nobody€would€"mess€with€Smitty€'cause€Smitty€stayed€up€on€the€hill€and€got€in€all€this€troubleÐ ¬ ü  Ðand€.€.€.€was€a€snitch€and€everything."€€The€defendant€claimed€that€he€had€been€deer€hunting€whenÐ ’â  Ðhe€met€Smith.€€The€defendant€denied€that€he€was€either€a€cocaine€user€or€a€cocaine€dealer.€€Ð xÈ  ÐÌà  àVaughn,€who€testified€for€the€defense,€recalled€that€the€defendant€was€at€his€place€of€businessÐ D”  Ðone€day€when€Smith€came€by€for€a€few€minutes€and€then€left.€€He€was€uncertain€of€the€date,Ð *z  Ðhowever.€€On€cross„examination,€he€conceded€that€he€also€may€have€seen€the€defendant€and€SmithÐ ` Ðtogether€at€the€defendant's€parents'€residence.€€Ð öF ÐÌà  àAt€the€sentencing€hearing,€Sheriff€Thomas€Ward,€who€had€known€the€defendant€forÐ Â Ðapproximately€20€years,€testified€that€he€had€received€numerous€complaints€that€the€defendant€wasÐ ¨ø Ðselling€illegal€drugs.€€Based€on€these€complaints,€he€had€contacted€agents€with€the€Twenty„FirstÐ ŽÞ ÐJudicial€District€Drug€Task€Force€and€asked€for€assistance.€€Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àAngenette€Yarbro,€another€confidential€informant€working€with€the€Perry€County€Sheriff'sÐ @ ÐDepartment,€also€testified€at€the€sentencing€hearing.€€She€stated€that€she€had€purchased€Soma,€whichÐ &v Ðis€a€controlled€substance,€and€crack€cocaine€from€the€defendant.€€She€recalled€having€purchased€fiveÐ  \ ÐSomas€for€$10.€€She€remembered€having€bought€crack€cocaine€from€the€defendant€on€severalÐ òB Ðoccasions,€"probably€more€[times]€than€[she]€could€count."€€She€described€the€place€of€her€crackÐ Ø( Ðcocaine€purchases€as€"on€the€ridge€or€up€there€where€his€house€is."€€She€said€that€she€had€purchasedÐ ¾ Ðas€little€as€$20€worth€of€drugs€at€a€time€from€the€defendant€and€as€much€as€$150€worth.€€Ms.€YarbroÐ ¤ô Ðstated€that€at€the€time€she€was€addicted€to€crack€cocaine.€€On€cross„examination,€she€acknowledgedÐ Š Ú Ðthat€the€state€had€agreed€to€dismiss€criminal€charges€against€her€in€exchange€for€her€testimony.€€SheÐ p!À  Ðstated€that€she€had€already€served€46€days€in€jail€by€the€time€she€testified.€€Ð V"¦! ÐÌà  àAt€the€sentencing€hearing,€the€defendant€again€denied€having€ever€acquired€or€sold€cocaine.Ð "$r# ÐHe€specifically€denied€having€sold€any€illegal€drugs€to€informant€Smith.€€He€described€Ms.€YarbroÐ %X $ Ðas€"full€of€it"€and€claimed€he€had€never€sold€cocaine€to€her.€€The€defendant€stated€that€he€owned€aÐ î%>!% Ðhouse€valued€at€between€$65,000€to€$70,000,€a€car€wash€worth€approximately€$5,000,€andÐ Ô&$"& Ðunimproved€property€valued€at€$10,000.€€He€claimed€that€he€paid€approximately€$400€per€month€inÐ º' #' Ðchild€support.€€Until€his€incarceration,€he€had€been€employed€at€Johnson€Control,€where€he€hadÐ  (ð#( Ðworked€for€approximately€20€years.€€He€lost€his€job€as€the€result€of€his€incarceration€and,€of€course,Ð †)Ö$) Ðhas€been€unable€to€operate€his€car€wash€detail€shop.€€His€prior€record€includes€several€misdemeanorÐ l*¼%* Ðhunting€violations.€€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÐ 8,ˆ', Ðà  àAt€the€conclusion€of€the€sentencing€hearing,€the€trial€court€determined€that€there€were€noÐ ° Ðmitigating€factors€and€that€there€was€one€enhancement€factor.€€While€observing€that€the€defendant'sÐ –æ Ðprior€criminal€convictions€were€for€"very€minor€offenses€involving€hunting€violations,"€the€trial€courtÐ |Ì Ðnevertheless€concluded€that€the€defendant's€prior€criminal€history€warranted€an€enhanced€sentence.€Ð b² ÐThe€trial€court€placed€special€emphasis€on€the€testimony€of€Ms.€Yarbro,€which€was€specificallyÐ H˜ Ðaccredited,€that€the€defendant€had€sold€crack€cocaine€on€numerous€occasions€in€the€past€and,€on€atÐ . ~ Ðleast€one€occasion,€sold€Soma€pills.€€The€trial€court€also€observed€that€the€defendant€testified€that€heÐ  d Ðhad€income€from€a€number€of€sources€other€than€his€employment€at€Johnson€Control€and€that€he€hadÐ ú J Ðknowingly€failed€to€report€that€income€to€the€Internal€Revenue€Service.€€Thus,€the€trial€courtÐ à 0 Ðdetermined€that€the€defendant€had€a€much€lengthier€criminal€history€than€his€actual€record€wouldÐ Æ   Ðsuggest.€€Based€upon€a€possible€range€of€eight€to€12€years,€the€trial€court€determined€than€anÐ ¬ ü  Ðenhancement€of€the€sentence€to€nine€years€was€appropriate.Ð ’â  ÐÌà  àHaving€determined€the€length€of€the€defendant's€sentence,€the€trial€court€ruled€that€theÐ ^®  Ðdefendant€was€ineligible€for€probation.€€While€noting€that€the€defendant€was€€eligible€for€aÐ D”  Ðcommunity€corrections€sentence,€the€trial€court€made€the€following€further€findings€regarding€aÐ *z  Ðpossible€alternative€sentence:Ð ` ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThere€isn't€proof€in€the€record€that€Mr.€Sparks€is€a€user,€and€his€recordÐ Ü, Ðof€employment€and€having€obtained€credit€and€assets€for€himselfÐ Â Ðsuggest€that€he,€individually,€has€done€well.€€But€the€imposition€of€theÐ ¨ø Ðsale€of€drugs€into€his€own€community€is€a€very€serious€offense.€.€.€.ÐŽÞ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI€also€.€.€.€have€to€look€at€the€potential€or€lack€of€potential€forÐ Zª Ðrehabilitation,€and€this€is€a€harder€and€closer€case.€€I've€pointed€outÐ @ Ðalready€that€Mr.€Sparks€has€a€record€of€employment€and€he€has€aÐ &v Ðrecord€of€having€obtained€and€accumulated€assets.€€He€has€at€leastÐ  \ Ðone€well„respected€and€reputable€member€of€the€community,€Mrs.Ð òB Ð[Helen€Craig]€Smith,€who€has€appeared€here€in€his€behalf€as€aÐ Ø( Ðcharacter€witness,€and€he€does€not€have€a€history€of€[serious]€criminalÐ ¾ Ðconvictions.€Ð¤ô` x` x Ðà@$$(ìà*€*€*ˆÐ Š Ú Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI€believe€that€he€has,€.€.€.€by€his€own€admission,€violated€federal€lawsÐ p!À  Ðby€knowingly€under€reporting€his€income€and€failing€to€report€incomeÐ V"¦! Ðto€the€I.R.S.,€and€I€believe€that€he€has€been€untruthful€on€theÐ <#Œ" Ðoccasions€he€has€testified€in€this€court,€both€at€trial€where€the€juryÐ "$r# Ðfound€him€to€be€untruthful€because€his€testimony€was€in€directÐ %X $ Ðconflict€with€the€testimony€of€Mr.€Smith,€and€the€jury€obviouslyÐ î%>!% Ðcredited€Mr.€Smith's€testimony€and€the€drug€task€force€officer'sÐ Ô&$"& Ðtestimony€and€did€not€accredit€Mr.€Sparks€and€.€.€.€he€has€beenÐ º' #' Ðuntruthful€.€.€.€.€Ð (ð#(` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[A]€person€who€is€untruthful€and€who€refuses€to€accept€responsibilityÐ l*¼%* Ðfor€his€actions€is€deemed€to€be€certainly€a€less€worthy€candidate€ofÐ R+¢&+ Ðconsideration€for€rehabilitation.Ð8,ˆ',` x` x Їà  àThe€trial€court€also€noted€that€at€the€sentencing€hearing,€the€defendant€had€refused€to€takeÐ ° Ðresponsibility€for€two€of€his€hunting€offenses,€claiming€that€he€was€covering€for€someone€else.€€DueÐ –æ Ðto€the€nature€of€the€crime,€the€lack€of€candor€on€the€part€of€the€defendant,€and€the€defendant's€priorÐ |Ì Ðcriminal€acts,€the€trial€court€denied€an€alternative€sentence€and€required€a€nine„year€term€in€theÐ b² ÐDepartment€of€Correction.€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àIn€this€appeal,€the€defendant€makes€two€claims.€€First,€he€argues€that€the€trial€court€shouldÐ  d Ðhave€imposed€no€more€than€an€eight„year€sentence.€€Secondly,€he€contends€that€he€should€have€beenÐ ú J Ðgranted€a€sentence€to€community€corrections.€€Ð à 0 ÐÌà  àWhen€there€is€a€challenge€to€the€length,€range,€or€manner€of€service€of€a€sentence,€it€is€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðduty€of€this€court€to€conduct€a€òòdeóó€òònovoóó€review€with€a€presumption€that€the€determinations€made€byÐ ’â  Ðthe€trial€court€are€correct.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„401(d).€€This€presumption€is€"conditioned€uponÐ xÈ  Ðthe€affirmative€showing€in€the€record€that€the€trial€court€considered€the€sentencing€principles€and€allÐ ^®  Ðrelevant€facts€and€circumstances."€€òòState€v.€Ashbyóó,€823€S.W.2d€166,€169€(Tenn.€1991);€òòseeóó€òòState€v.Ð D”  ÐJonesóó,€883€S.W.2d€597€(Tenn.€1994).€€"If€the€trial€court€applies€inappropriate€factors€or€otherwiseÐ *z  Ðfails€to€follow€the€1989€Sentencing€Act,€the€presumption€of€correctness€falls."€€òòState€v.€Sheltonóó,€854Ð ` ÐS.W.2d€116,€123€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1992).€€The€Sentencing€Commission€Comments€provide€thatÐ öF Ðthe€burden€is€on€the€defendant€to€show€the€impropriety€of€the€sentence.€€Ð Ü, ÐÌà  àOur€review€requires€an€analysis€of€(1)€the€evidence,€if€any,€received€at€the€trial€andÐ ¨ø Ðsentencing€hearing;€(2)€the€presentence€report;€(3)€the€principles€of€sentencing€and€the€argumentsÐ ŽÞ Ðof€counsel€relative€to€sentencing€alternatives;€(4)€the€nature€and€characteristics€of€the€offense;€(5)€anyÐ tÄ Ðmitigating€or€enhancing€factors;€(6)€any€statements€made€by€the€defendant€in€his€own€behalf;€andÐ Zª Ð(7)€the€defendant's€potential€for€rehabilitation€or€treatment.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€40„35„102,€„103,Ð @ Є210;€òòState€v.€Smithóó,€735€S.W.2d€859,€863€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1987).€€The€record€in€this€caseÐ &v Ðdemonstrates€that€the€trial€court€made€adequate€findings€of€fact.€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àThe€purpose€of€the€Community€Corrections€Act€of€1985€was€to€provide€an€alternative€meansÐ Ø( Ðof€punishment€for€"selected,€nonviolent€felony€offenders€in€front-end€community€based€alternativesÐ ¾ Ðto€incarceration."€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40-36-103.€€The€Community€Corrections€sentence€providesÐ ¤ô Ða€desired€degree€of€flexibility€that€may€be€both€beneficial€to€the€defendant€yet€serve€legitimateÐ Š Ú Ðsocietal€aims.€€òòState€v.€Griffithóó,€787€S.W.2d€340,€342€(Tenn.1990).€€Even€in€cases€where€theÐ p!À  Ðdefendant€meets€the€minimum€requirements€of€the€Community€Corrections€Act€of€1985,€theÐ V"¦! Ðdefendant€is€not€necessarily€entitled€to€be€sentenced€under€the€Act€as€a€matter€of€law€or€right.€€òòStateÐ <#Œ" Ðv.€Tayloróó,€744€S.W.2d€919€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.1987).€€The€following€offenders€are€eligible€forÐ "$r# ÐCommunity€Corrections:Ð %X $ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ à(1)€Persons€who,€without€this€option,€would€be€incarceratedÐ î%>!% Ðin€a€correctional€institution;ÐÔ&$"&` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ à(2)€Persons€who€are€convicted€of€property-related,€orÐ  (ð#( Ðdrug/alcohol-related€felony€offenses€or€other€felony€offenses€notÐ †)Ö$) Ðinvolving€crimes€against€the€person€as€provided€in€title€39,€chapterÐ l*¼%* Ð13,€parts€1-5;ÐR+¢&+` x` x ÐÐ 8,ˆ', Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ à(3)€Persons€who€are€convicted€of€nonviolent€felony€offenses;а` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ à(4)€Persons€who€are€convicted€of€felony€offenses€in€which€theÐ |Ì Ðuse€or€possession€of€a€weapon€was€not€involved;Ðb²` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ à(5)€Persons€who€do€not€demonstrate€a€present€or€past€patternÐ . ~ Ðof€behavior€indicating€violence;Ð d` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ à(6)€Persons€who€do€not€demonstrate€a€pattern€of€committingÐ à 0 Ðviolent€offenses;€€andÐÆ  ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àPersons€who€are€sentenced€to€incarceration€or€on€escape€at€theÐ ’â  Ðtime€of€consideration€will€not€be€eligible.€€ÐxÈ ` x` x ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40-36-106(a).€€Ð D”  ÐÌà  àAt€first€blush,€the€defendant€makes€a€persuasive€case€for€an€alternative€sentence.€€Forty€yearsÐ ` Ðof€age,€he€has€no€felony€record.€€The€report€by€the€Department€of€Correction€indicates€that€he€hasÐ öF Ðonly€three€prior€offenses,€all€of€which€were€hunting€violations.€€In€good€physical€condition,€theÐ Ü, Ðdefendant€is€divorced€and€has€three€children€for€whom€he€provides€support.€€A€high€school€graduate,Ð Â Ðhe€had€been€employed€by€Johnson€Control€in€Linden,€Tennessee,€from€September€1,€1978,€until€aÐ ¨ø Ðweek€before€his€trial€in€April€of€1999.€€His€wage€there€was€over€$10.00€per€hour.€€The€defendantÐ ŽÞ Ðreported€that€he€owned€a€house,€a€detail€shop,€and€a€1998€Chevrolet€truck.€€His€only€indebtednessÐ tÄ Ðwas€on€his€vehicle€in€the€amount€of€$308.Ð Zª ÐÌà  àThere€was€adequate€proof,€however,€to€establish€that€the€defendant€had€a€significant€priorÐ &v Ðcriminal€history.€€Recently,€in€òòState€v.€Winfieldóó,€____€S.W.3d€____€(Tenn.€2000),€No.€E1996„00012„Ð  \ ÐSC„R11„CD,€2000€WL€793948€(Tenn.,€June€20,€2000),€òòóóour€supreme€court€ruled€that€prior€criminalÐ òB Ðhistory€can€be€established€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence.€€That€is,€even€a€charge€on€€which€aÐ Ø( Ðdefendant€has€been€acquitted€may€qualify€as€an€enhancement€factor€if,€at€the€sentencing€hearing,€theÐ ¾ Ðstate€is€able€to€prove€by€the€greater€weight€of€the€evidence€that€the€defendant€committed€the€crime.€Ð ¤ô ÐThrough€the€testimony€of€Ms.€Yarbro,€the€state€proved€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€that,€inÐ Š Ú Ðaddition€to€the€hunting„related€offenses,€the€defendant€has€a€prior€criminal€history€involvingÐ p!À  Ðnumerous€drug€sales.€€Ð V"¦! Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àMoreover,€the€defendant€had€several€opportunities€to€take€some€degree€of€responsibility€forÐ "$r# Ðhis€misdeeds€but€refused€to€do€so.€€The€proof€could€have€hardly€been€more€overwhelming€at€trial.€Ð %X $ ÐThere€was€an€audio€tape€of€the€transaction€and€two€police€monitors.€€Yet€the€defendant€adamantlyÐ î%>!% Ðdenied€any€participation€in€the€sale€of€cocaine€and€rejected€altogether€the€accusations€made€againstÐ Ô&$"& Ðhim.€€During€the€presentence€investigation€by€the€Department€of€Correction,€the€defendant€declinedÐ º' #' Ðthe€opportunity€to€make€a€statement.€€At€the€sentencing€hearing,€the€defendant€not€only€continuedÐ  (ð#( Ðto€deny€any€involvement€in€the€drug€transaction€but€also€claimed€to€be€innocent€of€at€least€two€ofÐ †)Ö$) Ðhis€misdemeanor€hunting€offenses€which€had€taken€place€eight€to€ten€years€ago.€€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌà  àWhile€a€defendant€has€every€right€to€maintain€his€innocence€and€should€do€so€in€the€face€ofÐ 8,ˆ', Ðan€unwarranted€conviction,€his€claims€in€this€instance€are€simply€incredible.€€He€dismissed€informantÐ ° ÐSmith€as€a€"snitch"€and€classified€Ms.€Yarbro€as€a€liar.€€The€record€suggests€that€the€defendant€hasÐ –æ Ðparticipated€in€illegal€drug€sales€for€some€time€and€has€profited€by€his€actions,€but,€until€now,€hasÐ |Ì Ðnever€been€caught.€€Had€the€defendant€indicated€any€level€of€acceptance€of€responsibility,€shown€theÐ b² Ðleast€bit€of€remorse,€or€evinced€a€modest€desire€to€rehabilitate€himself,€he€may€have€warranted€anÐ H˜ Ðalternative€sentence.€€That€he€did€not€take€responsibility€for€the€offense,€despite€conclusive€proof€toÐ . ~ Ðthe€contrary,€demonstrates€that€the€trial€court€acted€properly€by€denying€participation€in€theÐ  d Ðcommunity€corrections€program.€€Untruthful€testimony€reflects€poorly€on€rehabilitative€potential€andÐ ú J Ðis€relevant€in€determining€appropriate€sentencing€alternatives.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„103(5).€Ð à 0 ÐFalse€claims€may€be€a€bar€to€an€alternative€sentence.€€òòState€v.€Dowdyóó,€894€S.W.2d€301€(Tenn.€Crim.Ð Æ   ÐApp.€1994).€€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌà  àAccordingly,€the€judgment€is€affirmed.€€Ð xÈ  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________Ð ` Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àGARY€R.€WADE,€PRESIDING€JUDGE€Ð öF Ð