ÿWPCÏ éri‹9Á[CjOÉ€ô&:êî–ZäVÑaL#4ñMûþj–Wq* ˆàÞDz´`wÎQóħƒF}=GxöŽ.[‹¶X×já«È•uv}¨y±”ëÿïßÿäùØü¨3Úüæ4ë‹Îä¨ÞõÊfÛ %½¯æêÁêïü &éÓ®ÕÕ‚à^Ô¶¬Gùo¶³”_q‹nèê ¨Ÿ ÿñÌJÎ㪬Ól9¢‹Bûà“|ß$¿è_)l#wuîÏÌy})ì¤Jèú.jôþë'z³+Ý  ëS$}Úvg¼^:W:¤`Ÿµ›ñ3/úê’ö¾dT9ê£`Ñ¢¼ˆA× Xέn] jà›0AŠÒ¥ClUx¥,]Ïte$ÄÍõ$p°rI™Is”Úµ-Äz¼XþAù>uàþå3‡Ü©ÆÂ¶A+‡?´!¢fàp K"m£´ÃÁrŸ4ÏzJ㙂+Ï}æý( É=hvæÏRádÿˆë_ÆÃYš¯#5Q\±”™ïábþ·ÑøÑÚ.D]”+ò˜I‰Á({D*Cò‡‘bgâtPË*ëKöV¹×k‚BtÛ‘>Næ­As‰9ãÄ…Ì•œù' té8©b#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz UN‘ Æß Æ¥ Æk Æ1}÷Nt 0DvvEºº¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼bÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ 0ëÌÌÌÌ B·· 0¤Ô D3x D-« 0KØØ AS#Æv 0¤< 0Dà A«$˜HP LaserJet 4,ü,,,,,ü0»,£B)â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularq\;'bk1¸¦ ˜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(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 sÝ ƒR6$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÞ¼ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔBounty€hunting€in€Tennessee€is€€defined€and€regulated€by€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€40„11„318.€€TheÐ ° Ðlaw€went€into€effect€on€May€18,€1998,€and€therefore€does€not€apply€here.€€The€defendantððs€offense€was€committed€onÐ xÈ ÐSeptember€16,€1997.€€According€to€this€new€law,€ð ð[n]o€person€who€has€been€ððconvicted€of€a€felonyðð€shall€serve€as€aÐ @ Ðbounty€hunter€in€the€state€of€Tennessee.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„11„318(b)€(Supp.€1999).(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó - ù-(|G26$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€§¤»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÞ¼ò»»Ô d(|3$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€§¤»»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€§¤»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€§¤»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼§¤»»»ÔÑ8€¶SXXdð»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡îôG§¤ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼§¤»îîôG #ԈРÜ, ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àMay€2000€SessionÐ X ÐÔ‡X¶SX»¼§¤ÔÌò òÔ#†¼§¤»XX¶S#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEòòóó€v.€CHRISTOPHER€Ô_ÔBENGTSONÔ_ÔòòóóÔ‡X¶SX»¼§¤Ôó óÐ  ` ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Ô_ÔMcMinnÔ_Ô€CountyÐ  h Ðà@@øøìàNos.€97„612,€97„613,€97„614€€€€€€R.€Steven€Ô_ÔBebbÔ_Ô,€JudgeÐ  X ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<×` AßÐ Ø(  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E1999„01190„CCA„R3„CDÐ ×'  ÐOctober€2,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ Ç  ÐßA€V) °°` dE<¶` AßÐ ·  Ðó óÌÓ  Óò òó óThe€defendant,€Christopher€Ô_ÔBengtsonÔ_Ô,€was€convicted€by€a€Ô_ÔMcMinnÔ_Ô€County€jury€of€three€counts€ofÐ ¶ Ðreckless€endangerment€committed€with€a€deadly€weapon,€a€Class€E€felony.€€In€this€appeal€as€of€right,Ð ¦ö Ðthe€defendant€raises€two€issues:€€(1)€whether€the€evidence€was€sufficient€as€a€matter€of€law€to€supportÐ –æ Ðthe€verdict;€and€(2)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€merge€the€three€counts€into€one.€€WeÐ †Ö Ðconclude€that€the€evidence€was€sufficient€as€a€matter€of€law€for€the€jury€to€conclude€beyond€aÐ vÆ Ðreasonable€doubt€that€the€defendant€was€guilty€of€felony€reckless€endangerment.€€We€agree€with€theÐ f¶ Ðdefendant€and€the€State€that€the€three€counts€constituted€a€single€course€of€conduct€and€should€haveÐ V¦ Ðbeen€merged€into€one.€€We€therefore€affirm€the€felony€reckless€endangerment€conviction€for€countÐ F– Ðone€of€the€indictment€but€vacate€the€convictions€for€counts€two€and€three.Ð 6† ÐÓ)ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€Affirmed€in€Part,Ð f ÐVacated€in€Partó óÐ V ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼§¤»àX¶Sª#ÔÔ‡X¶SX.¼§¤ÔAlan€E.€Glenn,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòThomas€T.€Ô_ÔWoodallÔ_Ôóó€and€òòJohnÐ æ6 ÐEverett€Williams,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð Ö& ÐÌJulie€A.€Rice,€Contract€Appellate€Defender€(on€appeal);€Charles€M.€Corn,€District€Public€Defender;Ð ¶!  Ðand€William€C.€Donaldson,€Assistant€Public€Defender€(at€trial)€for€the€appellant,€ChristopherÐ ¦"ö! ÐÔ_ÔBengtsonÔ_Ô.Ð –#æ" ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€R.€Stephen€Ô_ÔJobeÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Ð v%Æ $ ÐJerry€N.€Ô_ÔEstesÔ_Ô,€District€Attorney€General;€and€Richard€C.€Newman,€Assistant€District€AttorneyÐ f&¶!% ÐGeneral,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð V'¦"& ÐÓ> ÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼§¤»XX¶Sm #ÔÔ‡X¶SX»¼§¤ÔÐ 6)†$( ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼§¤»XX¶S?#ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X¶SX»¼§¤Ôà  àThe€defendant,€Christopher€Ô_ÔBengtsonÔ_Ô,€was€indicted€by€a€Ô_ÔMcMinnÔ_Ô€County€Grand€Jury€inÐ +f&* ÐOctober€1997€on€three€counts€of€aggravated€assault.€€A€jury€convicted€him€on€January€12,€1999,€ofÐ ,V'+ Ðâ âthree€counts€of€the€lesser„included€offense€of€reckless€endangerment€committed€with€a€deadlyÐ ö,F(,ý ÐÔ_Ôweapon,€a€Class€E€felony.€€He€was€sentenced€as€a€Range€I,€standard€offender€to€two€years€on€eachÐ ° Ðcount,€with€sentences€to€be€served€concurrently,€on€probation,€after€sixty€days€in€jail.Ð  ð Ðâ âÌà  àThe€defendant,€in€this€appeal€as€of€right,€raises€two€issues€for€our€review:Ð €Ð ÐÌÓ*°,XƒX× –X°œX*Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI.€à8× ` x` xàWhether€the€evidence€was€sufficient€as€a€matter€of€law€toÐ ` ° Ðsupport€the€verdict;€andÐP  × ×  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àII.€à8× ` x` xàWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€refusing€to€dismiss€countsÐ 0 € Ðtwo€and€three€of€the€indictment€as€they€were€part€and€parcelÐ  p  Ðof€one€act.Ð` × ×  ÐÌà  àHaving€reviewed€the€entire€record,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€adduced€at€trial€wasÐ ð@  Ðsufficient€as€a€matter€of€law€to€convict€the€defendant€of€felony€reckless€endangerment.€€As€to€theÐ à0  Ðdefendantððs€second€issue,€we€agree€€that€the€three€convictions€should€have€been€merged€into€one.€Ð Ð  ÐTherefore,€we€affirm€the€conviction€for€reckless€endangerment€with€a€deadly€weapon€of€KatherineÐ À ÐMartin€in€count€one€but€vacate€the€convictions€for€counts€two€and€three.Ð ° ÐÌà@¤¤(ìàò òòòFACTSó óóóˆÐ à ÐÌà  àThe€evidence€presented€at€trial€shows€that€the€defendant,€a€then€thirty„five„year„old€formerÐ pÀ ÐMarine€from€Minnesota,€moved€in€May€of€1996€to€Riceville,€Tennessee,€and€was€employed€as€aÐ `° Ðfactory€worker€in€Etowah.€€The€defendant€testified€that€he€was€also€a€bounty€hunter€as€a€ð ðpasttimeÐ P  Ð[sic],€as€a€hobby.ðð׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€He€lived€in€a€trailer€home€off€County€Road€701€not€far€from€the€residence€ofÐ @ ÐJames€Wyatt,€one€of€the€three€victims.€€The€defendant€received€a€bounty€hunting€assignment€fromÐ 0€ ÐBill€Henry€of€Bill€Henry€Bonding€to€apprehend€Vance€Martin,€a€friend€of€James€Wyatt.€€TheÐ  p Ðdefendantððs€contact€with€Bill€Henry€was€through€Chad€Swafford,€who€was€associated€with€HenryÐ ` Ðin€the€bonding€business.Ð P ÐÌà  àOn€the€evening€of€September€15,€1997,€based€on€information€that€Vance€Martin€was€stayingÐ à0 Ðat€the€residence€of€James€Wyatt,€the€defendant€set€out€for€the€Wyatt€home.€€He€did€not€approach€theÐ Ð  Ðresidence€immediately€but€used€his€standard€technique€of€starting€at€another€nearby€residence€andÐ À! Ðloudly€claiming€to€be€hunting€for€his€lost€dog,€empty€dog€chain€in€hand.€€Wyatt€apparently€cameÐ °"  Ðoutside€of€his€residence€and€the€defendant€assumed€that€Wyatt€was€Martin€because€the€two€men€fitÐ  #ð! Ðsimilar€physical€descriptions.€€The€defendant€proceeded€to€follow€his€practice€of€shaking€hands€andÐ $à" Ðthen€putting€a€hold€on€that€ð ðpinches€their€finger€and€it€hurts€very€bad.ðð€The€defendant€then€twistedÐ €%Ð # ÐWyattððs€arm€into€an€elbow€lock,€and€after€securing€both€of€his€hands€behind€his€back,€put€them€inÐ p&À!$ Ðhandcuffs.€€The€dog€chain€then€was€hooked€through€the€handcuffs€and€wrapped€around€Wyattððs€leftÐ `'°"% Ðthigh€with€the€leather€handle€in€the€defendantððs€hand.€€In€this€way,€the€defendant€walked€Wyatt€toÐ ° Ða€Mr.€Zip€store€some€quarter€of€a€mile€away,€only€to€discover,€after€calling€Swafford,€that€he€hadÐ  ð Ðapprehended€the€wrong€person.€€The€defendant€testified€that€Wyatt€was€fine€about€what€hadÐ à Ðhappened€and€even€offered€him€a€beer.€€Apparently€Wyatt€was€not€ð ðfine,ðð€and€later€in€the€eveningÐ €Ð Ðstopped€the€defendant,€who€had€returned€to€Mr.€Zipððs,€threatening€him€and€telling€the€defendant€toÐ pÀ Ðstay€away€from€him€and€that€he€now€knew€where€the€defendant€lived.€Ð ` ° ÐÌà  àOn€the€following€morning,€September€16,€1997,€the€defendant€thought€he€saw€Martin€ridingÐ @  Ða€motorcycle€and€called€Swafford€to€let€him€know€and€to€get€Swafford€to€call€the€sheriffððs€deputies.€Ð 0 € ÐThe€defendant€also€asked€Swafford€€to€lend€him€a€police€dog,€which€Swafford€refused€to€do,€andÐ  p  Ðthen€to€lend€him€a€shotgun,€which€Swafford€agreed€to€do.€€The€defendant€claimed€to€need€protectionÐ `  Ðfrom€Wyatt.Ð P  ÐÌà  àLater€that€same€day,€around€noon,€the€defendant€returned€to€the€Wyatt€residence,€this€timeÐ à0  Ðwith€a€loaded€shotgun.€€The€defendant€claimed€that€he€was€returning€to€Wyattððs€house€just€to€identifyÐ Ð  Ðthe€motorcycle€he€had€seen,€and€that€he€had€given€up€the€hunt€for€Martin.€€Nevertheless,€theÐ À Ðdefendant€parked€his€truck€down€the€road€from€Wyattððs€residence€and€walked€up€the€road,€not€onlyÐ ° Ðwith€the€shotgun€but€with€the€bounty€papers€for€Martin.€€The€defendant€was€sitting€on€the€porch€ofÐ  ð Ða€neighborððs€residence,€talking,€when€he€saw€a€car€pull€into€the€driveway€at€Wyattððs€residence.Ð à ÐÌà  àWhat€happened€next€is€highly€disputed.€€Nevertheless,€it€is€undisputed€that€the€passengersÐ pÀ Ðin€the€car€included€Wyatt€and€Mr.€and€Mrs.€Martin,€the€parents€of€Vance€Martin.€€The€elder€MartinsÐ `° Ðwere€taking€Wyatt€to€retrieve€clothes€from€his€house€because€Wyatt,€himself€in€trouble€with€law,€noÐ P  Ðlonger€felt€safe€there.€€Ð @ ÐÌà  àThe€defendantððs€version€of€the€events€is€one€in€which€he€seeks€to€calm€Mrs.€Martin,€assuringÐ  p Ðher€that€he€is€not€there€to€cause€any€trouble,€while€holding€the€shotgun€in€a€benign,€ð ðport€armsððÐ ` Ðposition.€€The€elder€Martins€related€a€dramatically€different€version,€one€in€which€the€defendantÐ P Ðwaved€the€shotgun€at€them,€profanely€shouted€at€them€to€get€out€of€the€car,€and€demanded,€ð ðWhereððsÐ ð@ Ðhe€at,€I€want€him.ððÐ à0 ÐÌà  àCorporal€Joe€Guy€with€the€McMinn€County€Sheriffððs€Department€testified€that€he€was€calledÐ À! Ðto€the€Wyatt€residence€at€the€time€the€above€events€were€taking€place.€€Guy€arrived€alone,€in€uniformÐ °"  Ðand€in€a€squad€car.€€He€testified€further€to€the€following:Ð  #ð! ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAs€I€turned€up€on€County€Road€701€off€of€725€I€could€see€there€wasÐ €%Ð # Ða€field€that€was€behind€that€trailer,€and€I€could€[see]€up€to€theÐ p&À!$ Ðresidence€there€where€the€parties€were€standing,€and€I€could€see€thenÐ `'°"% Ðthat€there€was€a€gentleman€there€with€a€shotgun,€or€with€a€weapon,Ð P( #& Ðand€so€I€turned€my€vehicle€up€and€pulled€up€in€the€driveway.€€IÐ @)$' Ðparked€at€an€angle.€€I€wasnððt€sure€what€I€had€exactly€and€I€parked€atÐ 0*€%( Ðan€angle€to€protect€myself€from€anything€that€might€go€on,€I€reallyÐ  +p&) Ðdidnððt€know€what€was€happening.€€The€gentleman€still€had€theÐ ,`'* Ðweapon€pointed€at€the€other€three€subjects€that€were€standing€in€theÐ ° Ðarea€there€between€the€car€and€the€house.€€I€ordered€the€subject€toÐ  ð Ðdrop€his€weapon.€€I€drew€my€weapon.€€Again€I€didnððt€know€exactlyÐ à Ðwhat€was€going€on.€€The€first€two€or€three€times€I€ordered€him€to€dropÐ €Ð Ðthe€shotgun€he€didnððt€do€anything.€€Finally€the€third€time€he€droppedÐ pÀ Ðthe€weapon€and€I€approached€him€and€secured€the€weapon.Ð` °` x` x ÐÌà@òò&ìàò òòòANALYSISóóˆÐ @  ÐÌà@úúìàI.€€Sufficiency€of€the€EvidenceˆÐ  p  Ðó óÌà0  àThe€defendant€argues€that€the€evidence€presented€in€its€entirety€and€as€contained€in€the€record€ÐP (#(# Ðis€insufficient€to€support€the€verdict€of€the€jury,€finding€him€guilty€of€reckless€endangermentÐ ð@  Ðcommitted€with€a€deadly€weapon.€€Ð à0  ÐÌà  àIn€considering€this€issue,€we€apply€the€€rule€that€where€sufficiency€of€the€convicting€evidenceÐ À Ðis€challenged,€the€relevant€question€of€the€reviewing€court€is€€ð ðwhether,€after€viewing€the€evidenceÐ ° Ðin€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€prosecution,€any€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€the€essentialÐ  ð Ðelements€of€the€offense€charged€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,Ð à Ð319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,€2789,€61€L.€Ed.€2d€560€(1979).€€òòSeeóó€òòalsoóó€òòState€v.€Evansóó,€838€S.W.2d€185,€190„Ð €Ð Ð92€(Tenn.€1992);€òòState€v.€Andersonóó,€835€S.W.2d€600,€604€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.),€òòpermóó.€òòappóó.€òòdeniedóóÐ pÀ Ð(Tenn.€1992);€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(e)€(ð ðFindings€of€guilt€in€criminal€actions€whether€by€the€trialÐ `° Ðcourt€or€jury€shall€be€set€aside€if€the€evidence€is€insufficient€to€support€the€findings€by€the€trier€ofÐ P  Ðfact€of€guilt€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð).€€All€questions€involving€the€credibility€of€witnesses,€theÐ @ Ðweight€and€value€to€be€given€the€evidence,€and€all€factual€issues€are€resolved€by€the€trier€of€fact.€òòSeeóóÐ 0€ ÐòòState€v.€Pappasóó,€754€S.W.2d€620,€623€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.),€òòpermóó.€òòappóó.€òòdeniedóó€(Tenn.€1987).€€ð ðAÐ  p Ðguilty€verdict€by€the€jury,€approved€by€the€trial€judge,€accredits€the€testimony€of€the€witnesses€forÐ ` Ðthe€State€and€resolves€all€conflicts€in€favor€of€the€theory€of€the€State.ðð€€òòState€v.€Graceóó,€493€S.W.2dÐ P Ð474,€476€(Tenn.€1973).€€Our€supreme€court€stated€the€rationale€for€this€rule:Ð ð@ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThis€well„settled€rule€rests€on€a€sound€foundation.€€The€trial€judge€andÐ Ð  Ðthe€jury€see€the€witnesses€face€to€face,€hear€their€testimony€andÐ À! Ðobserve€their€demeanor€on€the€stand.€€Thus€the€trial€judge€and€jury€areÐ °"  Ðthe€primary€instrumentality€of€justice€to€determine€the€weight€andÐ  #ð! Ðcredibility€to€be€given€to€the€testimony€of€witnesses.€€In€the€trialÐ $à" Ðforum€alone€is€there€human€atmosphere€and€the€totality€of€theÐ €%Ð # Ðevidence€cannot€be€reproduced€with€a€written€record€in€this€Court.Ðp&À!$` x` x ÐòòÌBolin€v.€Stateóó,€405€S.W.2d€768,€771€(Tenn.€1966)€(citing€òòCarroll€v.€Stateóó,€370€S.W.2d€523€(Tenn.Ð P( #& Ð1963)).€€A€jury€conviction€removes€the€presumption€of€innocence€with€which€a€defendant€is€initiallyÐ @)$' Ðcloaked€and€replaces€it€with€one€of€guilt,€so€that,€on€appeal,€a€convicted€defendant€has€the€burdenÐ 0*€%( Ðof€demonstrating€that€the€evidence€is€insufficient.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Tuggleóó,€639€S.W.2d€913,€914€(Tenn.Ð  +p&) Ð1982).Ð ,`'* ÐÔ‡ Xäã XXX¶SÔÌà  àThe€defendant€was€convicted€by€a€jury€of€reckless€endangerment€committed€with€a€deadlyÐ œì Ðweapon.€€Reckless€endangerment€is€defined€in€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€39„13„103€in€theÐ ˆØ Ðfollowing€way:Ð tÄ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àò òReckless€endangerment.€ð"ð€ó ó(a)€A€person€commits€an€offense€whoÐ L œ Ðrecklessly€engages€in€conduct€which€places€or€may€place€anotherÐ < Œ Ðperson€in€imminent€danger€of€death€or€serious€bodily€injury.Ð( x` x` x ÐÔ#†X¶SX X Xäãâ<#Ôà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(b)€Reckless€endangerment€is€a€Class€A€misdemeanor;€however,Ð  d Ðreckless€endangerment€committed€with€a€deadly€weapon€is€a€Class€EÐ  T  Ðfelony.Ðô D ` x` x ÐÌà  àThe€defendant€argues€that€the€State€failed€to€prove€that€he€recklessly€engaged€in€conduct€thatÐ Ô$  Ðð ðplaces€or€may€place€another€person€in€imminent€danger€of€death€or€serious€bodily€injury,ðð€becauseÐ Ä  Ðwhat€he€did€only€involved€ð ðhandling€or€pointing€a€loaded€gun€with€the€safety€on€in€the€vicinity€ofÐ ´  Ðthree€peopleðð€and€did€not€create€any€danger€of€death€or€serious€bodily€injury.€€In€support€of€hisÐ ¤ô  Ðargument,€the€defendant€relies€on€two€Tennessee€cases.€€He€cites€òòState€v.€Foxóó,€947€S.W.2d€865Ð ”ä Ð(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€€1996),€pointing€to€the€fact€that€in€òòFoxóó€the€defendant€actually€fired€a€weapon€andÐ „Ô Ðthis€court€dismissed€the€conviction,€while€the€defendant€here€only€held€a€weapon€with€the€safety€on.€Ð tÄ ÐThe€analogy€to€òòFoxóó€is€misplaced.€€The€reckless€endangerment€with€a€deadly€weapon€charge€in€òòFoxóóÐ d´ Ðwas€dismissed€because€there€were€no€people€anywhere€near€at€the€time€of€the€discharge€of€the€gunÐ T¤ Ðð ðinto€the€air€or€up€into€a€tree€top.ðð€€947€S.W.2d€at€866.€€The€òòFoxóó€opinion€turned€on€the€fact€that€theÐ D” Ðstatute€required€that€the€offender€engage€in€conduct€which€places€or€may€place€another€òòpersonóó€inÐ 4„ Ðimminent€danger€of€death€or€serious€bodily€injury€and€there€was€no€ð ðperson.ðð€€That€is€not€the€caseÐ $t Ðhere,€where€the€defendant€pointed€a€loaded€shotgun€at€a€group€of€three€people.€€In€òòState€v.€Payneóó,Ð d Ð7€S.W.3d€25,€28€(Tenn.€1999),€our€supreme€court,€considering€ð ðimminentðð€as€it€applied€to€a€recklessÐ T Ðendangerment€charged,€looked€to€òòBlackððs€Law€Dictionaryóó€750€(6òòthóó€ed.€1990),€which€defines€the€termÐ ôD Ðas€ð ð.€.€.€impending;€on€the€point€of€happening;€threatening;€menacing;€perilous.ðð€€Referring€to€theÐ ä4 Ðholding€of€this€court€in€òòFoxóó,€the€court€then€noted€that€ð ðfor€the€threat€of€death€or€serious€bodily€injuryÐ Ô$ Ðto€be€ððimminent,ðð€the€person€must€be€placed€in€a€reasonable€probability€of€danger€as€opposed€to€aÐ Ä Ðmere€possibility€of€danger.ðð€€òòPayneóó,€7€S.W.3d€at€28.€€Taken€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€State,Ð ´  Ðthe€victims€in€the€case€at€hand€clearly€were€within€the€zone€of€danger€as€set€forth€and€defined€inÐ ¤!ô ÐòòPayneóó.Ð ”"ä  ÐÌà  àThe€defendant€also€relies€on€òòState€v.€Wilsonóó,€924€S.W.2d€648€(Tenn.€1996),€where€theÐ t$Ä" Ðdefendant€had€fired€shots€into€a€house,€not€knowing€whether€anyone€was€inside.€€€The€reckless€felonyÐ d%´ # Ðendangerment€conviction€in€òòWilsonóó€was€sustained€both€by€this€court€and€on€appeal€to€our€supremeÐ T&¤!$ Ðcourt.€€The€aggravated€assault€convictions€in€òòWilsonóó€were€dismissed€on€appeal€because€the€State€hadÐ D'”"% Ðfailed€to€prove€that€the€defendant€acted€knowingly€and€intentionally.€€The€State€here€was€not€requiredÐ 4(„#& Ðto€prove€that€the€defendant€acted€knowingly,€only€recklessly.€€The€defendantððs€reliance€on€òòWilsonóóÐ $)t$' Ðis€misplaced.Ð *d%( Ðâ âÐ +T&) Ðà  à€Viewed€in€a€light€most€favorable€to€the€State,€the€defendant€was€still€determined€to€captureÐ ° Ðâ âMartin€when€he€returned,€on€September€16,€1997,€to€the€Wyatt€residence.€€The€defendant€had€takenÐ  ð Ðcare€to€hide€his€presence,€had€bounty€papers€with€him,€and€carried€a€loaded€shotgun.€€The€threeÐ à Ðindividuals€he€ordered€out€of€the€car€that€day€did€not€include€Vance€Martin€but,€instead,€includedÐ €Ð ÐWyatt,€a€man€he€had€already€mistakenly€handcuffed€and€forced€to€accompany€him,€and€the€parentsÐ pÀ Ðof€the€man€he€was€hunting.€€It€was€these€individuals€he€confronted€with€a€shotgun,€angrily,Ð ` ° Ðaggressively,€demanding€and€threatening,€asserting€that€he€knew€they€could€lead€him€to€the€elusiveÐ P   ÐMartin.€€Corporal€Guy€saw€the€defendant€pointing€a€shotgun€at€this€group€of€three€individuals€andÐ @  Ðgained€control€of€the€situation€only€after€repeatedly€ordering€the€defendant€to€drop€his€weapon.€€WeÐ 0 € Ðconclude€that€the€evidence€was€sufficient€for€the€jury€to€conclude€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€theÐ  p  Ðdefendant€created€a€ð ðreasonable€probability€of€dangerðð€for€the€victims€and,€thus,€was€guilty€of€felonyÐ `  Ðreckless€endangerment.Ð P  ÐÌà@HHìàò òII.€€Consolidation€of€CountsˆÐ à0  ÐÌà  àó óThe€State€agrees€that€the€three€convictions€for€felony€reckless€endangerment€should€beÐ À Ðmerged€into€one.€€In€òòState€v.€Davisóó,€654€S.W.2d€688,€696€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.),€òòpermóó.€òòappóó.€òòdeniedóóÐ ° Ð(Tenn.€1983),€this€court€stated€that,€where€a€statute€prohibits€a€ð ðcourse€of€conductðð€as€opposed€toÐ  ð Ðindividual€acts,€there€can€be€only€one€conviction.€€In€specifically€addressing€reckless€endangermentÐ à Ðoffenses,€this€court€has€noted€that€ð ðthe€fact€that€the€reckless€endangerment€statute€speaks€in€termsÐ €Ð Ðof€a€person€recklessly€engaging€in€conduct€indicates€that€a€course€of€conduct,€comprised€of€severalÐ pÀ Ðacts,€would€constitute€the€offense.ðð€€òòState€v.€Ramseyóó,€903€S.W.2d€709,€713€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1995)Ð `° Ð(finding€only€one€reckless€endangerment€offense€where€defendantððs€reckless€speeding€endangeredÐ P  Ðpassengers€in€two€other€vehicles).€€€Ð @ ÐÌà  àWe€conclude€that€the€evidence€was€sufficient€for€the€jury€to€conclude€beyond€a€reasonableÐ  p Ðdoubt€that€the€defendant€recklessly€pointed€a€loaded€shotgun,€angrily€and€aggressively,€demandingÐ ` Ðand€threatening,€at€these€victims€and€in€such€a€manner€that€there€was€an€imminent€danger€of€deathÐ P Ðor€serious€bodily€injury€to€those€victims.Ð ð@ ÐÌà@FF%ìàò òòòCONCLUSIONóóˆÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àó óOur€review€of€the€entire€record€leads€us€to€conclude€that€the€evidence€was€sufficient€as€aÐ °"  Ðmatter€of€law€to€convict€the€defendant€of€felony€reckless€endangerment€of€Katherine€Martin,€and€we,Ð  #ð! Ðtherefore,€affirm€the€conviction.€€Having€also€concluded€that€the€defendant€could€legally€beÐ $à" Ðconvicted€of€only€one€count€of€felony€reckless€endangerment,€the€remaining€two€convictions€areÐ €%Ð # Ðvacated.Ð p&À!$ Ðà  à€€€€€€Ð `'°"% ЀÌÌà  àà ` àà × àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð 0*€%( Ðà  àà ` àà × àà  àà h àà À àà  àALAN€E.€GLENN,€JUDGE