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File 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|xU  RGS$      1    _Thecouplewasoriginallymarriedin1978inMorganCounty,Tennessee,butatthetimeofthatmarriage,the  Defendantwasalsomarriedtoanotherwoman.Therefore,aftertheDefendantobtainedadivorcefromhisfirstwife, t thecouplewasmarriedagaininFloridain1979.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#$  0  &d9 Z6Times New Roman Regular\  `&Times New Roman Z RGS$      2    _InclosingargumentstheDefendantscounselstated theresbeennotestimony...that[theDefendant]...  remainedoutsidethestate to avoid[hischildsupportobligation].(Emphasisadded).Similarly,inclosingarguments t theStatearticulatedtheelementsofflagrant_nonsupport_Ԁ inflagrant_nonsupport_Ԁthereareonlythreeelements.Thathe : leftorremainedoutsidethestate...Two,thatheremainedoutsidethestate to avoidhislegalduty.Andthree,thathe N actedknowingly,intentionallyorrecklessly.(Emphasisadded).*+ (_2623  ..*D+J (_25   ," <DL,23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  *A+J (_24   ) <DL)23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  *>+J (_23  ` &<<DL&23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  *;+J (_22   #DL#23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  *8+J (_21    DL 23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  *5+J (_20  h DDL23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  *2+J (_19   L23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  */+J (_18    L23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  * (_1723  Ԁ*DJ (_16   ," <DL,23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  *AJ (_15   ) <DL)23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  *>J (_14  ` &<<DL&23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  *;J (_13   #DL#23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  *8J (_12    DL 23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  *5J (_11  h DDL23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  *2J (_10   L23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  (/J &_9    L23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  ( &_823  (DJ &_7   ," <DL,23   2( 4 <DL2  (AJ &_6   ) <DL)23   2( 4 <DL2  (>J &_5  ` &<<DL&23   2( 4 <DL2  - -(;J &_4   #DL#23   2( 4 <DL2  (8J &_3    DL 23   2( 4 <DL2  (5J &_2  h DDL23   2( 4 <DL2  (2J &_1   L23   2( 4 <DL2  &/J $_    L23   2( 4 <DL2  (@ Z(Times New Roman (|G2GS$ !.8dd8         0   d(|3G$ !.8dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3G$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _   8YXXdd8@ttdINTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @WW$ATKNOXVILLE#d #Ԉ &    @  @` September23,2003Session L XYX #XXY#STATEOFTENNESSEEv.PAULCHARLES_CARNAHAN_XYX  J @@ DirectAppealfromtheCriminalCourtforMorganCounty  J @@No.8446E.Eugene_Eblen_,Judge  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.E200300400CCAR3CD   October29,_2003_   AV) ` dE<|` A }     TheDefendant,PaulCharles_Carnahan_,wasindictedbytheGrandJuryofMorganCountyfor x  unlawfully,knowingly,andintentionallyfailingtoprovidesupportforaminorchildpursuantto d TennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection3915101.AftertheDefendantwaivedhisrighttoajurytrial, P thetrialjudgefoundhimguiltyoftheClassEfelony Flagrant_Nonsupport_andsentencedthe < Defendanttooneyearimprisonmentandsixyearsofprobation.Further,thecourtorderedthatthe (x Defendantpay$64,041.19inrestitution.TheDefendantnowappealsthatordercontending:(1)that d theevidencewasinsufficienttosustainhisconviction;and(2)thattheindictmentcontainedafatal P flaw.Findingreversibleerrorinthejudgmentofthetrialcourtbelow,wereversetheDefendants < convictionanddismisstheindictment. (  Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCriminalCourtReversed     #XY#XYX.RobertW._Wedemeyer_,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichDavidH.Wellesand  James_Curwood_Ԁ_Witt_,Jr.,JJ.,joined#XXY #XYX. t AndrewN.Hall,_Wartburg_,Tennessee,fortheappellant,PaulCharles_Carnahan_. L  PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneralandReporter;MichaelMoore,SolicitorGeneral;BrentC. $"t! Cherry,AssistantAttorneyGeneral;Scott_McCluen_,DistrictAttorneyGeneral;andRoger_Delp_, #`" AssistantDistrictAttorneyGeneral,fortheappellee,StateofTennessee. #L#  @@OO& OPINION #XXY6 #XYX %$!%   @& I.Facts &"&    InMayof1997,theDefendantwasindictedbytheMorganCountyGrandJuryforflagrant (#( _nonsupport_ԀofaMinorChildpursuanttoTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection3915101(1997).#XXY #XYXԀ#XXYv#XYXԀThe )$) Defendantwaivedhisrighttoatrialbyjuryonthischargeandenteredapleaofnotguilty.Attrial, p*%*  ClaudiaAnnOwenstestifiedthatshewasmarriedtotheDefendantfromJuneof1979untilOctober \+&+ _of1982.ShetestifiedthatthetwoweremarriedinFlorida  #  1      ׀andhadonechild,whowasbornin   Octoberof1979.Afterthebirthoftheirchild,thecouplemovedfromFloridatoMorganCounty,  Tennessee.OwenstestifiedthatshefiledadivorcepetitioninMorganCountyandthat,aspartof  thedivorcedecree,theDefendantwasorderedtopaychildsupport.OwensstatedthattheDefendant t waspresentatthehearingonthedivorceandwaspresentwhenthetrialjudgeorderedhimtopay ` childsupport. L    Owenstestifiedthat,afterthedivorcewasfinal,theDefendantimmediatelymovedto $ t Florida.ShestatedthattheDefendantpaidher$100.00permonth,asordered,foroneyear  ` followingthedivorcedecree.Aspartofthedecree,Owenswasrequiredtoreturnsomepossessions  L  totheDefendant,whichshedid.Shetestifiedthataftershereturnedthepossessionstothe  8  Defendant,henolongerpaidchildsupport.Owenstestifiedthatsheattemptedtocontactthe $  DefendantinFloridainanefforttoobtainthechildsupport.Sheexplainedthatwhenherefforts   failed,shecontactedherattorneyandthecourt,andthematterwasscheduledtobeheardinAugust   of1996.OwenstestifiedthattheDefendantfailedtoappearatthehearing,andsheobtaineda   defaultjudgmentagainsttheDefendantfortheunpaidchildsupport.     OwenstestifiedthattheonlycontactthatshehadwiththeDefendantsincethedivorce \ occurredin1983whentheirsonwasrunoverbyapickuptruck.ShetestifiedthattheDefendant H calledtoexpressconcernbutnevervisitedtheirson.Owenstestifiedthatshedidhavecontactwith 4 theDefendantsstepfatherthroughtheyearsandthatshebelievedthattheDefendantsstepfather  p informedhimthathissonwashitbyatruck.  \   OwenstestifiedthatshesoughttheassistanceoftheMorganCountyDistrictAttorneys 4 OfficeinordertotrytoenforcethischildsupportorderinFloridabutwasunsuccessful.Owens   testifiedthattheDefendanthasneverinformedherofanyreasonthathewasunabletopaychild   support.    AngelaAndersontestifiedatthehearingastheClerkandMasterforMorganCounty.She  testifiedthattherewasacomplaintfordivorcefiledinthiscaseonFebruary12,1982,andahearing l heldonthatcomplaintonMarch29,1982.ThefinaldivorcedecreewasenteredNovember3,1982. X  Therecordsindicatedthatbothpartieswerepresentincourtupontheenteringofthedecree. D! AndersontestifiedthatonJanuary18,1983,anorderwasenteredchangingthechildsupportfrom 0"  $25.00permonthto$50.00permonth.Andersontestifiedthattherewasapetitionforcontemptin #l! 1996and,thereafter,adefaultjudgmentagainsttheDefendantthatstatedthattheDefendantwas $X" servedthroughpersonalserviceinFloridaonJune25,1996.Theordergrantingthedefault $D # judgmentwasenteredonOctober10,1996,andawardedOwens$59,984.69#XXY#XYXԀforunpaidchild %0!$ support. &"%  '#&   InMayof1997,theDefendantwasindictedbytheMorganCountyGrandJuryfor Flagrant  NonsupportofaMinorChild.#XXY#XYXAttheconclusionoftheproofpresentedatthebenchtrial,thetrial  judgefoundtheDefendantguiltyofflagrantnonsupport.    Atthesentencinghearing,theDefendanttestifiedthathemovedbacktoFloridabecausehis ` motherandfatherlivedthere.Hetestifiedthathewasunabletopaychildsupportbecausehewas L  disabledduetocarpaltunnel, spursin[his]knees,disksdeterioratinginhisneckandbackandthat 8  hesufferedfromVietnamsyndrome(posttraumaticstressdisorder).Further,theDefendanttestified $ t thathewastaking60milligramsofMorphineperdayand300milligramsofTylenol,inadditionto  ` hormone inflammatories.  L    Attheconclusionofthesentencinghearing,thetrialcourtsentencedtheDefendantasa $  Range1standardoffenderwithasplitsentence,21daysinjail,whichhealreadyserved,andthe   balanceofthesentence,sixyearsand244days,onprobation.ThetrialcourtorderedtheDefendant   topay$64,041.19inrestitution.TheDefendantnowappealshisconvictionalleging:(1)thatthe   evidencepresentedattrialwasinsufficienttosupporthisconvictionofflagrantnonsupport;and(2)   thattheindictmentcontainedafatalflaw#XXY #XYX. p  X9e XXXY@II.SufficiencyoftheEvidence  H #XYX XX9e7'##XXY&#XYXX9e XXXY  TheDefendantcontendsthattheevidencepresentedattrialwasinsufficienttosupporthis  p convictionforflagrantnonsupport.Whenanaccusedchallengesthesufficiencyoftheevidence, the  \ standardforreviewbyanappellatecourtiswhether,afterconsideringtheevidenceinthelightmost H favorabletotheprosecution,anyrationaltrieroffactcouldhavefoundtheessentialelementsofthe 4 crimebeyondareasonabledoubt.Statev.Smith,24S.W.3d274,278(Tenn.2000)(quotingState   v.Buggs,995S.W.2d102,105(Tenn.1999));seeTenn.R.App.P.13(e);Jacksonv.Virginia,443   U.S.307,324(1979).Indeterminingthesufficiencyoftheevidence,thisCourtshouldnotreweigh  orreevaluatetheevidence.Smith,24S.W.3dat279.NormaythisCourtsubstituteitsinferences  forthosedrawnbythetrieroffactfromtheevidence.Buggs,995S.W.2dat105.Questions  concerningthecredibilityofthewitnesses,theweightandvalueoftheevidence,aswellasall l factualissuesraisedbytheevidenceareresolvedbythetrieroffact.Liakasv.State,286S.W.2d X  856,859(Tenn.1956)#XYX XX9e(#X9e XXXY.ThisCourtmustaffordtheStateofTennesseethestrongestlegitimateview D! oftheevidencecontainedintherecord,aswellasallreasonableinferenceswhichmaybedrawn 0"  fromtheevidence.Statev.Evans,838S.W.2d185,191(Tenn.1992).Becauseaverdictofguilt #l! againstadefendantremovesthepresumptionofinnocenceandraisesapresumptionofguilt,the $X" convictedcriminaldefendantbearstheburdenofshowingthattheevidencewaslegallyinsufficient $D # tosustainaguiltyverdict.Id.#XYX XX9e-#X9e XXXY  %0!$    Inthecaseundersubmission,theDefendantwasfoundguiltyofanoffensepursuantto '#& TennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection3915101(1997).Thatcodesectionstates: (#' 8  (a)Apersoncommitsthecrimeofnonsupportwhofailstoprovidesupportwhich |*%) thatpersonisabletoprovideandknowsthepersonhasadutytoprovidetoaminor h+&* childortoachildorspousewho,becauseofphysicalormentaldisability,isunable  tobeselfsupporting.   8   ` ....t   8  (d)Apersoncommitstheoffenseofflagrantnonsupportwho:(1)Leavesorremains L  withoutthestatetoavoidalegaldutyofsupport;or(2)havingbeenconvictedone 8  (1)ormoretimesofnonsupportorflagrantnonsuppport,isconvictedofasubsequent $ t offenseunderthissection. `   Tenn.CodeAnn.3915101#XYX XX9e0#X9e XXXY#q XX9e'#X9e Xq.Importantly,inordertomaintainaconvictionforflagrantnon  8  support,theStatemustprovethattheDefendanteitherleftthestatetoavoidhislegaldutyofsupport $  orremainedoutofthestatetoavoidthislegalduty.Evenconsideringtheevidenceinthelightmost   favorabletotheprosecutionandaffordingtheStatethestrongestlegitimateviewoftheevidence   containedintherecord,aswellasallreasonableinferences,wecannotconcludethattheevidence   wassufficienttosustaintheDefendantsconviction.     ThetestimonypresentedatthebenchtrialprovedthattheDefendantleftthestate#q XX9eh5#X9e Xq#XYX XX9e&5#X9e XXXYԀafterhis \ divorceandmovedinwithhismotherinFlorida.WhilelivinginFlorida,theDefendantpaidchild H supportforoneyearand,thereafter,ceasedanyfurtherchildsupportpayments.Itisclearthatthe 4 proofisinsufficienttoestablishthattheDefendantleftthestatetoavoidhisobligation!heinfact  p continuedpayinghisobligationafterleavingthestate.Therefore,wemustdeterminewhetherthe  \ Defendantremainedoutsidethestatetoavoidhischildsupportobligation. H   IndecidingwhethertheDefendantremainedoutsidethestatetoavoidhischildsupport   obligation,wefindtherecordvoidofanyevidencesupportingthiscontention.Therecorddoes   containevidencethattheDefendanthasneverreturnedtothestate,evenwhenhissonwas  hospitalized,butthere#XYX XX9e8#X9e XXXY#q XX9e8#X9e XqwasnotestimonythattheDefendanttoldOwens,oranyoneelse,thathis  intentionwastoavoidhisobligationtopaychildsupport.Tothecontrary,theevidenceprovedthat  theDefendanthadstrongtiestoFlorida,thecouplewasmarriedthere,andtheDefendantmovedin l withhisfamilyinFloridafollowinghisdivorcefromOwens.Absentanyevidencethatthe X  Defendantremainedoutsidethestateforthepurposeofavoidinghischildsupportobligation,the D! convictioncannotstand. 0"    ThenextissueweaddressiswhethertheevidencewassufficienttoconvicttheDefendant $X" ofanylesserincludedoffensesofflagrantnonsupport.NeitherthisCourtnortheTennessee $D # SupremeCourthaseveraddressedwhethermisdemeanornonsupportisalesserincludedoffenseof %0!$ flagrantnonsupport.Wefind,however,thatweneednotdecidethisissuebecause,toproperly &"% convicttheDefendantofanylesserincludedoffense,alloftheelementsofthelesserincluded '#& offensesmusthavebeenprovenbytheStatebeyondareasonabledoubt. Apersoncommitsthe (#' crimeofnonsupportwhofailstoprovidesupportwhichthatpersonisabletoprovideandknowsthe )$( personhasadutytoprovidetoaminorchild...who,becauseofphysicalormentaldisability,is |*%) unabletobeselfsupporting....Tenn.CodeAnn.3915101(a).Thisstatuterequiresthatthe h+&* Stateprovethefollowingelementsbeyondareasonabledoubt:(1)thatthedefendantfailedto  providesupport;(2)thatthedefendantisabletoprovethesupport;and(3)thatthedefendantknows  heorshehasadutytoprovidethesupporttoachildwhoisunabletobeselfsupporting.Therefore,  toproperlyconvicttheDefendantofthecrimeofnonsupporttheStatemustprovethattheDefendant t hadtheabilitytoprovidethesupportthathefailedtoprovide.Theonlytestimonypresentedat ` DefendantstrialregardingtheDefendantsabilitytopaywasthatof#XYX XX9e<#Owens,whotestifiedthatthe L  Defendanthasneverinformedherofanyreasonthathewasunabletopaychildsupport.X9e XXXY#q XX9e==#X9e XqԀWefind 8  thatthistestimonyisinsufficienttoestablishbeyondareasonabledoubtthattheDefendanthadthe $ t abilitytopaythesupport.Therefore,wefindthattheStatedidnotproveall#q XX9eG#X9e Xq#XYX XX9eCG#5X9e XXXYoftheelementsofthe  ` crimeofnonsupport,andweconcludethatsufficientevidencedoesnotexisttosupportaconviction  L  ofmisdemeanornonsupport#5q X5X9eH#5X9e X5q#XYX X5X9eH#5X9e XXXY.#XYX X5X9e3J#5X9e XXXY  8  #XYX X5X9evJ#X9e XXXY  TheDefendantadditionallycontendsthattheindictment,charginghimwithflagrant   nonsupport,containsafatalflaw.Theindictmentreads:   8  PaulCharlesCarnahan...didthenandthere,unlawfully[,]knowing,and   intentionallyfailtoprovidesupportforaminorchild,forwhomhehadadutyto p providesuchsupportandwasabletoprovidesuchsupport,anddidleaveorremain \ withouttheStateofTennessee in hisavoidingsuchlegaldutyofsupport,inviolation H ofT.C.A.Section3915101,contrarytotheformofthestatuteinsuchcasesmade 4 andprovidedandagainstthepeaceanddignityoftheStateofTennessee. p   (Emphasisadded).TheDefendantcontendsthattheindictmentviolateshisFifthandSixth H Amendmentrightsbecauseitdoesnotaccuratelychargetheelementsoftheoffenseofflagrant 4 nonsupport.Specifically,theDefendantstatesthatthestatuterequiresthathebewithoutthestate    toavoidhislegaldutyofsupportratherthantobewithoutthestate inavoidinghislegalduty   ofsupport,asstatedintheindictment.TheDefendantallegesthatthesubstitutionoftheword in  for tonegatesthenecessarymensreaandlowerstheburdenfortheStatebyrequiringthatit  merelyshowthattheDefendantwaswithoutthestatewhilehehadadutytoprovidesupport.    TennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection4013202(1997)states: X  8  Theindictmentmuststatethefactsconstitutingtheoffenseinordinaryandconcise 0"  language,withoutprolixityorrepetition,insuchamannerastoenableapersonof #l! commonunderstandingtoknowwhatisintended,andwiththatdegreeofcertainty $X" whichwillenablethecourt,onconviction,topronouncetheproperjudgment....$D #   Wehavestatedthatthepurposeofanindictmentisthreefold:#XYX XX9eJ#X9e XXXY First,itmustinformthedefendant &"% oftheprecisecharges.Second,itmustenablethetrialcourtuponconvictiontoenteranappropriate '#& judgmentandsentence;and,last,itmustprotectdefendantagainstdoublejeopardy.Statev.Clark, (#' 2S.W.3d233,235(Tenn.Crim.App.1998)(citingStatev.Trusty,919S.W.2d305,309(Tenn. )$( 1996)). |*%)  h+&*   Uponreviewingthelanguageintheindictmentandthetranscriptoftheproceedings,wefind  thattheindictment#XYX XX9eS#X9e XXXYservedthethreeaforementionedpurposes.Theindictmentinformedthe  Defendantofthecharges,enabledthecourttoenteranappropriatejudgmentandsentenceand  protectedtheDefendantagainstdoublejeopardy.Notably,bothpartiesclearlyarguedthatthe t Defendantremained,ordidnotremain,outsidethestate to #  2      ׀avoidhisobligation.Accordingly, ` thisissueiswithoutmerit. L    Accordingly,weREVERSEtheDefendantsconvictionanddismisstheindictment.#XYX XX9eV#X9e XXXY $ t #XYX XX9eY#   `     h     ___________________________________ $     `     h     ROBERTW.WEDEMEYER,JUDGE