WPC "\UR\AS "oPR ]'':,` W Xodي7ZȼXJn<у1>5ɒ@ ;R- Y li.YA'`S Ff^yۘA n.b#\ % ^ # 0/ UN w 4 z  i x mz  V  0DnNfUNEhjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 0zzzz Bee 0 D5& D-[ 0K AS& 0 0D AHP LaserJet 8000 Series PS0) (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular"q~):i+00 C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU  R$      1  y   _ ` Therecordonappealreflectsthatdefensecounselmadeanopeningstatement,thatthetrialcourtgave  thejurypreliminaryinstructions,andthatbothsidesmadefinalarguments;however,therecordcontainsnotranscripts t ofanyofthesecomponentsofthetrial.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#$  0   \\R3' Letter\(I Z6Times New Roman Regular - -(|G2$ !.8Y<d d 8         0  < d(|3$ !.8Y<d d 8     VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !.8Y<d d 8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8KLd d8     _   8-XXdd 8/@tt0INTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @%ATJACKSON#0#Ԉ &   AssignedonBriefs @  @` November8,2000 L XFmX #XXFm1#STATEOFTENNESSEEv.TERRYLEEJOHNSONXFmX  J  AppealfromtheCircuitCourtforLauderdaleCounty  J @@No.6826JosephH.Walker,Judge  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.W200000749CCAR3CDFiledDecember14,2000   eAV) ` dEa|` A }     ALauderdaleCountyjuryconvictedthedefendantoffelonyrecklessendangerment,andinthis x  appeal,thedefendantclaimstwoerrors:(1)Thetrialcourterroneouslydeterminedthattheeightyear d oldvictimwascompetenttotestify,and(2)thedefendantwasdeniedhisrighttoaunanimous P verdict.Wefindnoerrorrequiringreversalandaffirmtheconviction.#XXFm#XFmX <  Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuitCourtAffirmed.  d   #XFm#XFmX.James_Curwood_Ԁ_Witt_,Jr.,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJosephM._Tipton_and < DavidH.Welles,JJ.,joined. ( JuliePillow,Ripley,Tennessee,fortheAppellant,TerryLeeJohnson.#XXFmb#XFmX  PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneral&Reporter;MarkA._Faulks_,AssistantAttorneyGeneral;C.  Phillip_Bivens_,DistrictAttorneyGeneral;andTraceyA.Brewer,AssistantDistrictAttorneyGeneral, t fortheAppellee,StateofTennessee. ` 3@@OO& OPINION #XXFm#XFmX $"t! #XXFm #  XFmX   ` Thedefendant,TerryLeeJohnson,appealshisLauderdaleCountyCircuitCourtjury #L# convictionofrecklessendangermentcommittedwithadeadlyweapon,aClassEfelony.SeeTenn. $8 $ CodeAnn.3913103(1997).Heclaims(1)thatthetrialcourterredwhenitdeterminedthatthe %$!% victim,eightyearoldDerrickSmith,wascompetenttotestifyand(2)thathewasdeniedhisrightto &"& aunanimousjuryverdictwhenthejuryheardproofthatotherpersonsthanthenamedvictimwere '"' endangeredbythedefendantsconduct.Baseduponourreviewoftherecord,thepartiesbriefsand (#( theapplicablelaw,weconcludethatthetrialcourtdidnotabuseitsdiscretioninqualifyingDerrick )$) Smithasawitnessandthatthedefendantsrighttohavethejuryreturnaunanimousverdictwasnot p*%* violated,despitethefailureofthetrialcourttogivethejuryaugmentedunanimityinstructions. \+&+ Accordingly,weaffirmtheconviction. H,',  4-(- _   ` Inthelightmostfavorabletothestate,theproofshowedthatonApril21,1999Patrick  _Dampeer_ԀandAnthonyParrwereembroiledinanargumentataHalls,Tennesseepublicpark,which  atthetimewascrowdedwithasmanyas50visitors.Thedefendantandtwoorthreeothermen  approached_Dampeer_ԀandParr.ThedefendanttookthepartofParrintheargument,andastheverbal t sparringbetween_Dampeer_Ԁandthedefendantescalated,oneofthemenushered_Dampeer_Ԁawayfrom ` thegroup.Asheleft,_Dampeer_Ԁturnedtoseethedefendantpointingaguntowardhim.Thedefendant L  firedandstruck_Dampeer_Ԁinthearm._Dampeer_Ԁtookshelterbehindhisvehicle,whichwasparked 8  paralleltoandfiveorsixfeetawayfromthedriverssideofaparked,greenFordExpedition.The $ t victiminthiscase,DerrickSmith,thensevenyearsofage,satintherearseatoftheExpedition.As  ` _Dampeer_Ԁlookedupfrombehindhisvehicle,thedefendantfiredmoreshotsinhisdirectionandin  L  thedirectionofthedriverssideoftheExpedition.YoungSmithtestifiedthathesawthedefendant  8  shootingandthatoneoftheshotshittheExpedition.SmiththenhidintheflooroftheExpedition. $  _Dampeer_ԀfledthesceneonfootbutwaschasedbythedefendantandbyBob_Spivey_,acodefendant,   whobothfiredshotsat_Dampeer_.      ` Thepolicefoundaholethatappearedtobeabulletholeintherear,driverssidedoor   oftheExpedition;however,nobulletorbulletfragmentwasrecovered.Apoliceofficertestified p thatthebulletcouldhave disintegrateduponimpact. \    ` Thegrandjuryindictedthedefendantforfelonyrecklessendangermentbyengaging 4 in conductwhichplacedotherpersonsinimminentdangerofdeathorseriousbodilyinjurybyfiring  p shotsinthedirectionofagreenFordExpeditionto[sic]whichseven(7)yearoldDerrickSmithwas  \ seatedwhenabulletlodgedinthedooroftheaforesaidvehicle.Inanopeningstatementtothejury, H theprosecutorstated, Youareherebecause...[thedefendant]recklesslyfiredshots 4 ...thathitagreenFordExpeditionwhere...DerrickSmith[]wasseated.Asapartofits   instructionstothejuryfollowingtheevidenceandfinalarguments,thetrialcourtstatedtheelements   ofrecklessendangerment,includingthatthestatemustprovebeyondareasonabledoubtthat the  defendantengagedinconductwhichplacedormighthaveplacedanotherperson,inthiscaseDerrick  Smith,inimminentdangerofdeathorseriousbodilyinjury.  #  1           ` Thejuryconvictedthedefendantoffelonyrecklessendangerment,andthetrialcourt X  imposedaRangeIsentenceofoneyearandsixmonths. D!    ` Inthedefendantsfirstissue,hecomplainsthatthetrialcourterroneouslydetermined #l! thatDerrickSmith,eightyearsoldatthetimeoftrial,wascompetenttotestify.Thestatecalled $X" youngSmithasitsfirstwitnessandelicitedfromhimhisageandhisaffirmationthatheknew the $D # differencebetweentellingthetruthandalie.Whenaskedifheintendedtotellthetruthoralie,the %0!$ witnessresponded, thetruth;however,thewitnessgavenoresponsewhenaskedifhecouldexplain &"% thedifferencebetweentellingthetruthandtellingalie.Thedefendantchallengedthewitnesss '#& competencytotestify.Thetrialcourtthenquestionedthewitnessandhadthefollowingexchange  withhim:  ` ` e Q0  Okay.Youunderstandthatifyoudonttellthetruthtxx 0 0 x xthat_that_ssubjecttobeingpunished,doyou ` understandthat?L xx  A0  (Witnessnodsheadaffirmatively.)8 xx  Q0  Youknowwhatpunishedis,dontyou?$ txx  A0  (Witnessnodsheadaffirmatively.) `xx  Q0  Okay.Andyouaretellingthejurythat...whenyou  L  takeanoathtotellthetruthyouunderstandthatyou  8  arepromisingthatyouaregoingtotellthejurythe $  truthaboutwhatyouremember;isthatright? xx  A0  (Witnessnodsheadaffirmatively.) xx    THECOURT:Allright[sic].Thecourtwillallow      thewitnesstotestifyunderRule603.   ` ` Followingthisruling,thestateproceededtoexaminethewitness,butheindicatedthathecouldnot \ remembertheincidentatissue.Outsidethepresenceofthejury,thetrialcourtallowedthewitness H toreviewatapeofhistestimonyatthepreliminaryhearing.Afterward,thewitnesstestifiedbefore 4 thejurythathesawthedefendantshootandthatoneofthebulletsstrucktheExpeditioninwhich  p hewasseated.  \    ` TennesseeRuleofEvidence603provides, Beforetrial,everywitnessshallbe 4 requiredtodeclarethatthewitnesswilltestifytruthfullybyoathoraffirmation,administeredina   formcalculatedtoawakenthewitnesssconscienceandimpressthewitnesssmindwiththeduty   todoso.Rule601provides, Everypersonispresumedcompetenttotestifyexceptasotherwise  providedintheserulesorbystatute.     ` TheRulesofEvidencehaveeliminatedcommonlawpresumptionsregardingchild l witnesses.Statev._Hallock_,875S.W.2d285,293(Tenn._Crim_.App.1993). [_N]o_Ԁoneis X  automaticallybarredfromtestifyingsimplybecauseofageormentalstatus.Statev._Caughron_,855 D! S.W.2d526,53738(Tenn.1993).Thequestionofwitnesscompetencyisentrustedtothediscretion 0"  ofthetrialcourt.Id.at538.Obviously,thetrialcourtisinapositiontoassessthecomprehension, #l! maturity,demeanorandsincerityofaproposedwitness.Itmustdeterminewhetherthewitness $X" understandsthe conceptofthetruthandthat[thewitness]wouldtestifytruthfully.Statev. $D # _Kendricks_,947S.W.2d875,881(Tenn._Crim_.App.1996).Theappellatecourtsstandardofreview %0!$ isabuseofdiscretion.Id. &"%    ` Inthepresentcase,thetrialjudgedeterminedthatthewitnessunderstoodtheconcept (#' oftruthandthatheintendedtotestifytruthfully.Thetrialjudgeactedproperlyandwithinhis )$( discretionwhenhedeterminedthatDerrickSmithwasacompetentwitness. |*%)  h+&* / TRY,3' LetterX3' Letter 3' Letter3'T      ` Inthedefendantssecondissue,hecomplainsthatbecausethejuryheardproofthat  thedefendantshotMr._Dampeer_ԀandfiredothershotswithinthevicinityofvisitorstotheHallspark,  thedefendantsrighttoaunanimousverdictwascompromised.Hereasonsthatsomeofthejurors  mayhaveconvictedhimbasedontheshootingof_Dampeer_Ԁorotherjurorsmayhavebasedaguilty t findinguponthepresenceofpeopleinthepark. `    ` UnderTennesseelaw,iftheevidenceattrialsuggeststhatthedefendanthas 8  committedmoreoffensesthanthenumbercharged,thecourthastheobligationtorequirethestate $ t toelecttheoffense(s)forwhichitseeksconviction.Statev._Shelton_,851S.W.2d134,137(Tenn.  ` 1993).Theaccusedhasafundamentalconstitutionalrighttotheelection.Seeid.;Statev.Walton,  L  958S.W.2d724,727(Tenn.1997).  8     ` Furthermore,inStatev.Brown,823S.W.2d576,583(Tenn._Crim_.App.1991),this   courtsaid:   ` ` [_I]n_Ԁcasesinvolvingevidencewhichshowsarealpotentialthata   convictionmayoccurasaresultofdifferentjurorsconcludingthat p thedefendantcommitteddifferentacts,eachofwhichseparately \ showingthecommissionofanoffense,thetrialcourtmustaugment H thegeneralunanimityinstructiontoinsurethatthejuryunderstands 4 itsdutytoagreeunanimouslytoaparticularsetoffacts.The  p assessmentofthispotentialwouldinvolveconsiderationofthe  \ allegationsmadeandthestatutoryoffensecharged,aswellasthe H actualevidencepresented. 4 ` ` SeealsoStatev.Forbes,918S.W.2d431,446(Tenn._Crim_.App.1995).      ` Wenoteinitiallythatthedefendant,astheappellant,hasincludedintherecordon  appealneitherthetrialcourtspreliminaryinstructionstothejurynorthepartiesfinalarguments.  Weareprecludedfromknowingwhatinformationmayhavebeenthusimpartedtothejury l concerningunanimityandtheelectionofoffenses.Itistheappellantsdutytopresentafullandfair X  appellaterecord.Tenn.R.App.P.24.Despitetheseomissionsofpertinentportionsoftherecord, D! however,weareabletodiscernfromtheexistingrecordthatan electionwaseffectivelymade. 0"  Inhisopeningstatement,theprosecutorclearlystatedthatthestatereliedupontheendangerment #l! ofDerrickSmith.Thisinformationwasreinforcedbythetrialcourtinitsfinalinstructionstothe $X" jury. $D #    ` Furthermore,thetrialcourtgavea generalunanimityinstructiontothejury.Even &"% thoughnoaugmentedunanimityinstructionwasgiven,weconcludethattherewasno realpotential '#& thataconvictionmayoccurasaresultofdifferentjurorsconcludingthatthedefendantcommitted (#' differentacts.SeeBrown,823S.W.2dat583.Thestatementsprovidedbytheprosecutorandthe )$(  trialcourtwerequitespecificinnamingthevictimand_specifing_Ԁhislocationatthetimehewas |*%) _endangeredbythedefendantsactions.Weholdthatthedefendantsrighttojuryunanimitywas  adequatelyprotected.      ` Accordingly,wefindnoerrorandaffirmtheconviction. t    `     h     _________________________________ 8     `     h     JAMESCURWOODWITT,JR.,JUDGE $ t