ÿWPC0 ¶Ú®`t¦Ä¹#§Ä5}q4¥âé\.5kš?`x1éa áŽI{-L‚áp­>ÊÊ—ÎÙý;‘$Pð”µÙKÕÖÑ;\É¿$"ú±¨× 2ÖJÞ¬H+ô&xŠÃY<ñk)¤ä|WW>ý.øãIä< !¦HZ”qQ÷W hþX06gù´–/·?¸v¥£R9Ä,®¾˜ò¯þoVŽB 3ñ܇Ìñß:>ƒu‘<ç.5¸‘0CÕ½öÿÆÆôó×êøÒ5DpÚßíŽNqè–š!%ŒyIÛ‰8zs *b†‚ôÌI?äW~•6‰_)˜[¦8ÿÆiÄovµž 2ÑŸžbM‚ÿ]oïûož–j¦´|Y‰_·÷ý~w92Uµª)x€Ä Þcu`Ké(Î÷ SÕqÐéž}ê³çˆL-ðЖ}b2þó—ù836Kž»l»-Y5YA'ÙM>ªË‰ò½-™eùB³ˆŠ68)ˆ“ß2§LÂ'`P:¿©' ›mA¿øô6 JªŒä;u׎ÜWœiXÇ<'\[«'OÀ7$W”ùa©n–6è¦èrNÈÞ¾s±Öâ=™Ç¤8!í3Üäu»k¸emØOˆñz‡¶b#Á\ % UN# 0ˆq U7Nù U>G ^ … z‘ Ò wÝ 4á õ  Æ ÆÌ Æ’ ÆX mN555E77777777777777777¨99 0Dáááááb%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 0ë---- B 0¤5 D3Ù D-  0K99 AS„Æ× 0¤ 0DA A«…˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 6ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularô\  `‹&Times New RomanÖ¸C-s  ˜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.wptüPH, ¢3|x Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ žÝ ƒR1û$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôíÕò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àIn€the€instant€case,€the€trial€court€did€inform€the€jury€that€Benedict€and€Martin€were€accomplices€inÐ ° Ðthe€commission€of€the€crimes€at€issue.€€Furthermore,€the€court€gave€them€instructions€regarding€how€to€weigh€theÐ tÄ Ðaccomplice€testimony.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G21û$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E]»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôíÕò»»Ô d(|3IV$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E]»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3IV$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E]»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E]»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼E]»»»ÔÑ8€ AXXdì»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡îSLE]ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼E]»îîSL #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àAssigned€on€Briefs€November€27,€2001Ð üL ÐÔ‡X AX»¼E]ÔÌò òÔ#†¼E]»XX A"#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEòòóó€v.€Ô_ÔMARTHIASÔ_Ô€S.€PHILLIPS€and€Ô_ÔLANARDÔ_ÔÐ úJ ÐKEITH€ARMSTRONGòòóóÔ‡X AX»¼E]Ôó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€97„C„1833€€€€€€J.€Randall€Wyatt,€Jr.,€JudgeÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2000„02575„CCA„R3„CD€„€Filed€September€27,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡X AXXX AÔA€Davidson€County€jury€found€the€defendants,€Ô_ÔMarthiasÔ_Ô€S.€Phillips€and€Ô_ÔLanardÔ_Ô€Keith€Armstrong,€Ð ŒÜ Ðguilty€of€facilitation€of€first„degree€murder,€criminal€attempt€to€facilitate€especially€aggravatedÐ xÈ ÐÔ_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô,€and€criminal€attempt€to€facilitate€especially€aggravated€robbery.€ò ò€ó óThe€trial€courtÐ d´ Ðsentenced€both€defendants€to€serve€4„year€sentences€for€their€criminal€attempt€to€facilitate€especiallyÐ T¤ Ðaggravated€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€convictions,€4„year€sentences€for€their€criminal€attempt€to€facilitate€especiallyÐ @ Ðaggravated€robbery€convictions,€and€20„year€sentences€for€their€facilitation€of€first„degree€murderÐ ,| Ðconvictions.€ò òó óThe€trial€court€sentenced€both€defendants€as€Range€I€offenders€and€ordered€them€toÐ h Ðserve€their€4„year€sentences€for€criminal€attempt€to€facilitate€especially€aggravated€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_ÔÐ T Ðconcurrently€to€their€20„year€sentences€for€facilitation€of€first„degree€murder.ò ò€ó ó€The€court€then€orderedÐ ð@ Ðthem€to€serve€their€4„year€sentences€for€criminal€attempt€to€facilitate€especially€aggravated€robberyÐ à0 Ðconsecutively€to€their€concurrent€20„year€sentences,€resulting€in€an€effective€sentence€of€24€years.Ð Ì Ðò òó óThe€defendants€now€bring€the€instant€appeal.€€Defendant€Armstrong€and€Defendant€Phillips€bothÐ ¸ Ðchallenge€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€to€support€their€convictions,€the€propriety€of€the€trial€courtððsÐ ¤ô Ðjury€instructions,€and€the€effectiveness€of€their€trial€counsel.€€Defendant€Armstrong€additionallyÐ à Ðchallenges€the€propriety€of€his€sentence.€€After€thoroughly€reviewing€the€record€and€applicable€law,Ð | Ì Ðwe€find€that€none€of€these€allegations€merit€relief.Ô#†X AXXX AK#ÔÔ#†¼E]»XX A #ÔÔ‡X AX»¼E]ÔÐ h!¸  ÐÓ?ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€is€Affirmed.ó óÐ @#" ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼E]»àX A§ #ÔÔ‡X AX.¼E]ÔJerry€Smith,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€H.€Wellesóó€and€òòNorma€McGeeÐ %h $ ÐOgle,€JJ.€óó,€joined.Ð &T!% ÐÌSam€E.€Wallace,€Jr.,€Nashville,€Tennessee€for€appellant,€Ô_ÔMarthiasÔ_Ô€S.€Phillips,€and€Dianne€Turner,Ð Ü',#' ÐNashville,€Tennessee€for€appellant,€Ô_ÔLanardÔ_Ô€Keith€Armstrong.Ð È($( ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€&€Reporter;€Jennifer€L.€Ô_ÔBledsoeÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Ð  *ð%* ÐVictor€S.€Johnson,€District€Attorney€General;€Bret€Gunn€and€Ô_ÔKatrinÔ_Ô€Miller,€Assistant€DistrictÐ Œ+Ü&+ ÐAttorneys€General,€for€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð x,È', ÐÓ]ÓÐ d-´(-ý Ðà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼E]»XX AŒ#ÔÔ‡X AX»¼E]ÔÐ ° ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼E]»XX A5#ÔÔ‡X AX»¼E]ÔÓ  Óò òòòÔ‡X AXXX AÔà@!ìàFactual€Backgroundó óóóˆÐ ˆØ ÐÌà  àDee€Martin,€a€female€friend€of€the€victim,€began€discussions€with€Andre€Kirby,€RonaldÐ `° ÐBenedict,€Ô_ÔLeariceÔ_Ô€Thomas,€Defendant€Armstrong,€and€Defendant€Phillips€about€planning€the€robberyÐ L œ Ðof€the€victim,€a€drug„dealer€who€kept€drugs€and€large€sums€of€money€in€his€house.ò òó ó€These€sixÐ 8 ˆ Ðindividuals€were€all€members€of€the€ð ðFolksðð€gang.ò òó ó€€They€developed€a€plan€in€which€Martin€wouldÐ $ t Ðcontact€the€victim€and€ask€him€for€a€ride€home€from€work,€and€once€the€victim€agreed€and€wasÐ  ` Ðdropping€Martin€off€at€her€apartment,€the€others€would€force€the€victim€to€go€back€to€his€apartmentÐ ü L  Ðwhere€they€would€rob€him.€ò òó óÐ è 8  Ðà  àOn€December€20,€1996,€these€six€individuals€acted€on€their€plans€to€rob€the€victim.€€They€metÐ Ô$  Ðat€Martinððs€apartment€and€discussed€their€plan.ò ò€ó ó€Benedictððs€role€was€to€secure€the€victimððs€car€andÐ À  Ðdrive€it€to€the€victimððs€apartment.€ò ò€ó óDefendant€Armstrong€gave€Benedict€a€.32€revolver€that€had€beenÐ °  Ðkept€at€the€apartment,€and€Benedict€also€collected€a€scarf€and€a€glove€from€the€apartment.ò òó ó€WhenÐ  ð  ÐBenedict€returned€to€the€apartment€later€that€night,€he€met€Defendant€Phillips,€Defendant€Armstrong,Ð ŒÜ  Ðand€Thomas,€who€were€wearing€dark€clothes€and€ski€masks€while€walking€out€the€back€door€of€theÐ xÈ Ðapartment.ò òó ó€€He€recognized€Defendant€Phillips€by€his€voice€and€Defendant€Armstrong€and€ThomasÐ d´ Ðby€their€height€and€build.ò òó óÐ P  Ðà  àMartin€called€the€victim€and€arranged€to€have€him€pick€her€up€from€her€workplace.ò òó ó€She€thenÐ <Œ Ðcalled€Kirby€and€notified€him€that€the€victim€was€en€route€to€pick€her€up.€ò òó ó€ò òó óThe€victim€and€hisÐ (x Ðgirlfriend,€Mabel€Moore,€picked€up€Martin€at€approximately€9:15€p.m.ò òó ó€Martin€claimed€that€sheÐ d Ðwanted€to€call€off€their€plan€to€rob€the€victim€because€the€victim€was€not€alone,€but€was€with€Moore.€Ð P Ðò òó óWhen€the€victim€stopped€off€in€the€Tennessee€Village€to€speak€with€someone€there,€Martin€calledÐ ì< ÐKirby€and€attempted€to€call€off€the€robbery.€€ò òó ó€Once€Martin,€Moore,€and€the€victim€arrived€at€MartinððsÐ Ø( Ðapartment,€Martin€and€the€victim€exited€the€car.€€ò òó ó€Martin€screamed€as€five€men€approached€them.€€Ð Ä Ðò òó óMartin€testified€that€all€of€the€men€were€wearing€coats€and€that€Defendant€Phillips€was€wearing€aÐ ° Ðblack€trench€coat€and€Defendant€Armstrong€was€wearing€a€baseball€cap.€ò òó ó€Defendant€Phillips,€armedÐ œì Ðwith€a€shotgun€that€Martin€had€seen€in€her€apartment,€told€the€victim€to€ð ðbrace€himself.ðð€ò òó ó€€The€victimÐ ˆØ Ðthen€began€running,€and€Defendant€Phillips,€Defendant€Armstrong,€and€Thomas€chased€him.€€ò òó óAtÐ tÄ Ðsome€point€thereafter,€the€victim€was€shot€and€killed.Ð ` ° Ðà  àWhile€the€defendants€and€Thomas€chased€the€victim,€Benedict,€who€was€wearing€a€coat,Ð L!œ Ðmask,€and€gloves,€jumped€into€the€victimððs€car,€which€Moore€had€been€driving.€ò òó ó€He€pointed€a€gunÐ 8"ˆ  Ðat€Moore€and€ordered€her€to€drive€ð ðunder€a€bridge,€over€by€the€railroad€tracks,€you€know,€like€on€aÐ $#t! Ðdirt€road.ððò òó ó€Benedict€then€ordered€Moore€out€of€the€car,€and€as€he€was€getting€out€of€the€passengerÐ $`" Ðdoor,€Moore€drove€away.ò òó ó€Benedict€then€began€shooting€at€the€retreating€car.€ò ò€ó óBenedict€dumped€hisÐ ü$L # Ðclothes€in€a€garbage€can€located€on€the€Fisk€University€campus.€ò ò€ó óAn€off„duty€police€officer€who€wasÐ ì% Ž ÐS.W.2d€600,€606€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1992)€(ð ðRaising€issues€pertaining€to€the€ineffective€assistanceÐ  V Ðof€counsel€for€the€first€time€[on€direct€appeal]€in€the€appellate€court€is€a€practice€fraught€with€peril.ðð).€Ð Î  ÐGenerally,€a€post„conviction€petition€hearing€provides€a€forum€where€an€accused€can€build€anÐ – æ Ðevidentiary€basis€demonstrating€the€ineffectiveness€of€his€or€her€counsel.€€òòSeeóó€òòKirby€George€WallaceÐ ^ ®  Ðv.€Stateóó,€No.€01C01„9308„CCA„00275,€1994€Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€LEXIS€591,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.Ð & v  Ðat€Nashville,€Sept.€15,€1994)€(ð ð[Ô_ÔP]roceedingÔ_Ô€on€an€ineffectiveness€claim€without€an€evidentiaryÐ î >  Ðhearing€makes€it€practically€impossible€to€demonstrate€prejudice€as€required€in€ineffective€assistanceÐ ¶  Ðclaims.ðð).Ô#†X AXXX A Ž#ÔÔ‡X AXXX AÔÐ ~Î  Ðà  àWith€that€caveat,€we€further€note€that€when€a€defendant€seeks€relief€on€the€basis€of€havingÐ ™é  Ðreceived€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel,€the€defendant€bears€the€burden€of€showing€that€(a)€theÐ a±  Ðservices€rendered€by€trial€counsel€were€deficient€and€(b)€that€the€deficient€performance€wasÐ )y  Ðprejudicial.€€òòPowers€v.€Stateóó,€942€S.W.2d€551,€558€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1996).€€In€order€toÐ ñA Ðdemonstrate€deficient€performance,€the€defendant€must€show€that€the€services€rendered€or€the€adviceÐ ¹  Ðgiven€was€below€ð ðthe€range€of€competence€demanded€of€attorneys€in€criminal€cases.ðð€€òòBaxter€v.Ð Ñ ÐRoseóó,€523€S.W.2d€930,€936€(Tenn.€1975).€€In€order€to€demonstrate€prejudice,€the€defendant€mustÐ I™ Ðshow€that€there€is€a€reasonable€probability€that,€but€for€counselððs€deficient€performance,€the€resultÐ a Ðof€the€proceeding€would€have€been€different.€€òòÔ_ÔStricklandÔ_Ô€v.€Washingtonóó,€466€U.S.€668,€694,€104€S.Ð Ù) ÐCt.€2052,€2068,€80€L.€Ed.€2d€674€(1984).òòóóÐ ¡ñ Ðà  àÔ#†X AXXX AE”#ÔÔ‡X AXXX AÔA€claim€of€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€is€a€mixed€question€of€law€and€fact€and€subjectÐ ¼  Ðto€òòde€novoóó€review;€however,€a€trial€courtððs€fact„findings€are€subject€to€a€òòde€novoóó€review€with€aÐ „Ô Ðpresumption€of€correctness.€€òòSeeóó€òòFields€v.€Stateóó,€40€S.W.3d€450,€456„57€(Tenn.€2001).€€ConclusionsÐ Lœ Ðof€law€are€subject€to€a€òòde€novoóó€standard€of€review.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óó€€Furthermore,€an€appellate€court€mayÐ d Ðneither€re„weigh€nor€re„evaluate€the€evidence€or€substitute€its€own€inferences€for€those€drawn€by€theÐ Ü, Ðtrial€court.€€òòSeeóó€òòHenley€v.€Stateóó,€960€S.W.2d€572,€579€(Tenn.€1997).Ð ¤ô ÐÔ#†X AXXX Ad™#ÔÔ‡X AXXX AÔà  àDefendants€Armstrong€and€Phillips€both€complain€that€their€counsel€ineffectively€representedÐ ¿ Ðthem€by€failing€to€request€a€jury€instruction€regarding€Rodney€Earl€Jonesððs€role€in€the€instant€crimeÐ ‡× Ðas€their€accomplice.€€However,€Defendant€Phillips€has€waived€this€issue€by€failing€to€include€it€inÐ OŸ  Ðhis€motion€for€new€trial.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€3(e).€€The€trial€court€stated€in€its€order€denying€theÐ  g! Ðdefendantsðð€motions€for€new€trial€that€it€did€not€find€that€the€evidence€introduced€at€trial€couldÐ ß /" Ðsupport€a€conclusion€that€Jones€acted€as€an€accomplice€in€the€commission€of€the€crime€at€issue.€€AsÐ §!÷# Ðdiscussed€òòsupraóó,€we€find€no€evidence€in€the€record€that€would€support€a€finding€that€Jones€acted€asÐ o"¿$ Ðthe€defendantsðð€accomplice€because€the€only€evidence€linking€him€to€the€instant€crime€is€his€ownÐ 7#‡% Ðtestimony€that€he€was€present€during€discussions€about€the€planning€and€commission€of€the€crimesÐ ÿ#O& Ðbut€did€not€participate€in€those€discussions.€€This€evidence€is€insufficient€to€support€a€finding€thatÐ Ç$ ' ÐJones€acted€as€an€accomplice.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Lawsonóó,€794€S.W.2d€363,€369€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1990)Ð %ß ( Ð(stating€that€in€order€to€be€an€accomplice,€a€person€must€be€more€than€someone€who€merely€ð ðhasÐ W&§!) Ðguilty€knowledge€or€is€morally€delinquent,€or€who€was€even€an€admitted€participant€in€a€distinct€butÐ 'o"* Ðrelated€offenseðð).€€Accordingly,€we€find€that€defendantsðð€counsel€did€not€provide€deficientÐ ç'7#+ Ðrepresentation€by€failing€to€request€an€accomplice€instruction€regarding€the€witness€Jones.€€Ð ¯(ÿ#, Ðà  àDefendant€Armstrong€also€argues€that€his€counsel€provided€him€with€deficient€representationÐ Ê)%- Ðbecause€his€counsel€failed€to€call€two€alibi€witnesses€to€testify€at€trial.€€However,€DefendantÐ ’*â%. ÐArmstrong€has€waived€this€issue€by€failing€to€make€any€citations€to€authority€or€to€the€record€inÐ Z+ª&/ Ðsupport€of€his€argument.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€Ct.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€10(b).€€Furthermore,€we€agree€with€the€trialÐ ",r'0 Ðcourt€that€Defendant€Armstrong€has€failed€to€demonstrate€how€he€was€prejudiced€by€his€counselððsÐ ° Ðfailure€to€call€these€witnesses.€€He€did€not€offer€these€witnessesðð€testimony€at€the€motion€for€new€trialÐ xÈ Ðhearing,€and€thus€we€have€no€way€of€determining€how€Defendant€Armstrong€would€have€beenÐ @ Ðexculpated€by€their€testimony.€€òòSeeóó€òòBlack€v.€Stateóó,€794€S.W.2d€753,€757€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1990)Ð X Ð(stating€that€an€accused€who€alleges€that€his€counsel€provided€deficient€representation€by€failing€toÐ Ð  Ðcall€a€witness€at€trial€should€present€that€witnessððs€testimony€at€an€evidentiary€hearing).€ò òó óÐ ˜è ÐAccordingly,€we€find€that€defendant€Armstrong€has€failed€to€show€that€he€was€deficientlyÐ ` ° Ðrepresented.€€Thus,€this€issue€lacks€merit.Ð ( x ÐÌÓ  Óò òòòSentencing€Challengeó óóóÐ ^ ®  ÐÌÓ©Óà  àDefendant€Armstrong€alleges€that€the€trial€court€improperly€ordered€his€sentence€for€criminalÐ ”ä  Ðattempt€to€facilitate€especially€aggravated€robbery€to€run€consecutively€to€his€other€two€convictions,Ð \¬  Ðfacilitation€of€felony€murder€and€criminal€attempt€to€facilitate€especially€aggravated€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô.€Ð $t  Ðð ðWhen€reviewing€sentencing€issues€.€.€.€,€the€appellate€court€shall€conduct€a€de€novo€review€on€theÐ ì<  Ðrecord€of€such€issues.€€Such€review€shall€be€conducted€with€a€presumption€that€the€determinationsÐ ´  Ðmade€by€the€court€from€which€the€appeal€is€taken€are€correct.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40-35-401(d).€Ð |Ì  Ðð ðHowever,€the€presumption€of€correctness€which€accompanies€the€trial€courtððs€action€is€conditionedÐ D” Ðupon€the€affirmative€showing€in€the€record€that€the€trial€court€considered€the€sentencing€principlesÐ  \ Ðand€all€relevant€facts€and€circumstances.ðð€€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔAshbyÔ_Ôóó,€823€S.W.2d€166,€169€(Tenn.€1991).€€InÐ Ô$ Ðconducting€our€review,€we€must€consider€the€defendantððs€potential€for€rehabilitation,€the€trial€andÐ œì Ðsentencing€hearing€evidence,€the€pre„sentence€report,€the€sentencing€principles,€sentencingÐ d´ Ðalternative€arguments,€the€nature€and€character€of€the€offense,€the€enhancing€and€mitigating€factors,Ð ,| Ðand€the€defendantððs€statements.€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€40-35-103(5),€-210(b);€€òòÔ_ÔAshbyÔ_Ôóó,€823€S.W.2d€atÐ ôD Ð169.€€We€are€to€also€recognize€that€the€defendant€bears€ð ðthe€burden€of€demonstrating€that€theÐ ¼  Ðsentence€is€improper.ðð€òòId.ò òóóó óÐ „Ô Ðà  àÔ#†X AXXX A…œ#ÔÔ‡X AXXX AÔA€trial€court€may€impose€consecutive€sentencing€upon€a€determination€that€one€or€more€ofÐ Ÿï Ðthe€criteria€set€forth€in€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€40„35„115(b)€exists.€This€section€permitsÐ g· Ðthe€trial€court€to€impose€consecutive€sentences€if€the€court€finds,€among€other€criteria,€that€ð ð[Ô_Ôt]heÔ_ÔÐ / Ðdefendant€is€a€dangerous€offender€whose€behavior€indicates€little€or€no€regard€for€human€life,€andÐ ÷G Ðno€hesitation€about€committing€a€crime€in€which€the€risk€to€human€life€is€high.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð ¿ Ððð€40„35„115(b)(4).€However,€before€sentencing€the€defendant€to€serve€consecutive€sentences€on€theÐ ‡× Ðbasis€that€he€is€a€dangerous€offender,€the€trial€court€must€find€that€the€resulting€sentence€is€Ð OŸ  Ðreasonably€related€to€the€severity€of€the€crimes€Ô#†X AXXX A]±#ÔÔ‡X AXXX AÔand€necessary€to€protect€the€public€against€furtherÐ  g! Ðcriminal€conduct.€òòSeeóó€òòÔ#†X AXXX A1µ#ÔÔ‡X AXXX AÔState€v.€Ô_ÔImfeldÔ_Ôóó,€70€S.W.3d€698,€708„09€(Tenn.€2002)Ô#†X AXXX AÚµ#ÔÔ‡X AXXX AÔ;€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔWilkersonÔ_Ôóó,€905Ð ß /" ÐS.W.2d€933,€938„39€(Tenn.€1995).Ô#†X AXXX Ar¶#ÔÔ‡X AXXX AÔ€€The€trial€court€found€that€Defendant€Armstrong€was€a€dangerousÐ §!÷# Ðoffender€and€accordingly€ordered€him€to€serve€his€sentence€for€criminal€attempt€to€commit€especiallyÐ o"¿$ Ðaggravated€robbery€consecutive€to€his€other€two€sentences.€Ô#†X AXXX A(·#ÔÔ‡X AXXX AԀР7#‡% Ðà  àDefendant€Armstrong€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€finding€him€to€be€a€dangerousÐ R$¢& Ðoffender€because€ð ð[Ô_Ôt]hereÔ_Ô€was€no€evidence€other€than€that€adduced€at€trialðð€upon€which€to€base€aÐ %j ' Ðfinding€that€Defendant€Armstrong€was€a€dangerous€offender€and€thus€a€candidate€for€consecutiveÐ â%2!( Ðsentencing.€€However,€the€circumstances€surrounding€a€criminal€episode€are€proper€considerationsÐ ª&ú!) Ðfor€determining€whether€to€sentence€a€defendant€to€serve€his€convictions€stemming€from€that€episodeÐ r'Â"* Ðconsecutively.€€òòSee,€e.g.,óó€òòÔ_ÔImfeldÔ_Ôóó,€70€S.W.3d€at€708„09.€€In€the€instant€case,€the€trial€court€stated€thatÐ :(Š#+ Ðthe€planning€and€commission€of€the€attempted€especially€aggravated€robbery€indicated€that€theÐ )R$, Ðdefendants€had€little€or€no€regard€for€human€life€and€no€hesitation€about€committing€a€crime€whereÐ Ê)%- Ðthe€risk€to€human€life€was€high.€€The€trial€court€noted€the€facts€that€the€defendants€were€heavilyÐ ’*â%. Ðarmed€and€wearing€ski€masks€in€support€of€this€finding.€ò ò€ó óThe€trial€court€also€noted€that€the€victimððsÐ Z+ª&/ Ðmurder€was€a€brutal€one,€as€he€was€ambushed,€chased€at€gunpoint,€and€then€shot€and€killed.Ð ",r'0 ÐConsidering€these€factors€and€that€the€defendants€would€serve€only€a€portion€of€their€sentences€dueÐ ° Ðto€their€status€as€Range€I€offenders,€ò òó óthe€trial€court€ordered€the€defendants€to€serve€their€sentence€forÐ xÈ Ðcriminal€attempt€to€facilitate€especially€aggravated€robbery€conviction€consecutive€to€their€other€twoÐ @ Ðsentences,€finding€that€the€resulting€sentence€of€24€years€would€be€appropriately€related€to€theirÐ X Ðcrimes.€ò ò€ó óWe€find€that€this€analysis€was€sufficient€to€satisfy€the€requirement€of€a€finding€that€theÐ Ð  Ðconsecutive€sentence€is€sufficiently€related€to€the€severity€of€the€crime€and€necessary€to€protect€theÐ ˜è Ðpublic€from€the€defendantððs€further€criminal€activity.€€€Therefore,€we€find€that€the€trial€courtÐ ` ° Ðappropriately€sentenced€Defendant€Armstrong.€€Thus,€his€sentencing€challenge€lacks€merit.Ð ( x ÐÌÌÓ  Óò òòòConclusionóóó óÐ y É  ÐÌÓäÁÓà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€find€that€none€of€the€defendantsðð€allegations€merit€relief.€Ð ¯ÿ  ÐAccordingly,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€AFFIRMED.Ô#†X AXXX As¸#ÔÔ#†¼E]»XX A“#ÔÔ€X AX»¼E]ÔÐ wÇ  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ã3 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJERRY€L.€SMITH,€JUDGE