ÿWPC5 ‡7Qkðµ)ë”m© ‚ì¤â(ë{^lø*'ø¬Jfñé¬ýuiQÍcÆñxò!jqÜ©böñ u¦öŸàˆ/joY¬V] äÕ„3¬ }чЊκ^ù[;Œ«‹±Û„8é‰í«Ö ^ 榈ÁãÆnÊý„Å7ÂUÛùžß¶Á×8é kl“@i Qáææ$-0ëêÜðÌÈž¾èÑ_ ÷zgb %\Nb 0ˆdUNì z:Ò´^ † z’ Ò wÞ 4â ö  Æ ÆÍ Æ“ ÆY mN6#Á8ùE2 0D5NyaÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇÇb(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( 0ë0000 B 0¤8 D5Ü D- 0K>> AS‰ÆÜ 0¤¢ 0DF A«Š»(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular˜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.wpt]¸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,àŽ£3|xLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 6ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0  (Ý ƒR·$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô¤mò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àð ðVice€K„Nineðð€is€the€unit€in€which€officers€are€teamed€with€dogs€trained€to€identify€or€ð ðsniff„outðð€theÐ ° Ðpresence€of€narcotics.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó DÝ ƒR·$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô¤mò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àIt€is€not€clear€from€the€record€whether€the€officers€obtained€consent€to€search€the€vehicle;€however,Ð ° Ðthe€appellant€did€not€raise€the€issue€in€his€motion€to€suppress. WÝ ƒR·$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô¤mò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àOn€April,€23,€2001,€the€appellant€waived€his€constitutional€right€to€have€a€fine€in€excess€of€fifty€dollarsÐ ° Ð($50)€imposed€by€the€jury€and€agreed€to€have€the€trial€court€impose€the€fine.- ù-(|G2·$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€õ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô¤mò»»Ô d(|3¿~$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€õ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3¿~$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€õ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€õ»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼õ»»»ÔÑ8€P©XXdì»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡î ”î»¼õÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼õ»îî ” #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àAssigned€on€Briefs€May€21,€2002Ð üL ÐÔ‡XP©X»¼õÔÌò òÔ#†¼õ»XXP©#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEòòóó€v.€CHRISTOPHER€ROBERT€SMITHòòóóÔ‡XP©X»¼õÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€2001„A„421€€€€€€Steve€R.€Dozier,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2001„02297„CCA„R3„CD€„€Filed€September€27,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€appellant,€Christopher€Robert€Smith,€was€convicted€in€the€Criminal€Court€of€Davidson€CountyÐ xÈ  Ðof€conspiracy€to€possess€with€the€intent€to€manufacture,€deliver€or€sell€300€grams€or€more€of€anyÐ d´ Ðsubstance€containing€cocaine,€a€Class€A€felony.€€The€trial€court€sentenced€the€appellant€to€twenty„Ð P  Ðfour€years€incarceration€in€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Correction€and€imposed€a€fifty€thousandÐ <Œ Ðdollar€($50,000)€fine.€€On€appeal,€the€appellant€complains€that€the€evidence€was€insufficient€toÐ (x Ðsupport€his€conviction€and€that€his€sentence€was€excessive.€€Upon€review€of€the€record€and€theÐ d Ðpartiesðð€briefs,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ô#†¼õ»XXP©#ÔÔ‡XP©X»¼õÔÐ P ÐÓÊÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€is€Affirmed.ó óÐ Ø( ÐÌòòÓ  ÓNorma€McGee€OgleÔ#†¼õ»àXP©õ#ÔÔ‡XP©X.¼õÔ,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòThomas€T.€Ô_ÔWoodallÔ_Ôóó€andÐ ° ÐòòJohn€Everett€Williams,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð œì ÐÌJay€Norman,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Christopher€Robert€Smith.Ð tÄ ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Thomas€E.€Williams,€III,€Assistant€AttorneyÐ L œ ÐGeneral;€Victor€S.€Johnson,€III,€District€Attorney€General;€and€John€Zimmerman€and€Tammy€Meade,Ð 8!ˆ  ÐAssistant€District€Attorneys€General,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð $"t! ÐÓ«ÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼õ»XXP©ê#ÔÔ‡XP©X»¼õÔÐ ü#L# ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼õ»XXP©É #ÔÔ‡XP©X»¼õÔÓ  Óà@(( ìàò òòòI.€Factual€Backgroundóóó óÔ#†¼õ»XXP©' #ÔÔ€XP©X»¼õԈРÔ%$!% Ðà  àà ` àOn€February€3,€2000,€members€of€the€Twentieth€Judicial€District€Drug€Task€ForceÐ À&"& Ðwere€conducting€an€investigation€of€apartment€number€1402€at€the€Cameron€Overlook€ApartmentsÐ ¬'ü"' Ðin€Nashville.€€The€apartment€was€later€discovered€to€be€leased€to€the€appellant€and€his€co„defendant,Ð ˜(è#( ÐChristopher€Agee.€€The€officers€began€surveillance€of€the€apartment€around€9:00€p.m.€SergeantÐ „)Ô$) ÐJames€Ô_ÔMcWrightÔ_Ô€parked€in€front€of€the€apartment€building€where€he€could€observe€the€parking€lotÐ p*À%* Ðand€Ô_ÔbreezewayÔ_Ô€to€the€apartment.€€Officer€Aaron€Thomas€parked€in€the€rear€of€the€apartment€and€hadÐ \+¬&+ Ða€direct€visual€on€the€door€of€the€apartment.€€Other€officers€assisted€in€the€surveillance€by€followingÐ H,˜', Ðpersons€entering€and€leaving€the€apartment.Ð 4-„(-ýG ÐÔ_Ô‡à  àà ` àAt€9:38€p.m.,€the€officers€observed€Shannon€Adams€arrive€at€the€apartments€in€a€redÐ ° ÐMitsubishi€and€enter€apartment€1402.€€Approximately€twenty€minutes€later,€Adams€left€the€apartmentÐ œì Ðand€Officer€Dannie€Eddings€followed€her€to€Baileyððs€Sports€Bar.€€When€Adams€arrived€at€Baileyððs,Ð ˆØ Ða€white€male€came€out€of€the€bar€and€got€into€Adamsðð€vehicle.€€The€male€exited€the€vehicle€after€aÐ tÄ Ðfew€minutes€and€went€back€inside€the€bar.€€Adams€then€left€Baileyððs€and€returned€to€apartment€1402.€Ð `° ÐFive€minutes€later,€Adams€again€left€the€apartment€and€drove€to€Baileyððs€where€she€met€with€anotherÐ L œ Ðmale€in€a€Ford€Probe.€€After€the€meeting€ended,€Adams€returned€to€the€apartment.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àà ` àOver€an€hour€after€Adamsðð€return,€officers€observed€the€appellant,€Agee€and€two€otherÐ  ` Ðco„defendants,€Scot€Murphree€and€Scott€Chase,€leave€the€apartment.€€Agee€had€in€his€possession€aÐ ü L  Ðwhite€cloth€bag.€€Agee€and€Murphree€approached€a€silver€Honda€Civic€and€Agee€placed€the€whiteÐ è 8  Ðbag€in€the€vehicleððs€trunk.€€Murphree€got€into€the€Civic€while€Agee€got€into€a€red€low„rider€pick„upÐ Ô$  Ðtruck.€€Murphree€then€left€the€apartments€in€the€Civic€and€the€officers€followed€him€to€a€nearbyÐ À  ÐKroger€parking€lot.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àà ` àMeanwhile,€Chase€got€into€a€maroon€Honda€Accord€and€pulled€it€into€a€parking€spaceÐ „Ô  Ðdirectly€in€front€of€the€breezeway€to€apartment€1402.€€After€the€vehicle€was€parked,€SergeantÐ pÀ ÐMcWright€observed€Chase€place€something€into€the€trunk€of€the€maroon€Accord.€€Chase€then€gotÐ \¬ Ðinto€a€black€Lexus€driven€by€the€appellant,€and€the€Lexus€and€the€red€truck€proceeded€to€the€KrogerÐ H˜ Ðparking€lot€where€they€picked€up€Murphree€and€drove€away,€leaving€the€Civic€in€the€parking€lot.€Ð 4„ ÐSergeant€McWright€followed€the€suspects€to€Baileyððs,€after€which€the€officer€lost€sight€of€theÐ  p Ðsuspects€for€ten€to€fifteen€minutes.Ð  \ ÐÌà  àà ` àWhile€McWright€followed€the€suspects€to€Baileyððs,€ð ðVice€K„Nineðð€arrived€at€theÐ ä4 ÐKroger€parking€lot.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€After€sniffing€the€vehicle,€the€drug€dog€made€a€positive€indication€that€the€CivicÐ Ð  Ðcontained€narcotics.€€The€officers€decided€to€wait€for€the€suspects€to€return€to€Kroger€beforeÐ ¼  Ðsearching€the€Civic.€€When€Agee€and€Murphree€returned,€the€officers€advised€them€that€the€dog€hadÐ ¨ø Ðindicated€the€presence€of€drugs€in€the€Civic€and€asked€for€permission€to€search€the€vehicle.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€InsideÐ ”ä Ðthe€trunk,€the€officers€found€drugs€and€drug€paraphernalia€inside€a€shaving€kit€and€discovered€theÐ €Ð Ðwhite€bag€Agee€had€earlier€placed€in€the€trunk.€€A€search€of€the€white€bag€revealed€over€800€gramsÐ l¼ Ðof€cocaine€and€sixty€thousand€dollars€cash€($60,000).€€Agee€and€Murphree€were€immediatelyÐ X ¨ Ðarrested.Ð D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àAbout€this€time,€Officer€Eddings,€who€had€assumed€Sergeant€McWrightððsÐ #l! Ðsurveillance€position€at€the€apartments,€advised€the€officers€at€the€Kroger€parking€lot€that€Adams€wasÐ $X" Ðleaving€the€apartment.€€Officer€Eddings€followed€Adams€to€Kroger€where€Sergeant€McWrightÐ ô$D # Ðstopped€Adams€and€walked€the€drug€dog€alongside€Adamsðð€red€Mitsubishi.€€The€dog€made€a€positiveÐ à%0!$ Ðidentification€for€narcotics€on€the€front€passenger€side€and€a€search€revealed€a€silver€handbagÐ Ì&"% Ðcontaining€cocaine€and€eight€hundred€dollars€cash€($800).€€Shortly€thereafter,€Officer€Eddings,€whoÐ ° Ðhad€returned€to€the€apartments,€advised€Sergeant€McWright€that€Chase€and€the€appellant€wereÐ œì Ðleaving€the€apartment€in€the€maroon€Accord.€€Upon€receiving€this€information,€Sergeant€McWrightÐ ˆØ Ðordered€the€officer€to€arrest€the€remaining€suspects.€€Officer€Eddings€and€Officer€Thomas€arrestedÐ tÄ ÐChase€and€the€appellant€and€transported€them€to€the€Kroger€parking€lot,€leaving€the€black€Lexus€andÐ `° Ðmaroon€Accord€at€the€apartments.€€The€officers€later€had€the€Lexus€towed,€but€searched€the€AccordÐ L œ Ðto€determine€what€Chase€had€earlier€placed€in€the€trunk.€€The€officers€found€four€thousand,€fourÐ 8 ˆ Ðhundred€and€four€dollars€cash€($4404)€inside€the€trunk.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àà ` àWhile€in€custody€at€the€Kroger€parking€lot,€the€appellant€asked€to€speak€alone€withÐ ü L  ÐSergeant€McWright.€€The€appellant€confessed€to€Sergeant€McWright€that€the€cocaine€and€moneyÐ è 8  Ðbelonged€to€him€and€Agee€and€that€his€girlfriend,€Adams,€had€nothing€to€do€with€the€drugs.€€TheÐ Ô$  Ðappellant€informed€Sergeant€McWright€that€he€was€the€ð ðbig€manðð€and€that€he€never€sold€anythingÐ À  Ðsmaller€than€ounces.€€The€appellant€admitted€to€selling€eight€to€ten€ounces€at€a€time€and€to€flying€toÐ ¬ü  ÐSan€Antonio,€Texas,€to€pick€up€kilos€of€cocaine.€€Sergeant€McWright€testified€that€he€was€notÐ ˜è  Ðquestioning€the€appellant€at€this€time,€but€that€the€appellant€was€speaking€freely€in€an€effort€to€avoidÐ „Ô  Ðthe€arrest€of€his€girlfriend.€€The€appellant€offered€to€set€up€his€supplier€in€San€Antonio€if€SergeantÐ pÀ ÐMcWright€would€not€arrest€Adams.€Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àà ` àWhile€speaking€with€Sergeant€McWright,€the€appellant€also€agreed€to€allow€theÐ 4„ Ðofficers€to€search€the€apartment€he€shared€with€Agee.€€However,€he€stated€that€there€was€nothing€inÐ  p Ðthe€apartment€because€ð ðI€got€everything€out.ðð€The€appellant€told€Sergeant€McWright€that€he€andÐ  \ ÐAdams€had€gotten€into€a€fight€earlier€that€evening€and€he€was€worried€she€would€contact€the€police;Ð øH Ðtherefore,€he€had€decided€to€place€the€cocaine€and€the€money€in€the€Civic€and€leave€the€vehicle€inÐ ä4 Ðthe€Kroger€parking€lot.€€However,€when€the€officers€conducted€a€search€of€the€apartment,€theyÐ Ð  Ðdiscovered€a€cocaine€grinder€on€a€headboard€in€the€bedroom.€€The€officers€also€found€records€ofÐ ¼  Ðillegal€drug€sales€on€the€kitchen€counter,€along€with€a€ð ðkilogram€wrapperðð€with€cocaine€residue€andÐ ¨ø Ðmarkings€typical€of€drug€packaging€material.€€The€appellantððs€fingerprint€was€found€on€theÐ ”ä Ðð ðwrapper.ððÐ €Ð ÐÌà  àà ` àBased€upon€the€foregoing€facts,€the€jury€found€the€appellant€guilty€of€conspiracy€toÐ X ¨ Ðpossess€with€the€intent€to€manufacture,€deliver€or€sell€300€grams€or€more€of€any€substance€containingÐ D!” Ðcocaine.€€As€a€result€of€the€conviction,€the€trial€court€sentenced€the€appellant€to€twenty„four€yearsÐ 0"€  Ðincarceration€and€imposed€a€fine€of€fifty€thousand€dollars€($50,000).€€On€appeal,€the€appellantÐ #l! Ðchallenges€the€conviction€and€sentence.Ð $X" ÐÌà@$ìàò òòòII.€Analysisóóó óˆÐ à%0!$ ÐA.€€Sufficiency€of€the€EvidenceÐ Ì&"% Ðà  àà ` àThe€appellant€first€complains€that€there€was€insufficient€evidence€to€sustain€hisÐ ¸'#& Ðconviction€of€conspiracy€to€possess€with€the€intent€to€manufacture,€deliver€or€sell€300€grams€or€moreÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€any€substance€containing€cocaine.€€Because€a€jury€conviction€removes€the€presumption€ofÐ )à$( Ðinnocence€with€which€a€defendant€is€initially€cloaked€at€trial€and€replaces€it€on€appeal€with€one€ofÐ |*Ì%) Ðguilt,€a€convicted€defendant€has€the€burden€of€demonstrating€to€this€court€that€the€evidence€isÐ h+¸&* Ðinsufficient.€€òòState€v.€Tuggleóó,€639€S.W.2d€913,€914€(Tenn.€1982).€€When€an€appellant€challenges€theÐ ° Ðsufficiency€of€the€convicting€evidence,€the€State€is€entitled€to€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€theÐ œì Ðevidence€and€all€reasonable€or€legitimate€inferences€which€may€be€drawn€therefrom.€€òòState€v.Ð ˆØ ÐCabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€832,€835€(Tenn.€1978).€€The€relevant€question€is€ð ðwhether,€after€viewing€theÐ tÄ Ðevidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€prosecution,€òòanyóó€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€foundÐ `° Ðthe€essential€elements€of€the€crime€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,Ð L œ Ð319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,€2789€(1979);€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(e).€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€order€to€sustain€a€conviction€in€this€case,€the€State€was€required€to€prove€at€trialÐ  ` Ðthat€the€appellant€knowingly€possessed,€or€conspired€to€possess,€with€the€intent€to€manufacture,Ð ü L  Ðdeliver€or€sell€300€grams€or€more€of€any€substance€containing€cocaine.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„17„Ð è 8  Ð417(j)(5)€(1997).€€The€offense€of€conspiracy€is€committed€whenÐ Ô$  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àtwo€(2)€or€more€people,€each€having€the€culpable€mental€stateÐ À  Ðrequired€for€the€offense€which€is€the€object€of€the€conspiracy€and€eachÐ ¬ü  Ðacting€for€the€purpose€of€promoting€or€facilitating€commission€of€anÐ ˜è  Ðoffense,€agree€that€one€(1)€or€more€of€them€will€engage€in€conductÐ „Ô  Ðwhich€constitutes€such€offense.ÐpÀ` x` x ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„12„103(a)€(1997).Ð \¬ Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àà ` àIn€the€instant€case,€the€appellant€admitted€to€Sergeant€McWright€that€the€cocaine€andÐ 4„ Ðthe€money€belonged€to€him€and€Agee.€€He€bragged€that€he€was€the€ð ðbig€manðð€and€never€soldÐ  p Ðanything€smaller€than€ounces.€€The€appellant€also€admitted€to€traveling€to€San€Antonio,€Texas,€toÐ  \ Ðpick€up€kilos€of€cocaine.€€Moreover,€he€offered€to€set€up€his€supplier€if€Sergeant€McWright€agreedÐ øH Ðnot€to€arrest€his€girlfriend,€Adams,€for€the€drugs€found€in€her€vehicle.€€Additionally,€the€officersÐ ä4 Ðobserved€the€appellantððs€roommate,€Agee,€carrying€the€cocaine€from€their€apartment€and€placing€itÐ Ð  Ðinto€the€Civic€from€which€it€was€later€confiscated.€€When€the€officers€searched€the€apartment€thatÐ ¼  Ðthe€appellant€shared€with€Agee,€the€officers€discovered€records€of€drug€dealing,€as€well€as€drugÐ ¨ø Ðparaphernalia,€including€a€cocaine€grinder€used€to€grind€blocks€of€cocaine€into€smaller€quantities€toÐ ”ä Ðbe€sold.€€Finally,€the€officers€found€a€ð ðkilo€wrapperðð€on€the€kitchen€counter€with€the€appellantððsÐ €Ð Ðfingerprint€on€it.€à ¸ àà  àòòóóÐ l¼ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€appellant€argues€that€the€only€evidence€of€his€actual€possession€of€the€cocaineÐ D!” Ðð ðcame€from€[his]€own€mouthðð€and€that€his€confession€was€made€for€the€sole€purpose€of€preventingÐ 0"€  Ðthe€arrest€of€his€girlfriend.€€The€appellant€then€points€out€that,€under€prior€decisions€of€this€court,€aÐ #l! Ðconfession€alone€is€insufficient€to€sustain€a€conviction€absent€corroborating€evidence.€€The€appellantÐ $X" Ðargues€that€the€only€other€evidence€linking€him€to€the€crime€consists€of€his€fingerprint€on€a€ð ðkiloÐ ô$D # Ðwrapperðð€found€in€the€apartment€he€shared€with€Agee€and€Ageeððs€possession€of€the€cocaine€whenÐ à%0!$ Ðleaving€the€apartment€on€the€night€of€their€arrest.€€According€to€the€appellant,€the€ð ðwrapperðð€doesÐ Ì&"% Ðnot€substantiate€the€commission€of€the€crime,€because€ð ðit€is€not€apparent€nor€proven€as€to€whatÐ ¸'#& Ðquantity€of€cocaine€may€have€been€wrapped€inside€the€paper,€if€any.ðð€€Therefore,€the€appellantÐ ¤(ô#' Ðargues,€the€evidence€is€ð ðinsufficient€for€a€rational€trier€of€fact€to€find€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€thatÐ )à$( Ðhe€was€guilty€of€conspiracy€to€possess€three€hundred€grams€or€more€of€a€substance€containingÐ |*Ì%) Ðcocaine.ðð€€€Ð h+¸&* Їà  àà ` àIn€Tennessee,€it€is€a€well„established€principle€of€law€that€a€conviction€cannot€beÐ ° Ðfounded€solely€upon€a€defendantððs€confession.€€òòState€v.€Smithóó,€24€S.W.3d€274,€281€(Tenn.€2000)Ð œì Ð(citing€òòAshby€v.€Stateóó,€139€S.W.€872,€875€(Tenn.€1911)).€€Some€corroborating€evidence€is€requiredÐ ˆØ Ðwhich,€independently€of€the€confession,€tends€to€establish€the€òòcorpusóó€òòdelictióó€of€the€offense€charged.€òòóóÐ tÄ ÐòòId.óó€€However,€where€there€is€a€confession,€the€corroborative€evidence€ð ðneed€not€be€as€convincing€asÐ `° Ðthe€evidence€necessary€to€establish€a€òòcorpusóó€òòdelictióó€in€the€absence€of€any€confession.ðð€€òòRicketts€v.Ð L œ ÐStateóó,€241€S.W.2d€604,€606€(Tenn.€1951).€€The€corroborating€evidence€is€sufficient€to€sustain€aÐ 8 ˆ Ðconviction€if€ð ðit€tends€to€connect€the€defendant€with€the€commission€of€the€offense,€although€theÐ $ t Ðevidence€is€slight,€and€entitled,€when€standing€by€itself,€to€but€little€consideration.ðð€€òòId.óó€€Furthermore,Ð  ` Ðwe€note€that€all€elements€of€the€òòcorpusóó€òòdelictióó€may€be€established€by€circumstantial€evidence.€€òòStateÐ ü L  Ðv.€Jonesóó,€15€S.W.3d€880,€891€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1999).Ð è 8  Ðà  àÌà  àà ` àAs€previously€stated,€the€appellant€admitted€that€the€cocaine€and€the€money€belongedÐ À  Ðto€him€and€Agee.€€He€bragged€that€he€was€the€ð ðbig€manðð€and€dealt€only€in€large€quantities€of€cocaine.€Ð ¬ü  ÐHowever,€this€confession€was€not€the€only€evidence€connecting€the€appellant€to€the€crime.€€TheÐ ˜è  Ðofficers€testified€that€they€observed€the€appellantððs€roommate€carrying€the€cocaine€from€theÐ „Ô  Ðappellantððs€apartment€and€a€search€of€the€apartment€uncovered€records€of€drug€dealing,€drugÐ pÀ Ðparaphernalia,€and€a€ð ðkilo€wrapperðð€with€the€appellantððs€fingerprint€on€it.€Because€this€additionalÐ \¬ Ðevidence€tends€to€connect€the€appellant€with€the€offense,€the€evidence€is€sufficient€to€corroborate€theÐ H˜ Ðappellantððs€confession€and,€thus,€to€sustain€the€conviction.€€This€issue€is€without€merit.Ð 4„ ÐòòóóÌB.€€Sentencingà ¸ àà  àÐ  \ Ðà  àà ` àThe€appellant€next€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€sentencing€the€appellant€toÐ øH Ða€term€of€twenty„four€years€imprisonment.€€When€an€appellant€challenges€the€length,€range,€orÐ ä4 Ðmanner€of€service€of€a€sentence,€it€is€the€duty€of€this€court€to€conduct€a€de€novo€review€with€aÐ Ð  Ðpresumption€that€the€determinations€made€by€the€trial€court€are€correct.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„Ð ¼  Ð401(d)€(1997).€€However,€this€presumption€is€ð ðconditioned€upon€the€affirmative€showing€in€theÐ ¨ø Ðrecord€that€the€trial€court€considered€the€sentencing€principles€and€all€relevant€facts€andÐ ”ä Ðcircumstances.ðð€€òòState€v.€Ashbyóó,€823€S.W.2d€166,€169€(Tenn.€1991).€€The€burden€is€on€the€appellantÐ €Ð Ðto€show€that€the€sentence€is€improper.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„401,€Sentencing€CommissionÐ l¼ ÐComments.€€Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€conducting€our€review,€this€court€must€consider€(1)€the€evidence,€if€any,€receivedÐ 0"€  Ðat€trial€and€at€the€sentencing€hearing;€(2)€the€presentence€report;€(3)€the€principles€of€sentencing€andÐ #l! Ðthe€arguments€of€counsel€relative€to€the€sentencing€alternatives;€(4)€the€nature€and€characteristics€ofÐ $X" Ðthe€offenses;€(5)€any€mitigating€or€enhancement€factors;€(6)€any€statements€made€by€the€appellantÐ ô$D # Ðon€his€own€behalf;€and€(7)€the€appellantððs€potential€for€rehabilitation€or€treatment.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€Ð à%0!$ Ððð€40„35„102€and€„103€(1997),€„210€(Supp.€2001).€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòAshbyóó,€823€S.W.2d€at€168.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€presumptive€sentence€for€a€Class€A€felony€is€the€midpoint€in€the€statutory€rangeÐ ¤(ô#' Ðif€there€are€no€enhancement€or€mitigating€factors.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„210(c).€€If€the€trial€courtÐ )à$( Ðfinds€that€there€are€enhancement€or€mitigating€factors,€the€court€must€start€at€the€midpoint€of€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðrange,€enhance€the€sentence€within€the€range€as€appropriate€for€the€enhancement€factors,€and€thenÐ h+¸&* Ðreduce€the€sentence€within€the€range€as€appropriate€for€the€mitigating€factors.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÐ ° Ð40„35„210(e).€€There€is€no€mathematical€formula€for€valuating€factors€to€calculate€the€appropriateÐ œì Ðsentence.€€òòState€v.€Boggsóó,€932€S.W.2d€467,€475€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1996).€€ð ðRather,€the€weight€toÐ ˆØ Ðbe€afforded€an€existing€factor€is€left€to€the€trial€courtððs€discretion€so€long€as€the€court€complies€withÐ tÄ Ðthe€purposes€and€principles€of€the€1989€Sentencing€Act€and€its€findings€are€adequately€supported€byÐ `° Ðthe€record.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€475„76€(citations€omitted).Ð L œ ÐÌà  àà ` àConspiracy€to€possess€with€the€intent€to€manufacture,€deliver€or€sell€300€grams€orÐ $ t Ðmore€of€any€substance€containing€cocaine€is€a€Class€A€felony.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„17„417(j).€€TheÐ  ` Ðappropriate€range€of€punishment€for€a€Class€A€felony€is€fifteen€to€twenty„five€years;€accordingly,€theÐ ü L  Ðpresumptive€sentence€is€twenty€years.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„112(a)(1)€(1997).€€In€the€instantÐ è 8  Ðcase,€the€trial€court€did€not€find€any€statutory€mitigating€factors€to€be€present,€but€it€did€consider€asÐ Ô$  Ða€mitigating€factor€that€the€appellant€had€no€prior€record.€€However,€the€trial€court€afforded€thisÐ À  Ðfactor€minimal€weight€ð ðbecause€everyone€is€presumed€to€be€law„abiding€citizens,€or€should€be€law„Ð ¬ü  Ðabiding€citizens,€and€have€a€good€work€history.ðð€€In€terms€of€enhancement€factors,€the€trial€courtÐ ˜è  Ðfound€that€the€appellant€was€a€leader€in€the€conspiracy,€stating€ð ðthat€the€proof€at€this€trial€indicatedÐ „Ô  Ðthat€[the€appellant]€was€a€leader€in€this€particular€offense€and€that€it€did€involve€two€or€more€criminalÐ pÀ Ðactors.ðð€€Based€on€these€factors,€the€trial€court€sentenced€the€appellant€as€a€Range€I€offender€toÐ \¬ Ðtwenty„four€years€and€imposed€a€fifty€thousand€dollar€($50,000)€fine.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€€€Ð H˜ Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àà ` àThe€appellant€argues€that€being€sentenced€at€the€upper€end€of€the€applicable€rangeÐ  p Ðbased€upon€one€enhancing€factor€ð ðundermines€the€principle€that€the€sentence€should€be€the€leastÐ  \ Ðsevere€measure€necessary€to€achieve€the€purpose€for€which€the€sentence€was€imposed.ðð€€TheÐ øH Ðappellant€submits€that€a€twenty„one€year€sentence€would€be€more€appropriate.€€However,€asÐ ä4 Ðpreviously€noted,€the€weight€to€be€afforded€an€enhancement€factor€is€left€to€the€trial€courtððs€discretionÐ Ð  Ðso€long€as€the€court€complies€with€the€purposes€and€principles€of€sentencing€and€its€findings€areÐ ¼  Ðadequately€supported€by€the€record.€€òòBoggsóó,€932€S.W.2d€at€475„76.€€Based€on€the€proof€at€trial,Ð ¨ø Ðincluding€the€appellantððs€own€admission€to€Sergeant€McWright€that€the€appellant€was€the€ð ðbig€man,ððÐ ”ä Ðthe€trial€court€found€that€the€appellant€was€a€leader€in€the€offense.€€Clearly,€neither€the€trial€court€norÐ €Ð Ðthe€jury€believed€that€the€appellant€confessed€for€the€sole€purpose€of€preventing€the€arrest€of€hisÐ l¼ Ðgirlfriend.€€The€trial€courtððs€decision€is€proper€given€the€discretion€allowed€a€trial€court€in€sentencing.€Ð X ¨ ÐòòId.óóÐ D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€appellant€also€asserts€in€his€brief€that€ð ðthe€trial€Court€in€sentencing€the€appellantÐ #l! Ðapparently€put€great€significance€on€the€fact€that€he€was€not€a€street€dealer€but€a€major€supplier,ððÐ $X" Ðwhich€is€not€a€statutory€enhancement€factor€and,€therefore,€cannot€be€used€to€enhance€the€length€ofÐ ô$D # Ðthe€appellantððs€sentence.€€òòState€v.€Stricklandóó,€885€S.W.2d€85,€89€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1993);€Tenn.Ð à%0!$ ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€40„35„114€(Supp.€2001).€€However,€the€appellant€misconstrues€the€trial€courtððsÐ Ì&"% Ðâ âlanguage€in€sentencing€appellant.€€òòóóThe€trial€court€stated€that€Ð ¸'#& Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à.€.€.€itððs€not€a€situation€where€Mr.€Smith,€or€these€other€individualsÐ ° Ðâ âthat€have€now€all€„€the€others€have€pled€guilty,€were€standing€out€onÐ œì Ðthe€street€corner€selling€twenty„cent€pieces€and€making€three„or„four„Ð ˆØ Ðhundred€dollars€a€day.ÐtÄ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àHeððs€the€one€supplying€the€drugs€to€[the€street€dealers],€thatÐ L œ Ðleads€to€the€drive„by€shootings,€that€leads€to€everybody€fighting€overÐ 8 ˆ Ðtheir€turf,€leads€to€people€getting€ripped€off€in€drug€activity€on€theÐ $ t Ðstreet€corner.€€Heððs€the€person,€here€in€Nashville,€that€sets€all€that€inÐ  ` Ðmotion€.€.€.€[and]€has€involved€his€girlfriend€at€the€time€and€two€orÐ ü L  Ðthree€other€people.à h àà À àòòóóÐè 8 ` x` x ÐThis€court€does€not€interpret€the€trial€courtððs€remarks€to€signify€that€the€trial€court€was€using€the€factÐ Ô$  Ðthat€the€appellant€was€dealing€in€a€large€quantity€of€cocaine€as€an€additional€enhancement€factor.€Ð À  ÐRather,€this€language€indicates€the€factual€basis€underlying€the€trial€courtððs€belief€that€the€appellantÐ ¬ü  Ðwas€a€leader€in€the€commission€of€this€crime.€€Therefore,€this€argument€is€without€merit.€Ð ˜è  ÐÌÓ  Óòòò òIII.€€Conclusionó óóóÐ pÀ ÐÓ  Óà  àà ` àBased€upon€the€foregoing,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.à Ð àÐ \¬ Ðà  àòòóóÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð  \ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àNORMA€McGEE€OGLE,€JUDGEÐ øH ÐÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð à