ÿWPCE …# VUNa %¯ 0(µbÝw@å4% 9 H 0JP 0Tš 0^î 0hL 0r´ 0|& 0†¢ 0( 1u¸ 0d- U>‘ U*Ï B)ù DC" AMe ² B¿v~ÜvÓZ D3- 0@` AO Æï 0Dµ D/ù B(˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLüÏ(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡- ù- ’D“D”•D–—D˜U™DšU›Ó€³†;$3|x¤2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d!!!!7Border 1dd€-"Cþÿ << Gÿÿ Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÔ€ ÔÔ€ ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€ XÔÌÌJune€12,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó dPtPtHHØ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ellan Geneva ÒÒ  ellan Geneva Ò%%%%'ÿÿdxd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ ` ÑÔ€ ÔÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÓ  Óò òÔ€ ŠÔÙ€€ÙßR€#$"A1-j|` ç `€€@ÿRß›Þ ÞÌIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌAT€NASHVILLEÌÌAPRIL€SESSION,€1998ÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,€à àà à)€€€€€€€C.C.A.€NO.€01C01„9706„CR„00211Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àó óÌà àà àAppellee,ò òà àà àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€€€DAVIDSON€COUNTYÌV.à àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€€€HON.€THOMAS€H.€SHRIVER,ÏJUDGEó óÌò òTILLIE€RUTH€STEEPLES,à àà à)€€€€€€€ó óà àÌà àà àà àà àà àò òà à)ó óà àÌà àà àAppellant.à àà àò òà à)€€€€€€€(DELIVERY€OF€SCHEDULE€IIÏDRUG)€Ìó óÌÌÌòòFOR€THE€APPELLANTóó:à àà àà àòòà àFOR€THE€APPELLEEóó:ÌÌò òPETER€J.€œSTRIANSE›à àà àà àà àJOHN€KNOX€WALKUP€Ìó óTUNE,€ENTREKIN€&€WHITE,€P.C.à àà àAttorney€General€&€ReporterÌ2100€First€American€CenterÌNashville,€TN€37238à àò òà àà àà àELIZABETH€B.€MARNEYÌó óà àà àà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€Attorney€GeneralÌò òœMARY€A.€PARKER€ó ó›à àà àà àà à2nd€Floor,€Cordell€Hull€BuildingÌò òœSTEPHEN€C.€CROFFORDó ó›à àà àà à425€Fifth€Avenue€North€ÌœSuite€511,€Cummins€Station€›à àà àà àNashville,€TN€€37243Ìœ209€Tenth€Avenue€South›ÌœNashville,€TN€€37203€›à àà àà àà àò òVICTOR€S.€JOHNSON,€IIIÌó óà àà àà àà àà àà àà àDistrict€Attorney€GeneralÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òTOM€THURMAN€Ìó óà àà àà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€District€Attorney€GeneralÌà0 àà àà àà àà àà àà àWashington€Square,€Suite€500€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à222€Second€Avenue€North€Ì€à àà àà àà àà àà àà àNashville,€TN€37201„1649ÌÌÌÌÌÌOPINION€FILED€________________________ÌÌAFFIRMED€ÌÌTHOMAS€T.€WOODALL,€JUDGEÇÓ  ÓÔ€ °Ôò òòòOPINIONóóó óÔ€ ŠÔÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓà àThe€Defendant,€Tillie€Ruth€Steeples,€appeals€as€of€right€the€six„yearÏsentence€imposed€by€the€Davidson€County€Criminal€Court€following€her€sentencingÏhearing.€€After€a€careful€review€of€the€record,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÌà àDefendant€was€indicted€on€four€counts€of€cocaine„related€charges€pertainingÏto€incidents€occurring€on€July€26,€1994€and€August€10,€1994.€€Count€One€chargedÏDefendant€with€delivery€of€.5€grams€or€more€of€cocaine,€and€Count€Two€chargedÏher€with€causing€a€Schedule€II€drug€to€be€taken€or€sent€into€a€detention€facilityÏwhere€prisoners€are€quartered.€€Count€Three€charged€Defendant€with€taking€orÏsending€a€Schedule€II€drug€into€a€detention€facility€on€August€10,€1994,€and€CountÏFour€charged€Defendant€with€the€death€of€her€incarcerated€husband,€ThomasÏSteeples,€resulting€from€the€unlawful€distribution€of€cocaine.€€On€November€14,Ï1996,€Defendant€entered€a€òònolo€contendereóó€plea€to€Counts€One€and€Two.€ÏConsistent€with€the€plea€agreement,€Counts€Three€and€Four€dealing€with€theÏAugust€10,€1994,€event€were€dismissed.€€Nonetheless,€Defendant€denied€guilt€asÏto€all€four€Counts€against€her€at€the€sentencing€hearing.€€Following€the€two„dayÏsentencing€hearing,€the€trial€court€sentenced€Defendant€to€serve€the€agreed„uponÏsix„year€sentence€relating€to€Counts€One€and€Two,€and€denied€DefendantððsÏrequest€that€she€be€given€some€type€of€alternative€sentencing.€€€ÌÌà àIt€is€first€necessary€to€describe€the€nature€of€the€circumstances€surrounding€allÏfour€Counts€against€Defendant€since€the€facts€pertaining€to€all€four€Counts€wereÏbrought€out€at€the€sentencing€hearing.€€Despite€the€fact€that€Counts€Three€and€FourÏwere€dismissed,€the€trial€court€allowed€the€State€to€offer€evidence€on€those€countsÏas€that€evidence€pertained€to€Defendantððs€character.€€Counts€One€and€Two€relateÏto€the€July€26,€1994€incident€in€which€Defendant€purchased€cocaine€from€a€knownÏdrug€dealer,€placed€it€in€an€envelope€where€it€was€then€taped€to€business€papers,Ïand€had€the€papers€and€cocaine€delivered€to€her€husband€in€jail€by€her€husbandððsÏlawyer.€€The€Stateððs€theory€relating€to€Counts€Three€and€Four€involves€DefendantÏdirecting€her€employee,€Donna€Esstman,€to€purchase€a€sweatsuit€and€otherÏclothing€items€for€Defendantððs€husband.€€Defendant€then€placed€cocaine€inside€partÏof€a€latex€glove€and€put€that€latex€piece€inside€a€mended€place€in€the€waist€bandÏof€the€sweatpants.€€On€August€10,€1994,€she€sent€the€clothing€package€to€MichaelÏEvans,€an€inmate€in€the€same€jail€where€Defendantððs€husband€was€incarcerated.€ÏAs€a€result€of€this€last€delivery€of€cocaine,€Defendantððs€husband€overdosed€on€theÏcocaine€and€died.€€The€Stateððs€theory€involved€showing€that€Defendant€had€usedÏa€sewing€machine€to€restitch€the€sweatpants€containing€the€cocaine€and€conspiredÏto€destroy€or€cover€up€that€and€other€evidence€of€criminal€activity.ÌÌà àOn€November€14,€1996,€at€a€hearing€on€Defendantððs€plea€of€òònoloÏcontendereóó€to€Counts€One€and€Two,€the€following€facts€were€established€by€theÏState.€€Sometime€prior€to€May€19,€1994,€Defendantððs€husband€was€arrested€andÏcharged€with€three€counts€of€first„degree€murder,€especially€aggravated€rape,€andÏvarious€drug€charges.€€Prior€to€July€26,€1994,€Defendant€told€employees€of€herÏcompany€that€her€husband€would€never€go€to€trial.€€She€told€Dr.€Kellum,€her€sonððsÏschool€principal,€that€her€husband€was€going€to€commit€suicide€and€that€she€wouldÏreceive€a€large€insurance€settlement.€€On€July€26,€1994,€there€was€a€$580,000€€lifeÏinsurance€policy€in€effect€for€Mr.€Steeples.ÌÌà àAlso€prior€to€July€26,€1994,€Defendant€asked€an€employee,€Don€Vanloon,Ïhow€much€cocaine€it€would€take€to€kill€a€person.€€On€July€25,€1994,€DefendantÏcashed€a€$1,000€check€and€met€with€Fred€Ross,€a€known€drug€dealer,€at€a€localÏmotel.€€On€July€26,€1994,€Mr.€Vanloon€was€working€at€Defendantððs€place€ofÏbusiness€when€Defendant€left€to€meet€with€her€lawyer,€Mark€McDougal.€ÏDefendantððs€husband€called€the€place€of€business€and€told€Mr.€Vanloon€to€tellÏDefendant€not€to€leave€a€certain€package€alone€with€Mark€McDougal.€€On€July€26,Ï1994,€Defendant€drove€Mr.€McDougal€to€the€jail€where€Defendantððs€husband€wasÏincarcerated.€€Defendant€gave€Mr.€McDougal€a€package€containing€someÏbusiness€papers€to€take€to€her€husband.€€Even€though€Mr.€McDougal€had€takenÏbusiness€papers€to€the€jail€by€himself€before,€on€this€occasion€Defendant€insistedÍthat€she€accompany€Mr.€McDougal€to€the€jail.€€Mr.€McDougal€went€in€the€jail€andÏdelivered€the€package€to€Mr.€Steeples.€€Normally,€Mr.€Steeples€would€have€had€aÏconversation€with€Mr.€McDougal,€but€œthis›€time€Mr.€Steeples€took€the€package,€got€aÏcold€drink,€and€returned€to€his€cell.€€Upon€returning€to€his€cell,€Mr.€Steeples€wasÏstopped€and€searched€by€two€guards€who€discovered€cigarettes€taped€in€anÏenvelope.€€Mr.€Steeples€grabbed€the€envelope€from€one€of€the€guards€and€startedÏto€eat€the€envelope€that€contained€white€powder.€€After€he€had€consumed€some€ofÏthe€white€powder€in€the€envelope,€Mr.€Steeples€was€taken€to€a€hospital€forÏtreatment.€€The€white€powder€in€the€envelope€was€cocaine.€€DefendantððsÏfingerprints€were€lifted€from€inside€a€piece€of€tape€used€to€attach€the€envelopeÏcontaining€cocaine€to€the€business€papers.€€ÌÌà àBased€on€the€foregoing€facts,€Defendant€pled€no€contest€to€Counts€One€andÏTwo€in€exchange€for€a€sentence€of€three€years€on€each€count,€to€be€servedÏconsecutively€for€a€total€of€six€years.€€Counts€Three€and€Four€were€dismissed.Ìà àÌà àDefendantððs€sentencing€hearing€was€conducted€over€two€days€in€January,Ï1997.€€Twice€during€the€sentencing€hearing,€the€trial€court€asked€defense€counsel€ifÏDefendant€would€like€to€withdraw€her€plea.€€Both€times,€defense€counsel€talkedÏprivately€with€Defendant,€and€both€times€defense€counsel€stated€that€DefendantÏwanted€to€proceed€with€her€plea.€€The€trial€court€warned€Defendant€that€anyÍuntruthfulness€at€the€hearing€would€affect€her€sentence.€€Defendant€and€eighteenÏother€witnesses€testified€regarding€the€July€and€August€1994€events.€€ÌÌà àEvidence€at€Defendantððs€sentencing€hearing€revealed€that€after€herÏhusbandððs€€arrest€on€the€murder,€rape€and€drug€charges,€Defendant€wrote€a€letterÏdated€April€29,€1994,€to€Dr.€Danny€Kellum,€the€principal€of€a€private€school€that€hadÏexpelled€her€son,€stating€that€ð ðhalf€the€time€we€donððt€even€know€where€he€[Mr.ÏSteeples]€isðð€but€then€praised€her€husband€as€ð ða€wonderful€manðð€who€ð ðdeservesÏthe€respect€of€the€faculty,€staff,€student€body,€and€community.ðð€€She€originallyÏincluded€a€check€for€$75,000€in€the€letter€for€the€schoolððs€new€library€and€wanted€toÏname€the€library€in€honor€of€her€husband.€€However,€she€tore€up€the€check€whenÏthe€school€expelled€her€son.ÌÌà àOn€May€19,€1994,€while€Mr.€Steeples€was€incarcerated,€Defendant€testifiedÏat€her€husbandððs€bond€hearing,€which€was€held€before€the€same€judge€whoÏpresided€over€Defendantððs€sentencing€hearing.€€From€the€record,€it€appears€thatÏDefendantððs€testimony€at€the€bond€hearing€focused€on€her€unwavering€support€ofÏher€husbandððs€release€on€bond€to€get€treatment€for€cocaine€use,€that€she€was€notÏconsidering€divorce,€and€that€she€alleged€that€he€abused€her€in€a€prior€divorce€filingÏbecause€ð ðangry€wives€do€a€lot€of€things.ðð€€She€testified€at€the€bond€hearing€that,Íexcept€for€one€occasion,€she€had€always€known€her€husbandððs€whereaboutsÏwhen€he€was€not€at€home.€€ÌÌà àDefendant€testified€at€the€sentencing€hearing€that€she€did€not€recall€a€meetingÏwith€the€drug€dealer€Fred€Ross.€€Defendant€testified€that€she€knew€a€ð ðFredðð€whoÏowed€her€husband€a€lot€of€money€and€that€she€contacted€this€ð ðFredðð€to€raiseÏmoney€for€her€husbandððs€lawyers.€€Defendant€testified€that€she€did€not€recall€whyÏshe€wrote€a€$1000€check€for€cash€on€July€25,€1994,€the€day€before€DefendantððsÏhusband€ingested€cocaine€the€first€time.€€Defendant€testified€that€she€did€not€recall€aÏconversation€on€April€6,€1995€with€Donna€Esstman€in€which€she€stated€she€hadÏtold€investigating€authorities€she€did€not€know€Fred€Ross.€€The€Stateððs€attorneyÏread€the€following€from€a€recording€of€an€April€6,€1995€conversation€between€Ms.ÏEsstman€and€Defendant:ÌÓÓà à(Defendant):à àà àð ðWhen€they€showed€me€this€picture€of€Fred,€I€just€flatÏà àà àà àà àà àout€told€them€that€I€had€never€seen€this€personÏà àà àà àà àà àbefore€in€my€life.€€I€donððt€recognize€him€at€all.ððÌà àà àà àà àÌà à(Esstman):à àà àà àð ðDo€they€know€who€he€is?ððÌà àÌà à(Defendant):à àà àð ðThey€know€who€he€is;€but,€they€canððt€get€anyÏà àà àà àà àà àevidence€on€him.ððÌÌÓÓDefendant€testified€at€her€sentencing€hearing€that€she€did€not€recall€thatÏconversation.Ìà àÌà àWhen€questioned€about€a€recording€of€a€conversation€that€she€had€with€Ms.ÏEsstman€on€April€3,€1995,€Defendant€denied€that€the€recording€revealed€that€sheÏwas€encouraging€Ms.€Esstman€ð ðto€deny€everythingðð€to€the€authorities.€€DefendantÏtestified€that€what€she€was€encouraging€Ms.€Esstman€to€deny€was€ð ða€whole€lot€ofÏstuff€that€sheððs€got€built€up€in€her€head.€.€.€She€has€a€lot€of€emotional€problems.ðð€ÏDefendant€testified€that€the€sewing€machine€that€they€discussed€on€the€tape€hadÏbelonged€to€an€ex„employee€and€was€taken€from€the€office€by€Ms.€Esstman.€ÏDefendant€testified€that€she€did€not€know€anything€about€sewing€done€on€theÏsweat€pants€that€were€delivered€in€August€1994€to€her€husband€in€jail.€€She€furtherÏdenied€using€the€sewing€machine€ð ðfor€any€criminal€intent.ðð€€Defendant€testified€thatÏthe€sweatsuit,€socks€and€underwear€she€sent€Ms.€Esstman€to€purchase€were€forÏher€son€and€not€for€her€husband.ÌÌà àDefendant€testified€that€her€fingerprints€were€on€the€tape€attaching€theÏenvelope€containing€cocaine€to€the€business€papers€because€she€had€wrappedÏthe€tape€around€a€pencil€so€that€her€husband€could€repair€his€broken€glasses.€ÏDefendant€testified€that€she€did€not€know€who€put€drugs€in€that€package€deliveredÏto€her€husband€on€July€26,€1994.€€She€testified€that€she€drove€Mr.€McDougal€to€theÏjail€because€it€was€raining€hard€that€day.€€She€further€testified€that€the€only€reasonÏher€husband€left€her€a€message€not€to€leave€the€package€with€Mr.€McDougal€wasÏout€of€concern€that€he€might€not€deliver€it€immediately.ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€questioned€Defendant€about€her€statement€in€the€pre„sentenceÏreport€charging€that€Detectives€Pridemore€and€Postiglione,€who€were€investigatingÏthe€charges€against€her€husband,€had€threatened€her€with€destruction€of€herÏbusiness.€€Specifically,€she€stated€in€the€pre„sentence€report€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à€I€pled€ððno€contest.ðð€€My€greatest€crime€was€being€marriedÏto€Tom€Steeples.€€When€he€died€before€going€to€trial,€theÏsystem€wanted€blood€and€could€find€it€by€pursuing€meÏand€the€business.€€The€2€detectives€vowed€they€wouldÏdestroy€both€me€and€my€business.€€They€have!€€TheyÏstood€in€front€of€my€business€and€swore€I€would€be€theÏnext€notch€on€their€belt.€€I€was!€€They€said€no€one€wouldÏdo€business€with€someone€accused€of€murder€whetherÏconvicted€or€not.€€They€were€right!€€They€bragged€aboutÏbringing€down€a€large€BP€Station€and€said€I€would€beÏnext.€€I€was!€€My€husband€was€not€searched€before€heÏcame€down.€€He€brought€a€large€9€x€12€white€envelopeÏdown€with€him.€€It€contained€the€drugs€I€was€accused€ofÏsending€in€to€him.Ìà àÌÓÓà àÌà àAt€the€sentencing€hearing,€Defendant€stated€that€this€was€her€ð ðscenarioðð€ofÏthe€charges€against€her.€€Defendant€testified€further€that€the€officers€had,€in€fact,Ïthreatened€to€destroy€her€business.ÌÌà àDetective€Postiglione€testified€that€after€Defendantððs€husband€became€aÏsuspect,€that€he€and€Detective€Pridemore€went€to€Defendantððs€place€of€businessÏto€try€to€speak€to€her€because€her€husband€had€disappeared€and€officers€wereÍunable€to€locate€him.€€When€the€detectives€attempted€to€speak€with€Defendant€inÏfront€of€her€place€of€business,€she€was€hostile€and€refused€to€speak€to€DetectiveÏPostiglione.€€She€eventually€became€verbally€abusive€to€both€officers.€€According€toÏPostiglione,€neither€he€nor€Pridemore€threatened€Defendant€with€destroying€eitherÏher€or€her€business.ÌÌà àÌà àMichael€Evans,€a€fellow€inmate€of€Mr.€Steeples,€testified€that€on€August€10,Ï1994,€he€received€a€package€containing€underwear,€socks,€and€a€sweatsuit€thatÏwas€delivered€to€the€jail€after€he€had€spoken€to€Defendant€on€the€phone.€€After€Mr.ÏEvans€received€the€package,€he€told€Mr.€Steeples€where€the€package€was€andÏleft€to€take€a€shower.€€About€two€and€a€half€hours€later,€Mr.€Steeples€was€foundÏdead€from€a€cocaine€overdose.€€ÌÌà àMs.€Esstman€testified€that€Defendant€stated€repeatedly€that€her€husbandÏwould€never€go€to€trial.€€Prior€to€Mr.€Steeplesðð€death,€Defendant€asked€Ms.ÏEsstman€to€purchase€a€white€two„piece€sweatsuit,€some€white€tube€socks€andÏsome€mens€underwear.€€Defendant€told€Ms.€Esstman€that€these€items€were€to€beÏsent€to€Mr.€Steeples€as€a€care€package.ÌÌà àBefore€Mr.€Steeplesðð€death,€Ms.€Esstman€went€with€Defendant€to€meet€anÏindividual€named€Fred€at€the€Days€Inn€on€Trinity€Lane.€€Prior€to€this€meeting,ÏDefendant€and€Ms.€Esstman€had€gone€to€a€NationsBank€where€DefendantÏcashed€a€check.€€Around€the€time€that€these€events€were€taking€place,€Ms.ÏEsstman€estimated€that€Defendant€received€more€than€a€dozen€phone€calls€atÏwork€from€a€person€named€Fred.ÌÌà àMs.€Esstman€further€testified€that€on€the€day€of€Mr.€Steeplesðð€death,ÏDefendant€received€a€phone€call€from€her€husband€that€morning.€€After€the€phoneÏcall,€Defendant€seemed€distraught€and€emotional.€€After€Defendant€was€notified€ofÏher€husbandððs€death,€she€told€Ms.€Esstman€that€it€was€over€and€that€she€hadÏdone€what€her€husband€had€wanted€her€to€do.ÌÌà àShortly€after€her€husbandððs€death,€Defendant€delivered€a€sewing€machine€toÏMs.€Esstman€and€asked€her€to€keep€it€in€the€trunk€of€her€car.€€Eventually€Ms.ÏEsstman€called€the€police€and€turned€the€sewing€machine€over€to€them.€€Ms.ÏEsstman€testified€that€she€soon€began€cooperating€with€the€authorities€in€theirÏattempt€to€get€tapes€to€corroborate€the€meetings€with€Fred,€the€purchase€of€theÏclothes,€and€the€matter€of€the€sewing€machine.ÌÌà àJohn€Lowery,€a€pressman€who€had€worked€for€Defendant,€testified€that€onÏApril€6,€1995,€Defendant€asked€him€and€another€employee€to€go€to€Ms.€EsstmanððsÏhouse€to€get€a€sewing€machine.€€At€that€time€Mr.€Lowery€was€aware€that€theÏpolice€already€had€the€sewing€machine€and€that€Ms.€Esstman€was€cooperatingÏwith€the€police.€€Mr.€Lowery€told€the€authorities€that€Defendant€was€planning€toÏdestroy€or€hide€evidence.€€Defendant€testified€that€she€did€not€recall€telling€Mr.ÏLowery€to€get€the€sewing€machine€from€Ms.€€Esstman.€€ÌÌà àDetective€Postiglione€testified€that€a€pair€of€cotton€sweatpants,€some€mensÏunderwear,€and€white€tube€socks€were€found€in€Mr.€Steeplesðð€jail€cell€after€hisÏdeath.€€He€testified€that€no€cocaine€residue€was€found€on€the€clothes€but€that€theÏsweatpants€had€a€rip€in€the€area€where€the€string€would€normally€be€tied€and€thatÏa€piece€of€latex€glove€was€found€close€to€Mr.€Steeplesðð€body.€€ÌÌà à€€Defendant€offered€proof€that€she€has€no€prior€arrest€record€or€priorÏconvictions.€€She€also€testified€that€she€has€worked€her€entire€adult€life.€€She€hasÏowned€her€own€business€for€twenty€years.€Defendant€resides€with€her€two€childrenÏin€Mt.€Juliet,€Tennessee.€€Defendant€offered€proof€that€she€participates€in€schoolÏactivities€with€her€sixteen€year€old€son,€including€football€games€and€fundraisers€forÏthe€school€and€the€football€team.€€Defendant€served€on€committees€at€herÏdaughterððs€school€as€well.€€A€former€teacher€of€her€son€testified€that€DefendantÍnever€acted€inappropriately€or€contrary€to€the€best€interest€of€the€children.€€TheÏteacher€also€testified€that€it€would€be€devastating€if€the€son€lost€another€parent.€ÌÌà àDefendant€testified€at€length€about€the€physical€abuse€she€suffered€from€herÏhusband.€€She€testified€that€her€husband€had€broken€many€of€her€bones€in€theÏpast€and€that€many€of€the€beatings€occurred€in€front€of€her€children.€€She€said€thatÏher€children€had€to€call€the€police€on€several€occasions.€€Defendant€testified€that€herÏhusband€told€her€if€she€didnððt€stay€with€him€that€he€would€kill€the€children€in€front€ofÏher,€and€that€he€would€then€kill€her.€€After€her€husband€was€incarcerated,ÏDefendant€said€that€he€continued€to€call€her€and€threaten€the€children€if€she€did€notÏaccept€his€phone€calls.ÌÌà àDr.€Scott€Fairchild,€a€licensed€clinical€psychologist,€testified€on€behalf€of€theÏdefense.€€After€pleading€òònolo€contendereóó,€Defendant€sought€counseling€from€him€onÏthree€occasions.€€Dr.€Fairchild€testified€that€people€who€get€into€abusiveÏrelationships€tend€to€repeat€them€and€that€he€was€not€surprised€that€DefendantÏhad€tried€to€help€her€abusive€husband€get€out€of€jail€on€bond.€€He€went€on€to€sayÏthat€he€believes€that€if€the€Defendant€is€not€allowed€treatment€then€she€could€againÏbe€involved€in€criminal€activity.ÌÌà àHer€son,€John€Steeples,€testified€that€he€had€seen€his€father€abuseÏDefendant.€€He€recalled€one€incident€when€he€stepped€in€between€his€mom€andÏdad€to€break€up€the€fight.€€He€said€that€he€had€called€the€police€to€prevent€theÏabuse€on€other€occasions.ÌÌà àThe€pastor€of€Defendantððs€church€testified€that€a€strong€bond€exists€betweenÏDefendant€and€her€children.€€He€said€that€Defendant€was€devoted€to€her€childrenÏand€that€he€had€seen€no€evidence€that€Defendant€would€be€a€threat€to€otherÏmembers€of€society.€€The€church€administrative€assistant€also€testified€and€saidÏthat€Defendant€did€attend€church€and€that€she€had€never€seen€DefendantÏengaged€in€any€criminal€behavior.€€ÌÌà àA€longtime€friend€of€Defendant,€Ellis€Green,€testified€that€he€had€knownÏDefendant€since€1974.€€He€said€that€he€had€never€seen€Defendant€try€to€hurtÏanyone€either€physically€or€emotionally.€€He€further€said€that€the€public€would€beÏsafe€if€Defendant€was€put€on€probation.ÌÌà àDefendantððs€bankruptcy€attorney€testified€that€Defendantððs€company€wasÏviable€as€of€1994.€€However,€after€her€husband€was€incarcerated€in€1994,€theÏcompany€began€to€falter.€€Defendant€put€in€$500,000€to€try€and€save€theÍcompany,€but€it€still€failed.€€Defendant€used€her€husbandððs€life€insurance€proceedsÏto€try€and€save€the€business,€but€she€eventually€had€to€file€for€bankruptcy.ÌÌà àBecause€the€State€and€Defendant€agreed€upon€the€length€and€consecutiveÏnature€of€the€sentences,€Defendantððs€only€issue€in€this€appeal€is€the€manner€ofÏservice€of€the€six„year€sentence.€€A€defendant€who€ð ðis€an€especially€mitigated€orÏstandard€offender€convicted€of€a€Class€C,€D€or€E€felony€is€presumed€to€be€aÏfavorable€candidate€for€alternative€sentencing€options€in€the€absence€of€evidenceÏto€the€contrary.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„102(6).€€Our€sentencing€law€alsoÏprovides€that€ð ðconvicted€felons€committing€the€most€severe€offenses,€possessingÏcriminal€histories€evincing€a€clear€disregard€for€the€laws€and€morals€of€society,€andÏevincing€failure€of€past€efforts€at€rehabilitation€shall€be€given€first€priority€regardingÏsentencing€involving€incarceration.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„102(5).€€Thus,€aÏdefendant€sentenced€to€eight€years€or€less€who€is€not€an€offender€for€whomÏincarceration€is€a€priority€is€presumed€eligible€for€alternative€sentencing€unlessÏsufficient€evidence€rebuts€the€presumption.€€However,€the€Act€does€not€provide€thatÏall€offenders€who€meet€the€criteria€are€entitled€to€such€relief;€rather,€it€requires€thatÏsentencing€issues€be€determined€by€the€facts€and€circumstances€presented€inÏeach€case.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Tayloróó,€744€S.W.2d€919,€922€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1987).ÌÌà àAdditionally,€the€principles€of€sentencing€reflect€that€the€sentence€should€beÏno€greater€than€that€deserved€for€the€offense€committed€and€should€be€the€leastÏsevere€measure€necessary€to€achieve€the€purposes€for€which€the€sentence€isÏimposed.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„103(3)„(4).€€The€court€should€also€consider€theÏpotential€for€rehabilitation€or€treatment€of€the€defendant€in€determining€the€sentenceÏalternative.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„103(5).ÌÌà àWhen€imposing€a€sentence€of€total€confinement,€our€Criminal€SentencingÏReform€Act€requires€the€trial€court€to€base€its€decision€on€the€considerations€set€forthÏin€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€40„35„103.€€These€considerations€whichÏmilitate€against€alternative€sentencing€include:€the€need€to€protect€society€byÏrestraining€a€defendant€having€a€long€history€of€criminal€conduct,€whetherÏconfinement€is€particularly€appropriate€to€effectively€deter€others€likely€to€commit€aÏsimilar€offense,€the€need€to€avoid€depreciating€the€seriousness€of€the€offense,€andÏthe€need€to€order€confinement€in€cases€in€which€less€restrictive€measures€haveÏœoften€€or›€recently€been€unsuccessfully€applied€to€the€defendant.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïðð€40„35„103(1).ÌÌà àIn€determining€whether€to€grant€probation,€the€judge€must€consider€the€natureÏand€circumstances€of€the€offense,€the€defendantððs€criminal€record,€her€backgroundÏand€social€history,€her€present€condition,€including€her€physical€and€mental€condition,Íthe€deterrent€effect€on€other€criminal€activity,€and€the€likelihood€that€probation€is€in€theÏbest€interests€of€both€the€public€and€the€defendant.€€œòòStiller€v.›€Stateóó,€516€œS.W.2dÌ617,›€620€(1974).€€The€burden€is€on€the€Defendant€to€show€that€the€sentence€sheÏreceived€is€improper€and€that€she€is€entitled€to€probation.€€òòState€v.€Ashbyóó,€823ÏS.W.2d€166,€169€(Tenn.€1991).€€Grants€or€œdenials›€for€probation€and€other€types€ofÏalternative€sentencing€are€reviewed€òòde€novoóó€with€a€presumption€of€correctness.€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„401(d);€òòState€v.€Byrdóó,€861€S.W.2d€377€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Ï1993).€€This€presumption€is€ð ðconditioned€upon€the€affirmative€showing€in€the€recordÏthat€the€trial€court€considered€the€sentencing€principles€and€all€relevant€facts€andÏcircumstances.ðð€€òòAshbyóó,€823€S.W.2d€at€169.€€€ÌÌà àIn€the€instant€case,€the€trial€court€determined€that€regardless€of€DefendantððsÏpersistent€denial€of€guilt,€there€was€a€factual€basis€for€finding€guilt.€€Further,€the€trialÏcourt€recited€numerous€incidences€where€Defendantððs€sworn€testimony€was€notÏtruthful.€€Finally,€the€trial€court€observed€that,€in€light€of€the€severity€of€the€chargesÏagainst€her,€Defendant€was€given€considerable€lenience€in€the€plea€agreement.€ÏAfter€considering€all€of€the€foregoing,€the€trial€court€concluded€that€Defendant€shouldÏspend€her€six„year€sentence€incarcerated€in€order€to€deter€others€from€smugglingÏdrugs€into€prisons,€to€avoid€depreciating€the€seriousness€of€the€offense,€and€toÏœavoid€inequities›€in€sentencing.€€After€a€careful€review€of€the€record,€we€find€that€theÍtrial€court€properly€considered€the€sentencing€principles,€and€therefore,€our€review€willÏbe€òòde€novoóó€with€a€presumption€of€correctness.ÌÌà àThe€Defendantððs€two€convictions€are€Class€C€felonies.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðððð€39„11„403;€39„16„201(b).€€She€was€sentenced€as€a€Range€I€StandardÏOffender€to€three€years€for€each€count.€€There€is€a€statutory€presumption€that€theÏDefendant€is€eligible€for€probation€as€to€these€convictions.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÏ40„35„102(6).€€However,€the€trial€court€denied€her€request€for€probation€on€theseÏcounts.ÌÌà àWe€agree€with€the€trial€court€that€Defendant€should€not€be€granted€probationÏfor€her€convictions€on€Counts€One€and€Two.€€Defendant€does€have€an€excellentÏwork€history€and€social€history.€€She€has€never€been€convicted€of€another€crime.€ÏHowever,€we€must€emphasize€the€seriousness€of€this€crime.€€Defendant€illegallyÏsent€cocaine€to€her€husband€in€prison,€apparently€with€the€intentions€of€allowingÏher€husband€to€overdose€on€the€drug€so€he€would€not€have€to€stand€trial.€€Also,Ïsince€her€husbandððs€insurance€policy€apparently€did€not€have€a€ð ðsuicide€clause,ððÏDefendant€was€able€to€collect€more€than€a€half€million€dollars€as€a€result€of€herÏhusbandððs€death.€€The€circumstances€of€an€offense€may€be€an€appropriate€factorÏfor€the€denial€of€probation.€€òòState€v.€Wisemanóó,€643€S.W.2d€354€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Í1982).€€We€conclude€that€the€circumstances€of€this€offense€alone€are€likely€enoughÏto€support€the€denial€of€probation.€€ÌÌà àUntruthfulness€or€lack€of€candor€may€also€be€an€appropriate€consideration€toÏdeny€probation€because€it€reflects€poorly€upon€a€defendantððs€potential€œforÏrehabilitation.›€€òòState€v.€Bunchóó,€646€S.W.2d€158€(Tenn.€1993).€€Defendant€did€notÏaccept€blame€for€any€of€her€actions,€even€in€the€face€of€overwhelming€evidenceÏthat€she€did€in€fact€commit€the€offenses.€€For€example,€Defendantððs€denial€that€sheÏknew€her€husband€was€planning€to€commit€suicide€was€not€credible€based€on€theÏevidence.€€The€record€showed€that€Defendant€had€told€several€people€that€herÏhusband€would€never€go€to€trial€and€that€when€she€learned€of€his€death,€sheÏstated€ð ðIððm€free.ðð€€Defendantððs€testimony€regarding€her€helplessness€in€the€face€ofÏher€œhusbandððs›€abuse€was€also€unconvincing€to€the€trial€court.€€As€the€trial€judgeÏpointed€out,€Defendant€was€extremely€supportive€of€her€husband€at€his€bondÏhearing€and€her€demeanor€at€that€hearing€was€ð ðimperious,€belligerent,€defensiveÏand€hostile.ðð€€The€court€determined€that€the€hostility€Defendant€exhibited€at€the€bondÏhearing€and€œthe€€statements›€praising€her€husband€in€her€letter€to€Dr.€KellumÏundermined€and€belied€her€insistence€at€the€sentencing€hearing€that€she€was€aÏhelpless€victim€of€her€husbandððs€abuse.€€Defendant€even€wanted€to€give€money€toÏher€sonððs€school€for€a€new€library,€and€wished€to€name€it€in€honor€of€her€husband.ÌÌà àDefendantððs€testimony€that€she€did€not€recall€the€meeting€with€the€drugÏdealer,€Fred€Ross,€was€also€unconvincing.€€The€testimony€of€Donna€Esstman€andÏthe€transcript€of€the€April€6,€1995€conversation€completely€contradict€DefendantððsÏstory.€€The€court€concluded€that€the€evidence€showed€that€the€meeting€did€in€factÏtake€place,€and€as€a€result€of€that€meeting,€Defendant€purchased€cocaine€thatÏwas€later€sent€to€her€husband€in€prison.€€Also,€Defendantððs€explanation€of€herÏadvice€to€Ms.€Esstman€that€ð ðyou€can€.€.€.€strictly€deny€everything€if€you€want€toððÏmeant€that€she€was€urging€Mrs.€Esstman€to€confront€her€psychological€problems€isÏlikewise€unconvincing.€€Furthermore,€Defendantððs€insistence€that€she€knew€nothingÏabout€œtheÌsewing›€machine€or€any€attempt€to€hide€it€from€authorities€is€contradicted€by€theÏtestimony€of€Ms.€Esstman€and€John€Lowery€whose€testimony€regardingÏDefendantððs€efforts€to€hide€evidence€was€absolutely€consistent€with€one€another.ÏAll€of€the€foregoing€facts€point€to€Defendantððs€lack€of€candor€with€the€trial€court€asÏwell€as€her€untruthfulness.ÌÌà àDefendant€claims€that€the€State€introduced€no€evidence€at€her€sentencingÏhearing€regarding€the€July€26,€1994€incident.€€In€fact,€the€testimony€focusing€on€theÏcocaine€purchase€from€Fred€Ross,€the€delivery€of€cocaine€to€the€jail€by€her€lawyer,Ïthe€discovery€of€cocaine€in€the€envelope,€and€the€discovery€of€DefendantððsÏfingerprints€on€the€tape€all€dealt€with€the€July€26,€1994€incident.€€ÌœÌ›Ìà àWe€disagree€also€with€Defendantððs€contention€that€only€an€alternativeÏsentence€ð ðwith€continued€treatment€and€therapyðð€can€benefit€her.€€The€record€justÏdoes€not€support€Defendantððs€claim€that€she€is€actively€or€genuinely€seekingÏtreatment€or€rehabilitation€since€she€did€not€visit€a€psychologist€until€after€she€hadÏentered€her€òònolo€œcontendere€óóplea.›€€ÌÌà àLikewise,€we€also€disagree€with€Defendantððs€contention€that€the€trial€courtÏdenied€her€probation€by€imposing€an€extra„statutory€requirement€for€grantingÏprobation.€€Specifically,€Defendant€argues€that€the€trial€court,€in€essence,€made€aÏdefendant€who€enters€a€òònolo€contendereóó€plea€presumptively€ineligible€for€alternativeÏsentencing.€€However,€the€record€does€not€support€Defendantððs€assertion.€€AsÏpreviously€discussed,€Defendant€was€consistently€evasive€and€untruthful€in€herÏtestimony.€€Defendant€was€also€unrepentant€and€showed€contempt€for€theÏproceeding€in€which€she€testified.€€These€are€all€ample€reasons€for€determining€thatÏDefendant€was€unsuitable€for€alternative€sentencing.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Dykesóó,€803ÏS.W.2d€250€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990).ÌÌà àDefendant€also€requests€that€her€case€be€remanded€to€permit€her€toÏwithdraw€her€òònolo€contendereóó€plea€and€allow€her€a€jury€trial.€€However,€the€trialÍcourt€asked€the€Defendant€two€times€during€the€sentencing€hearing€if€she€would€likeÏto€withdraw€her€plea.€€After€discussion€with€her€counsel€both€times,€she€expressedÏher€decision€to€proceed€with€the€sentencing€hearing€and€with€her€plea€of€òònoloóóÏòòcontendereóó.€€Obviously,€Defendant€did€not€seek€the€relief€which€she€is€now€askingÏat€the€trial€court€and€we€are€precluded€from€entertaining€that€request€absent€plainÏerror.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€McClintockóó,€732€S.W.2d€268€(Tenn.€1987).€€DefendantððsÏattempt€to€seek€relief€beyond€the€issue€presented€in€her€notice€of€appeal,€the€denialÏof€probation€or€other€form€of€alternative€sentence,€cannot€now€be€entertained.€€òòSeeóóÏòòidóó.;€òòseeóó€òòalsoóóTenn.€R.€Crim.€P.€37(b).€ÌÌà àIn€summary,€Defendantððs€overall€demeanor,€including€her€insistence€onÏblaming€other€people€and€her€lack€of€candor€and€truthfulness€to€the€court,€all€militateÏagainst€any€type€of€alternative€sentence.€€ÌÌà àAccordingly,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà à____________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àTHOMAS€T.€WOODALL,€JudgeÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌGARY€R.€WADE,€Presiding€JudgeÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌL.€T.€LAFFERTY,€Special€Judge