STATE OF TENNESSEE v. ROBERT JOSEPH ATKINS - Articles

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STATE OF TENNESSEE v. ROBERT JOSEPH ATKINS

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Aug 11, 2025

Court: TN Court of Criminal Appeals

Attorneys 1: Tyler Mark Caviness, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Robert Joseph Atkins.

Attorneys 2: Jonathan Skrmetti, Attorney General and Reporter; William C. Lundy, Assistant Attorney General; Charme P. Allen, District Attorney General; and Teddy Ryan and Sean McDermott, Assistant District Attorneys General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

Judge(s): MCMULLEN

A Knox County jury convicted the Defendant, Robert Joseph Atkins, of delivery of a Schedule I controlled substance (acetylfentanyl) within 1,000 feet of a drug-free zone and delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance (fentanyl) within 1,000 feet of a drug-free zone. On appeal, the Defendant argues: (1) the trial court erred by admitting his statements to law enforcement because new testimony at trial corroborated his claim that his statements were involuntary; (2) the trial court failed to properly instruct the jury on the inference of casual exchange and the order of consideration; and (3) the evidence is insufficient to sustain his convictions. Upon review, we affirm.

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