Opinion
No. 03C01-9803-CR-00118.
March 13, 2000.
Appeal from Hamilton County, Hon. Douglas A. Meyer Judge, (Direct Appeal — D.U.I. Third Offense).
AFFIRMED PURSUANT TO RULE 20
FOR THE APPELLANT: ROBERT D. LAWSON, JR., 1200 First Tennessee Bldg., 701 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402-4889.
FOR THE APPELLEE: PAUL G. SUMMERS, Attorney General and Reporter, MARVIN S. BLAIR, JR., Assistant Attorney General, 425 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243-0493, BILL COX, District Attorney General, PARKE MASTERSON, Assistant District Attorney, City and County Courts Building, Chattanooga, TN 37402.
ORDER
Paul Raymond Osborn, the defendant and appellant, was convicted by a Hamilton County jury for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, third offense. Following the verdict, the jury imposed a fine of ten-thousand dollars. The trial court then held a sentencing hearing, after which the trial court sentenced the defendant to eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days in jail, revoked his driving privileges for three (3) years, ordered his participation in an alcohol rehabilitation program, and approved the ten-thousand dollar fine imposed by the jury. On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court's imposition of a ten-thousand dollar fine, the maximum fine for a D.U.I., third offense, was excessive. Due to the insufficiency of the record on appeal, we are unable to determine whether the trial court erred. Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the trial court pursuant to Rule 20 of the Court of Criminal Appeals.
On appeal, the burden is on the appealing party to show that the sentencing is improper. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-35-401(d), -402(d), Sentencing Commission Comments. In order to satisfy that burden, the defendant has a duty to prepare a record that conveys a fair, accurate and complete account of what transpired with respect to the issue presented for review.State v. Ballard, 855 S.W.2d 557, 560-61 (Tenn. 1993). When the record is incomplete and does not contain a transcript of the proceedings relevant to the issue presented for review, the appellate court is precluded from considering the issue.Id. Instead, the appellate court must conclusively presume the ruling of the trial court was correct. State v. Griffis, 964 S.W.2d 577, 593 (Tenn.Crim.App. 1997). In this case, we are unable to review the trial court's sentencing procedure, because the appellant has failed to provide a transcript of the sentencing hearing on appeal. Thus, we must assume that the trial court complied with the purposes of the Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989 when it imposed the maximum fine on the defendant. Finally, we note that although the fine imposed was the maximum allowed, it was authorized by the statute. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-403. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's judgment pursuant to Rule 20, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. Appellant may remain on bond, with a twenty-five percent increase, pending appeal to the Supreme Court. Costs of this appeal will be paid by the Appellant.
Jerry L. Smith, Judge.
CONCUR: Joe G. Riley, Judge, Norma Mcgee Ogle, Judge.