An appeal filed in the Court of Criminal Appeals on Valentine's Day (2/14/2020) stems from an aggravated robbery case in Rutherford County.

In 2017, Gregg T. Merrilees and at least two others robbed a hotel in Smyrna. During the incident, a knife was used as a weapon in demanding money from the hotel clerk. The clerks hands were wrapped in duct tape before the trio fled the scene.

It wasn't until 2018 that Merrilees was charged with aggravated robbery in concert with two or more people and especially aggravated kidnapping.

The man was convicted for aggravated robbery in count one and robbery in concert with two or more persons in count two. Merrilees was acquitted of the kidnapping charge, but appealed the courts decision suggesting that the courts should have issued not one, but two continuances after he decided he wanted to switch from a public defender to a private attorney. The subject's response came after the state moved to amend one of the charges he faced prior to conviction. The end result equaled eight years in prison.

On Valentine's Day this past week, the appellant courts filed to agree with the lower court and the case will remain. This of course means that Merrilees will stay behind bars as originally sentenced under the ruling of Rutherford County Judge David Bragg.

Source:

Court of Criminal Appeals At Nashville