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1102, 1107 (1996). Both components of the inquiry must be shown. 

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 697 (1984). 

First, appellant claimed that trial counsel failed to interview 

two of the State's witnesses, failed to investigate appellant's alibi, and 

failed to locate a woman observed on the surveillance video exiting from 

Room 120. Appellant failed to demonstrate deficiency or prejudice as his 

claim was bare and he failed to argue below what a more thorough 

investigation would have revealed. See Molina v. State, 120 Nev. 185, 192, 

87 P.3d 533, 538 (2004). Appellant accepted negotiations at the 

preliminary hearing, thereby eliminating trial counsel's need to 

investigate the case further. Appellant failed to provide any explanation 

for why he entered a guilty plea if he believed he had an alibi. Given the 

witnesses' identification and the surveillance video, appellant failed to 

demonstrate a reasonable probability that he would not have entered a 

guilty plea and would have insisted on going to trial had trial counsel 

investigated his alibi. Therefore, we conclude that the district court did 

not err in denying this claim. 

Second, appellant claimed that his trial counsel was 

ineffective for advising him to waive the preliminary hearing because the 

State's evidence was weak and unreliable. Appellant failed to 

demonstrate deficiency or prejudice. Appellant failed to demonstrate that 

the State would not have been able to satisfy its burden of establishing 

probable cause for the crimes alleged in the criminal complaint. See NRS 

171.206. Appellant received a substantial benefit as he avoided the oldervictim enhancement, a charge of burglary, and potential habitual criminal 

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adjudication. Therefore, we conclude that the district court did not err in 

denying this claim. 

Third, appellant claimed that his trial counsel coerced his 

guilty plea by telling him that he could spend the rest of his life in prison, 

telling him that he would lose if he went to trial, telling him that he could 

be part of an in-patient program and receive probation, and telling his 

mother-in-law that he would get a sentence of 2 to 5 years. Appellant 

failed to demonstrate deficiency or prejudice. Candid advice about the 

consequences of a conviction and the strength of the State's case is not 

deficient. Appellant was eligible for large habitual criminal treatment, 

and thus, he faced a potential life sentence. In entering his plea, appellant 

indicated that he was not promised anything not included in the guilty 

plea agreement and he was not acting under duress or coercion. 

Therefore, we conclude that the district court did not err in denying this 

claim. 

Fourth, appellant claimed that his trial counsel was ineffective 

because he had a conflict of interest. Appellant claimed that his trial 

counsel was unable to negotiate with the deputy district attorney because 

of an alleged personal relationship between the two attorneys. Appellant 

failed to demonstrate that his counsel's performance was deficient or that 

he was prejudiced. Appellant negotiated a guilty plea prior to the 

preliminary hearing and the record indicates that a different attorney 

from the district attorney's office represented the State during the 

proceedings in the justice court. Appellant failed to demonstrate that an 

actual conflict of interest adversely affected the performance of his 

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J. 

counsel. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 692; Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 

348 (1980); Leonard v. State, 117 Nev. 53, 63, 17 P.3d 397, 404 (2001). 

Finally, appellant claimed that cumulative deficiencies in his 

counsel's performance warranted relief. Because appellant failed to 

demonstrate any deficiencies, appellant failed to demonstrate cumulative 

error. Accordingly, we 

ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED. 

)F4a , J 

Douglas 

Saitta 

cc: Hon. Kathleen E. Delaney, District Judge 

Willie James Lemons, Jr. 

Attorney General/Carson City 

Clark County District Attorney 

Eighth District Court Clerk 

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