Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 1 of 11

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), 

this Memorandum Decision shall not be 

regarded as precedent or cited before any 

court except for the purpose of establishing 

the defense of res judicata, collateral 

estoppel, or the law of the case.

APPELLANT PRO SE

DeJuan McIntyre

Michigan City, Indiana

I N T H E

COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

DeJuan McIntyre,

Appellant-Defendant,

v.

State of Indiana,

Appellee-Plaintiff.

February 19, 2016

Court of Appeals Case No.

49A02-1504-PC-256

Appeal from the Marion Superior 

Court

The Honorable Kurt Eisgruber, 

Judge

Trial Court Cause No.

49G01-1407-PC-37582 and 49G01-

0712-PC-259671

Altice, Judge.

Case Summary
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[1] DeJuan McIntyre appeals from the denial of his petition for post-conviction 

relief (PCR). On appeal, he asserts that the post-conviction court erred in 

rejecting his claims of ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel.

[2] We affirm.

Facts & Procedural History

[3] The facts underlying McIntyre’s convictions were set forth by this court in an 

unpublished memorandum decision on direct appeal as follows:

McIntyre and Amy Silva dated “[o]ff and on for about three and 

a half years.” The relationship ended on November 25, 2007. 

On November 28, 2007, McIntyre went to Silva’s workplace. 

McIntyre was angry and asked Silva if he could look in her car. 

Silva opened her trunk and told McIntyre that there was no need 

for him to be at her workplace. McIntyre told Silva that 

“everything was just going to be taken care of.” McIntyre then 

walked back to his vehicle, pulled back around, and yelled at 

Silva’s coworker, “you work with a crazy bitch and everything’s 

going to be taken care of, don’t worry about it....” Silva was 

afraid and went downtown to file a protective order.

On November 29, 2007, McIntyre called Silva’s cell phone 

multiple times while she was at work. Silva answered one of the 

calls, and McIntyre “started screaming and yelling” at her. 

McIntyre said, “Bitch, you think this is a fucking game. This is 

not a game. I’m going to kill you.” Silva called the police and 

reported the incident.

On the evening of November 30, 2007, Silva, Silva’s children, 

and John Gaines, a family friend, were in Silva’s apartment. 

Someone knocked on the door to the apartment, and Silva 
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looked through the peephole but did not see anyone. After 

another knock, Silva again looked through the peephole and saw 

McIntyre standing to the side. Silva called the “on-site sheriff.” 

McIntyre said that he was the police and knocked continuously 

on the door. McIntyre kicked the door and the door framing 

cracked. McIntyre kicked the door again and the door flew open.

McIntyre came into the apartment with a butcher knife and said 

that he wanted to talk to Silva. McIntyre was holding the knife 

with the blade facing outward. Gaines told McIntyre that he 

could talk to Silva but he did not need the knife. McIntyre set the 

knife down for a “split second” and then picked it up. McIntyre 

led Gaines and Silva’s son toward the back bedroom.

In a “split second,” McIntyre “lunged” forward toward Silva. 

Gaines then grabbed McIntyre, and Gaines and Silva’s son 

attempted to hold McIntyre back, but McIntyre struck Silva in 

the head with the blade of the knife. McIntyre and Gaines 

“tussled a little bit,” and McIntyre eventually left. Silva suffered 

a “laceration or a bleeding wound to her head,” and Gaines 

suffered a “very large laceration to the back of the scalp.” 

McIntyre v. State, No. 49A05-0902-CR-56, slip op. at *1 (Dec. 8, 2009) (record 

citations omitted). McIntyre was ultimately convicted of burglary as a class A 

felony, two counts of battery as a class C felony (one count for battering Silva 

and another for battering Gaines), and two counts of domestic battery as a class 

D felony against Silva.

[4] On direct appeal, McIntyre challenged the sufficiency of the evidence 

supporting his burglary conviction and his conviction for battering Gaines. He 

also argued that his convictions violated the prohibition against double 
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jeopardy. This court concluded that the State presented sufficient evidence to 

support the convictions, but that McIntyre’s convictions ran afoul of double 

jeopardy protections. The court therefore vacated McIntyre’s convictions for 

domestic battery and battery against Silva. McIntyre’s convictions for class A 

felony burglary and class C felony battery against Gaines remained 

undisturbed. 

[5] McIntyre filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief (PCR) on September 

17, 2010, which he amended on February 22, 2012, and May 13, 2013. In the 

petition, McIntyre alleged that he received ineffective assistance of both trial 

and appellate counsel. The post-conviction court held evidentiary hearings on 

November 19, 2013, and February 25, 2014, after which the court took the 

matter under advisement. On April 15, 2015, the post-conviction court issued 

its order denying McIntyre’s PCR petition. McIntyre now appeals.

Discussion & Decision

[6] As an initial matter, we note that McIntyre is proceeding pro se on appeal.1 Pro 

se litigants are held to the same standard as trained counsel and are required to 

follow procedural rules. Smith v. State, 38 N.E.3d 218, 220 (Ind. Ct. App. 

2015). McIntyre’s appellate brief is littered with misquotations of the record, 

 

1 We also note that the State has not filed a brief in this matter. Accordingly, McIntyre will prevail on appeal 

if he makes a prima facie case of error. See Sims v. State, 771 N.E.2d 734, 737 n.1 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. 

denied. “However, this circumstance in no way relieves us of our obligation to decide the law as applied to 

the facts in the record in order to determine whether reversal is required.” Id.
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and McIntyre repeatedly omits portions of quotations without noting the 

alteration. Moreover, McIntyre attributes quotes to his appellate counsel that 

do not appear anywhere in the record.2 McIntyre’s pro se status does not 

excuse his multiple mischaracterizations of the record. 

[7] Turning now to the merits of McIntyre’s appeal, we note that in a postconviction proceeding, the petitioner bears the burden of establishing grounds 

for relief by a preponderance of the evidence. Bethea v. State, 983 N.E.2d 1134, 

1138 (Ind. 2013). “When appealing the denial of post-conviction relief, the 

petitioner stands in the position of one appealing from a negative judgment.” 

Id. (quoting Fisher v. State, 810 N.E.2d 674, 679 (Ind. 2004)). In order to 

prevail, the petitioner must demonstrate that the evidence as a whole leads 

unerringly and unmistakably to a conclusion opposite the post-conviction 

court’s conclusion. Id. Although we do not defer to a post-conviction court’s 

legal conclusions, we will reverse its findings and judgment only upon a 

showing of clear error, i.e., “that which leaves us with a definite and firm 

conviction that a mistake has been made.” Id. (quoting Ben-Yisrayl v. State, 729 

N.E.2d 102, 106 (Ind. 2000)).

1. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel

 

2 According to McIntyre, when asked whether she had read a specific case, appellate counsel testified that she 

“was not aware of that case when preparing the brief[.]” Appellant’s Brief at 15. Appellate counsel said no 

such thing. Instead, she testified that she had no specific recollection of whether she read the case, but “if the 

case was available, [she] probably read it[.]” PCR Transcript at 39. 
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[8] A petitioner will prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel only 

upon a showing that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of 

reasonableness and that the deficient performance prejudiced the petitioner. 

Bethea, 983 N.E.2d at 1138. To satisfy the first element, the petitioner must 

demonstrate deficient performance, which is “representation that fell below an 

objective standard of reasonableness, committing errors so serious that the 

defendant did not have the ‘counsel’ guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment.” Id.

(quoting McCary v. State, 761 N.E.2d 389, 392 (Ind. 2002)). To satisfy the 

second element, the petitioner must show prejudice, which is “a reasonable 

probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would 

have been different.” Id. at 1139. “A reasonable probability is one that is 

sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Kubsch v. State, 934 

N.E.2d 1138, 1147 (Ind. 2010) (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 

694 (1984)). Because a petitioner must prove both deficient performance and 

prejudice in order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the 

failure to prove either element defeats such a claim. See Young v. State, 746 

N.E.2d 920, 927 (Ind. 2001) (holding that because the two elements of 

Strickland are separate and independent inquiries, the court may dispose of the 

claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice if it is easier). 

[9] McIntyre first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to 

the introduction of evidence prohibited under Ind. Evidence Rule 404(b). 

However, our review of the record reveals that trial counsel did object to the 
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introduction of this evidence on that basis at both a pretrial hearing and during 

trial. McIntyre’s argument in this regard is therefore meritless. 

[10] Next, McIntyre argues that his first, privately-hired trial counsel was ineffective 

for withdrawing due to McIntyre’s failure to fulfill his financial obligations. 

McIntyre’s private counsel filed his motion to withdraw nearly eight months 

before the case was tried, and the trial court appointed the Public Defender 

Agency to represent McIntyre on the same day it granted private counsel’s 

motion to withdraw. McIntyre has made no attempt to explain any prejudice 

he suffered as a result of private counsel’s withdrawal. Accordingly, he has not 

established trial counsel ineffectiveness on this basis.

[11] McIntyre also argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to 

communicate a plea offer to him. The post-conviction court rejected this claim, 

finding that McIntyre had failed to produce any evidence that a plea offer was 

made. The only evidence in the record supporting McIntyre’s claim that a plea 

offer was made is a statement of the prosecuting attorney at a pretrial hearing, 

at which McIntyre was present, that she had emailed defense counsel a plea 

offer the previous day. At the time of the PCR hearing, defense counsel could 

not recall whether he had received a plea offer. 

[12] Even if we assume that the State made a plea offer and that defense counsel 

failed to communicate that offer to McIntyre, we still conclude that McIntyre 

has not established that trial counsel was ineffective. In Dew v. State, this court 

held that defense attorneys have a duty to inform their clients of proffered plea 
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agreements, and failure to do so constitutes ineffective assistance of trial 

counsel if the defendant can establish “that counsel acted unreasonably by 

failing to inform him of the plea offer and that, but for counsel’s actions, there 

was a reasonable probability that he would have accepted the plea offer.” 843 

N.E.2d 556, 569 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006), trans. denied. McIntyre has wholly failed 

to introduce any evidence establishing a reasonable probability that he would 

have accepted the plea offer had he been aware of it. Indeed, he has not even 

introduced evidence concerning the substance of the purported plea offer. 

Accordingly, McIntyre has not made the requisite showing of prejudice. 

[13] McIntyre also argues that trial counsel was ineffective for inadequately 

impeaching one of the State’s witnesses. Specifically, McIntyre asserts that 

counsel should have introduced Gaines’s pretrial deposition into evidence. Our 

review of the record reveals defense counsel sought to admit the deposition into 

evidence as a prior inconsistent statement, but the trial court concluded that the 

deposition itself was inadmissible. Defense counsel was allowed to use the 

deposition to refresh Gaines’s recollection and to impeach his testimony. On 

appeal, McIntyre argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to lay a proper 

foundation for the admission of the deposition. McIntyre has not explained 

how the deposition was admissible or what was required to establish a proper 

foundation. Nor has he included the deposition in the record or made any 

attempt to explain how the substance of the deposition would have aided his 

defense or further undermined Gaines’s credibility. Consequently, McIntyre 
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has failed to establish either deficient performance or prejudice resulting from 

the exclusion of the deposition.

2. Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel

[14] McIntyre also argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to cite 

certain authority in support of the double jeopardy argument presented on 

direct appeal. “The standard by which we review claims of ineffective 

assistance of appellate counsel is the same standard applicable to claims of trial 

counsel ineffectiveness.” Wright v. State, 881 N.E.2d 1018, 1022 (Ind. Ct. App.

2008), trans. denied. Our supreme court has recognized three types of ineffective 

assistance of appellate counsel: (1) denial of access to appeal; (2) failure to raise 

issues that should have been raised; and (3) failure to present issues well. 

Wrinkles v. State, 749 N.E.2d 1179, 1203 (Ind. 2001). McIntyre’s claim falls into 

the third category. Our Supreme Court has noted that “claims of inadequate 

presentation of certain issues, as contrasted with the denial of access to an 

appeal or waiver of issues, are the most difficult for defendants to advance and 

for reviewing tribunals to support.” Holowell v. State, 19 N.E.3d 263, 270 (Ind. 

2014). This is the case because such claims require the reviewing court to 

reexamine specific issues on which it has already ruled to determine “whether 

the new record citations, case references, or arguments would have had any 

marginal effect on their previous decision.” Bieghler v. State, 690 N.E.2d 188, 

195 (Ind. 1997). Additionally, Indiana’s appellate courts are not limited to the 

cases cited and arguments made by appellate counsel, and “[w]e commonly 

review relevant portions of the record, perform separate legal research, and 
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often decide cases based on legal arguments and reasoning not advanced by 

either party.” Id.

[15] McIntyre’s argument is difficult to fully understand, but it appears to turn on a 

claim that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to cite Campbell v. 

State, 622 N.E.2d 495 (Ind. 1993), abrogated in part by Richardson v. State, 717 

N.E.2d 32 (Ind. 1999). We note that McIntyre’s appellate counsel successfully 

raised a double jeopardy argument, resulting in three of McIntyre’s five 

convictions being vacated. Moreover, although appellate counsel did not cite 

Campbell, this court cited that case in its memorandum decision on McIntyre’s 

direct appeal. See McIntyre, No. 49A05-0902-CR-56, slip op. at *5 n.8. Because 

this court clearly considered Campbell, we cannot conclude that appellate 

counsel’s citation of that case would have had an impact on the outcome of 

McIntyre’s direct appeal. 

[16] In any event, Campbell is clearly distinguishable from the case at hand and 

would not compel the reversal of McIntyre’s remaining battery conviction. In 

Campbell, the defendant was sentenced for class A felony burglary and class C 

felony battery after he broke into a home where his ex-girlfriend was staying the 

night and slashed her face with a sharp object. 622 N.E.2d at 497. Our 

Supreme Court concluded that the defendant was improperly sentenced for 

class C felony battery because “the enhanced felony level of both crimes was 

based upon the same injurious consequences,” i.e., the slashing of the victim’s 

face. Id. at 500. 
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[17] In this case, however, McIntyre inflicted two separate injuries on two separate 

victims. In keeping with double jeopardy principles, McIntyre’s domestic 

battery convictions and the class C felony battery conviction based on the injury 

he inflicted on Silva were vacated. See McIntyre, No. 49A05-0902-CR-56, slip 

op. at *5 (explaining that “the very same act, i.e., McIntyre’s touching of Silva, 

formed the basis of both of the domestic battery convictions . . . , one of the 

battery convictions . . . , and the enhancement of the burglary conviction to a 

class A felony”). McIntyre is not entitled to also have his class C felony battery 

conviction based on the injury he inflicted on Gaines vacated. For all of these 

reasons, McIntyre has not established that his appellate counsel was ineffective.

[18] Judgment affirmed.

[19] Robb, J., and Barnes, J., concur.