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: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:

VICTOR GLENN GREGORY F. ZOELLER

Carlisle, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana

J.T. WHITEHEAD

Deputy Attorney General

Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE

COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

VICTOR GLENN, )

)

Appellant-Petitioner, )

)

vs. ) No. 49A02-1309-PC-774

)

STATE OF INDIANA, )

)

Appellee-Respondent. )

APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT

The Honorable Steven J. Rubick, Judge

Cause No. 49G01-0702-PC-32069

July 9, 2014

MEMORANDUM DECISION – NOT FOR PUBLICATION

BAKER, Judge 
2

Appellant-petitioner Victor Glenn appeals the denial of his petition for postconviction relief. Glenn argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request 

lesser included offense instructions, for failing to provide the doctors who evaluated 

Glenn’s mental health with records from Glenn’s time in Wishard Mental Hospital, and 

for failing to argue certain mitigating factors. Additionally, Glenn argues that he 

received ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. He maintains that appellate counsel 

was ineffective for failing to raise the issue of ineffective assistance of trial counsel on 

appeal and for failing to seek transfer to our Supreme Court. We conclude that Glenn

was not denied effective assistance of trial or appellate counsel and affirm the denial of 

his petition for post-conviction relief.

FACTS

The State charged Glenn with two counts of felony murder, two counts of murder, 

robbery, intimidation as a class C felony, and intimidation as a class D felony. Glenn’s 

three-day jury trial began on June 16, 2008, and the jury found him guilty but mentally ill 

as to all charges. On July 3, 2008, the trial court held a sentencing hearing. It merged the 

felony murder convictions with the murder convictions and sentenced Glenn to an 

aggregate sentence of 120 years executed in the Department of Correction. Glenn

appealed to this court, arguing that he should have been found not guilty by reason of 

insanity, that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his request for a mistrial, and 

that his sentence was inappropriate in light of the nature of his offenses and his character. 
3

On April 9, 2009, in an unpublished decision, we affirmed Glenn’s convictions

and sentence. Glenn v. State, No. 49A02–0808–CR–678, memo op. (Ind. Ct. App. April 

9, 2009). On March 22, 2010, Glenn filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief. 

In his petition for post-conviction relief, Glenn raised five issues: 1) whether his 

trial counsel was ineffective in failing to request jury instructions on the lesser included

offenses of voluntary manslaughter and reckless homicide; 2) whether his trial counsel 

was ineffective for failing to request a mistrial; 3) whether his trial counsel was 

ineffective for failing to object when the trial court sentenced him without having a jury 

find the existence of aggravating factors beyond a reasonable doubt; 4) whether his 

appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to properly attack the trial court’s balancing 

of mitigating and aggravating factors at sentencing; and 5) whether his appellate counsel 

was ineffective for failing to file a petition to transfer to our Supreme Court. 

On March 13, 2012, the post-conviction relief court held an evidentiary hearing. 

At the hearing, trial counsel testified that he thought he did not request a jury instruction 

on the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter because “it becomes tricky and 

delicate to try and argue alternative theories of defense to a jury and . . . you get 

concerned that if you’re arguing one defense it’s gonna [sic] under[mine] another defense 

. . I just thought it -- it was gonna [sic] undermine your opportunity for an acquittal based 

on an insanity defense . . . .” PCR Tr. p. 59. Trial counsel also testified that he did not 

request an instruction regarding the lesser included offense because he did not feel the 

evidence supported it. 
4

On August 23, 2013, the post-conviction court filed its findings of fact and 

conclusions of law denying Glenn’s petition for post-conviction relief. 

Glenn now appeals. 

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

I. Standard of Review

A post-conviction relief proceeding does not afford a petitioner a super-appeal. 

Timberlake v. State, 753 N.E.2d 591, 597 (Ind. 2001). Rather, post-conviction 

proceedings afford petitioners a limited opportunity to raise issues that were unavailable 

or unknown at trial and on direct appeal. Davidson v. State, 763 N.E.2d 441, 443 (Ind. 

2002). A post-conviction petitioner bears the burden of establishing grounds for relief by 

a preponderance of the evidence. Henley v. State, 881 N.E.2d 639, 643 (Ind. 2008). To 

prevail on appeal from the denial of post-conviction relief, the petitioner must show that 

the evidence as a whole leads unerringly and unmistakably to a conclusion opposite that 

reached by the post-conviction court. Id. at 643-44.

Where, as here, the post-conviction court makes findings of fact and conclusions 

of law in accordance with Indiana Post-Conviction Rule 1(6), we cannot affirm the 

judgment on any legal basis, but rather, must determine if the court’s findings are 

sufficient to support its judgment. Graham v. State, 941 N.E.2d 1091, 1096 (Ind. Ct. 

App. 2011). We will not reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses, and 

will consider only the probative evidence and reasonable inferences flowing therefrom 

that support the post-conviction court’s decision. Id.
5

II. Glenn’s Claims

A. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Trial Counsel

Glenn claims that his trial counsel failed to provide effective assistance of counsel. 

Our Supreme Court has instructed: 

A defendant claiming a violation of the right to effective assistance of 

counsel must establish the two components set forth in Strickland v. 

Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). First, the defendant must show that 

counsel’s performance was deficient. This requires a showing that 

counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness 

and that the errors were so serious that they resulted in a denial of the right 

to counsel guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment. Second, the 

defendant must show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. 

To establish prejudice, a defendant must show that there is a reasonable 

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

proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a 

probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. 

Counsel is afforded considerable discretion in choosing strategy and tactics, 

and we will accord those decisions deference. A strong presumption arises 

that counsel rendered adequate assistance and made all significant decisions 

in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment. The Strickland Court 

recognized that even the finest, most experienced criminal defense 

attorneys may not agree on the ideal strategy or the most effective way to 

represent a client. Isolated mistakes, poor strategy, inexperience, and 

instances of bad judgment do not necessarily render representation 

ineffective. The two prongs of the Strickland test are separate and 

independent inquiries. Thus, [i]f it is easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness 

claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice . . . that course should be 

followed.

Timberlake v. State, 753 N.E.2d at 603. 

Glenn raises three separate claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, each of 

which we will address in turn.
6

First, Glenn argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request a 

lesser included offense instruction on voluntary manslaughter. 

While our Supreme Court has previously held that voluntary manslaughter is a 

lesser included offense to murder, it has also determined that “a tactical decision not to 

tender a lesser included offense does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel, even 

where the lesser included offense is inherently included in the greater offense.” Autrey v. 

State, 700 N.E.2d 1140, 1141 (Ind.1998). We will not second-guess counsel’s strategy 

“through the distortions of hindsight.” Id. 

Here, Glenn’s trial counsel testified that he felt that “it becomes tricky and delicate 

to try and argue alternative theories of defense to a jury and . . . you get concerned that if 

you’re arguing one defense it’s gonna [sic] under[mine] another defense . . I just thought 

it -- it was gonna [sic] undermine your opportunity for an acquittal based on an insanity 

defense . . . .” PCR Tr. p. 59. Glenn’s trial counsel made a strategic decision not to 

request the lesser included instruction on voluntary manslaughter because he believed 

that it would undermine Glenn’s insanity defense. 

In Autrey v. State, our Supreme Court held that, when trial counsel did not request 

a lesser included instruction on voluntary manslaughter due to an intentional and tactical 

decision to pursue a self-defense strategy, the strategic decision did not constitute 

ineffective assistance of counsel. 700 N.E.2d at 1140. Glenn’s trial counsel made 

precisely such a strategic decision. 
7

Moreover, all the evidence at the post-conviction relief hearing and the trial went 

to show that a lesser included instruction on voluntary manslaughter would have been 

inappropriate here, as there was no evidence of sudden heat. If there is no serious 

evidentiary dispute over sudden heat, it is error for a trial court to instruct a jury on 

voluntary manslaughter in addition to murder. Watts v. State, 885 N.E.2d 1228, 1232 

(Ind. 2008). Trial counsel testified that “if the evidence is overwhelming, it’s not 

appropriate to give that lesser included instruction . . . I kind of viewed the evidence as 

being overwhelming in terms of the killing. . . .” PCR Tr. p. 58. Under these 

circumstances, we cannot say that trial counsel was ineffective. 

Glenn also contends that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to provide the 

doctors who evaluated Glenn’s mental health with records from Glenn’s time in Wishard 

Mental Hospital. 

At the outset, we note that it does not appear that Glenn raised this issue in his 

post-conviction relief petition, and, therefore, he has waived consideration of this issue. 

Issues not raised in the post-conviction relief petition may not be raised for the first time 

on post-conviction appeal. Allen v. State, 749 N.E.2d 1158, 1171 (Ind. 2001). 

Waiver notwithstanding, whether or not trial counsel provided Glenn’s mental 

health records to the doctors who evaluated Glenn’s mental health at the time of the 

crime was irrelevant to the outcome of his case. 

Glenn argues that trial counsel should have given the doctors his records “so that 

all three doctors could have given an accurate diagnosis that would change the outcome 
8

of the jury’s verdict. However, the jury found that Glenn was guilty but mentally ill as to 

all charges. Indeed, at the post-conviction relief hearing, Glenn tried this issue and 

suggested to the post-conviction relief court that trial counsel had not given the 

evaluating doctors his mental records. The court responded that “whether [he] gave the 

records to the doctors or the doctors got them themselves is irrelevant. The issue was 

resolved in your favor.” PCR Tr. p. 71. As the issue was resolved in Glenn’s favor, we 

cannot say that trial counsel was ineffective if he did fail to deliver the record to the 

doctors, as Glenn cannot show that such a failure would prejudice his defense under 

Timberlake. 753 N.E.2d at 603. 

Finally, Glenn argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to argue certain 

mitigating factors, such as the facts that Glenn was not on probation or parole and had no 

prior convictions involving a weapon. Once again, we note that Glenn did not raise this 

issue in his post-conviction petition and has, therefore, waived it. Allen, 749 N.E.2d at 

1171. 

Waiver notwithstanding, trial counsel was not ineffective at the sentencing 

hearing. At Glenn’s sentencing hearing, trial counsel presented mitigating factors and 

asked the trial court to run Glenn’s sentences concurrently. Tr. v. 3 p. 29. Trial counsel 

asked the court to consider both Glenn’s mental instability and remorse as mitigating 

factors. However, the trial court, while it gave considerable weight to Glenn’s mental 

illness, determined that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors. 
9

We believe that the trial court would have given, at most, minimal weight to 

Glenn’s suggested mitigating factors that he was not on probation and did not have a 

previous conviction involving a weapon. It is unlikely that the trial court would have 

changed its determination to run Glenn’s sentences consecutively based on these 

mitigating factors. Therefore, he has failed to prove that he was prejudiced by trial 

counsel’s failure to raise those mitigating factors. 

B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Appellate Counsel

Glenn also argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise the 

issue of ineffective assistance of trial counsel on appeal and for failing to seek transfer.

Ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claims generally fall into three 

categories: 1) denial of access to an appeal; 2) waiver of issues; and 3) failing to prevent 

issues well. Henley v. State, 881 N.E.2d 639, 644 (Ind. 2008). The standard for 

evaluating claims of ineffective assistance of counsel at the appellate level is the same 

two-prong Strickland standard used for trial counsel. 466 U.S. at 668; Allen v. State, 749 

N.E.2d 1158, 1166-67 (Ind. 2001). Therefore, Glenn must prove that appellate counsel 

performed deficiently and that he was prejudiced as a result. Id. 

Glenn maintains that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that

trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request that the trial court include an instruction 

regarding the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter. However, as we 

determined above, trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to request an instruction 
10

regarding the lesser included offense. Therefore, we cannot say that appellate counsel 

performed deficiently or that Glenn was prejudiced by appellate counsel’s performance. 

Glenn also contends that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to seek

transfer to our Supreme Court. More particularly, Glenn argues that when appellate 

counsel failed to file for transfer it resulted in a default of a federal habeas corpus claim. 

In Clemons v. State, a panel of this court considered Clemons’s claim of 

ineffective assistance of counsel for failure to request transfer. Clemons argued that his 

appellate counsel’s failure to seek transfer had resulted in procedural default of his Fifth 

Amendment claim for purposes of a Habeas Corpus. Clemons v. State, 967 N.E.2d 514, 

521 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). We held that Clemons was distinguishable from our Supreme 

Court’s determination in Yerden v. State, in which it stated that: “[a] healthy majority of 

lawyers who lose before the Indiana Court of Appeals, for example, elect not to seek 

transfer. On the fact of it, without any explanation, a lawyer who does not petition for 

transfer has simply performed according to the statistical norm.” 682 N.E.2d 1283, 1286

(Ind. 1997). 

In Clemons, we noted that, due to the exhaustion doctrine codified at 28 U.S.C. § 

2254, “a petitioner’s failure to exhaust his claims properly ripens into a procedural 

default once state remedies are no longer available.” 967 N.E.2d at 521. However, we 

noted that, in Clemons’s case, he could appeal the denial of his post-conviction relief to 

our Supreme Court and that State remedies were still available to him and his appellate 

counsel had not been ineffective. Id.
11

Here, Glenn argues that his appellate counsel’s failure to request transfer might 

result in the loss of a habeas corpus claim. However, unlike Clemons, Glenn does not 

argue that he has a specific issue or claim that has been procedurally defaulted. 

Therefore, he has failed to show that he was prejudiced as a result of appellate counsel’s 

failure to seek transfer. Thus, Glenn has not shown ineffective assistance by his appellate 

counsel. 

CONCLUSION 

Glenn has not shown that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request a 

jury instruction on the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter. Nor has he 

shown trial counsel to be ineffective for failing to provide the doctors who evaluated 

Glenn’s mental health with records from Glenn’s time in Wishard Mental Hospital. 

Likewise, trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to argue certain mitigating factors. 

Glenn has also failed to show that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to argue 

that trial counsel was ineffective. Finally, Glenn has failed to demonstrate that he was 

prejudiced when appellate counsel failed to seek transfer. 

We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

BARNES, J., and CRONE, J., concur.