FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Septem b er 7, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 82 8 . CANTRELL v . THE STATE.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

Li s h een a Can t rel l ap p eal s fo l l o wi n g t h e d en i al of h er m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw h er

g u i l t y pl ea t o at t em

p ted m u rd er, t erro ri s t i c t h reat s

, b at t ery

, an d po s s es s i o n o f a k n i fe

d u ri n g t h e co m

m i s s i on o f a c r i m e

. Can t rel l co n t en ds t h at s h e recei v ed i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u ns el an d th at h e r g u i l ty p l ea was n o t k n o wi n g l y an d v o l u n t ari l y

en t ered . Fo r t h e reas o n s t hat fo l l o w , we affi rm

.

Th e fact s d ev el o p ed at Can t rel l ’ s gu i l t y p lea h eari n g s ho w t hat Can t rel l an d t h e

v i ct i m h ad a b ri ef ro m an t i c rel at i o n s h i p

, b u t t h e t w o s ep arat ed

, an d t h e v i ct i m

res u m ed h i s rel at io ns h ip wi t h t h e m o t h er o f h is c h i l d r e n (h i s “ p res en t g i rl fri en d ”).

Th i s m ad e Can t rel l j eal o u s

. On Sep t em b er 4

, 2 01 1

, wi t n es ses s aw Can t rel l “ m u l l i n g

a r o u n d” t h e ap art m en t s w h ere t h e v i ct i m an d h i s p res en t g irl fri en d were l i v i n g

.Acco rd in g t o a F a c e b o o k p o s t b y Can t rel l

, s h e was wai t i n g fo r t he v i ct i m an d h i s

p res en t g i rl fri en d

. In ad di t i o n

, Can t rel l t ex t ed th e v i ct i m

, “ I g ot u i n t h e en d ” an d “ I

g o t u an d h er t i ck et t ru s t t h at b o o .” W h en t h e v i ct i m an d h i s p res en t g i rl fri en d d ro v e

u p t o t h ei r ap art m en t , Can t rel l am b u s h ed t h em , p u l l i n g t h e p res en t g i rl fri en d o u t o f

t h e car an d rep eat ed l y h i tt i n g h er. W it n es s es tes t ifi ed t h at Can t rel l was th e ag g res s o r,

an d t h e v i c t i m nev er rai s ed h i s h an d o r th reat en ed Can t rel l

. Can t rel l l eft t h e s cen e,

wen t t o a fri en d ’ s ap art m en t

, to o k a k n ife fro m t h e k i t ch en

, ret u rn ed t o th e s cen e, an d

s t ab b ed t h e v i ct i m

, s ev eri n g an art ery an d k i l li n g h i m

. Can t rel l i n it i al l y cl ai m ed s el fd efen s e, b u t lat er t es t i f

i e d at a Ja cks o n -Den n o 1 heari n g t h at s he s tab b ed t h e v i ct i m

b ecau s e s h e was m ad an d u p set , n ot b ecau s e s h e was afrai d o f h i m

.

Can t rel l was o ri g i n al l y i n d i ct ed fo r m al i ce m u rd er, fel o ny m

u rd er, ag g rav at ed

as s au l t

, b at t ery

, an d s i m

p l e b at t e r y, b u t th at i n d i ct m en t was d i s m i s sed

, an d a n ew

i n d i ct m en t was fi l ed t o refl ect t h e ch a r g es t o w h i ch Can t rel l wo u l d p l ead g u i l t y

.

Th o se ch arg es were at t em p ted m u rd er fo r s t ab b i n g th e v i ct i m

, t erro ri s t i c t h reat s fo r

t ex t s t at em en t s m ad e t o t he v i ct i m

, b at t ery fo r h er at t ack o f t he p res en t g i rl fri en d

, an d

1 Ja cks o n v. Den n o

, 3 7 8 U

. S. 3 6 8 (8 4 SCt 1 7 7 4

, 1 2 LE2 d 9 0 8) (1 9 6 4 ). Th e

p u rp os e o f a Ja cks o n -Den n o h eari n g i s t o det erm i n e t he v o l u n t ari n es s o f an

i n cri m i nat i n g cu st o di al s t at em en t

. See Cl a r k v. St a t e

, 30 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 9

, 75 1 (3 ) (7 1 1

SE2 d 3 3 9) (2 0 1 1).

2p o s s es s i o n o f a k n i f e d u r i n g t h e co m

m i s s i o n of a cri m e. On Jan u ary 3 1

, 2 0 1 3,

Can trel l en t ered a n eg o t i at ed g u i l t y p l ea t o t h e ch arg es

. Sh e n o w cl ai m s t h at h er g ui l t y

p l ea was n o t k no w i n g l y an d v o lu n t ari l y en t ered b ecau s e (1 ) h er p l ea co u n s el ren d ered

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f c o u n s el b y t el l i n g her “ s h e w o u l d serv e o n ly 1 5 y ears ” in

p ri s o n

, an d (2 ) n ei th er h er p l ea co u n s el n o r t h e pro s ecu to r i n fo rm ed her t h at “ Geo rg i a

l aw m ay precl u d e [h er] fro m p aro l e el i g i b i li t y .” W e fi n d no m eri t i n ei t h er arg u m en t

.

At t h e p lea h eari n g

, t h e p ro s ecu t o r i n fo rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt t h at d efen s e co u n s el

h ad ag reed to t h e fo l l o wi n g n eg o t i at ed p l ea: Can t rel l wo u l d p l ead g u i l t y t o (1 )

at t em p t ed m u rd er an d “ recei v e a s en t en ce o n t h at co u n t of 3 0 y ears t o s erv e in

i n carcerat i on ,” (2 ) t erro ri st i c t h reat s an d “ recei v e fi v e y ears o n p ro b at i o n

co n secu ti v e,” (3 ) b at t ery an d “ r e c e i v e 12 m o n t h s o n p ro bat i on co n s ecu t i ve t o t h e

t err o r i s t i c t h reat s,” an d (4 ) p os s es s i on o f a k n i fe du ri n g t h e co m m i s s io n o f a cri m e

an d recei v e “ fi v e y ears o n p ro bat i o n co n s ecu t iv e t o t h e b at t ery .” Th e t o t al s en t en ce

wo u l d b e “ 4 1 y e a r s w i t h 3 0 y ears t o s erv e i n i n carcerat i o n an d t h e b al an ce o n

p ro b at i o n .” Acco rd i ng t o t h e p ro s ecu t o r, an at t em p t ed m u rd er ch arg e p erm i t t ed t h e

co u rt to i m

p o s e a l o n g e r s en t en ce t h an a vo l un t ary m an s lau g h ter ch arg e. Th e

p ro s ecu to r al s o i n fo rm ed t h e co u rt t hat h e h ad s po k en wi t h a h i g h -ran k in g m em b er

o f t h e p aro le b o ard , wh o i n fo rm ed h i m :

3t h i s wi l l b e cl as s i fi ed as a l ev el ei gh t cri m e, an d t hat fi rs t co n s i d erat i o n

fo r p aro l e i s m o s t l i k el y to b e b eg i n n i n g at 6 5 p ercen t o f t h e s en ten ce o r

7 5 o r u p t o 9 0

, s o real l y

k i n d o f in t h at ran g e. Bas ed o n t h at

, I t h i n k 6 6

s o m e p ercen t wo u l d be a fu l l 2 0 y ears

, s o i t m i g h t b e a l it t le b i t l es s t h an

2 0 y ears

, e v e n t h o ug h at t h e earl i es t

, acco rd i n g t o t h at cl as s i fi cat i o n

. Th at ’ s wh at I am

t o ld fro m

t h e p aro l e b o ard

.

Can t rel l ack n o wl ed g ed th at s h e h ad rev i ewed al l 4 0 q u es t i o n s i n h er s i g n ed

p l ea s t at e m e n t fo rm wi t h h er at t o rn ey

. Th e co u rt d i s cu s s ed al l o f t h e co n s t i t u t i o n al

ri gh t s Can t rel l wo u ld wai v e b y p l ead i n g g ui l t y

, an d Can t rel l s t at ed t h at s h e

u n d ers t o o d an d st i l l wi s h ed t o p l ead g u i l t y

. Can t rel l fu rt h er s t at ed t h at s he k n ew t h e

co u rt co u l d i m

p o s e a m ax i m

u m o f 4 1 y ears i n p ri s o n

. Can t rel l t h en d en i ed t h at

an y o n e h ad t h reat en ed o r fo rced h er to p l ead g u i l t y an d s tat ed t hat n o p ro m i s e, o t h er

t h an t h e n eg o t iat ed p lea ag reem en t

, h ad b een m ad e b y an y o n e wh i ch cau s ed h er to

p l ead g u il t y

. Th e t ri al co urt u l t i m at el y accep t ed t h e neg o ti at ed pl ea an d s en t en ced

Can trel l t o a t o t al o f 4 1 y ears

, wi t h t h e fi rs t 3 0 y ears t o b e s erv ed i n co nfi n em en t an d

t h e rem ai n d er t o b e s erv ed on p ro b at i o n. Th e co u rt s t at ed t h at

, wh i l e Can t rel l wo u ld

s t il l s p en d “ a v ery l o n g t i m e in p ri s o n [,] ” t h e p l ea wo u l d gi v e h er “ an o pp o rt u n i t y to

g et o u t o n p aro l e earl i er t h an [s h e] wo u l d i f [s h e] were co n v i ct ed o f m u rd er.”

4Can t rel l s u b s eq u en t l y fi l ed a m ot i on t o wi th d raw h er g u i l t y pl ea, wh i ch th e t ri al

co u rt d en i ed

. 2 Th i s ap peal fo l l o wed

.

On ce a d efen d an t h a s b e e n s en t en ced

, th e d eci s io n wh et h er to perm i t a

wi t h d rawal o f t h e g ui l t y

p l ea i s wi t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n , an d a wi th d rawal

o f t h e p l ea i s p erm i tt ed o n l y w h en n eces s ary t o co rrect a m an ifes t i n

j u s t i ce. Reed

er

v. S t a t e

, 3 49 Ga. A p p. 8 8 1

, 8 8 1 (8 2 7 SE2 d 7 0 ) (2 0 1 9 ). I t i s w e l l set t l ed t h at

“ wi t h d rawal i s n eces s ary

t o co rrect a m an ifes t i n

j u s ti ce i f, fo r i n s t an ce, a d efen d an t

i s d en i ed effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co un s el

, o r t h e g ui l t y p l ea was en t ered in v o l u n t ari l y

o r w i t h o u t a n u n ders t an d in g o f t h e n at u re of th e ch arg es .” Id

. (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

W h en a d ef

e n d a n t ch al len g es t h e v al i d it y o f h i s gu i l t y p l ea, t h e St at e

b ears t h e b u rd en o f s h o w i n g t h at t h e p l ea was en t ered v ol u n t ari l y an d

i n t el l i g en tl y

an d t h at t h e d efen d an t h ad an u nd ers t an di n g o f t he n at u re

o f t h e ch arg es ag ai n st h i m an d t h e co n s eq uen ces o f th e p l ea. T h e St at e

m ay m eet i t s b u rd en i n two way s : (1 ) sh o w i n g o n t he reco rd o f t h e g u i l t y

p l ea h eari n g th a t t h e d efen d an t was co g n i zan t o f al l t he ri g h t s h e w as

wai v i n g an d t h e p os s i b l e co n s eq u en ces o f h i s p l ea; o r (2 ) fi ll i ng a s i l en t

reco rd by u s e o f ex t r i n si c ev i d en ce t h at affi rm at iv el y s h o ws t h at th e

g u i l ty p l ea was k n o wi n g an d v o l un t ary

.

2 Can t rel l al s o fi l ed a p ro s e m o t i o n t o r e d u c e o r m od i fy h er s en ten ce, wh i ch

t h e t ri al co urt l i k ewi se d en i ed . Th at ru l i n g i s n o t at i s s ue i n t h i s ap p eal

.

5Zel l mer v. S t a t e

, 2 73 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0 9

, 6 11 (2 ) (6 1 5 SE2 d 6 5 4 ) (2 0 05 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); acco rd Reed er

, 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 8 2 . Here, t h e St at e h as fi l ed

a t ran scri p t o f t h e g u i l t y pl ea h eari ng

. “ Th e t ri al co u rt i s t h e fi n al arb i t er o f al l fact u al

i s su es rai s ed b y t h e ev i d en ce, a n d i t s refu s al t o al l o w a wi t h d rawal w i ll n o t b e

d i s t u rb ed a b s e n t a m an i fes t ab u s e o f d i scret i o n .” Reed er

, 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p. at 8 8 2

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

M o reo v er, i f a d e f

e n dan t ’ s m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw i s b as ed on an i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el cl ai m

, t h e cl ai m m u st b e ev al u at ed u n der t h e t wo -p ro n g t es t s et

f o r t h in S t r i ckl a nd v. W

a s h i n g t o n

. 3 See Th o mp ki n s v. S t a t e

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 1

, 5 1 2

(1 ) (8 2 3 SE2 d 8 2 3 ) (2 0 1 9). To p rev ai l o n an i n effect iv e as si s t an ce of co u n sel cl ai m

,

a d efen d an t m

u st s h o w b o t h t h at h i s co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d t h at

t h ere i s a reas o n ab le p ro b ab i li ty t h at

, b u t fo r co un s el ’ s erro rs

, t h e d efen d an t wo u ld

h av e el ect ed t o p ro ceed t o t ri al rat h er t h an en t er a g ui l t y p l ea. Id .; acco rd Ja cks o n v.

S t a t e

, 2 8 5 G a. 8 4 0

, 8 4 1 (2 ) (6 8 4 SE2 d 5 9 4) (2 0 0 9 ). A s t ro n g p res u m p t io n ex i s t s t h at

co u ns el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s wi t h i n t h e b ro ad ran g e o f p ro fes s i o n al co n d u ct ex p ect ed o f

at t o rn ey s i n cri m in al cas es

. Th o m p ki n s

, 34 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 1 2 (1 ). An i n effect i v e

3 S t r ickl a nd

v. W a s h i n g t on , 4 6 6 U. S. 6 68 , 6 8 7 (III) (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d

6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ).

6as s i s tan ce o f co un s el cl ai m i s a m ix ed q u es t i o n o f l a w an d fact

, an d w e accep t t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s u n l es s cl earl y erro neo u s an d i nd ep en d en t l y ap p l y t h e l aw

t o t ho s e fact s . See H

u l et t v. S t at e , 2 9 6 Ga. 4 9 , 6 0 (5 ) (7 6 6 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 14 ).

1

. Can t rel l cl ai m s t h at h e r g u i l t y p l ea was n o t k n o wi n g l y an d v o l u n t ari l y

en t ered becau s e h er p lea co u n s el ren d ered i n ef fect i ve as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

.

Acco rd in g t o Can t rel l , p l ea co u n s el m i s i n fo rm ed h er t h at “ s he wo u l d s erv e o n l y 1 5

y ears ” i n p ri s o n

, an d s h e “ wo u l d n o t hav e p l ed g u i lt y an d i n s t ead wo u l d h av e g o n e

t o t ri al i f s h e had k n o wn t h at s h e was n o t g o i n g t o b e r e l e as ed fro m p ri so n i n 1 5

y ears .” Th e t ri al co u rt i n t h i s cas e fo u n d t h at p l ea co u n s el ’ s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n was n ot

d efi ci en t an d t hat

, ev en i f co u n s el ’ s rep res en t at io n h ad been d efi ci en t

, Can t rel l fai l ed

t o d em o n s t rat e p reju di ce. Th es e fi n d i n g s are s u p po rt ed b y t h e reco rd

.

Can t rel l ’ s p l ea co u n s el d i d n o t t es t i fy at t he heari n g o n t h e m ot i o n t o wi t h d raw

h er p l ea, b ut Can trel l ad m i t ted at t h e h eari n g t hat p l ea co un s el t o l d h er sh e wo u l d b e

“ i n carcerat ed fo r 3 0 y ears w i t h a 6 5

- p ercen t ch an ce o f get t i n g o u t aft er s erv i n g 2 0

y ears .” Acco rd i ng t o Can t rel l

, p l e a co u n s el t h en t ol d h er “ y o u’ re g o i n g to o n l y d o

ab o ut 1 5 y ears an d yo u s h o u l d b e o u t .” Nei t h er o f t h es e s t at em en t s

, h o wev er,

s u p p ort s C a n t rel l ’ s as s ert i o n th at p l ea co un s el i n fo rm ed her t h at s h e wo u l d “ s erv e

o n l y ” 1 5 y ears i n p ri s o n

. In fact

, Can t rel l ad m i t t ed t h at t h e p ro s ecu t o r t o l d h er at h er

7p l ea h eari n g t h at “ t h e m i n i m u m t i m e t h at [s h e] wo u l d d o was 6 5 p ercen t

. . . al l t h e

way t o 9 0

, 9 5 p ercen t .” Can t rel l un d ers t o o d t h at i t was u p t o t h e p aro le b o ard to

d eci d e h o w m

u ch ti m e s he wo u l d s erv e in p ri s on

, an d n o o n e g u aran t eed h er a

m i n i m u m p ri s o n t erm

. In ad d i t i o n

, s h e k n ew th at i f s h e h ad p led g ui l t y t o th e o ri g i n al

ch arg e o f m

u rd er, sh e wo u l d no t b e el i gi b le fo r p aro le fo r 3 0 y ears

. Can t rel l cu rren t l y

i s s ch ed u l ed fo r a p aro l e h eari n g i n 2 0 34

. If s h e i s p ar o l e d a t t h at t i m e, i t wo u l d b e

co n si s t en t wi t h t h e in fo rm at i o n s h e recei ved fro m b o t h h er p l ea co u n s el an d t h e

p ro s ecu to r t hat s h e wo u l d s erv e b et ween 6 5 an d 9 5 p ercen t o f h er s en t en ce.

Bas ed o n t h e ev i d en ce pres en t ed at t h e h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt den i ed Can t rel l ’ s

m o ti o n t o wi t h d raw h er p l ea, fi n d i n g as fo l l o ws :

Al t h ou g h M s

. Can trel l al l eg es t h at h er p l ea co u n s el m is rep res en t ed h er

s en t en ce, t h e Defen d an t h ers el f ex pl ai n ed t h at s he w a s u nd er th e

as s u m p t i o n t h at s h e had a s i x t y -fi v e p ercen t ch an ce o f s erv i n g ab o u t

t wen t y y ears on a t h i rt y y ear s en t en ce. Th i s as su m p t i o n ap p ears co rrect

,

an d s eem s t o al i gn wi t h wh at s h e cl ai m s h er p l ea co u n s el rep res en t ed

,

as wel l as th e s t at em en t s m ad e b y t h e Di s t r i c t At t o r ney at h er pl ea

h eari n g

. Fu rt h erm o re, th e Defen d an t t es t i fi ed t h at s h e sh o u l d b e el i g i bl e

fo r p o s s i b l e p aro l e i n 20 3 4

. Th e Defen d an t’ s o wn tes t i m o n y s u gg es t s

t h at s h e wi l l h av e s p e n t ab o u t 2 1 y ears i n pri s o n b efo re h er po s si bl e

p aro le d at e, wh i ch refl ect s h er o ri g i nal u nd ers t an di ng o f h er sen t en ce,

b as ed o n b o t h her p l ea co u n s el ’ s an d th e Di s tri ct A tt orn ey ’ s st at em en t s

i n 2 0 1 3

. Las t l y

, t h e Defen d an t t es ti fi ed th at s h e k n ew h er t i m e t o s erv e

c o u l d ran ge fro m a m in im u m o f 6 5 p ercen t t o a m ax i m u m o f 9 0 t o 9 5

p ercen t

. Th i s u nd ers t an d i n g a l i g n s wi t h t h e p l ea co u n s el ’ s al l eg ed

s t at em en t s

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h i s Co u rt fi n d s th at t h e Defen d a n t fai led t o

8s h o w t hat t h e co u n sel ’ s rep res en tat i o n fel l b el o w an o b ject i v e s t an dard

o f reas o n ab l en es s

.

T h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s a n d cred i b i l it y d et erm i n at i o n s wi l l be accep t ed

u n l es s cl earl y erro neo u s

, s ee Ja cks on

, 2 85 Ga. at 8 4 2 ( 2 )

, an d o ur rev i ew o f t h e

reco rd rev eal s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s are s u p p o rt ed b y t h e reco rd

. Th e t ri al

c o u rt

, t h erefo re, d i d n o t ab u s e i t s di s cret io n in fi n d in g t h at p l ea co u n s e l ’s

rep res en t at i o n was n o t d efi ci en t

.

M o reo v er, t he t ri al co u rt fu rt h er fo u n d t h at ev e n i f Can t rel l ’ s p lea co u n s el

p erfo rm ed d efi ci en t l y b y ad v i s i n g Can trel l t h at s h e wo u l d s erv e o nl y 1 5 t o 2 0 y ears

i n p ri s o n

, Can trel l fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e an y p reju d i ce b as ed o n t h i s st at em en t

. T h at

fi nd i ng al s o i s s u pp o rt ed b y t h e reco rd

.

W h ere t h e al leg ed erro r [i n co u n s el ’ s rep res en tat i o n ] is o n e t hat

affect s t h e d efen d an t ’ s u n d ers t an d i ng o f th e co n s eq u en ces o f p l ead i n g

g u i l ty

, i ns t ead of as k i n g h o w a h y p o t h et i cal t ri al w o u l d h av e pl ay ed o u t

ab s en t t h e erro r, we co n s i d er wh et h er t h ere w as an ad eq u at e s h owi n g

t h at th e defen d an t, pro perl y ad v i s ed

, wo ul d h av e o p t ed t o p ro ceed w i t h

t ri al

.

Evel yn v. S t a t e

, 3 47 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 8

, 3 7 1 (8 1 9 SE2 d 6 5 7 ) ( 2 0 1 8 )

. To s at i s fy t h e

p reju d i ce p ro n g o f t h e S t ri ckl a n d t es t

, an ap p el l an t “ m u s t s et o ut s p eci al

ci rcu m s t an ces t h at m i g h t su p po rt t h e co n cl u s i on t h at s h e p l aced part i cu l ar em p h as i s

o n h er p aro l e el i g i b i l it y i n d eci d i n g wh et her o r n o t t o p l ead gu i l t y .” Co x v. Ho wer t o n

,

92 9 0 Ga. 6 9 3

, 69 4 (7 2 3 SE2 d 8 9 1 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at i on an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t ted ). “ Co u rt s

s h o u ld n o t u p s et a p l ea s o l el y b ecau se o f po s t h o c as sert i o n s fro m a d efen d an t ab o ut

h o w he wo u l d h av e p l ead ed b u t fo r h i s at t o rn ey ’ s d efi ci en ci es

. Ju d ges sh o u l d i n s t ead

l o o k t o co nt em

p o ran eo u s ev i d en ce t o s u b s t an t i at e a d efen d a n t ’s ex p res s ed

p referen ces .” Evel

yn , 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p . at 3 7 1 (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

Here, Can trel l o ffered no ev i d en ce warran t i n g rev ers al o f t h e tri al co urt ’ s

ju d g m en t . Th e o n l y

b as i s fo r h er cl ai m o f p reju d i ce i s h er t es ti m o n y t h at s he wo u ld

n o t h av e pl ed g u il ty

, bu t wo u l d in s t ead hav e p ro ceed ed t o t ri al

, i f sh e kn ew s h e wo u ld

s p en d l on g er t han 1 5 t o 20 y ears i n p ri so n

. Ho wev er, t h e t ri al co u rt no t ed i n i t s o rd er

d en y i n g Can t rel l ’ s m ot i o n t o wi t h d raw her p l ea t h at t h e tran s cri p t “ d i rect ly co n fl ict s

wi t h [Can t rel l ’ s ] t es t i m o n y ” t h at sh e wo u l d h av e p referred a t ri al

, an d t he tri al co u rt

“ was en ti t l ed

, as i t di d

, t o d i s cred it [Can t rel l ’ s ] t es t i m o ny .” Al exa n d er v. S t a t e , 3 4 2

Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 6

, 1 0 8 ( 8 0 3 S E 2 d 8 8 ) (2 0 17 ). Can t rel l ’ s n eg o t i at ed p l ea rep res en t ed a

co m p ro m i s e o f th e ori gi n al m u rd er i n d i ct m en t

, an d Can t rel l tes t ifi ed t h at s h e k n ew

s h e wo u l d n o t hav e b een el i g ib l e fo r p aro l e fo r 3 0 y ears i f s h e h ad p l ed g u i l t y t o t h e

o ri g i nal ch arg e o f m

u rd er. In ad d i t i o n

, Can t rel l d o e s n o t art i cu l at e an y “ s p eci al

ci rcu m s t an ces ” t h at s h owed sh e p l aced an y “ p art i cu l ar em p h as i s ” o n h e r p aro l e

el i g i b i l i t y i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t o p l ead g u i l t y

. See Co x

, 2 9 0 G a

. a t 6 9 4

. In fact

,

10at n o p o i n t d u ri n g h er p l ea h e a r i n g d i d Can t rel l ev er rai s e t h e i ss u e o f p aro l e

el i g i b i l i t y

, ev en aft e r t h e p ro s ecu t o r an d tri al co urt d i s cu s s ed h er s en t en ce an d

p o t en t i al t erm

o f i m p ri s o n m en t.

Becau s e t h e reco rd s u p p o rt s t h e tri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s an d

d et erm i n at i o n s, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t cl earl y err i n co n cl ud i n g t h at Can t rel l fai l ed to

m eet h er b u rd en of s h o wi n g in effect i v e as s i st an ce of co u ns el u nd e r t h e S t r i ckl a n d

t es t . Th e t ri al co u rt

, t h erefo re, d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n wh en i t d en i ed Can t rel l ’ s

m o ti o n t o wi t h d raw h er g u i l t y p l ea o n th e g ro u n d t h at p lea co un s el was i n effect i ve.

2

. Can trel l al s o as sert s t h at h er gu i lt y pl ea was n o t k n o wi ng l y an d v o l u n t ari l y

en t ered b ecau s e nei t h er h er p l ea co u n s el n o r t h e p ro secu t o r i n fo rm ed h er t h at

“ Geo rg i a l aw m ay p recl ud e [h er] fro m p aro l e el i g ib i l i ty .” Acco rd i ng t o Can t rel l

, s h e

was ch arg ed w i t h at t em

p t ed m urd er u nd er O CGA § 16 -5 -1

, an d OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -6

. 1

(a) (1 ) l i s t s m

u rd er o r fel o n y m

u rd er as a s eri o u s v i o l en t fel o n y an d d oes n o t p erm i t

p aro l e o r earl y rel eas e fo r s u ch an o ffen s e.

Fi rs t o f al l

, Can t rel l fai l ed t o rai s e t h i s arg u m e n t i n ei t h er h er m o t i o n o r

am en d ed m o t i on t o wi t h d raw h er g u i lt y pl ea or at t h e h eari n g o n h er m o t i o n

. Un d er

Geo rg i a l aw, i t i s wel l s et t l ed t h at

11[i ] s s ues p res en t ed fo r t h e fi rs t ti m e o n ap p eal fu rn i s h n o t h i n g fo r u s t o

rev i ew, fo r t h i s i s a co urt fo r co rrect i o n of erro rs o f l aw co m m i t t ed b y

t h e t ri a l co u rt wh ere pro p er ex cep t i o n i s t ak en

, b ecau s e on e m ay n o t

ab an d o n a n i s s u e in t h e t ri al co u rt an d o n ap p eal rai s e q u es t i o n s o r

i s su es n ei t h er rai s ed n o r ru l ed o n b y t h e t ri al co u rt

.

Ja cks o n v. S t a t e

, 2 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6

, 1 6 -1 7 (2 ) (5 5 5 SE2 d 24 0 ) (2 00 1 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Becau s e we are l i m i ted t o rev iewi n g o n l y t h o s e gro u n d s ru l ed

u p o n b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, Can t rel l ’ s ap p e a l o n a g ro u n d en t i rel y di fferen t fro m t h o s e

rai s ed b el o w p res en t s n o t h i n g fo r o u r co n s i d erat i o n

.

M o reo v er, ev en i f t h is Co u rt were t o co n s id er t h e m eri t s o f Can t rel l ’ s

arg u m en t

, i t fai l s

. It i s u n d i sp u t ed t hat Can t rel l was n o t ch arg ed w i t h an d d i d n ot

p l ead g ui l t y t o m

u rd er or fel o n y m

u rd er, s o an y as sert i o n reg ard i n g t h e n at ure o f h er

ch arg es an d h er p aro l e el i g ib i l i t y u n d e r O C G A § 17 -1 0 -6 .1 (a) (1 ) is i rrel ev an t

. In

ad d it i o n

, Can t rel l ack n owl ed g ed at t h e h eari n g o n h er m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw her g ui l t y

p l ea t hat s h e h as a t en t at i v e p aro l e h eari n g i n 2 0 34

. Th is fact al o n e d em o n s t rat es t h at

an y arg um en t Can t rel l rai ses ab o u t t h e n at u re o f h er ch arg es p o t en t i al ly m ak i n g h er

i n el i g i b l e fo r p aro l e l ack s m eri t

. Acco rd i n g l y

, Can trel l has fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t h at

h er p l ea was n o t k n o wi n g l y an d v o lu n t ari l y en tered o n t h i s b as i s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ri ckma n , C. J., a n d McFa d d en , P. J., co n cu r

.

12