Opinion ID: 6498634
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Disclosure of the Text Messages

Text: Finally, the defendant argues that the trial court erred when it concluded — after having found that disclosure of the text messages fell below an objective standard of reasonableness — that the introduction of the text messages did not prejudice his case at trial. The trial court found that the disclosure and introduction of the text messages did not prejudice the defendant because he failed to demonstrate that there was “a reasonable probability that the jury would have returned a not guilty verdict if the [text] messages had not been introduced.” We agree with the trial court. 7 The defendant argues that the disclosure of the text messages prejudiced his case at trial because it undermined his defense that he “acted in good faith, not recklessly.” However, the relevant question is not whether trial counsel’s deficient performance undermined the defense; rather, it is whether, absent trial counsel’s unprofessional errors, there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different. Id. The defendant has not satisfied that standard. Even without the text messages, the State presented substantial evidence of the charged conduct. Through Sullivan’s testimony, the State introduced a summary of “the flow of money” between the IRA, the Trust account, the FNBC Account, and the defendant’s personal or business accounts. The summary demonstrated that the defendant took in excess of $300,000 from the victim and spent it for the benefit of individuals other than the victim. Sullivan’s testimony confirmed that the majority of the transactions related to the three accounts benefitted the defendant, his wife, or his business. Moreover, the defendant testified that he believed the money was his and that he used much of the money for his own expenses. Given the other evidence relevant to the defendant’s conduct, we conclude that the defendant has failed to demonstrate there is a reasonable probability that, but for the disclosure of the text messages, the result of the trial would have been different. See id. at 681.