Opinion ID: 885360
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Failure to conduct an adequate investigation.

Text: ś 131 Dawson argues that he received ineffective assistance because his counsel failed to conduct an adequate investigation during the sentencing phase. First, Dawson contends that his counsel overlooked demonstrations of remorse found in the Montana State Hospital staff's notes. Dawson asserts that this information would have served to rebut the finding by the sentencing court that Dawson felt no remorse. ś 132 As previously discussed, the sentencing court's finding regarding Dawson's lack of remorse was based on the court's own observations throughout the lengthy proceedings against Dawson. Therefore, we conclude that substantial evidence supports the District Court's finding that Dawson was not prejudiced by his counsel's failure to discover the Montana State Hospital staff notes regarding Dawson's behavior. ś 133 Second, Dawson asserts that his counsel failed to investigate Dawson's medical and school records. Dawson contends that the medical records would have established that he suffered a number of injuries, including head injuries. Dawson further asserts that these injuries were discussed in the Montana State Hospital evaluation report, and thus his counsel had notice of where the injuries and the hospitalizations occurred. With regard to his school records, Dawson contends that they would have established that he was seen by a psychiatrist while he was in school in California. Dawson asserts that his medical and school records would have reflected mitigating circumstances. ś 134 The State responds that, with regard to Dawson's medical records, he has failed to indicate how any additional information would be a mitigating factor in this case. Both the presentence report and the Montana State Hospital evaluation report contained information regarding Dawson's previous medical history. The presentence report contained information regarding an apartment fire in which Dawson was burned, and a knee injury and subsequent surgery on his knee. The Montana State Hospital report contained information regarding two minor head injuries, neither of which resulted in unconsciousness, and Dawson reported no lasting effects and no history of any seizures. Additionally, as previously discussed, Dawson's CT scan and second EEG were normal. ś 135 With regard to Dawson's school records, the State asserts that the Montana State Hospital report states that Dawson had seen a psychiatrist twice while in school. Dawson reported that the reason was frequent absence from classes. Dawson additionally denied any history of psychiatric hospitalizations or services. ś 136 In Strickland, the Supreme Court stated that when a defendant has given counsel reason to believe that pursuing certain investigations would be fruitless or even harmful, counsel's failure to pursue those investigations may not later be challenged as unreasonable. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691, 104 S.Ct. at 2066. ś 137 We conclude that it was reasonable for Dawson's counsel not to pursue further investigation into Dawson's medical and school records. Dawson did not give his counsel any reason to believe that such an investigation would be beneficial. Nor is there any evidence that such an investigation would be beneficial. Accordingly, we conclude that Dawson did not receive ineffective assistance because his counsel failed to investigate his medical or school records. ś 138 Finally, Dawson asserts that his counsel should have investigated and interviewed his family and boyhood friends, to develop, or at a minimum, determine the existence of mitigating evidence. ś 139 In response, the State contends that Dawson has failed to allege the names of family and boyhood friends whom he thinks his counsel should have interviewed, what information would have been provided, and the significance of that information to this case. ś 140 The District Court found that: No showing is made concerning what would have been learned in such interviews. It is unreasonable to expect counsel to interview everyone involved in the life of a convicted defendant even when the conviction is of deliberate homicide in a potential death case. No prejudice has been shown. The presentence investigation showed no previous criminal record on the part of Dawson. ś 141 Our review of the record reveals that Dawson's counsel did contact and interview Dawson's mother and sister, and presented letters from each of them to the court at sentencing. Additionally, the presentence report included letters from Dawson's former spouses. Accordingly, we conclude that Dawson's counsel did not render ineffective assistance by failing to further investigate Dawson's family and boyhood friends.