Opinion ID: 1599358
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: attorney robert prather provided ineffective assistance of counsel to the defendant and this ineffective representation seriously prejudiced harold henely's defense.

Text: ¶ 42. In his fourth issue on appeal, Henley alleges he received ineffective assistance of counsel from his court appointed attorney, Robert Prather. Specifically, Henley complains that Prather was hostile towards him, hung up on him, would not accept his collect telephone calls, and spent less than 10 minutes with him before trial. The State responds that the record is insufficient to make a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel, and that Henley has failed to satisfy either prong of the Strickland test. ¶ 43. To prove a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Henley must show that counsel's performance was deficient and that his defense was prejudiced by the deficient performance. Walker v. State, 703 So.2d 266, 268 (Miss.1997); see also Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). This Court presumes trial counsel to be competent for the purposes of ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Brooks v. State, 573 So.2d 1350, 1353 (Miss.1990). In order to overcome this presumption, Henley must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of his trial would have been different. Drennan v. State, 695 So.2d 581, 586 (Miss. 1997) ( quoting Schmitt v. State, 560 So.2d 148, 154 (Miss.1990)). This Court views counsel's performance under the totality of circumstances. Cole v. State, 666 So.2d 767, 775 (Miss.1995). [T]he level of scrutiny to be applied when measuring the performance of counsel against the deficiency and prejudicial prongs of Strickland is to look at the `over all' performance. Taylor v. State, 682 So.2d 359, 363 (Miss.1996). ¶ 44. After careful review of the record, we find that Henley has failed to satisfy either prong of the Strickland. Up until the point where Henley took over his own defense and Prather assumed an advisory role, the record reveals that Prather performed in a competent manner. Prather conducted voir dire of the jury panel, made a Batson challenge to the State's strikes, and responded to the State's reverse Batson challenges. During the course of trial, Prather's performance was also adequate. He conducted the cross-examination of six of the State's witnesses, made numerous objections to the testimony of the State's witnesses, as well as to exhibits offered into evidence, and moved to dismiss because of an alleged discovery violation by the State. ¶ 45. After Henley took over his own defense and Prather was ordered to remain as his advisor, the record reveals that Prather conferred with and offered advice to Henley as to how he should proceed. Prather advised Henley on the objections to the State's attempt to impeach him with a prior conviction. After Henley said he was finished with cross-examination of Trace French, an investigator who searched Henley's home pursuant to search warrant, Prather asked the judge if could he confer with Henley. After conferring with Prather, Henley continued the cross-examination of French and was able to elicit the fact that the police found drug paraphernalia in the home, which they failed to take as evidence. This was an important point, since Henley alleged that Fields had agreed to have sex with him if he would give her some crack to smoke. Prather also conducted the direct examination of Henley and participated in the jury instruction phase. ¶ 46. The only possible deficiency in Prather's performance occurred when he failed to move for a directed verdict on the count of grand larceny. At this point in the trial, Henley had taken over the role of counsel in his own defense. Prather was relegated to the role of an advisor. After the State rested, Henley and Prather did confer as to what, if any, motions should be made. Henley moved the court to bring Fields back to the stand and to subpoena various witnesses to testify in his defense. In fact, the court asked Henley if he wanted Prather to make the motion for him and Henley said, No, sir. ¶ 47. Prather's failure to move for a directed verdict as to the grand larceny charge would render his performance deficient under the Strickland test. See Holland, 656 So.2d at 1198. However, since we have reversed Henley's conviction of grand larceny, the issue is now moot.