Opinion ID: 1640733
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the state misrepresented howell's indigent status on appeal or, alternatively, counsel were ineffective in failing to secure a finding of indigence by the trial court, and whether counsel failed to seek and obtain funding for various defense experts.

Text: ¶ 57. Howell was represented at trial by Duncan Lott, who was assisted by Jak Smith. Apparently, Lott agreed to represent Howell pro bono as a favor to Howell's father. Whether Howell was entitled to expert funds was contingent on whether Howell was indigent. In his concurring opinion on Howell's direct appeal, Justice Waller, joined by three other justices and in part by an additional justice, would have found that an otherwise indigent defendant is entitled to expert funding even if that defendant is being represented by an attorney pro bono. Howell, 860 So.2d at 765 (Waller, J., concurring). However, Justice Waller's opinion makes clear that no error was committed in that Howell suffered no prejudice in the refusal to provide expert funds. Id. ¶ 58. Howell now claims that in the direct appeal, the State misrepresented to the Court that Howell was not indigent. He provides an affidavit from the attorney who represented Howell prior to Lott's entry into the case. That attorney states that he was appointed to represent Howell in preliminary proceedings and that he never would have been appointed if there had been no finding of indigence. After that attorney ceased his representation of Howell, the trial judge entered an order allowing attorneys' fees and expenses. The order recites that the attorney is to be paid incident to his representation of the above named indigent. For reasons unknown, neither Howell nor the State mentioned that order in the original briefing of this matter. Despite that order, the State, in its response to the petition, maintains that the petitioner could not cite to [sic] any instance in the record supporting his claim of indigence. The State apparently maintains that, since Howell was later represented by a pro bono attorney of his choosing, the previous finding of indigence had been extinguished. In light of that order, it is apparent that this Court's finding that Howell had never been determined to be indigent was erroneous. ¶ 59. Howell claims that his attorneys should have sought money from the state in order to retain defense experts who would have been able to testify about (1) lighting and defense perception, (2) fingerprint analysis, and (3) firearms ballistics. The State maintains only that Howell was never declared to be indigent and that the state was therefore not required to provide any funding for the procurement of defense experts. ¶ 60. On direct appeal, this Court found that [s]ince Howell did not proceed as an indigent or have the trial court declare him to be an indigent, there is no authority to require the State to fund his request for defense expenses. Howell v. State, 860 So.2d at 721. As noted supra, the finding in the direct appeal that Howell had not been declared to be indigent is incorrect. Howell had in fact been found to be indigent. The fact remains, however, that in order to be entitled to state-funded experts, Howell was required to show an actual, specific need for those experts. Loden v. State, 971 So.2d 548, 563-564 (Miss.2007) See also Ruffin v. State, 447 So.2d 113, 118 (Miss.1984) ([a]n indigent's ... right to defense expenses... is conditioned upon a showing that such expenses are needed to prepare and present an adequate defense.); Green v. State, 631 So.2d 167, 171-72 (Miss.1994) (Concrete reasons for requiring an expert must be provided by the accused.). This Court on direct appeal found no prejudice to Howell. ¶ 61. Howell claims that he was entitled to a lighting-and-perceptions expert who might have discredited Rice's identification of Howell as the shooter. That expert's affidavit has been discussed previously. The expert states that Rice's identification was suspect because of the lighting, the distance to the subject, the relative positioning of the parties, and because Rice is white and Howell is black. As we stated in our discussion of Issue III, supra, this issue was fully discussed and resolved on direct appeal, and alternatively, for the reasons stated, this issue has no merit. ¶ 62. Howell also now presents the affidavit of a fingerprint expert. The State's fingerprint expert testified at trial that several partial fingerprints had been lifted from the window area of Pernell's vehicle but that there were no prints of value that could be compared to anyone to make an identification. Howell's expert now claims that one of the partial prints lifted from Pernell's vehicle was detailed enough for analysis. He claims that the print appears to be part of the left index finger and part of the left middle finger of some unknown person. He states that the print lifted from Pernell's vehicle has a couple of distinct features and that those distinct features can be distinguished from Howell's known prints. We find that the fingerprint expert's assertions, even if assumed to be true, do not require an evidentiary hearing on these issues. There was no testimony that Howell ever touched the window post of Pernell's car. The fact that Pernell himself or any other unknown person might have left a print on the car at some point prior to the shooting does not lead to a conclusion that Howell was not the shooter. The fingerprint testimony would have been of minimal assistance to the defense. ¶ 63. As to the request for a firearms ballistics expert, we find that there has never been an issue about whether the pistol found behind Brandon Shaw's house was the murder weapon. The State's firearms expert matched the projectile found in Pernell's chest wall to the Lorcin .380 caliber pistol. Howell's argument at trial and now is that Ray or Lipsey shot Pernell and then left the gun behind Shaw's house. Howell does present the affidavit of a purported firearms expert who examined the pistol, the bullet, and the shell casing. Howell's expert opines that the bullet has the same rifling characteristics and some microscopic similarities as the pistol, but that the bullet lacks sufficient microscopic agreement to determine whether the bullet definitively came from that particular pistol. Likewise, Howell's expert states that the cartridge case has a similar firing-pin impression as the pistol but insufficient details to make a positive identification. We find the inconclusive firearms testimony to be insufficient to require a post-conviction hearing on this issue.
¶ 64. Here, Howell states that [n]o physical evidence linked him to the murder of Mr. Pernell. The State had no fingerprints, no DNA, no fibers, no ballistics, no confession, no property in his possession that was linked to the victim, or any other conclusive, objective evidence that linked Marlon Howell to the murder of David Pernell. Howell also argues that many of the witnesses against Howell have recanted and that Rice has been discredited. ¶ 65. Howell also points to the affidavit of Terkecia Pannell, who alleges that Ray and Lipsey claimed responsibility for the killing. Howell claims that the cumulative result of all of his arguments set out above is that he is entitled to a reversal of his conviction, or at a minimum, an evidentiary hearing in the trial court. We disagree. Howell's guilt has been affixed by a jury and affirmed by this Court. Two eyewitnesses testified that Howell was the shooter. The murder weapon was found where Howell previously had been. A statement that Howell shot a man was deemed an adoptive admission of guilt and was heard by the jury. Howell needed money to pay his probation officer. He made a statement about robbing another man prior to this shooting. Even after reviewing the recantations and the new affidavits, we find that the jury's verdict is supported by the evidence.
¶ 66. Howell next claims that the district attorney improperly inflamed the jury by referring to him with the nickname Chiefa during closing argument. Howell maintains that the district attorney's use of the nickname was meant to play on the jury's fears of gang violence. Howell now claims that his admitted nickname, Chiefa, had no connection to leadership in gang activity but instead referred to his non-violent nature as well as his tendency to smoke marijuana in the context of `Chiefa smokes peace pipe.' The district attorney referred to Howell as Chiefa several times in closing argument, and the defense attorney posed no objection. ¶ 67. We find that the claim of improper closing argument is procedurally barred. First, no contemporary objection was made. Second, this issue could have been raised in the direct appeal. Because it was capable of review in previous proceedings, it is barred here. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21 (Rev.2007). Procedural bar notwithstanding, we find no error. There was no discussion of any gang connection at trial, and the record does not reveal that the nickname had any obvious gang connotation. Howell admits that Chiefa was his nickname. We find that the prosecutor was within reasonable closing argument in referring to Howell by his admitted nickname. As we find no objectionable error in the use of the nickname, we also find no attorney ineffectiveness on this claim.
¶ 68. The murder of Pernell occurred on May 15, 2000. At the time, Howell was on probation for a previous drug conviction. As a condition of his probation, Howell was required to make a monthly payment to his probation officer. In April 2000, after several months of missed payments, Howell's probation officer initiated the process of issuing an arrest warrant for Howell; however, the warrant was not executed. After the murder, New Albany police officers contacted the probation office to find out if there was an available photograph of Howell. At that time they discovered that there was an outstanding warrant for Howell's arrest. A probation officer signed the warrant, and Howell was arrested. After the arrest, Howell was subjected to the lineup and he also presented his unverifiable alibi of being in Corinth with an unknown woman. In his petition, Howell claims that the arrest was illegal and that the comments and the lineup which stemmed from it should have been suppressed. Howell likewise claims that law enforcement officers should have been aware that the trial judge had held a hearing on the morning of May 15 and granted Howell a continuance to pay the probation arrearage. ¶ 69. This matter was raised at the trial court level and was discussed in Howell's direct appeal. Howell, 860 So.2d at 731. This Court found that the arrest was proper; therefore, this claim is procedurally barred. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21 (Rev. 2007). ¶ 70. Howell's new wrinkle at this stage in the proceedings is that the State should have known that on the same day that the warrant was executed, the trial judge had extended the time for making the past-due probation payments. The State fails to address this issue in its response. ¶ 71. We find that the evidence adduced as a result of the arrest was properly admitted. This Court has recognized a good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule in certain circumstances. See White v. State, 842 So.2d 565, 570 (Miss.2003). Where the officers execute the warrant in good faith and reasonably rely on the warrant, the evidence is properly admitted. There is no indication that the officers who arrested or questioned Howell exhibited any bad faith in relying on the warrant. This issue is thus without merit.
¶ 72. Howell maintains that his attorneys at trial failed to properly investigate and present evidence about the probation-violation warrant. Although Howell's trial attorneys presented arguments that the arrest had been illegal and sought suppression of any evidence resulting therefrom, Howell now claims that the attorneys should have investigated the clerk's notes from the May 15 hearing. He also claims that the attorneys should have questioned witnesses who were in the courtroom during the hearing. Howell asserts that his attorneys should have sought evidence in support of arguments that Howell had received an extension of his obligation to pay his probation officer. In its response, the State claims only that the validity of the warrant was raised on appeal. The State does not address the merits of the ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim. As we have found that the arrest was legal, we find no deficiency on the part of Howell's attorneys; therefore, this issue is without merit.
¶ 73. The murder occurred in Union County, and, prior to trial, Howell's attorneys argued that pretrial publicity prevented Howell from receiving a fair trial in Union County. In the motion to transfer venue, Howell's attorney referred to several newspaper articles and one television report about the murder. Howell submitted seven affidavits from citizens who stated that he could not receive a fair trial in Union County. The State called several witnesses at the hearing on the motion to transfer venue. The witnesses included the Union County chancery clerk, a former Union County circuit clerk, and two current Union County supervisors. All of the Union County officials testified that discussion of the Howell case had been minimal and that Howell could receive a fair trial in Union County. The motion to transfer venue was denied after the trial judge found that the State had overcome the presumption of partiality and that the defendant could receive a fair trial in Union County. ¶ 74. The merits of the change-of-venue motion were discussed in the direct appeal, where this Court found that the trial court had not abused its discretion in denying the motion to transfer venue. Howell, 860 So.2d at 720. This Court further reviewed the jury venire's responses to the trial court's questions about publicity and the jurors' ability to fairly judge the evidence. The Court determined that pretrial publicity had not tainted the jury pool. Id. ¶ 75. Howell now claims that his attorney failed to adequately investigate and present the motion to transfer venue. He offers the affidavit of a North Carolina attorney who states that the attorney was ineffective in failing to document other Union County cases where venue was changed which would have shown venue changes in far less public cases. The affiant produces no such Union County cases for us to review. The out-of-state attorney also claims that there was inadequate briefing of the motion to change venue. Howell provides no specific argument as to what should have been briefed or how any different argument would have yielded a better result. In its response, the State does not address the affidavits presented by Howell and poses no argument as to the merits of the ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim. ¶ 76. We find that Howell's attorney filed a motion to change venue and supported that motion with numerous affidavits and all known relevant press documentation. The trial court held a hearing and determined that a fair trial could be held in Union County, and this Court found no error on appeal. The attorney adequately briefed and argued the motion. The mere fact that the motion to transfer venue was not granted does not lead to a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel. We find that this issue is without merit.
¶ 77. After Howell was convicted of capital murder, the trial moved to the penalty phase, at which time the State sought the death penalty. In mitigation, the defense provided testimony from several witnesses. Tommy Shoemaker testified that he was a manager at Wal-Mart, that he had been Howell's supervisor for six to eight months, and that Howell had been a satisfactory employee. Elaine Simonson, a long-time family friend who had known Howell all of his life, testified that Howell was a respectable, likeable, and kind person who was not prone to violence. Howell's sister, Apresha Prather, testified that Howell was a loving person who was only twenty years old at the time of the crime. Likewise, it appears from the record that Howell's mother had been prepared to testify in the mitigation phase but was unable to testify due to being upset by the verdict in the guilt phase. ¶ 78. Howell now argues that the trial attorneys were ineffective in several respects. He claims that the attorneys should have investigated Howell's school records. After review, we find those records to be unremarkable insofar as providing any benefit concerning mitigation in the penalty phase of the trial. ¶ 79. Howell also claims that the trial attorneys should have called Brandon Shaw and Howell's two co-defendants, Ray and Lipsey, to testify. Shaw, Ray, and Lipsey have provided affidavits in which they claim that Howell was not a violent person. Lipsey testified at trial that Howell killed Pernell. Shaw testified that Howell discussed robbing a man prior to the eventual killing. Their current affidavit testimony would have been unbelievable on the heels of trial testimony to the contrary. Ray and Lipsey had pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Pernell's killing. The value of their testimony for Howell in the mitigation phase would have been negligible in light of their trial testimony during the guilt phase. Howell also claims that counsel should have called witnesses in mitigation who would have testified that the true meaning of Howell's Chiefa nickname had no gang connotations but referred to Howell's propensity to smoke marijuana like an Indian chief smokes a peace pipe. The attorneys would have been understandably reluctant to bring the jury's attention to additional law-breaking by Howell. Also, Howell relies in part on the affidavit of Duncan Lott, who states that his failure to interview witnesses and consult with experts amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. After a full review of the mitigation evidence presented during the penalty phase and the affidavits offered in the post-conviction proceedings, we disagree. Howell has offered no substantial mitigation evidence which his attorneys failed to present; therefore, we find Howell's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel in developing and presenting mitigation evidence to be without merit.
¶ 80. In considering these two issues together, we are mindful of what we stated in Byrom v. State, 863 So.2d 836 (Miss. 2003): [U]pon appellate review of cases in which we find harmless error or any error which is not specifically found to be reversible in and of itself, we shall have the discretion to determine, on a case-by-case basis, as to whether such error or errors, although not reversible when standing alone, may when considered cumulatively require reversal because of the resulting cumulative prejudicial effect. That having been said, for the reasons herein stated, we find that errors as may appear in the record before us in today's case, are individually harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, and when taken cumulatively, the effect of all errors committed during the trial did not deprive Michelle Byrom of a fundamentally fair and impartial trial. Id. at 847. ¶ 81. Applying the Byrom criteria, we find no indications of ineffective assistance of counsel outside the Court's specific findings of possible ineffective assistance of counsel, and we thus find no cumulative error.
¶ 82. On the day after the crime, Howell was placed in a police lineup in which Charles Rice identified him as the shooter. In a subsequent hearing on Howell's motion to suppress the lineup evidence, the New Albany Chief of Police testified that he believed that Howell had been represented at the lineup by attorney Regan Russell. It appears from the record that the trial judge found that Howell had been represented by Russell. In the direct appeal, this Court found that the lineup was not overly suggestive and that the trial judge did not err in allowing the lineup testimony. Howell now claims that the State misrepresented his representation by counsel at the lineup, and that, in fact, he had had no attorney at the lineup. In the petition, Howell presents the affidavit of Regan Russell, who states that he was not present at the lineup and did not represent Howell at that point in time. ¶ 83. In its response, the State claims that the police chief misstated who represented Howell. The Chief has now sworn by affidavit that public defender Tom McDonough actually was present and represented Howell at the lineup. The State argues that Howell's representation at the lineup stage was discoverable prior to trial and is barred in the post-conviction proceedings. The State also argues that Howell was represented at the hearing, and whether the attorney was Russell or McDonough is immaterial. ¶ 84. In his reply to the State's response, Howell submits an affidavit from Tom McDonough, who swears that he never represented Howell in this case and was not present at the lineup. Howell's trial attorney did file a motion to suppress the lineup in which he alleged that Howell was not represented at the lineup. Howell's attorney apparently made no effort to confirm whether Russell had been present at the lineup or not. He presented no evidence in support of his argument that Howell had not been not represented at that critical stage. Howell now claims that his previous attorney was ineffective in failing to investigate whether Howell had an attorney present at the lineup. ¶ 85. The State argues in part that whether Howell had an attorney at the lineup is not decisive. The State cites Lattimore v. State, 958 So.2d 192, 198 (Miss.2007), in which this Court found that procedural problems in the lineup were not sufficiently prejudicial in light of the witness's clear identification at trial. ¶ 86. In light of the affidavits from Russell and McDonough, we are unable to find that Howell's attorney was not ineffective in his representation through the suppression hearing. Rice's identification of Howell was obviously crucial to the State's case. Minimal efforts on the part of trial counsel could have confirmed Russell's presence or non-presence at the lineup. We thus find these issues to have merit, and an evidentiary hearing is required on these combined issues of whether Howell's attorney was ineffective at the lineup stage.