Opinion ID: 888258
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: failure to secure photographic evidence and present witness testimony regarding alleged injuries to Baca's neck inflicted by Davis during the altercation

Text: ¶ 25 Baca relied on justifiable use of force as a defense to the PFMA charge, contending that Davis grabbed him by the throat first and he accidently struck her while attempting to remove her hands. On the night of his arrest, and for several weeks thereafter, he made requests to YCDF personnel to take photographs of his neck to preserve alleged evidence of bruises and scratches on his neck. No photographs were taken. He also testified at the postconviction hearing that DeBelly did not initially contact him until two months after his arrest, by which time the evidence of bruises and scratches had disappeared. Baca also asserted that he requested DeBelly to call Abran Rascon (Rascon), a man who was incarcerated in the YCDF with Baca, to testify as to his knowledge of the bruises and scratches on Baca's neck. ¶ 26 Baca's mug shot photograph, taken on the night of his arrest, was admitted into evidence at trial. Additionally, DeBelly elicited testimony from Davis that early in the altercation between her and Baca, she grabbed Baca by the shirt collar and may have had her hands on his neck. DeBelly testified at the postconviction hearing that he believed the mug shot adequately depicted injuries to Baca's neck and that, together with Davis's testimony, Baca's assertion that he acted in self-defense was supported. DeBelly believed that further photographic evidence would have been cumulative at best. DeBelly further testified that he attempted to locate Rascon prior to trial, but was unable to do so. ¶ 27 The first prong of the ineffective assistance of counsel test requires Baca to establish DeBelly's conduct fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and to overcome the strong presumption that counsel's actions fell within the broad range of reasonable professional assistance. Whitlow, ¶¶ 20-21. Here, DeBelly presented evidence and testimony which supported Baca's allegation that he acted in self-defense. We conclude Baca has failed to establish that DeBelly rendered deficient performance by not presenting additional evidence on that issue. Furthermore, with regard to DeBelly's failure to present testimony from Rascon, we will not determine trial counsel's performance is deficient where counsel made reasonable efforts to locate a witness for trial, but was unable to do so. Williams v. State, 2002 MT 189, ¶ 18, 311 Mont. 108, ¶ 18, 53 P.3d 864, ¶ 18. ¶ 28 We conclude Baca has failed to establish that DeBelly rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to secure photographic evidence and present witness testimony regarding alleged injuries to Baca's neck inflicted by Davis during the altercation.