Opinion ID: 2038810
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Failure to Attempt to Sever Counts

Text: We first note Perry's admission that he had no constitutional right to separate trials on the offenses charged in the information. See State v. Freeman, 253 Neb. 385, 571 N.W.2d 276 (1997). A trial court's ruling on a motion for consolidation of prosecutions properly joinable will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. Id. The question for our determination is whether Perry's counsel was ineffective when he failed to obtain separate trials as to the charges against Perry. Perry contends that if counsel had called witnesses and presented documentary evidence, he would have established that Perry was prejudiced by joining the three counts alleged in the information in a single trial. Perry also contends that because the dates of the offenses were different and the activities involved in the offenses were significantly different, he was prejudiced by the joinder of all three counts. He implies that trial counsel was ineffective by failing to present any evidence to support the motion to sever. We find this assignment of error to be without merit. At the evidentiary hearing on his postconviction motion, Perry offered a number of exhibits, including the deposition of his trial counsel, the bill of exceptions from his trial, and the trial court's file concerning the trial. At this hearing, Perry was given an opportunity to present the evidence that he claims his trial counsel should have presented. However, the evidence offered at this hearing failed to establish that Perry's counsel was deficient in his handling of the severance issue, and this assignment of error is without merit.