Opinion ID: 1768076
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Edward Eugene Herren

Text: Bowling argues that defense counsel failed to interview Herren prior to his trial testimony and that this resulted in ineffective assistance of counsel. We disagree. Herren delivered the Corbin Times Tribune to Jones's Chevron during the period when the crimes for which Bowling was convicted occurred. On January 19, 1989, Herren overheard two men talking in the public restroom at Jones's Chevron. One of the men said, The [MF] is fried, and formed his hand into the shape of a gun. Jones's Chevron was robbed the next day and the attendant on duty was shot and killed. The defense called Herren as a witness. Herren related the threatening comment he overheard, the concurrent hand gesture, and a physical description of the two men engaged in the conversation. Herren testified that he was positive that neither man was Bowling. Further, he testified that this occurred before the robbery and shooting. But on cross-examination, he testified that he heard the threat after the robbery and murder and not before as he had testified on direct examination. Herren admitted on the stand that this rendered his testimony meaningless. This contradictory testimony was based on questions by the Commonwealth concerning dates contained in a police report. The dates on the police report were incorrect. If correct, the dates would not have impeached Herren's testimony as to when the events occurred. Bowling argues defense counsel failed to interview Herren prior to trial. Further, he argues that, had defense counsel interviewed Herren and investigated the dates in the report, then the confusion concerning the dates would not have occurred or could have been cleared up easily on redirect. This, Bowling argues, was deficient performance that deprived him of effective assistance of counsel. The trial court found that defense counsel and Herren had discussed Herren's testimony prior to Bowling's trial. Further, the trial court concluded that additional or contradictory testimony elicited on cross-examination was not counsel error. There is sufficient evidence in the record to support the trial court's finding of fact. Thus, the finding of fact was not abuse of discretion. Therefore, we affirm the trial court on this basis. Further, even if there was no support for either the trial court's findings or conclusions on this issue, the alleged failure to interview Herren could not rise to the level of ineffective assistance. Herren's testimony had little or no probative value. There is not a reasonable probability that, had Herren's testimony been corrected, the result of Bowling's trial would have been different.