Opinion ID: 874891
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Fingerprinting the Pipe

Text: Yakovac also argues that her trial counsel had a duty to have the pipe fingerprinted. She asserts that since she was charged with possession because the pipe contained methamphetamine residue, counsel should have had the pipe fingerprinted to bolster the testimony that Yakovac did not own the pipe and to allow the jury to more fully explore exculpatory evidence. Counsel's failure to have the pipe fingerprinted, she contends, shows a lack of investigation and preparation. However, counsel's decision here was tactical, and Yakovac has failed to show this decision was based on such shortcomings that she would be entitled to post-conviction relief. Fingerprinting the pipe would not have helped Yakovac's defense; it would have been inconclusive at best, or shown that she had touched the pipe at worst. Moreover, counsel's decision to question the State's witnesses about the lack of fingerprinting, rather than having the pipe fingerprinted, was tactical and does not show inadequate preparation, ignorance of the relevant law or other shortcomings. See Pratt, 134 Idaho at 584, 6 P.3d at 834. Therefore, we hold that Yakovac's trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to have the pipe fingerprinted.