Opinion ID: 1670877
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Failure to Advise of Sentence

Text: ¶ 28. Reeder contends he was denied effective assistance of counsel due to his attorney's failure to advise him that his sentence would be ten years without the benefit of parole. To demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, a criminal defendant must show that counsel's performance was deficient, that the deficient performance prejudiced his defense, and that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, the result of the trial proceedings would have been different. Foster v. State, 687 So.2d 1124, 1129 (Miss. 1996) (applying Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984)). A defendant who pleads guilty to a crime is `prejudiced' by his counsel's erroneous advice if he would have insisted on going to trial if he had been correctly informed. Alexander v. State, 605 So.2d 1170, 1173 (Miss.1992). An allegation that a defendant has been incorrectly informed of sentence range is a question of fact that is to be resolved by the trial court. Ward v. State, 708 So.2d 11, 15 (Miss.1998). As discussed above, Reeder was aware of the sentence the State would recommend. Moreover, Reeder indicated he was satisfied with the services of his attorney. The defense counsel is presumed to have acted competently and the effectiveness of his or her efforts are determined on the basis of the totality of the circumstances. Foster v. State, 716 So.2d 538, 541 (Miss.1998).