Opinion ID: 1969619
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Peggy Poppe Basham

Text: In January of 1991, Fast Horse called Professional Travel in Rapid City to purchase two one-way airline tickets to Los Angeles, California for himself and Patricia. He told Basham, manager of Professional Travel, that he worked for Telescan and wished to charge the tickets to the business. Basham called Telescan and asked for the manager to verify Fast Horse's employment and permission to charge the tickets. Someone identifying himself over the phone as Jeff Dale authorized the charge. When he later received a bill from Basham, Dale denied receiving the phone call. Fast Horse, who was never employed by Telescan, fails to explain why Dale, a man he barely knew, would agree to cover one-way airline transportation to California for him and his girlfriend. We agree with the habeas court that Basham's testimony may have been relevant concerning Dale's credibility. However, we also agree that failure to call Basham does not result in deficient counsel. Originally, Fast Horse was also charged with theft of the tickets, but the prosecutor opted not to pursue the matter. Dale eventually paid for the tickets, apparently after Vicki Schantlos, according to her letter, reimbursed him for Fast Horse's airline expenses. Although Basham's testimony could be offered to undermine Dale's credibility, it offers little to repair Fast Horse's lack of same. As the habeas court has found, based upon the overwhelming evidence presented against Fast Horse, there is not a reasonable probability that the result of the trial would have been different had Basham testified. Phyle v. Leapley, 491 N.W.2d 429 (S.D.1992). We are not persuaded to upset this factual finding. Ashker v. Solem, 457 N.W.2d 473, 476 (S.D. 1990).