Opinion ID: 1721127
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether counsel was ineffective for failing to request funds for an independent mental health expert.

Text: Appellant further takes issue with counsel's failure to request funds for independent mental health experts. Appellant sets forth several alternatives trial counsel had available to him to obtain funds, from declaring Appellant indigent (although he had retained counsel) to requesting funds pursuant to KRS 31.110(1)(b) and (3), KRS 31.185, and KRS 31.200. Appellant goes so far as to speculate that if counsel's failure to obtain expert assistance was due to lack of funds because Appellant had not paid him, then a conflict of interest existed between Appellant and trial counsel, thus denying Appellant effective assistance of counsel. We find Appellant's claims to be conjecture without any evidentiary support. There is absolutely nothing in the record to indicate that counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to request funds. No evidentiary hearing is required if the allegations of the RCr 11.42 motion are insufficient. Maye v. Commonwealth, Ky., 386 S.W.2d 731 (1965).