Opinion ID: 1188886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Trial counsel's failure to investigate adequately.

Text: Riley challenges Dahl's failure to investigate statements, reported by Butler, that allegedly indicated that Jackson participated in the killing of Bollin. He argues that it was ineffective representation for Dahl to have failed to investigate this statement and to present evidence regarding this statement at trial. Butler testified that she heard Jackson talking with two other people, and that an unidentified man stated, [M]an, I heard they railroaded Billy Ray [Riley]. Jackson then allegedly responded, [Y]es, they did. But I was the one that got his last breath. The trial judge found that [P]etitioner's mother, Susie Butler, has an obvious bias in these proceedings. The Court finds that her testimony is in conflict with the testimony of the defendant's trial counsel Steven J. Dahl. The Court finds Susie Butler to be an incredible witness and Steven Dahl to be a credible witness. Therefore, the Court concludes that Susie Butler never informed Steven Dahl before the guilt phase or before the penalty phase that she had overheard Darrell Lee Jackson admit to the commission of the murder. Although it is true that [t]he question of whether a defendant has received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial in violation of the Sixth Amendment is a mixed question of law and fact and ... thus subject to independent review, State v. Love, 109 Nev. 1136, 1138, 865 P.2d 322, 323 (1993), it is also true that purely factual findings of an inferior tribunal regarding a claim of ineffective assistance are entitled to deference on subsequent review of that tribunal's decision. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 698, 104 S.Ct. at 2070. A review of Butler's testimony at the evidentiary hearing reveals that the district court's factual finding is supported by substantial evidence and is not clearly wrong. Butler was evasive and contradicted herself. In addition, she admitted that she only spoke to Dahl one time, and that she made no effort to communicate any information about the alleged conversation to the police, Dahl's co-counsel, or the district attorney. Moreover, Dahl testified that Riley told Dahl to contact Butler, and that Butler was unsure of the story and never called him back. Thus, it appears that the district judge, after weighing credibility, reasonably concluded that Butler never attempted to communicate the conversation to Dahl. As a result, it was not ineffective for Dahl to have failed to have investigated it. [4] Riley also argues that Dahl provided ineffective representation at trial by failing to hire, consult or call a ballistics expert to substantiate Riley's theory that Jackson, not Riley, shot Bollin. To support this theory Dahl showed the jury a diagram showing the measurements of the room and the positions of the bed, dresser and victim. Dahl had used the measurements recorded by police investigators, and he had hired a defense investigator to take measurements at Gordon's house. The chart was used as demonstrative evidence only, and was not admitted into evidence. Using the chart during closing, counsel argued that based upon his measurements, and those of police investigators, it was highly unlikely that the shot that killed Bollin was fired from the spot on the bed where Riley sat. Therefore, Dahl argued, it must have been Jackson who shot Bollin. Riley argues that an expert would have appeared more credible to the jury and would have substantiated the claim that the gun could not have been fired from where Riley sat. Therefore, he argues, Dahl's error in failing to consult, hire and call an expert was so deficient that the conviction must be reversed. Prejudice in an ineffective assistance of counsel claim is shown when the reliability of the jury's verdict is in doubt. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064. Reliability is in doubt where the defendant can show that, but for counsel's errors, there is a reasonable probability that the result of the trial would have been different. See Love, 109 Nev. at 1139, 865 P.2d at 323; Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068. In the instant case, Riley's theory that Jackson shot Bollin does not appear credible, and, given the evidence elicited at trial, the reliability of the jury's verdict does not appear to be in doubt. The testimony at trial established that Johnson arrived at the door of the bedroom within seconds of hearing a gunshot and saw Riley on the bed holding the gun and Bollin clutching his chest. The gun belonged to Riley, and he had been holding it for the several minutes prior to the shooting. In addition, Jackson's story regarding Riley's motives and actions (that he was agitated, crying and wanted to rob drug dealers, who he thought had ripped him off) is partially corroborated by statements made by Johnson regarding what she heard and saw. Thus, even if counsel's conduct fell below the level of care expected of a competent defense attorney, Riley has nevertheless failed to show that the jury's verdict is unreliable, and that he was prejudiced. We do not reach whether the failure to call an expert was deficient, however, as Riley's argument that expert witness testimony was crucial is highly speculative. Riley failed to meet his burdento present an argument demonstrating the type and strength of evidence that might have been presented, and that there exists a reasonable probability that presentation of the evidence would have resulted in a different outcome at trial. We must hold that Riley's claim that Dahl was ineffective for failing to hire or consult an expert on ballistics is without merit, as he has failed to articulate prejudice in a persuasive manner.