Opinion ID: 789616
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to accompany Greenup to a meeting with the government

Text: 17 Watson did not accompany Greenup to a preparation session with federal officials regarding an upcoming trial of a third party. An investigator from the federal defender's office accompanied Greenup instead. Afterwards, the government expressed its concerns to Watson about Greenup's credibility and eventually dropped the charges against the other party. Following those events, the government entered into a plea agreement with Greenup that was based in part on the government's disbelief of Greenup's version of events. 18 This court has never found that a criminal defendant has a right to an attorney at a debriefing with government agents in the course of the defendant's attempted cooperation. 6 This court has recognized that a defendant is entitled to an attorney during plea negotiations, United States v. Sammons, 918 F.2d 592, 602 (6th Cir.1990), but has not extended that right to a debriefing. This panel need not decide that issue here. Even if such a right exists, and even if Greenup's attorney performed his function unreasonably by not attending the meeting, thus satisfying the first Strickland prong, Greenup must still show prejudice. 7 There is none here. Greenup withdrew his plea, and the district court did not accept Greenup's subsequent plea attempt because he refused to fully admit his guilt. Therefore, no matter if the government's skepticism of Greenup's candor in the debriefing session caused the government's plea offer to be different than it would have been otherwise, Greenup did not follow through on his promise to plead guilty, and so the government's end of the bargain is immaterial. 19