Opinion ID: 2546714
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: First Competency Hearing Counsel Ineffective for Seeking Dismissal of Charges

Text: Baumruk argues that the motion court clearly erred in overruling, without an evidentiary hearing, his claim that his first competency hearing counsel was ineffective for ignoring his wishes to remain under the state mental health department's custody and pursuing a writ in Baumruk I that sought to have the charges against him dismissed. Baumruk alleges that the dismissal of these charges prejudiced him because it allowed the charges to be refiled in St. Louis County, which resulted in his conviction and, ultimately, his death sentence. The motion court overruled this claim without an evidentiary hearing because it found that Baumruk's charges had to be dismissed under the clear mandate of § 552.020.10, RSMo 1994, as explained in Baumruk I, 964 S.W.2d at 447. It also noted that this Court determined in Baumruk II that an initial finding that Baumruk was incompetent did not bar a subsequent determination that he was competent to stand trial nor did it bar the State from refiling charges against him. 85 S.W.3d at 648. The motion court, therefore, determined that, regardless of Baumruk's counsel's actions, the State was free to prosecute Baumruk if and when his mental condition improved. Baumruk's argument fails because he cannot demonstrate prejudice. In addressing post-conviction motions, this Court should presume that a motion court acted according to the law. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052. As previously determined by this Court in Baumruk I, the trial court was required to dismiss the charges against Baumruk once it determined that he was incompetent. 964 S.W.2d at 447. Furthermore, even without Baumruk's counsel actively pursuing dismissal of the charges, the court in which those charges originally were filed would have been able to proceed on them as soon as it determined that Baumruk was competent to stand trial. Baumruk II, 85 S.W.3d at 648. The State also was permitted to reraise the issue of Baumruk's competency at any time pursuant to § 552.020.10, RSMo 2000. [2] For these reasons, Baumruk was not deprived of any substantive or procedural right; therefore, he cannot demonstrate that he was prejudiced. Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 372, 113 S.Ct. 838, 122 L.Ed.2d 180 (1993).