Opinion ID: 536447
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Section 2255 Motion

Text: 12 This court reviews de novo the district court's denial of a 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2255 motion. U.S. v. Freeny, 841 F.2d 1000, 1001 (9th Cir.1988).
13 Pursuant to Badea's Sec. 2255 motion, he filed a request for a hearing and for discovery. [I]f the movant's allegations, viewed against the record, either do not state a claim for relief or are so palpably incredible or patently frivolous as to warrant summary dismissal no hearing is necessary. U.S. v. Burrows, 872 F.2d 915, 917 (9th Cir.1989); see also Watts v. U.S., 841 F.2d 277 (9th Cir.1988). As referenced specifically in the following sections, we find that Badea's allegations, when viewed against the record, do not state a claim for relief and, thus, no hearing is required. 4
14 A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is a mixed question of law and fact which is reviewed de novo. Burrows, 872 F.2d at 917. To demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show both that his counsel's performance was deficient and that the deficient performance prejudiced his defense. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). 15 To satisfy the first prong of the Strickland test and prove that ineffective counsel rendered the plea involuntary, a defendant who is represented by counsel during the plea process must show that his counsel's advice was not within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 56 (1985) (quoting McMann v. Richardson, 397 U.S. 759, 771 (1970). When reviewing alleged deficiencies the court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. 16 Badea lists twenty-one reasons why his two lawyers were ineffective. They fall into two main categories. One group consists of completely unsupported allegations, such as reason number 4 failed to investigate the facts and circumstances of the case. Mere conclusory allegations do not prove that counsel was ineffective. See Shah v. U.S., 878 F.2d 1156, 1161 (9th Cir.) cert. denied 110 S.Ct. 195 (1989). 17 Others of the asserted reasons are clearly legal strategy decisions such as number 7, refusing to undertake an entrapment defense or number 6, failing to litigate statute of limitations issues. A counsel is not ineffective for failing to make nonmeritorious claims or for choosing a reasonable legal strategy that fails. See U.S. v. Aguon, 851 F.2d 1158, 1160 (9th Cir.1988). Badea offers no basis to conclude that these decisions were not reasonable strategic choices by his attorneys. 5 See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690. Because there is no evidence that counsel's performance was deficient, we affirm the district court's denial of Badea's claim.
18 Appellant claims that his guilty plea was not obtained in a lawful manner because it lacked the requisite factual basis. Badea argues that his plea had no factual basis because his plea hearing was concluded with Badea pleading guilty, but without admission to any facts to support of the plea. The Facts to support a plea of guilty that were included with the plea agreement covered the government's complete case. They included facts to support the indictment as a whole not just the count Badea pled. Thus even if, as Badea asserts, the other allegations in the government's case were incorrect, a factual basis to support the plea still existed if it was true that appellant possessed the equipment with the requisite intent. In the Change of Plea proceedings appellant admitted both elements. (Change of plea, record vol. 4, exhibit B at 19). 19 However, even if appellant had not provided the factual basis himself, his assertions of innocence would not invalidate the plea. North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 37 (1970). The affidavits in the record accompanied by the results of the search of Badea's property provide enough of a factual basis to support the plea even if Badea had not admitted the elements of the pleaded crime. 6