Opinion ID: 6109557
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Object to Introduction of Prior Convictions

Text: Next, Mr. McFadden asserts the motion court clearly erred in finding defense counsel were not ineffective for failing to object to certain portions of certified copies of two criminal convictions admitted into evidence and provided to the jury. These exhibits included Mr. McFadden's guilty plea to felony possession of cocaine base and unlawful use of a weapon and his guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault. Mr. McFadden concedes it was not error to admit evidence of these prior convictions, see State v. Ervin, 835 S.W.2d 905 , 925 (Mo. 1992) , but contends effective counsel would have objected to admitting the portion of the exhibit mentioning the pistol he was charged with unlawfully carrying was loaded with live rounds. He also alleges counsel were ineffective in allowing admission of the portion of the exhibit showing he was certified as an adult because of the seriousness of the offense, which originally had been charged as a felony rather than the misdemeanor to which he pleaded guilty. Counsel testified they strategically chose not to object to these exhibits because, in the absence of these certified copies of prior convictions, the State may have been permitted to prove the prior convictions with live witnesses. Counsel concluded the brief mention of these facts in the dry paper evidence was so minimally prejudicial it was outweighed by the risk of allowing witnesses to testify about these crimes. The motion court found this reasonable. Moreover, to be entitled to relief, Mr. McFadden would have had to show there is a reasonable probability, had counsel objected to the failure to redact these exhibits, he would not have received a death sentence. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 . He has not met this burden. The properly admitted evidence showed Mr. McFadden was certified as an adult and the jury knew pistols usually are loaded. He also had prior convictions for first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and assault, and there was substantial testimony about his reputation for violence. There is no reasonable likelihood the minimal prejudice from introduction of the exhibits would have affected the sentence.