Opinion ID: 1647773
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Whether the actions of Burrough's attorney equated to ineffective assistance of counsel thereby violating his constitutional right to a fair trial.

Text: ¶ 21. Burrough asserts that his defense counsel was deficient because he failed to object when the trial court enhanced his sentence without giving him the opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea. Additionally, Burrough asserts that counsel was deficient for not informing him that he could be sentenced as an habitual offender; that his sentence might have been illegal; and that he would not be granted post-release supervision for part of his sentence. ¶ 22. In evaluating an ineffective-assistance charge with regard to guilty-plea proceedings, this Court, essentially, applies the same two-part inquiry as that used for challenges claiming ineffective trial assistance. See Coleman v. State, 483 So.2d 680 (Miss.1986) (adopting the two-pronged test set forth in Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 106 S.Ct. 366, 88 L.Ed.2d 203, (1985), which held that the two-part test announced in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2064-65, 80 L.Ed.2d 674, 693-95 (1984) for ineffective trial assistance claims also applies to guilty-plea proceedings). This requires the defendant to show: (1) that his counsel's performance was deficient (fell below the objective standard of reasonableness), and (2) that the deficiency prejudiced his defense. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. In the context of guilty pleas, this means the defendant must show that, were it not for counsel's errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial. Coleman, 483 So.2d at 683 (citations omitted). ¶ 23. Burrough's charge that his counsel failed to object when the trial court did not accept the State's recommended sentence chiefly fails under prong two, the prejudice prong, of Strickland. Therefore, we proceed directly to this part of the test. See Strickland, 466 U.S. 668, 697, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (If it is easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice, which we expect will often be so, that course should be followed.) ¶ 24. Whether or not counsel's failure to object to the trial court's decision not to accept the State's recommendation fell below the objective standard of reasonableness contemplated by Strickland is of no matter. The error, if any, is one that originated subsequent to the court's acceptance of a valid guilty plea, after it was determined to be voluntarily and intelligently given, based on an acknowledged understanding by the defendant that any consequences allowed by law could result. Therefore, Burrough cannot properly demonstrate the prejudice requirement set forth by Coleman, which contemplates the validity of the plea itself, not the trial court's discretion thereafter. Coleman, 483 So.2d at 680. ¶ 25. As for Burrough's remaining ineffectiveness charges, the record wholly negates the basis for each. Judge Morgan specifically told Burrough that he was not being sentenced as an habitual offender; nor was he so designated in the sentencing order. Also, because Burrough's twenty-five-year sentence lies within the limits prescribed by Section 97-17-23, it is not illegal. Finally, with regard to the assertion that defense counsel failed to tell him that he would not receive post-release supervision, the record (once more) discloses that Burrough's defense counsel and the trial judge both thoroughly led him through the plea process to ensure that he understood his plea did not guarantee him either post-release supervision or a particular sentence. ¶ 26. It is the finding of this Court that Burrough's claim that his counsel's representation was constitutionally ineffective is without merit.