Opinion ID: 1919348
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Properly prepare Hodges for his testimony

Text: ś 85. Defense counsel advised Hodges against testifying and explained to him the reasons why he should not testify. After counsel advised Hodges, he chose to testify. Hodges now claims that counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately prepare him for his testimony. This failure, according to Hodges, opened him up to all prior charges because counsel did not explain the difference between a charge and a conviction. In support of this claim Hodges submits the affidavit of his trial counsel, Miller, in which Miller states that he did not have time to prepare Hodges to testify. ś 86. During the sentencing phase the court asked Hodges if he wanted to testify and Hodges stated that he did not want to testify. When asked why he did not want to testify Hodges stated that it was because the State is trying to bring up the background and my situation and stuff. The Court then gave defense counsel a thirty-minute recess to enable defense counsel to talk to Hodges about testifying. Hodges then informed the court that he wanted to testify. Hodges now claims that he was not adequately prepared to testify. There is nothing in the record to suggest that counsel did not discuss his testimony. They were given a thirty minute recess in which to discuss whether or not to testify. Hodges was aware that if he testified, the State could go into his criminal history. There is also no evidence that Hodges did not know the difference between a charge and conviction. During direct examination Hodges testified that he had only been charged with one other crime â burglary of a dwelling (Cora's house). He was then asked if he had ever been convicted of any other crimes other than the burglary of Cora's dwelling and he said no. During cross the State brought out the fact that Hodges had also been charged with other crimes. ś 87. The only thing alleged that was caused by this failure to prepare was the fact that Hodges did not know the difference between a charge and a conviction and this caused his other charges to come in during cross. Assuming that defense counsel was deficient because Hodges did not know the difference between a charge and a conviction, Hodges has not shown that he was prejudiced by this information and that the result of the proceeding would have been different. Hodges was aware that the State could go into his criminal history but Hodges chose to testify after his counsel advised against testifying. The jury already knew that Hodges had been charged with these other crimes. This information can not cause prejudice when it was already before the jury. Therefore, absent a showing of prejudice, this issue is without merit.