Opinion ID: 1890788
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Issue II: Ineffective Assistance of Guilt-Phase Counsel

Text: Pace asserts that his guilt-phase counsel was ineffective for failing to present a voluntary intoxication defense and an insanity defense based on Pace's crack use. The postconviction court's order denying this claim states: Counsel abandoned this defense for the following reasons: (a) representations by [Pace] that he was not intoxicated at the time of the offense; (b) third party observations of [Pace] around the time of the crime that indicated that he did not appear intoxicated; (c) opinions from two mental health experts that stated the involuntary intoxication defense was not applicable. In addition, [Pace's] confession to the defense investigator indicated a clear recollection of the facts of the offense and involved deliberate behavior, such as secreting the body and taxi as well as driving the taxi. Thus, trial counsel is not deficient for rejecting an intoxication defense that did not appear viable and was unsupported by the evidence. Postconviction order at 8 (footnote and record citation omitted). The postconviction court's factual findings are supported by competent, substantial evidence in the record. Pace reiterated to guilt-phase counsel on numerous occasions that he was not intoxicated during the commission of the crime. There was also no indication from the experts that Pace was insane at the time of the offense, and guilt-phase counsel testified that he believed Pace was competent. We find no error in the postconviction court's determination that Pace's guilt-phase counsel did not act deficiently by failing to present a voluntary intoxication defense or an insanity defense. Therefore, Pace has failed to demonstrate ineffective assistance of guilt-phase counsel.