Opinion ID: 1368663
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure of appointed criminal trial counsel to advise of possibility of minimum sentence.

Text: The failure of an appointed criminal trial counsel to advise a defendant of the possibility of a minimum sentence under ORS 144.110(1) prior to entry of a guilty plea constitutes inadequate assistance of counsel under Article I, section 11, of the Oregon Constitution and may be sufficient to render a judgment on the guilty plea void if the defendant is otherwise unaware of the possibility prior to entry of a guilty plea. Hartzog v. Keeney, 304 Or. 57, 742 P.2d 600 (1987). In the instant case, petitioner had the burden of persuasion to convince the trier of fact by a preponderance of the evidence that his appointed counsel did not give him this advice. ORS 138.620(2). Petitioner testified that his trial counsel did not give him such advice. An exhibit received in evidence contains a statement by counsel that he did indeed inform Mr. Hedin about the possibility of minimum mandatory sentences. The post-conviction court found that petitioner had not convinced the court by a preponderance of the evidence that his criminal trial counsel had failed to advise him of the possibility of imposition of a minimum sentence. That finding is supported by evidence and is binding on the Court of Appeals and this court. Ball v. Gladden, 250 Or. 485, 443 P.2d 621 (1968). Petitioner's claim of inadequate assistance of counsel under the Oregon Constitution fails.