Opinion ID: 1867276
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to prepare to examine Bobby B.

Text: ¶ 28. Allen's first allegation is that his trial counsel failed to prepare to examine the first defense witness, Bobby B. The motion summarizes the exchange between Bobby B. and defense counsel regarding the letter Allen alleges Bobby B. sent to Milwaukee County's Sensitive Crimes Unit. The motion asserts that because trial counsel had failed to produce the letter, he was left with Bobby B.'s testimony, in which Bobby B. denied writing such a letter. The fumbling of the Bobby [B.] examination would logically have a great impact on the jury as [it] prepared to evaluate the defense to the allegations. ... Counsel was left looking foolish with respect to his first witness .... ¶ 29. Though replete with information, the motion contains conclusory allegations and lacks sufficient material facts that Bentley requires. Allen's allegations that trial counsel did not do any trial preparation and had not thought to discover whether the letter existed are conclusions he does not support with material facts. Allen's focus on the letter seems to derive from his conclusion that Bobby B. and his former wife, Lynn Allen, are engaged in a placement dispute over Shalisia, and that Bobby B., in an effort to ensure Shalisia's placement with him, wrote a letter to Milwaukee County's Sensitive Crimes Unit alleging that Allen sexually assaulted Shalisia and Tekiara. However, Allen has not alleged sufficient material facts to support his conclusion that such a letter actually exists. He must provide some reason, some fact, that supports the existence of the letter, otherwise his assertion is conclusory. For example, he does not allege that Shalisia or Tekiara or his wife or some other person saw the letter or simply told him that Bobby B. wrote a letter reporting the alleged sexual assaults. We conclude that Allen's postconviction motion on the alleged failure of counsel to adequately prepare to examine Bobby B. does not allege sufficient material facts that, if proven, would entitle him to relief.