Opinion ID: 1705084
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to Present Additional Mitigation Testimony

Text: Hartley first argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to present several additional witnesses at the penalty phase to testify about Hartley's background. Because Hartley fails to show either that the witnesses were ready, willing, and able to testify at trial or that counsel's failure to present them prejudiced Hartley, we reject this claim. During the penalty phase, two witnesses testified on Hartley's behalf. An attorney testified to the extensive amount of time that Hartley would serve in light of the habitual violent felony offender sentence imposed in an armed robbery case, the potential for a similar sentence in another armed robbery case, and the twenty-five-year mandatory minimum sentence on a life sentence for murder. Then the Reverend Coley Williams, who had known Hartley and his family since Hartley was about ten years old, testified that Hartley was intelligent, had a quiet and peaceful spirit, intermittently attended church, and came from a good family. Further, the minister had regularly spoken to Hartley while Hartley was previously imprisoned on a manslaughter charge and had seen or spoken to him several times after his release in 1991. At the postconviction evidentiary hearing, Hartley's trial counsel testified that in order to humanize Hartley, he sought to have family members testify at the penalty phase, but none were willing. His efforts to meet with or talk with family members failed as they did not keep their appointments or did not respond to phone calls. Hartley's sister Cheryl told trial counsel that once Hartley was convicted, the family was no longer willing to support him. Regarding Hartley's brother, Shawn Jefferson (a professional football player), counsel was specifically informed that he was not available to testify because of his career demands. Regarding other witnesses presented at the postconviction hearing, trial counsel did not recall being informed of their existence. Some of Hartley's family members also testified at the evidentiary hearing. Hartley's brother Jefferson testified to the close relationship he had with Hartley growing upgoing to school, singing in the church choir, and playing sportsand that Hartley inspired and encouraged him. When Jefferson went to college, Hartley went to prison for manslaughter. Jefferson did not attend the trial because he and his family agreed that, as he had an extended family to support, he should concentrate on establishing his pro football career. Hartley's sister Cheryl Daniels served as the family's liaison with trial counsel, whom she had recommended because he once represented her. She said she was not asked to testify at trial but would have said that Hartley is a jokeable person, a good brother, and that he cared about the elderly. Hartley's mother testified that Hartley asked her not to attend the trial, and so she did not. She would have testified at the penalty phase that she raised Hartley and Jefferson the same waywith love and discipline and insistence on church and school attendance. When Hartley got older, however, she could no longer handle him. Several other character witnesses testified. Coach Freddie Stevens, who knew Hartley for a year when Hartley was in his high school physical education class, testified that Hartley was mannerable and cooperative. Denise Groomes said she feared attending the trial, but she would have testified that Hartley was mannerable, had ethical values, and attended church. Her sister Tanya Hawke testified that she had had a crush on Hartley since third grade, and he always help[ed] out. Groomes's other sister, Dorothy Cherry, testified that she was in Atlanta during the trial and did not want to be involved, but she thought Hartley was a great guy. We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel under the two-pronged standard established in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). First, a defendant must point to specific acts or omissions of counsel that are so serious that counsel was not functioning as the `counsel' guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment. Id. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. In addition, the defendant must establish prejudice by show[ing] that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Id. Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel present mixed questions of law and fact subject to plenary review. Occhicone v. State, 768 So.2d 1037, 1045 (Fla.2000). This Court independently reviews the trial court's legal conclusions and defers to the trial court on questions of fact and credibility. In ruling on Hartley's claims of ineffectiveness for failing to call these witnesses, the trial court found that the witnesses presented at the evidentiary hearing were either unwilling or unavailable to testify at the penalty phase of trial. The court also found no prejudice under Strickland's second prong. The court concluded that even if the witnesses had testified, there is no reasonable probability that the balancing of aggravating and mitigating factors would have resulted in a life sentence. We agree that Hartley has failed to meet either of Strickland's requirements. Competent, substantial evidence supports the postconviction court's conclusion that the witnesses were unwilling or unavailable to testify. The circuit court found trial counsel's testimony about his attempts to obtain witnesses, particularly family members, to be more credible than the testimony of the other witnesses. In addition, several witnesses gave contradictory statements about their availability to testify. Even if Hartley had met the first prong, however, he has failed to demonstrate prejudice. Hartley's mother testified that she raised Jefferson and Hartley the same way, with emphasis on discipline, morals, knowing right from wrong, church, and education, but she could not control Hartley when he was older. Jefferson testified that his brother inspired and encouraged him. He also testified, however, that when he went to college Hartley went to prison for manslaughter. Jefferson stressed the responsibilities his own professional football career imposed on him and his attendant responsibility to support his extended family, which included paying for Hartley's trial counsel. Further, Jefferson went to church and actively participated in a variety of charitable activities. Had this testimony been presented in the penalty phase, the jury would have seen a stark contrast between the two brothers, who were close in age and raised together. In addition, all the other testimony from the postconviction hearing combined presents little of substance about Hartley's character. His friends, sister, and coach agreed that Hartley was mannerable and a good guy who cared about the elderly. Such generalities would add little to Reverend Williams's testimony at the penalty phase, which provided a more detailed and positive estimation of Hartley. In light of the five weighty aggravators in this case, the mitigation presented at the postconviction hearing fails to demonstrate prejudice.