Opinion ID: 857090
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Trial counsel’s assistance and the plea

Text: Warren presents three potential reasons that his plea could have been unknowing based on Wynn’s assistance: he claims that he was unaware that he had the ability to pursue a self-defense claim at an intentional homicide trial; he says that he was unaware that there were witnesses who could support a self-defense claim; and he says that he did not know that the basis for the intentional homicide charge was wrong. The record does not support Warren on any of these points. Instead, it shows a defendant who understood the bargain he was making and who was informed of his rights. Warren agreed during the plea colloquy that he understood the defenses he was relinquishing. (R. 21-11 at 10.) He now contends, without additional support, that his statement was incorrect, or at least incomplete as it related to self-defense and the original intentional homicide charge. It strains our credulity to believe that Warren did not know that self-defense could be presented as a defense to intentional homicide. We need not rely on our instincts, however. During the plea hearing (and before the plea was finalized), Wynn, the trial judge, and the prosecutor had a discussion re- garding self-defense considerations, noting that Wynn had discussed the defense with Warren, and even citing a recent Wisconsin case as a motivating factor for the charge being reduced and the acceptance of the plea deal. (R. 21-11 at 18-19.) Therefore, Warren asks us to ignore not only his statements to the court and common sense, but also a discussion that occurred in open court, No. 12-1148 21 in his presence. That we will not do. We refuse to find that Warren’s plea was unknowing because he lacked knowledge of a potential defense that had been discussed in his presence immediately before his plea was accepted. As for the claim of the supposed supporting wit- nesses, we have already addressed the issue. There is nothing in the police report, and Warren has presented nothing since, that indicates that the Washingtons actually could have supported any claim of self-defense. Given that, Warren’s alleged lack of knowledge cannot be the basis for overturning his plea. Warren’s next argument—that he did not know the basis for the intentional homicide charge was wrong—is also unsupported by the record. Warren argues that the original charge was based on the incorrect allegation that he planned to rob Morrow. He says that, had he been aware of the allegation, he would not have agreed to plead to a lesser charge. The argument that he was unaware of the robbery allegation is simply not true. The police report reflects the fact that officers explicitly presented Warren with the allegation after his arrest and that he denied it. (R. 21-8 at 47.) Warren does not challenge the report’s veracity (nor did he at any other time). Furthermore, the transcript of the plea hearing indicates that Wynn discussed the robbery theory with Warren. (R. 21-11 at 12-15, 18-19.) Indeed, nothing that Warren asserts leads us to the conclusion that the plea was unknowing, involuntary, or unintelligent on account of Wynn’s assistance. 22 No. 12-1148